USAA and Progressive are popular options for auto insurance and two of the largest car insurance companies in the U.S. by market share.1 Both car insurance companies provide national coverage, but USAA only sells coverage to former, active, and reserve military members and their families. If you qualify for membership, USAA offers the cheapest option overall.
However, it’s crucial to compare your options when shopping for car insurance. In addition to the average rates, you’ll want to take a closer look at the customer experience, discounts, and coverage options available when deciding on an insurer.
USAA is the best option when it comes to overall customer service satisfaction — the company received an above-average ranking in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, while Progressive ranked below average.2 Both companies are available nationwide, though USAA only serves veterans, military members, and their families.
Both companies offer standard coverage options, though Progressive has a wider variety of available policy add-ons, like pet injury protection and trip interruption coverage. USAA offers slightly more discounts than Progressive.
Learn more about the two companies below.
Progressive is the second-largest auto insurance company in the U.S. and provides various unique coverage options. The company sells many other insurance products, including homeowners, condo, renters, flood, life, travel, and business insurance.
USAA auto insurance consistently earns high rankings for customer service, and the company provides some of the lowest rates available. The company received an A++ (Superior) rating for financial strength from AM Best. Unfortunately, USAA membership is only available to veterans, active-duty and reserve service members, and their eligible family members.
Progressive Snapshot and USAA SafePilot are both usage-based insurance programs that reward customers for safe driving habits.
The Snapshot program focuses on usage-based driving, so how often you actually drive will influence your car insurance rate. You’ll track your mileage using a plug-in device or the company’s mobile app. You can maximize your discounts by limiting hard braking and accelerations, avoiding late-night trips in the car, and staying off your phone.
You’ll automatically save 10% by enrolling in the USAA SafePilot program and could save up to 30% at your next policy renewal. To start, you’ll download the SafePilot app, which will collect information about how much time you spend driving, what time of day you drive, and other factors that influence your safety on the road.
USAA is the cheapest option overall for liability-only and full-coverage auto insurance. However, the exact cost of your coverage will vary depending on multiple factors. Your driving record, location, age, and credit all affect your car insurance rates. For example, if you live in a ZIP code with high vandalism rates, you can expect to pay more for auto insurance.3
USAA is the cheapest option for drivers with a clean driving record, but both companies fall below the national average for both liability and full-coverage insurance.
Speeding puts others at risk, so receiving even one speeding ticket can cause your car insurance rates to increase. Progressive offers lower rates for high-risk drivers who have received a speeding ticket.
Young drivers have a higher risk of having a fatal crash due to their lack of driving experience and potential for risky behaviors. The insurers offer similar quotes for teen drivers.
In most states, insurance companies can consider your credit-based insurance score to determine your premiums. Drivers with good credit typically find cheaper car insurance rates than people with poor credit.
On average, senior drivers will find the lowest rates for car insurance by choosing USAA. However, both Progressive and USAA offer affordable coverage for senior drivers.
Progressive and USAA offer the standard types of coverage you’d expect to see in an auto insurance policy. That includes liability, collision, uninsured motorist, and comprehensive coverage.
However, Progressive offers more unique add-on coverage options than USAA. For example, if your pet incurs an injury while riding in the car with you, Progressive will cover up to $1,000 in veterinary bills. The company also offers trip interruption coverage, which pays for up to $500 in costs if your vehicle breaks down more than 100 miles from home.
Certain coverage options can vary depending on your location. For instance, USAA provides rideshare insurance to customers in every state except Hawaii, North Carolina, Michigan, Montana, New Mexico, New York, South Carolina, and Virginia.
USAA offers slightly more discounts than Progressive, which may partially account for why it’s the cheapest option overall. With USAA, you can receive a discount for driving a vehicle less than 3 years old or for having anti-theft devices installed. USAA also offers a discount to low-mileage drivers and to anyone storing their vehicle temporarily.
Progressive offers a discount to homeowners and students attending school more than 100 miles from home, which USAA doesn’t.
Progressive and USAA are both excellent car insurance options to consider. The best car insurance company for you depends on your needs and financial situation. Here’s some additional information you can consider.
Progressive ranks higher than USAA in some categories but falls behind in others. For example, USAA offers more competitive rates overall, but Progressive provides more coverage options and add-ons. USAA has higher customer satisfaction rankings, and Progressive doesn’t limit coverage to military members.
The biggest disadvantage of USAA is that it’s only available to veterans, active-duty and reserve service members, and their eligible family members. Most drivers don’t qualify for USAA membership, and you must become a USAA member before you can receive a quote for auto insurance.
USAA car insurance consistently offers some of the cheapest options for car insurance. Compared to Progressive, it’s the best option for drivers with a clean record, teen drivers, and seniors. If neither option works for you, you may want to consider other insurers, like State Farm, GEICO, or American Family.
Progressive and USAA both offer the standard coverage options you’d expect to see. However, Progressive offers more unique coverage options, like pet injury, gap, and trip interruption coverage.
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