The competition is tight, but Farmers pulls slightly ahead, helped by its wide range of discounts and unique programs that Progressive doesn’t offer.
Reviewed By Tara Stumpf
Edited By Renata Balasco
What's the difference between Progressive and Farmers?
Progressive and Farmers both rank among the largest and most well-known auto insurers, and their overall performance is fairly comparable. That said, Progressive comes out ahead in a direct comparison. The edge comes from a mix of marginally cheaper average premiums, a higher rating from The Zebra, and stronger marks for customer service.
Progressive
Farmers
Avg. Cost
The Zebra's Overall Rating
Customer Service
Claims Experience
Digital Experience
Trust & Reliability
More Insurance Products
Financial Strength
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How The Zebra evaluates insurance companies
| Rating | Explanation | Star rating equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Subpar | Lowest ranking, suggesting instability or high risk | 0-1.9 |
| Fair | Somewhat stable but not consistently reliable | 2-2.9 |
| Good | Generally dependable with moderate stability | 3-3.9 |
| Solid | Strong, reliable and dependable with minor risks | 4-4.4 |
| Exceptional | Highest rating, indicating outstanding stability and reliability | 4.5-5 |
Methodology — how The Zebra reviews insurance companies
The team of insurance experts at The Zebra evaluates companies by focusing on customer experience first, with an emphasis on service quality, reliability, and ease of interaction. Unlike previous models, pricing is not scored but is instead presented separately as context for comparison.
Each category has been scored using a combination of our internal customer satisfaction survey results and published scores from reputable organizations such as AM Best and J.D. Power.
- Service Accessibility & Support Quality (25%): This category measures how easy it is to get help when needed, evaluating factors such as support channel availability (phone, chat, in-person, app), response times, agent knowledge, service hours, and language accessibility.
- Claims Experience (25%): This category assesses how smoothly the claims process works, considering ease of filing (online, app, or phone), transparency and communication, processing times, and fairness in dispute resolution.
- Digital Experience & Policy Management (25%): This category evaluates the convenience of managing your policy: this includes mobile app usability, website experience, account management, digital document access, self-service options, and platform integrations
- Trust & Reliability (25%): This category looks at a company’s overall reliability, measuring financial strength, market stability, regulatory history, communication transparency, and consistency in policy terms.
Price context: Pricing varies significantly based on individual circumstances and risk factors. Customers can evaluate cost-effectiveness based on their specific situation and the service quality scores provided.
Progressive: Early savings pop, long-term satisfaction dips
✅ What customers like:
- Snapshot discount: Progressive's telematic device is well-liked by customers for its ability to lower premiums
- Affordable liability coverage: Progressive's average rate for a liability-only policy ($344) is one of the most affordable in the country.
🚫 What customers don't like:
- Rate hikes after claims: Customers report significant increases post-claim.
- Difficult or poor app experience: Progressive's app scores in the bottom percentile of insurance companies.
Farmers: Great digital tools, weaker claims follow-through
✅ What customers like:
- Digital policy management: Farmers' online tools and mobile app are rated highly for smooth policy management.
- Market consistency: Customers trust Farmers' stability, with its high financial strength and consistent policy terms.
🚫 What customers don't like:
- Slow claims processing: While filing a claim is easy and straightforward, customers report a less-than-ideal experience with communication and transparency through processing.
- Higher premiums: When comparing Farmers to similarly-sized providers, rates are often more expensive for the same risk profile.
How much is car insurance with Progressive and Farmers?
Progressive charges $1,086 for a full coverage, 6-month auto policy; Farmer's average rate for the same policy is $1,241.[1]
💡 The national average for a 6-month full coverage car insurance policy is $1,084. For liability-only, it's $368.
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| Company | Full Coverage | Liability | Difference from National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farmers | $1,241 | $420 | 14.5% ▲ |
| Progressive | $1,086 | $344 | 0.2% ▼ |
Source: The Zebra
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How much could my car insurance cost?
*Quotes generated for The Zebra users within the last 10 days. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
It varies by state
Location makes a huge difference in auto insurance costs, down to your ZIP code. Select your state from the drop-down list below to see average rates from Farmers and Progressive.
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| Coverage | Progressive | Farmers |
|---|---|---|
| State Minimum Liability Only | $402 | $520 |
| 50/100/50 BI/PD with $500 Deductible | $1,282 | $1,511 |
Source: The Zebra
Your credit score matters
In most states, car insurance companies use your credit score to determine risk. Those with a lower credit score are often saddled with higher premiums, while improved credit tiers are rewarded with lower rates.
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Source: The Zebra
California, Hawaii, Michigan, and Massachusetts do not use credit scores in insurance ratings.
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| Age Group | Progressive | Farmers |
|---|---|---|
| 16-19 | $2,542 | $2,541 |
| 20s | $1,570 | $1,777 |
| 30s | $1,093 | $1,178 |
| 40s | $1,093 | $1,307 |
| 50s | $890 | $1,127 |
| 60+ | $1,218 | $1,575 |
Source: The Zebra
Driving history is weighted the most
Above all, insurance companies care about your driving history. This means accidents, tickets, lapses in coverage, and other violations. Drivers with many accidents pose a greater risk, and pay the price for it.
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Source: The Zebra
Does Progressive or Farmers offer better discounts?
🏆 Winner: Farmers
64% of Zebra customers say their insurer fails to proactively identify discounts for which they may be eligible.[2] Since those savings can significantly lower your premium, it’s worth factoring in when choosing a provider.
Take a look at the discount options from both Progressive and Farmers below.
Featured discounts at Progressive:
🚙 Name Your Price tool
🚙 Snapshot (telematics)
🚙 Accident forgiveness
Featured discounts at Farmers:
🚗 Signal App (telematics)
🚗 Good Payer
🚗 GroupSelect
| Discount comparison | Progressive | Farmers |
|---|---|---|
| Good student | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multiple policies | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multiple vehicles | ✓ | ✓ |
| Good driver | ✓ | |
| Defensive driver | ✓ | |
| Student away at school | ✓ | ✓ |
| Driver training | ✓ | |
| Green vehicles | ||
| Affinity membership alum | ||
| Pay in full | ✓ | ✓ |
| Homeowner | ✓ | ✓ |
| Telematics | ✓ | ✓ |
| Military | ✓ | |
| Continuous coverage | ✓ |
*Availability of discounts can sometimes vary by state. Contact your agent to verify availability and eligibility.
Progressive vs. Farmers additional coverage options
🏆 Winner: Progressive
Most insurance providers offer the same standard set of auto insurance coverages— liability, collision, comprehensive, uninsured/underinsured motorist and medical payments can be expected from Farmers and Progressive. These companies also offer additional, optional coverages to their customers:
| Coverage | Does Progressive offer it? | Does Farmers offer it? |
|---|---|---|
| Roadside assistance |
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| Rideshare insurance |
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| Gap insurance |
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| Custom parts and equipment |
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| Rental car reimbursement |
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| Accident forgiveness | ||
| New car replacement |
Considering Progressive or Farmers?
See what other drivers are asking
What is Progressive's Snapshot program, and how does it affect my rates?
The Snapshot from Progressive is a telematics tool that tracks your driving habits to reward safe drivers with potential discounts. You can choose between an app-based version or a small plug-in device. Snapshot monitors your driving and shares the data with Progressive, helping determine your insu…
Why won't Progressive cover Tesla labor rates?
Yes, Progressive can refuse to pay for Tesla labor costs if those costs aren’t covered under your policy. Insurance companies, including Progressive, follow their own policy guidelines for handling claims and repairs. If your policy doesn’t specifically cover higher labor rates for Tesla-certified …
Why did my Farmers rate go up if I haven’t had any accidents or tickets?
Farmers (and honestly, most major insurers) have been raising rates across the board. Even with a perfect driving record, your price can go up because of rising repair costs, more expensive parts, higher medical payouts, and a big jump in claim frequency over the past couple of years.In your case, …
I got in an accident with my mom's car. Will Progressive cover it?
Whether Progressive covers the damage depends on whether you live with your mom. Insurance companies typically require anyone of driving age living in the household to be listed on a policy. This is because sharing vehicles within the same household is common, and insurers want a clear understandin…
The bottom line: Which company is better for you?
No single insurer is the perfect fit for everyone—each driver brings different priorities and preferences to the table, and those factors can carry varying importance from one shopper to the next.
- For budget-conscious drivers: Progressive
- For drivers with extra coverage needs: Progressive
- For drivers with a history of accidents: Progressive
- For drivers with poor credit history: Farmers
Dive deeper into each company
The experts at The Zebra have thoroughly reviewed major car insurance companies to assist you in choosing a provider. Learn even more about each company from their full reviews.
Progressive Insurance Review
Reviews and ratings for Progressive rate it a solid company with a 4/5 score in 2026. Read Progressive's reviews, complaints and prices before you buy.
Farmers Insurance Review
Reviews and ratings for Farmers rate it a good company with a 3.6/5 score in 2026. Read Farmers's reviews, complaints and prices before you buy.
Frequently asked questions: Progressive vs Farmers
Sources:
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Data Methodology. The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool
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Anonymized User Surveys. The Zebra
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About The Zebra
The Zebra is not an insurance company. We publish data-backed, expert-reviewed resources to help consumers make more informed insurance decisions.
- The Zebra’s insurance content is written and reviewed for accuracy by licensed insurance agents.
- The Zebra’s insurance editorial content is not subject to review or alteration by insurance companies or partners.
- The Zebra’s editorial team operates independently of the company’s partnerships and commercialization interests, publishing unbiased information for consumer benefit.
- The auto insurance rates published on The Zebra’s pages are based on a comprehensive analysis of car insurance pricing data, evaluating more than 83 million insurance rates from across the United States.