USAA vs. Progressive

USAA vs. Progressive comparison

USAA and Progressive are two of the best car insurance companies on the market, and each one offers unique benefits to drivers who are looking for car insurance. However, each company has its potential downsides to consider as well. To help you decide between the two, we’ve narrowed down a couple of pros and cons for each company:

USAA pros and cons

Progressive pros and cons

Is USAA cheaper than Progressive?

Based on our analysis of 2024 rate data from Quadrant Information Services, USAA offers cheaper annual rates on average compared to Progressive across most driver categories. Both insurers offer full coverage rates lower than the national average, so comparing rates between the two can still be beneficial, especially if you don’t meet the qualifications for USAA.

In the table below, you’ll see a comparison of rates between both companies across several different driver profiles.

USAA vs. Progressive: Discounts

USAA and Progressive both offer auto insurance discounts that may help you save money on your car insurance. Here are some of the discounts available that each company offers.

Discounts available from both carriers

Discounts on car insurance can significantly reduce your premiums, making policies more affordable while still offering excellent coverage. Both USAA and Progressive provide a variety of discounts that cater to different needs, potentially lowering your costs based on your driving habits, policy choices and more.

• Home and auto bundle:
  • USAA: Save up to 10 percent on property insurance when bundling with auto insurance.
  • Progressive: Bundling auto and home insurance could save you an average of 7 percent on your auto policy.
• Safe driver discount:
  • USAA: Eligible drivers who maintain a good driving record for over five years can receive discounts. Additional savings are possible through defensive driving courses, basic driver training or the USAA SafePilot program, which offers up to 30 percent off in certain states.
  • Progressive: Offers the Snapshot program, which adjusts rates based on actual driving behavior, potentially saving safe drivers an average of $231.
• Multi-vehicle discount: Both insurers offer discounts when you insure multiple vehicles, which can lead to significant savings on your overall policy costs.

USAA discounts

• Vehicle storage discount: If you are deployed and store your vehicle while you are serving overseas, you may receive up to 60 percent off your premiums.
• Family discount: Young adults may get up to 10 percent off their car insurance premium if their parent(s) are insured with USAA.
• Anit-theft discount: Installing or owning a car with any anti-theft devices could qualify for a discount.

Progressive discounts

• Good student discount: Full-time students who have a B grade point average (GPA) or better might qualify for a discount of 10 percent off.
• Homeowner discount: Owning your home could qualify you for 10 percent off your auto policy, even if the property is insured with a different carrier.
• Sign online discount: If you handle all your paperwork digitally, you could receive savings of up to 9 percent.

USAA and Progressive telematics programs

Progressive and USAA both offer usage-based insurance programs to drivers. These programs track your driving behavior through telematics and provide rewards if you consistently demonstrate safe driving habits. Here’s a look at the programs available from these insurers.

USAA vs. Progressive: Customer experience comparison

When it comes to customer experience, USAA was rated higher than Progressive on the 2023 J.D. Power Auto Claims Satisfaction Study. However, USAA and Progressive both offer a suite of digital tools to customers, which can enhance customer experience.

Both companies allow you to manage your insurance policies online or through a mobile app. You can use these digital tools to make payments, file claims, get new quotes and view your insurance ID cards on the go. When it comes to mobile apps and J.D. Power scores, this is how USAA and Progressive stack up against each other:

Customer complaints

The NAIC complaint index measures an insurance company's customer satisfaction in terms of complaints. It's calculated by comparing the number of complaints a company receives relative to its size, specifically its premium volume. A score higher than 1.0 suggests a company receives more complaints than average, while a score less than 1.0 indicates fewer than average. Understanding this index can help consumers gauge the reliability and customer service level of an insurer, aiding in making more informed decisions about which company might best meet their insurance needs.

USAA auto insurance customer complaints

Progressive auto insurance customer complaints

Frequently asked questions

Methodology

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze the latest rates in October 2024 for ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates include the most recent approved rate changes filed by insurance companies that affect our profile. These revised rates are then weighted based on the population density in each geographic region so that policyholders can see the impact rates have in their areas. Quoted rates are based on a 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, good credit and the following full coverage limits:

• $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $50,000 property damage liability per accident
• $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
• $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
• $500 collision deductible
• $500 comprehensive deductible

To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2022 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually.

These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.

Credit-based insurance scores: Rates were calculated based on the following insurance credit tiers assigned to our drivers: “poor, average, good (base) and excellent.” Insurance credit tiers factor in your official credit scores but are not dependent on that variable alone. Four states prohibit or limit the use of credit as a rating factor in determining auto insurance rates: California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Michigan.

Incidents: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the following incidents applied: clean record (base), at-fault accident, single speeding ticket and single DUI conviction.

Age: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the ages 25-70 (base: 40 years) applied. Depending on age, drivers may be a renter or homeowner. Age is not a contributing rating factor in Hawaii and Massachusetts due to state regulations.

Bankrate Scores

Our 2024 Bankrate Score considers variables our insurance editorial team determined impacts policyholders’ experiences with an insurance company. These rating factors include a robust assessment of each company’s product availability, financial strength ratings, online capabilities and customer and claims support accessibility. Each factor was added to a category, and these categories were weighted in a tiered approach to analyze how companies perform in key customer-impacting categories.

Each category was assigned a metric to determine performance, and the weighted sum adds up to a company’s total Bankrate Score — out of 5 points. Our scoring model provides a comprehensive view, indicating when companies excel across several key areas and highlighting where they fall short.

• Tier 1 (Cost & ratings): To determine how well auto and home insurance companies satisfy these priorities, average quoted premiums from Quadrant Information Services (if available), as well as any of the latest third-party agency ratings from J.D. Power, AM Best, Demotech and the NAIC, were analyzed.
• Tier 2 (Coverage & savings): We assessed companies’ coverage options and availability to help policyholders find a provider that balances cost with coverage. Additionally, we evaluated each company’s discount options listed on its website.
• Tier 3 (Support): To encompass the many ways an auto insurance company can support policyholders, we analyzed avenues of customer accessibility along with community support. This analysis incorporated additional financial strength ratings from S&P and Moody’s and factored a company’s corporate sustainability efforts.

Tier scores are unweighted to show the company's true score in each category out of a possible five points.