State farm vs. Progressive: Which is Best for You?

State Farm's rates are cheapest for the average driver, and it’s more affordable than Progressive in 36 states. Progressive is less expensive in 12 states. State Farm also has lower rates for young drivers and drivers with violations, along with slightly better customer satisfaction and complaint ratings. On the other hand, Progressive has more unique coverage options.

State Farm is good for cheaper rates, better customer experience, discounts and financial strength.

Progressive is good for availability in every state, unique coverages and drivers with a DUI or low credit score.

On average, State Farm’s auto insurance policies are more affordable than Progressive’s. State Farm’s average annual auto premium is $1,235, while Progressive’s rate for the same driver is $1,381.

Remember that your location, age, driving record and credit score determine the cheapest car insurance company for you. To obtain the rates above, MoneyGeek used a 40-year-old male sample driver with no violations. The policy quoted has 100/300/100 liability limits and comprehensive and collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible.

When looking for affordable insurance, it's essential to consider your location's effect on costs. The average cost of auto insurance in your state may not match national premiums.

On average, State Farm is cheaper in more states than Progressive. Of the 48 states MoneyGeek had data for both companies, State Farm was cheaper in 36 states, and Progressive was more affordable in 12.

Keep in mind that Progressive offers auto insurance coverage in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Though State Farm is in all 50 states and Washington D.C., it is no longer actively writing policies in:

• Massachusetts
• Rhode Island

In the table below, you'll see "Not Available" indications in several states for Progressive. Keep in mind that Progressive still offers coverage in these states, and the "Not Available" text simply indicates that our study included no data in these three states. If you'd like to see which company may offer you a lower quote instantly, use our car insurance calculator to estimate or get a personalized quote.

Your age, credit score and driving history are the main factors that determine your car insurance rates. For young drivers and those with violations, State Farm is cheaper, but Progressive is cheaper for drivers with poor credit and a DUI on their driving record.

• State Farm is cheaper for an 18-year-old student driver.
• State Farm is cheaper for a driver with a speeding ticket.
• State Farm is cheaper for a driver with an at-fault accident.
• Progressive is cheaper for a driver with a DUI.
• Progressive is cheaper for a driver with a low credit score.

While some auto insurance companies offer a wide range of discounts and others only have a few, what matters most is your final quote. Typically, the auto and home bundle discount is the most substantial discount available with many insurance companies. Usage-based driving programs also have the potential to yield significant savings, depending on your driving habits. MoneyGeek considers State Farm the winner for both of these discounts.

The average home and auto bundle discount is 17%. With State Farm, you can receive a 25% discount for buying both insurance plans from their company. Progressive says you can save $1,000 by bundling, but their average discount is only 4%.

State Farm’s Drive Safe & Save program provides a discount of up to 30% on your car insurance when you track your driving habits through OnStar or the company’s app. With Progressive’s Snapshot, you can save $47 to sign up and $146 after completing the program. However, Progressive may also increase rates for risky drivers, while State Farm won’t penalize you based on your driving habits.

To measure customer experience, MoneyGeek used J.D. Power ratings that assess how satisfied customers are with an insurance company's service. MoneyGeek also considered the number of complaints lodged with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) for each company. According to these metrics, State Farm is the top car insurance company for customer service, scoring better by a small margin.

When ranked out of a possible 1,000 points by J.D. Power, State Farm scored a few more points than Progressive, with 837 and 832 points, respectively. Because State Farm scored higher, it out beats Progressive in this category.

The NAIC’s customer complaint index is used to determine the number of customer complaints each insurance company receives, with an average score of 1. If a company scores less than 1, the company has fewer complaints than average. If they score more than 1, they receive more than average. State Farm’s customer complaint ratio is 1.28, while Progressive’s ratio is 1.33. This difference means that State Farm receives slightly fewer complaints than Progressive, making it the winner in this category, too.

Everyone expects standard coverages from car insurance companies, including liability, comprehensive, collision, personal injury protection, and uninsured motorist coverage. Some companies offer additional coverage outside these standard options.

Compared to State Farm, Progressive offers more coverage options that can help you tailor your auto insurance needs, making Progressive the winner in this category.

Both companies offer rental car reimbursement, rideshare coverage and roadside assistance. But Progressive offers other coverage features like custom parts coverage, deductible rewards, accident forgiveness and gap insurance. If you choose high deductibles, have custom car parts or want gap protection for your financed or leased vehicle, Progressive may be the better option for you.

When choosing an insurance company, financial stability may be an important factor worth considering. As measured by A.M. Best, financial stability attests to a company’s ability to pay for legitimate claims, regardless of the size of the claim and the number filed. Progressive has an excellent financial stability score of A+, but State Farm’s score is superior at A++, making it the more financially stable option.

MoneyGeek chose State Farm as its winner for best online tools options. It matches Progressive's in-app experience and educational content while also offering helpful online calculators.

Progressive and State Farm offer a wide range of online tools to make policyholder’s lives easier. Both offer mobile apps, with Progressive including Snapshot in its main app and State Farm offering a separate app for Drive Safe & Save. You can also make changes and file and track claims online, with some features available without having to log in. Each company provides online libraries to educate consumers on insurance decisions. However, State Farm takes this a step further by offering online calculators to help make consumers make smart decisions when financing a vehicle, budgeting and saving.

State Farm and Progressive were analyzed by MoneyGeek based on affordability, coverages, service, financial stability and online tools.

Customer satisfaction and complaints data were drawn from J.D. Power surveys and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Financial strength was based on ratings from A.M. Best, an insurance credit rating agency.

The MoneyGeek team compiled data on available coverages and discounts for each insurer. Quotes were compiled from hundreds of ZIP codes across the country for a sample car insurance policy for a 40-year-old male. The policy covers:

• $100,000 on bodily injury liability insurance per person
• $300,000 on bodily injury liability insurance per accident
• $100,000 on property damage liability insurance per person
• Comprehensive and collision insurance with a $1,000 deductible