State Farm vs. Progressive

Progressive is so cheap because it offers a wide variety of discounts and gives consumers tools to acheive the best rates possible, such as Progressive's price comparison tool and their Name Your Price® program. A minimum coverage policy from Progressive costs an average of $54 per month, and Progressive premiums can be made even cheaper by taking advantage of discounts such as continuous insurance discount and paperless discount. Plus, Progressive rewards customer loyalty with discounts for insuring more than one car and bundling multiple policies, such as home and auto.

Average Monthly Rates for Progressive vs. Top Competitors

Note: Premiums are representative of a 45-year-old good driver in CA; individual premiums will vary.

Progressive is especially cheap for safe drivers in particular. That's because Progressive has special savings opportunities for drivers in this category, such as lower rates for drivers who have not had any accidents or tickets for at least three years.

Your final premium is based on a variety of factors, though, such as your driving record, insurance history, and more. Every insurance company determines their rates differently, so even though Progressive is among the cheapest car insurance companies, the only way to confirm you've found the lowest price is to compare quotes from multiple companies.

To learn more, check out WalletHub's review of Progressive and see Progressive's full profile.

State Farm is so cheap because the company has more customers than any other provider, and their large market share allows them to keep their prices competitive. A minimum coverage policy from State Farm costs an average of $77 per month, and State Farm premiums can be made even cheaper by taking advantage of discounts such as passive restraint discount and anti-theft discount. Plus, State Farm rewards customer loyalty with discounts for insuring more than one car and bundling multiple policies, such as home and auto.

Average Monthly Rates for State Farm vs. Top Competitors

Note: Premiums are representative of a 45-year-old good driver in CA; individual premiums will vary.

State Farm is especially cheap for young drivers in particular. That's because State Farm has special savings opportunities for drivers in this category, such as discounts for students who maintain at least a 3.0 GPA.

Your final premium is based on a variety of factors, though, such as your driving record, insurance history, and more. Every insurance company determines their rates differently, so even though State Farm is among the cheapest car insurance companies, the only way to confirm you've found the lowest price is to compare quotes from multiple companies.

To learn more, check out WalletHub's review of State Farm and see State Farm's full profile.

Progressive does not have a set time limit for filing claims and is unlikely to deny a claim based on late notice. Progressive usually resolves claims in 7 to 14 days and will only deny a claim for late notice if it's possible to prove the delay was unreasonable or compromised Progressive's ability to investigate the claim.

Most insurance policies say that an accident should be reported “promptly.” Reporting accidents as soon as possible helps ensure that all important details are recorded. However, after you report your accident, you do not immediately have to file a claim. Different states have different laws that govern how long residents have to file auto insurance claims, usually giving drivers between 1 and 3 years.

Progressive allows you to file a claim using the company's mobile app, online, or by phone. Representatives are available to walk you through the process, if necessary.

You can lower your State Farm car insurance costs by taking advantage of State Farm discounts, opting for a higher deductible, and reducing your coverage, among other things. State Farm considers a variety of factors when calculating your premium, though some – like your age and location – are out of your control. Fortunately, you can take steps to influence other factors in order to lower your rate.

How to Lower the Cost of Car Insurance from State Farm

Use State Farm's auto insurance discounts

State Farm offers a wide variety of discounts that can help you lower your overall car insurance bill. For example, drivers can get a discount of up to 25%  if they've been insured with State Farm for at least three continuous years without an accident . Or you can save up to 25% on your premium if a high school or college student listed on your policy maintains at least a 3.0 GPA.

Raise your car insurance deductible 

Opting for a higher deductible on any of your insurance policies from State Farm can lower your premium. But if you decide to go this route, it's important that you choose a deductible amount that you can still afford if you suddenly need to file a claim. Otherwise, you might not be able to use the coverage that you have.

Reduce your car insurance coverage 

Most states require a certain amount of bodily injury liability and property damage liability coverage. But there are other coverage options (like comprehensive, collision, personal injury protection, and uninsured motorist) that you may not have to purchase, depending on your state.

Less coverage usually means lower premiums, but it could also lead to higher costs in the long run, so it's important to approach coverage decisions with caution.

Improve your driving record

Practicing safe driving habits and avoiding moving violations can help you qualify for lower State Farm insurance rates long-term. You may also be able to attend traffic school in order to remove a violation or points from your record, depending on your state. State Farm even offers a 10-15%  discount to drivers who take an approved defensive driving course.

Build and improve your credit

Because your credit history is correlated with your likelihood of filing an insurance claim, State Farm uses your credit data to calculate your premium in states where it is legal. As a result, having good credit makes you less of an insurance risk, which will reduce your rates over time.

Drive less

Whether you can shorten your commute to work, use more public transportation, or even ride a bicycle more, driving fewer miles each year could lower your State Farm premium.

Drive an insurance-friendly car

Expensive cars, sports cars, and cars with high rates of theft are considered to be riskier to insure than cheaper, more practical vehicles. Before you buy a new car, get a new quote from State Farm to see how it will affect your rate. If the cost is out of your budget, then you should probably choose a different car.

Sign up for Drive Safe & Save

Drive Safe & Save, the State Farm telematics program, rewards you for good driving with a discounted premium. Specifically, Drive Safe & Save  tracks miles driven, acceleration, braking, turns, speed, and distracted driving. By using Drive Safe & Save, drivers can save up to 50% on their rate.

Finally, if you're still struggling to afford your State Farm policy, you should consider switching insurers. Even if you're not actively looking for a new policy, it's generally a good idea to compare quotes from three different companies every 6-12 months. To learn more, check out WalletHub's guide to switching car insurance companies.

Yes. Progressive Snapshot can raise your rates, unlike the usage-based insurance programs offered by some other major auto insurance providers. Roughly 20% of drivers see their auto insurance rates increase after using Snapshot, according to Progressive. Good drivers save an average of $145 per year with Progressive Snapshot, however. Plus, in most states, new Progressive customers get an automatic discount just for participating in the Snapshot program (an average of $26), though the discount expires when it's time to renew your policy. The sign up discount is not available in Alaska, California, Hawaii, North Carolina or New York.

For those who aren't familiar, Progressive Snapshot is a usage-based auto insurance program that uses telematics to monitor and analyze driving information, like the time of day, distance and a driver's acceleration and deceleration habits. Progressive uses that data to personalize customers' insurance rates based on their unique driving habits. To participate in Progressive's Snapshot program, you must either download the mobile app or use a GPS device that plugs into the OBD-II port of your car, which is usually found under the steering wheel.

How to Reduce Your Risk of Progressive Snapshot Raising Your Rate:

• Limit rapid acceleration and braking
• Avoid driving between midnight and 4 a.m.
• Avoid driving on weekends
• Stay off your phone while driving
• Drive less overall (carpool if you can)

Enrollment in the Progressive Snapshot program is free and available in all 50 states, as well as Washington D.C. You can sign up for it online or by calling an agent at 1-877-329-7283. Just note that if you ever decide to opt out of the Snapshot program, Progressive retains the driving data and analytics information it collects indefinitely.

Your State Farm rate could have gone up for many reasons, such as a recent claim or a new driver being added to the policy. Other factors that could cause State Farm to raise your rate include getting into an accident, being convicted of a moving violation, and adding coverage to your policy. State Farm may also raise your premiums for reasons that are beyond your control, such as recent natural disasters, increasing repair and healthcare costs, and crime trends.

Top Reasons Why State Farm Raises Rates 

• Recent claims
• New driver or car added to a policy
• Moving violations
• At-fault accidents
• Increased coverage
• Lower deductible
• Recent switch to an expensive car
• Relocation to a high-risk zip code
• Decline in creditworthiness

How to Lower Your State Farm Insurance

If you're struggling to afford your State Farm premium, there are a few steps that you can take to lower your rate. You can start by looking for State Farm discounts that you can qualify for, such as the multiple line or anti-theft discount. You can also make changes to your policy, including raising your deductible and reducing your coverage.

Another option is to switch insurance companies. Each insurer calculates rates differently, so you may be able to get the same amount of coverage elsewhere at a lower price. As a general rule, you should get quotes from at least three different companies every 6-12 months to make sure that you're still getting the best deal.

There is car insurance cheaper than Progressive for some drivers, though Progressive still has some of the most competitive rates in the industry overall. Although rates vary, Geico and USAA both offer competitive rates as well and can be cheaper than Progressive for some drivers. Progressive ranked No. 1 in WalletHub's analysis of the cheapest car insurance companies, which compared quotes from 46 major insurance providers using a variety of driver profiles and zip codes. The fact that Progressive ranked at the top of our list is helpful to anyone shopping around for coverage, but it doesn't guarantee that Progressive will have the absolute lowest price for you, specifically.

The only way to be sure you have found the cheapest possible rate is to compare quotes from several different companies, including Progressive. To make the job easier, Progressive shows you a personalized quote side-by-side with those of top competitors like Geico, State Farm, and others. Progressive has this price comparison tool in part because they are confident that they offer highly competitive rates.

Another reason that drivers might find it difficult to find car insurance cheaper than Progressive is the company's Name Your Price tool, which shows customers a range of coverage options based on their preferred budget. Together with Progressive's generous discounts, these tools make it possible for drivers to find some of the lowest prices on car insurance.

How to Cancel State Farm Insurance Policies

• Cancel by phone by calling your agent or 800-STATEFARM
• Cancel my mail by writing a letter that includes your name, policy number, and the date you want your policy to end, plus the date and time you want your policy to end. Sign, date, and mail your letter to: Corporate Headquarters of State Farm Insurance / One State Farm Plaza / Bloomington, IL 61710
• Cancel in person by visiting your nearest State Farm insurance office and speaking with an agent

If you've sold your vehicle, you may be asked to provide a bill of sale. If you've already paid your premium for the policy period in full, State Farm will refund the unused portion. State Farm does not impose a cancellation fee or penalty for early termination.

Finally, it's important to remember that you don't need to cancel your policy just because you're going through some life changes. For example, if you're moving or buying a new car you can just have State Farm update your mailing address or vehicle information.

To learn more, check out reviews and other information about State Farm on WalletHub.

Yes, Progressive has glass coverage for customers with comprehensive insurance. If glass on your vehicle gets damaged by something other than an accident, such as an animal, a weather event, or vandalism, comprehensive insurance from Progressive will cover the damage. If your car's windshield or other glass gets damaged in a crash with another vehicle, you can file a claim with your collision insurance if you were at fault or with the at-fault driver's liability coverage.

Glass coverage from Progressive is not a distinct type of insurance that you can buy separately.  Glass claims may receive special treatment, though. In some states, Progressive offers a $0 deductible option for glass-only claims, meaning you won't have to pay your comprehensive deductible if you file a claim only for glass damage. Additionally, if the crack in your windshield is repairable and less than 6 inches long, your deductible will be waived.

State Laws on Glass Coverage Deductibles

• Florida, Kentucky, and South Carolina require companies to waive the deductible for both windshield repair and replacement.

• Kentucky and South Carolina require companies to waive the deductible for all auto glass that you can see out of, not just the windshield.

• Arizona, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New York require insurers to offer customers the option of a $0 glass deductible plan. This option is often referred to as full glass coverage.

If you don't live in one of these states, you will likely have to pay your comprehensive deductible to get your windshield completely replaced, or use your collision insurance if the glass damage was caused by an accident. You can check with Progressive if you're unclear about your policy details or your state's laws.

Fixing a cracked or chipped windshield is important for safety reasons, since damaged windshields can obstruct a driver's vision and are more likely to shatter if they are hit. But if the damage is minor, you might be able to have your windshield repaired rather than replaced. This also applies to any glass damage on your vehicle. Any chip in your car's windows or elsewhere can grow into a crack that spans the length of the glass. It's typically worth filing a claim for glass or windshield damage if the cost to repair it is more than your deductible.

For more information, check out WalletHub's guides to comprehensive and windshield insurance.

Full coverage car insurance from State Farm costs $3,514 per year, on average, and is more expensive than a liability-only policy since it provides more coverage.

Cost of State Farm Full Coverage by Driver's Age 

Common State Farm Full Coverage Insurance Components

Liability insurance. Almost every state requires drivers to carry liability insurance, which includes property damage liability and bodily injury liability coverage. Liability insurance pays for others' expenses after an accident you are at fault for.

Collision and comprehensive insurance. Collision insurance covers the cost of fixing or replacing the policyholder's vehicle after an accident, regardless of who was at fault. Similarly, comprehensive insurance covers the policyholder's car if it's damaged by something besides an accident, like vandalism, a fire, or a natural disaster. Collision and comprehensive are not mandatory in any state, but they are usually required for leased and financed cars.

Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. This type of coverage protects you if you are involved in an accident with a driver who either does not have car insurance or does not have enough coverage. Uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance covers your expenses after an accident that should have been paid for by the at-fault driver's liability insurance. It will automatically be included in your full coverage policy if it is required in your state.

Personal injury protection/MedPay. Personal injury protection (PIP) insurance and MedPay coverage both cover medical expenses for you and your passengers after an accident, regardless of fault. Depending on your state, you may be required to carry one or the other.

Although these types of insurance are commonly included in a full coverage policy, what your specific policy includes will depend on your state. Full coverage is not the official name of any type of insurance, so be sure to clarify whether these types of insurance are included if you're purchasing a State Farm policy.

When You Should Consider Full Coverage From State Farm

A State Farm full coverage policy is a good choice for drivers who don't want to pay for vehicle repairs out of pocket. If you are leasing or financing your car, you may be required to get full coverage.

To get a quote from State Farm for a full coverage policy, you can call 1 (800) 782-8332. To learn more, check out WalletHub's guide to full coverage car insurance and our full review of State Farm.

Note: Rates are an approximation based on a driver with full coverage and a clean driving record in California. Actual rates will vary.