What is Progressive Direct Car Insurance?
Progressive Direct Insurance Company is the division of Progressive that sells insurance directly to customers. This means that if you purchase a policy through Progressive’s website or by calling customer service, you are using Progressive Direct.
Progressive Corp. offers the same coverage and insurance add-ons whether you get Progressive Direct auto insurance or use an independent agent or broker.
Auto insurance companies have multiple ways to sell coverage. They can hire closed agents, sell to consumers through a website or call center, and sell through independent agents and insurance brokers. Progressive has no captive agents. It sells directly to consumers and through independent agents and brokers.
Differences between progressive and progressive direct
There are two main differences between purchasing progressive insurance through an independent agent or broker or directly from the company. The price may be slightly different and who you interact with to get service is different.
The price you pay
You may find slightly different rates if you compare auto insurance rates through an agent and Progressive’s website. This is because each business model has different costs associated with it. Here’s a breakdown:
- Progressive direct: Progressive Direct auto insurance is sold online and over the phone. This means that the company maintains call center staff and has costs such as marketing to consumers. Your price includes these costs of doing business.
- Independent agent or broker: Independent agents make commissions that Progressive rolls into insurance rates. Brokers also make commissions, and you can pay separate fees to get brokers to help you file a claim or change your coverage.
Both ways to buy progressive insurance account for different costs of doing business. But the differences between an agent or broker and Progressive Direct may be less than the differences between Progressive and another insurance company.
How you get service
The other major difference is who you work with to get service. Progressive Direct auto insurance customers can call customer service and claims departments by phone, use the Progressive mobile app and use email to get help.
However, there is no option to meet an agent in person because Progressive does not hire captive agents. If you want someone local to review your policy or help you with problems, Progressive Direct may not be the best option for you. Plus, you’ll likely be working with someone new every time you call.
On the other hand, buying Progressive through an independent agent or broker ensures that you’ll have someone in your area who can help you upgrade coverage or resolve issues. You’ll work with the same agent every time you need help with your policy. As a progressive customer, you can still call the company directly for help with your policy or file an insurance claim if you choose.
Progressive auto insurance direct pricing
You can get a Progressive Direct auto insurance quote by using Progressive’s website or by calling customer service. According to our data, full coverage insurance from Progressive costs around $1,611 per year average. That’s about 7% cheaper than the national average annual rate of $1,730 per year. These rates apply to 35-year-old drivers with good credit and a good driving record.
Progressive car insurance costs are based on a variety of factors, including:
Progressive direct auto insurance discounts
Progressive offers 13 discounts for the insured:
Depending on your situation, you may be eligible for multiple discounts if you get Progressive Direct auto insurance. But if you use an agent or broker, you may not be able to get an online offer or discounts for online entry.
Progressive direct car insurance coverage
As mentioned above, you can get the same coverage from Progressive Direct and through an agent or broker. Progressive auto insurance offers a wide range of coverage options, so you can get everything from state-mandated liability coverage to full coverage with added benefits. Standard options include:
Supplements you can get from Progressive include:
Progressive Direct Auto Insurance Reviews
Most Progressive reviews on sites including the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot are for Progressive Direct. If a customer wants to review a specific agency or broker, they can do so on that company’s website.
Progressive has an A rating from the BBB, which means it has transparent business practices and resolves all BBB complaints. However, the company also has a rating of nearly 1.1 out of 5 stars from over 1,400 customer reviews.
Our team reached out to Progressive for comment on the outcome of the customer review, but did not hear back.
Progressive Direct Auto Insurance: The Bottom Line
Progressive Direct is the division that sells insurance to customers through the company’s website and by phone. It offers all the coverage options and insurance policy upgrades you can find from Progressive. There may be a slight difference between prices from Progressive Direct and from an independent agent or broker. While shopping, we recommend comparing insurance quotes from other companies to see if Progressive offers the best rates.
Top recommendations for car insurance
We compared all the major auto insurance companies on reputation, availability, coverage, price and customer experience. Along with Progressive, our top 10 picks for auto insurance include State Farm and Geico.
State Farm: Best Customer Experience
State Farm offers low rates, reliable service and helpful programs for young drivers. Our pricing data shows that State Farm’s comprehensive coverage prices are typically about 14% cheaper than the national average. Young drivers can save more if they have good grades or participate in the company’s Steer Clear education program.
Read more: State Farm Insurance Reviews
Geico: Best for drivers on a budget
With full coverage rates about 24% cheaper than the national average, Geico can be an affordable option for many drivers. One thing that stands out is the variety of discounts. Geico offers 16 of them, including discounts for veterans, federal employees, students and good drivers.
Read more: Geico Insurance Reviews
FAQ: Progressive Direct Auto Insurance
Below are frequently asked questions about full coverage car insurance.
Progressive Direct is a division of Progressive that sells directly to consumers. The other option is to purchase a policy from an independent insurance agent or broker. Either way, you get the same coverage and add-on options.
Our insurance cost data shows that Progressive’s average rates are about 7% cheaper than the national average. This applies to good drivers who are 35 years old and have good credit and a good driving record. Since rates are customized for each driver, compare companies to see which one is cheaper for you.
Direct Auto is a subsidiary of National General Holdings, which is a subsidiary of Allstate. However, Direct Auto operates independently and offers its own insurance products and services.
Our pricing data shows that, on average, Geico is about 19% cheaper than Progressive for good drivers. However, insurance rates are customized based on the vehicle and driver, so you may find that Progressive’s rates are cheaper in your situation.
Our methodology
Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we have created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our ranking of the best car insurance companies. We’ve collected data on dozens of auto insurance providers to rank companies on a wide range of ranking factors. The final result was an overall score for each provider, with insurers with the most points topping the list.
Here are the factors our ratings take into account:
- price: Car insurance rate forecasts generated by Quadrant Information Services and discount opportunities were considered.
- Coverage: Companies that offer a variety of insurance coverage choices are more likely to meet consumer needs.
- Reputation and experience: Our research team considered market share, industry expert ratings and years in business while coming up with this estimate.
- Availability: Auto insurance companies with greater state availability and few eligibility requirements scored highest in this category.
- Customer experience: This score is based on complaint volume reported by NAIC and customer satisfaction ratings reported by JD Power. We also took into account the responsiveness, friendliness and helpfulness of each insurance company’s customer service team based on our own buyer analysis.
Our Credentials:
- 800 hours investigated
- 45 companies reviewed
- 8500+ users investigated
* Data correct at time of publication.