Strategies To Reduce Your Progressive Auto Insurance Policy Costs

Progressive offers a range of ways to lower your auto insurance premium. Some of the most impactful ways to do this include qualifying for multiple discounts, avoiding accidents, and changing your coverage. Progressive offers discounts for things like bundling your car and property insurance, paying upfront instead of monthly, signing your policy online, and driving safely with the Snapshot® program. You can also reduce your coverage or increase your deductible, as long as you're comfortable with paying more out-of-pocket if you make a claim. Additionally, you can try usage-based insurance, which rewards safe and infrequent drivers with lower rates.

Increase your deductible

One way to lower your auto insurance premium with Progressive is to increase your deductible. A deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket when a covered incident occurs before your insurance covers the rest. Typically, you can choose between a low and high deductible. While a low deductible means a higher insurance rate, opting for a higher deductible will lower your insurance rate. This is because a higher deductible means you are assuming greater financial responsibility for any expenses you'll be required to pay for a claim.

For example, if you have a $250 deductible and get into an accident that causes $5,000 worth of damage to your vehicle, you will need to pay $250, and Progressive would cover the remaining $4,750. On the other hand, if your deductible is $1,000, you will be responsible for the full $500 if the repair estimate for your car is less than your deductible.

Progressive offers a disappearing deductible program called the Deductible Savings Bank. This optional feature can be added to your existing policy, allowing you to reduce your deductible by $50 for every policy period without a claim or driving violation, all the way down to $0. If you remain claim-and-violation-free, you may eventually have enough to pay your entire deductible.

Reduce your coverage

One way to lower your auto insurance policy with Progressive is to reduce your coverage. Nearly every state requires a minimum amount of car insurance, but your coverage might include more than what's required. If this is the case, consider lowering your liability insurance limits to reduce your premium. You can also remove optional coverages like comprehensive and collision, as long as you don't have a car lease or loan that requires them.

Progressive offers car insurance discounts for bundling your car and property insurance, such as auto and home, auto and condo, or auto and renters insurance. You can also save by bundling insurance for your RV, boat, motorcycle, and more.

In addition to reducing your coverage, you can also increase your deductible. This means that you would pay more out of pocket if you have a claim, but you would pay less for your policy. There are typically deductibles on auto collision coverage, auto comprehensive coverage, UM/UIM coverage, and PIP. If you increase your deductible, you can expect to pay less for your premium.

It's important to note that reducing your coverage or increasing your deductible may result in higher out-of-pocket costs if you need to make a claim. Be sure to review your policy carefully and consider your financial situation before making any changes to your coverage or deductible.

By making these adjustments to your coverage and deductible, you can reduce your auto insurance policy costs with Progressive.

Take a defensive driving course

Defensive driving courses are designed to improve your existing driving skills so that you can better anticipate situations that may cause an accident and drive more safely in general. Progressive may lower your rates by about 5% if you complete an approved defensive driving course and meet certain qualifications. The actual amount of the discount will vary based on your age, state, and other factors. Before signing up for a defensive driving course, check your state's regulations or laws about defensive driver discounts, and learn about your insurer's available discounts, including any defensive driving discount age limits.

Defensive driving courses can be completed online or in-person, with online courses typically costing between $15 and $40, and live classes costing up to $100. The cost may be worth it, as you'll get a discount for three years, in most cases. At that time, you should be able to renew the discount by retaking the course.

In some states, you can qualify for this discount by taking a four-hour defensive driving course. The course might qualify you for a lower premium, and it can improve your driving habits, potentially leading to fewer violations and claims in the future.

Get a cheaper car to insure

One of the most impactful ways to lower your car insurance premium is to get a car that's cheaper to insure. Cars that are generally cheaper to insure are those that are safer and less likely to be involved in costly claims.

When shopping for a new car, consider the following:

Safety Ratings

Safer cars are often cheaper to insure as they are less likely to be involved in accidents and costly claims. Look for cars with good safety ratings and features, as these may qualify you for a better rate.

Repair and Replacement Costs

Cars that are cheaper to repair or replace in the event of an accident will typically have lower insurance premiums. Older cars tend to be cheaper to insure with comprehensive and collision coverage, especially if they have higher safety ratings. However, newer cars with advanced safety technologies may also be cheaper to insure with liability coverage.

Bodily Injury Claims Frequency

Cars with a lower frequency of bodily injury claims tend to be cheaper to insure. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Highway Loss Data Institute (IIHS-HLDI), SUVs generally have a lower bodily injury claims frequency than sedans, making them potentially cheaper to insure.

Vehicle Type and Size

The type and size of your vehicle can impact the cost of insurance. SUVs, for example, tend to have lower insurance rates than sedans, based on average insurance costs and bodily injury losses.

Vehicle Make and Model

The make and model of your car can affect your insurance rate. Some of the cheapest cars to insure, according to IIHS-HLDI data, include the Subaru Legacy, Subaru Ascent, and Toyota Tacoma Xtra Cab. These cars have lower-than-average bodily injury claim frequencies, making them less risky and potentially less expensive to insure.

Other Factors

In addition to the vehicle itself, other factors that can impact your insurance rate include your age, driving history, location, and coverage selections. It's important to consider all these factors when choosing a car to insure, as they can significantly influence the cost of your insurance premium.

Remove a driver from your policy

Removing a driver from your Progressive insurance policy is a straightforward process, but it's important to understand the difference between removing and excluding a driver, as well as the potential impact on your premium.

Removing vs. Excluding a Driver

When you remove a driver from your Progressive insurance policy, their name will be taken off your policy entirely. This is typically done when a driver no longer lives with you and no longer drives your vehicle. In this case, some insurers may request proof that the driver has moved out, such as a change of address or a copy of their new lease or utility bill. It's a good idea to keep children who are away at college or who have moved out temporarily on your policy, as this ensures they can still drive your vehicle during breaks.

On the other hand, excluding a driver means that they are still listed on your policy but are explicitly denied coverage. This is relevant when a household member will no longer be driving your vehicle but may need to be covered in case of an emergency. Excluding a driver with a poor driving record may help lower your premium, but it's important to note that any accident involving an excluded driver may not be covered by your insurer. Not all states allow policyholders to exclude household members, so be sure to check with your insurer and review your state's regulations.

Impact on Insurance Rate

Removing a driver from your Progressive insurance policy may reduce your overall rate, especially if the driver has a history of insurance claims and accidents. However, it's important to remember that your rate could also increase if the driver being removed has a clean record with no claims, accidents, or traffic violations. This is because Progressive, like other insurance companies, determines rates based on the claims experience of customers with similar characteristics.

How to Remove a Driver

Removing a driver from your Progressive insurance policy can often be done online or through the Progressive app. However, some insurers may require you to contact a representative and provide proof that the driver no longer lives with you. Therefore, it's recommended to check with your insurer to understand their specific process and requirements.

Frequently asked questions