Progressive and USAA are among the largest car insurance companies in the United States.
At numbers three and five, respectively, choosing one company over the other would be easy if rates were the only thing to consider. Instead, strict eligibility requirements for USAA may prevent you from taking advantage of its low premiums. Continue reading for our comparison of these prominent insurers.
For more information on the individual companies, check out our Progressive Car Insurance Review and USAA Car Insurance Review.
Progressive and USAA both offer standard auto insurance coverage options such as:
Read our article about the common types of auto insurance to learn more about basic coverage.
Additional coverage from Progressive and USAA may be available as add-ons to basic coverage in some states.
Progressive offers an accident forgiveness perk designed to ensure your rates won’t rise following an accident.
USAA’s rates are often lower when compared against premiums from other insurers. According to The Zebra, the average monthly premium from USAA is $106. Premiums with Progressive are higher for many drivers.
A popular feature is the “name your price” tool from Progressive. You indicate how much you want to pay, and the company provides available options for coverage within your price range.
While cost tops the list of considerations for most drivers, it should not be the only factor when looking for insurance. This table compares average annual premiums between Progressive and USAA by age tier.
| Age Group | Progressive | USAA |
| Teens | $8,248 | $2,864 |
| 20s | $2,287 | $1,261 |
| 30s | $2,287 | $963 |
| 40s | $1,644 | $957 |
| 50s | $1,542 | $889 |
| 60s | $1,403 | $845 |
Source: The Zebra
Your driving record is just one thing insurance companies consider when giving you a rate quote. Your age, geographic location, gender, marital status, credit history, and the car your drive are among the factors that influence the overall insurance cost.
USAA and Progressive both offer an array of discounts to policyholders, such as:
Additional discounts are available. But some may not be offered by each. For example, USAA provides a military discount. However, only military members, retirees, and select family members are eligible for insurance coverage from USAA.
USAA policyholders have an uncommon discount for stored vehicles. The benefit — geared toward deployed service members — provides savings of up to 60% for storing a car securely for 30 days. If the storage location is on a military base, USAA gives an additional 15% discount.
Cost and coverage options are primary considerations when shopping for car insurance. Still, many people agree that overall customer satisfaction is worth paying a little more money.
For car insurance shoppers, high customer service ratings mean a strong likelihood of the insurer processing claims quickly and efficiently. The 2021 J.D. Power U.S. Auto Insurance Study includes responses from nearly 39,000 car insurance customers. The results provide insights into customer satisfaction in key areas:
J.D. Power assessments give USAA an “excellent” rating based on customers’ opinions of and experiences with the company. Progressive was rated “below average.”
Both companies earned a “superior” financial strength rating from A.M. Best. This high rating indicates that the insurers have the solid ability to pay their claims obligations.
Your car insurance needs are unique to your situation. Request a quote from Progressive, USAA, and other insurance companies. USAA offers less-expensive premiums in many cases, but you might not be eligible for a policy. Sill, Progressive has many discounts available that can lower its competitive rates.
Shopping around will always get you the best price, but remember that cost is just one factor you must consider.
No matter which company you choose, you must understand what is covered and know what is best for your situation before signing a new car insurance policy or renewing your coverage.
