Finding the right insurance company can be a difficult task. There are many great companies to choose from.
USAA Vs Progressive is a car insurance comparison of two of the largest and most popular insurance carriers.
In this comparison review I will help you to make the best choice by comparing the financial strength rating, insurance discounts, claims, and more.
Car insurance rates comparison
USAA is known for offering cheap insurance premiums for veterans. Progressive is also known for offering cheap insurance rates. Many people ask why is Progressive car insurance so cheap?
It is because their expenses are different from other insurance carriers which results in cheaper insurance policies.
With that said, insurance rates are dependent on various factors. To get the best insurance rates you must compare insurance quotes today
Insurance claims comparison – using the 2017 J.D. Power U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study.
USAA received 5 out of 5 Power Circles in Overall Satisfaction. NJM Insurance, Amica, and USAA were the only insurance companies to receive 5 out of 5 Power Circles. Not once in the study did USAA receive less than 4 Power Circles for the various different factors within the study. Progressive was rated “about average” in the J.D. Power Auto Claims Study with 3 out of 5 Power Circles.
Financial strength comparison – Using financial strength rating companies.
A.M. Best gave USAA an “A++” financial strength rating. Moody’s Investors Service awarded USAA with an “Aaa” rating which was their highest of 21 possible ratings.
Progressive received an “A+” financial strength rating from A.M. Best. Progressive received awesome “AA” grades from Fitch and S&P.
Customer complaint comparison
USAA received the highest grade possible from Better Business Bureau which was an “A+” rating. Progressive received an “A-” rating from BBB. Better Business Bureau takes into consideration government action (per action), competency licensing, type of business, and more.
Insurance Shopping Study – This study measures car insurance shopping, purchase behavior, and more.
In the 2017 J.D. Power Insurance Shopping Study USAA received one of the best ratings with 5 out of 5 Power Circles. The only other company to receive 5 out of 5 Power Circles was Erie insurance. Progressive on the other hand scored 2 out of 5 Power Circles.
Auto insurance discounts and features comparison
USAA discounts
Accident Forgiveness – If you remain accident free for 5 years or more with USAA, then you will be able to take advantage of accident forgiveness which is an optional coverage. With accident forgiveness, your insurance rates will not increase after an at-fault accident.
Protection Everywhere – With USAA you will be covered everywhere that you go, which is beneficial if your military assignments change.
Safe Driver – If you are a driver who has maintained a good driving record for 5 years, then you will be able to take advantage of this insurance discount.
Good Student – To qualify for this good student discount you must be under 25 years of age, you must be a full-time student, you must attend an acceptable school, and obviously you must be an A or B student.
Membership Loyalty – The deeper of a relationship that you have with USAA the more that you will be able to save on auto insurance. When you bundle policies, you can save a ton. Also, the longer that you remain insured with USAA the more you will be able to save on your insurance premium.
Benefits – There are many benefits of being an USAA member. USAA member are able to receive car rental discounts, discounts on flights, discounts on hotels and resorts, discounts on cruises and tours, and discounts on travel insurance. With USAA, you will receive home solution discounts from ADT Home Security, PODS® Moving and Storage, and more. USAA members will even receive home builder discounts. Also, with USAA you can take advantage of their online shopping discounts. Discounts are available for FTD Flowers, FedEx Shipping, Turbo Tax, certified car dealers, and more. If you want more than just car insurance, then USAA is a great insurance option.
Military Installation Discount – When you garage your vehicle on base you will be able to save up to 15% on the comprehensive coverage portion of your insurance policy.
New Vehicle – If you have a vehicle that is no more than 3 years old you will be able to receive an insurance discount with USAA.
Annual Mileage – USAA offers discounts for drivers who drive less than the national average.
Progressive discounts
Bundling auto & property – With Progressive you can combine as much policies as you need to save 5%. You will be able to combine auto, home, renters, condo, and more. Your savings will be applied on your auto policy.
Snapshot – This is a usage-based auto insurance program from Progressive. With this program safe drivers have reported an insurance discount of up to 30%. Snapshot is a great program if you have something to prove to your insurance carrier and you want to lower your rates. High-risk drivers who pay more on average for insurance can easily benefit from this program and prove that they are safe drivers and have good driving habits.
Name Your Price – This is an awesome tool to help newbies to find the right coverage at the right price. The Name Your Price tool will show you a range of car insurance coverage options available to you.
Safe driver – The Progressive safe driver discount allows you to lower your insurance premium by nearly a third. Drivers who had no accidents or tickets in the past 3 years will qualify.
Homeowner – Homeowners on average are usually safer drivers. Home ownership will result in a discount with Progressive. The amount that you will be able to save varies.
Continuous insurance – Have you maintained active auto insurance with no gaps or cancellations? It doesn’t matter if it has been with Progressive or State Farm. It doesn’t matter who you have been insured with. The amount that you are able to save depends on the amount of time that you spent with that insurance carrier.
Teen driver discount – Add your newly licensed teen driver to your insurance policy. This discount applies to children 18 years of age and under.
Good student – Add an Honor Roll student onto your policy and you will be able to save.
Roadside assistance
Progressive’s Emergency Roadside Assistance covers anywhere within 15 miles of the breakdown spot. Their roadside assistance also covers a locksmith service, winching service, fuel delivery, towing, locksmith service, flat tire change, and on scene labor related to disablement of up to one hour.
The USAA roadside assistance service offers similar services to Progressive such as towing service, tire changes, fuel delivery, and more.
Mobile app
The USAA mobile app is packed with features. With the app, you are able to send and receive money for free. You will easily be able to manage your auto insurance policy, finances, investments, and more. The app allows you to watch informative videos, report claims, receive discounts, get an auto ID card, call for emergency roadside assistance, and more.
The Progressive mobile app is one of my favorite insurance apps in terms of its flexibility. With the app you will be able to manage auto, motorcycle, ATV, boat, RV/trailer, mobile home, and snowmobile policies. With the app, you will not be able to manage policies such as home, renters, condo, and umbrella policies. With this app, you will be able to view coverages, ID cards, policy details for your vehicles, pay your bill, report a claim, get in touch with your agent, and more.
Bottom Line
Progressive and USAA are two awesome insurance carriers. When it comes to price they are both known for offering affordable rates. In claims and customer complaint studies done by J.D. Power and other companies USAA beat out Progressive. USAA can’t be used if you don’t have active or retired military personnel in your family. Progressive can be used by everyone and they offer a military discount in some states. I strongly recommend that you compare insurance quotes now to get the best rates.