Esurance vs. Progressive: Which Is the Best? (2024)

Esurance no longer sells new policies, so Progressive is a better option for auto insurance shoppers.

Daria Kelly Uhlig
Daria Kelly Uhlig
  • Licensed Realtor with 10+ years in personal finance content

  • Contributor to Nasdaq and USA Today

Daria is a licensed Realtor and resort property manager specializing in personal finance, real estate, and insurance topics. In her spare time, she practices photography.

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Chris Schafer
Edited byChris Schafer
Chris Schafer
Chris SchaferSenior Editor
  • 15+ years in content creation

  • 7+ years in business and financial services content

Chris is a seasoned writer/editor with past experience across myriad industries, including insurance, SAS, finance, Medicare, logistics, marketing/advertising, and many more.

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Konstantin Halachev
Data reviewed byKonstantin Halachev
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Konstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
  • 7+ years experience in data analysis

  • Ph.D. in Computational Biology

Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.

Updated October 29, 2024

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Esurance is an Allstate company that operates 100% online. Licensed to sell car insurance in 43 U.S. states, Esurance’s technology helps drivers buy and manage their policies quickly and with little fuss. That said, Allstate actually writes Esurance policies — and Esurance no longer sells new policies.

Progressive operates in all 50 U.S. states plus Washington, D.C., and is America’s third-largest property and casualty insurance company.[1] While Progressive has an extensive selection of coverages, its chatbot isn’t very intuitive, and live customer service can be difficult to reach.

Read on to learn more about each of these insurers to determine if either is the right fit for you.

Quick Facts
  • On average, Progressive offers lower liability-only quotes than Esurance.

  • Progressive offers policies in all 50 U.S. states, whereas Esurance — which used to offer policies in 43 states — no longer writes new policies.

  • Progressive offers more insurance coverages than Esurance — including pet insurance, through its partner Pets Best.

Esurance vs. Progressive: The verdict

Esurance policies are underwritten by Allstate and are generally cheaper than Progressive policies. But Esurance doesn’t actively seek new business, and Progressive offers more discounts and policy options. Progressive has an Insurify Quality (IQ) Score of 8.4 out of 10, compared to Esurance’s score of 8.9.

The average rate for full coverage from Progressive is $138 per month. The average rate for liability coverage is $79. Esurance’s policies are written by Allstate, and the average rate for full-coverage insurance from Allstate is $137. The average rate for liability coverage is $62 per month.

Esurance coverage is relatively basic, but the company also offers gap coverage. Progressive’s loan/lease payoff coverage is less comprehensive than gap coverage, but it has a wider range of options, including rental car reimbursement.

Progressive also has better discounts, and more of them than Esurance, which only offers bundling discounts with renters insurance and discounts for using its telemetrics program.

Progressive has those plus a long list of additional discounts.

Progressive also ranked 19th in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Survey, but Allstate, which writes Esurance’s policies, ranked eighth.[2]

Factor
Esurance
Progressive
IQ Score8.9 (Allstate)8.4
Customer satisfaction score882 (Allstate)870
Average quote: liability only$62 (Allstate)$79
Number of available discounts513
Number of states where it operates4350
  • Our editorial team spent more than 350 hours developing the Insurify Quality (IQ) Score and scoring insurance companies. The IQ Score objectively analyzes and calculates a score for insurers using more than 15 crucial criteria. The team weighted criteria by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings.

    We rate each company on a 1 to 10 scale based on five categories: financial ratings, customer satisfaction, affordability, customer support and transparency, and availability. Insurify updates ratings once a year or as more recent information becomes available.

    • Third-party financial ratings: Insurify uses data from AM Best, S&P, Moody’s, and more to compare insurance companies’ credit and ability to pay out future claims.
    • Customer satisfaction: To calculate this score, Insurify analyzed more than 28,000 customer reviews across 155 car insurance companies. We also consider third-party ratings from J.D. Power, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and Trustpilot.
    • Affordability: Our data scientists analyzed more than 90 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partners across the U.S., as well as available discounts, to calculate an affordability score.
    • Customer support and transparency: This measures coverage options, ease of claims filing, and the insurer's transparency surrounding discounts, coverages, and claims process.
    • Availability and reach: Insurify scores availability and reach by identifying the number of states in which insurers offer coverage and company size by market share.

Esurance

Esurance doesn’t have its own listing in market-share data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), nor does it rank for customer satisfaction in J.D. Power surveys, but the Better Business Bureau (BBB) gives it a B+.[3]

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User Reviews
3.1
IQ Score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
8.9/10
Liability Only
Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.
$62/mo
Full Coverage
Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible.
$137/mo

Founded by Sears department store executives in 1931, Allstate offers auto, home, motorcycle, ATV, renters, condo, and term life insurance. Operating in all 50 states, the company has superior ratings from A.M. Best for financial strength and credit. However, Allstate has many negative reviews on consumer websites, and a slightly higher-than-average complaint rating in the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Consumer Complaint Index. Allstate offers many discounts, including for good students, multiple policies, bundling auto and home insurance, new vehicles, safe driving, and good payment history.

Pros
  • Well-established with superior ratings from A.M. Best

  • Pay-per-mile option available

Cons
  • Low customer satisfaction

  • Rates are merely average compared to other insurers

Read more driver reviews of Allstate
Howard - October 29, 2024
Verified

They Have You By The Short Hairs

I was on a three-lane highway in heavy traffic and couldn't avoid a piece of metal in my lane. I couldn't swerve or I would have hit other cars. Allstate said the accident was the driver's fault and then doubled my insurance cost.

Hugh - October 29, 2024
Verified

Actual Crash Damages vs. Damages Quoted Over the Phone

There were problems getting the correct amount paid out when I made a claim. I had to escalate the issue to the Senior Vice President to get a proper settlement when a deer hit my truck. There was a $5000 difference between what was paid out when the estimator assessed the value of damage to my truck and the actual estimate done by a local car dealership. The Senior Vice President agreed that the amount of damage done was the amount quoted by the local car dealership.

Miriam - October 29, 2024
Verified

Best Overall

Check around before choosing. Allstate has been my choice for years.

Progressive

Progressive is the second-largest writer of private passenger policies in the U.S. While it’s not a top performer in J.D. Power’s customer satisfaction surveys overall, it does rank in the top 10 or 11 companies in most regions of the U.S. and the top 20 nationwide.

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JD Power
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
819
IQ Score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
8.4/10
Liability Only
Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.
$79/mo
Full Coverage
Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible.
$138/mo

Although its founding in 1937 makes Progressive comparatively young, it is among the largest car insurers in the U.S. The company offers car, home, renters, commercial, and other types of insurance. Progressive customers can enjoy savings by bundling their car insurance with another type of Progressive policy – typically homeowners or renters. Available discounts range from multi-policy and multi-car discounts, to the Snapshot save driver discount. Progressive has an A.M. Best rating of A+ for financial stability. However, the company has a slightly higher-than-expected number of complaints in the National Association of Insurance Commissioner’s Consumer Complaints Index.

Pros
  • Rewards for good drivers

  • Numerous coverage options and discounts available

Cons
  • Higher-than-expected amount of complaints

  • Ranked 11 out of 15 companies in the J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Index Ranking

Read more driver reviews of Progressive
Denise - October 29, 2024
Verified

Awesome!

I haven't had any problems with the company. I am pleased with the work they do.

Priscilla - October 29, 2024
Verified

They Increased My Insurance Payment from $117 a Month to $199 a Month

They are very inconsiderate.

Lisa - October 29, 2024
Verified

Disappointed

They were good until they doubled my monthly payment. My deductible also went up to $1000. At that price, I can fix my vehicle on my own.

Esurance DriveSense vs. Progressive Snapshot

DriveSense and Snapshot are telematics programs that record data about your driving habits. If the data shows you to be a safe driver, you can earn discounts on your car insurance policy.

DriveSense is an app-based technology available in 35 of the 43 states where Esurance is available. Esurance will enroll you automatically when you start a rate quote and send you a link to download the app. You’ll get a discount for enrolling, but after that, you must record at least 50 trips per term to earn ongoing discounts.

To participate in Progressive’s Snapshot program, first request a quote. You can then enroll and choose to use either the mobile app or plug-in dongle. You’ll receive an average discount of $94 for signing up and a discount of $231 upon completion of the program, which usually lasts six months. But you should know that about 20% of drivers get a rate increase because of their high-risk driving.

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Esurance vs. Progressive: Which is the cheapest?

Allstate, which writes policies for Esurance, offers cheaper rates than Progressive, on average. But your unique situation can affect your car insurance rates dramatically.

Car insurance companies look at a wide range of factors to determine your premiums, including your age, gender, marital status, driving record, and more. This is why it’s important to compare quotes from several insurers to find the best policy for you.

Esurance: Cheapest for drivers with a clean driving record

Drivers without any incidents, like speeding tickets or at-fault accidents, typically pay lower rates for Esurance policies written by Allstate. Below, you can see how liability-only rates compare for drivers with a clean record.

Driver Type
Esurance (Written by Allstate)
Progressive
Clean driving record$62$79
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Esurance: Cheapest for drivers with a speeding ticket

A speeding ticket on your record will negatively affect your insurance rates. If you have a ticket on your record, Esurance policies, written by Allstate, tend to be lower for liability coverage.

Driver Type
Esurance (Written by Allstate)
Progressive
Drivers with a speeding ticket$73$93
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Esurance: Cheapest for teen drivers

Teen drivers pay some of the highest rates in the marketplace, but Esurance policies, written by Allstate, tend to be more affordable than Progressive.

Driver Type
Esurance
Progressive
18-year-old$111$144
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Esurance: Cheapest for senior drivers

Esurance offers cheaper rates for senior drivers than Progressive. Here, you can see the average rates below.

Driver Type
Esurance
Progressive
Senior drivers$48$48
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Esurance: Cheapest for drivers with bad credit

Most states allow insurers to review your credit history during the underwriting process, and this means drivers with poor credit histories tend to pay more for car insurance than drivers with strong credit histories.

If you have a poor credit history, an Esurance policy, written by Allstate, tends to be more affordable than one written by Progressive.

Driver Type
Esurance
Progressive
Drivers with bad credit$74$95
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Compare coverages: Esurance vs. Progressive

Both Progressive and Esurance offer standard coverage options, like bodily injury liability, property damage liability, personal injury protection, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, collision, and comprehensive coverage.

But there are some differences in each company’s extra coverage options. For example, Esurance offers rideshare coverage in only a few states, while Progressive has a wider offering. Esurance also offers conventional gap insurance, while Progressive offers loan/lease payoff coverage.

The table below breaks down some of the optional coverages available from either insurer.

Coverage
Esurance
Progressive
Gap insuranceYesOffers loan/lease payoff
Rideshare insuranceYes (in some states)Yes
Emergency road service coverageYesNo
Rental car reimbursementYesYes
Custom parts and equipmentYesYes

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Compare discounts: Esurance vs. Progressive

Both Esurance and Progressive offer a range of discounts to drivers.

But Progressive drivers have access to more discounts than Esurance drivers. While both insurance companies offer a bundling discount, Progressive offers many more policy types than Esurance.

For example, Progressive goes beyond renters insurance, homeowners insurance, and motorcycle insurance to offer boat insurance, business insurance, ATV insurance, pet insurance, flood insurance, life insurance, and more.

The table below illustrates which discounts are available to you through each insurance company.

Discount
Esurance
Progressive
Clean driving recordYesNo
Defensive driving courseNoYes
Multi-policyYesYes
Multi-carYesYes
Low mileageNoNo
Telematics (safe driving app)YesYes
Anti-theft deviceYesNo
New carNoNo
Military/affiliationNoYes
Good studentYesYes

Esurance vs. Progressive FAQs

If you’re still trying to decide whether Esurance or Progressive is the right insurer for you, consult the answers below.

  • Is Progressive or Esurance better for you?

    It depends on what’s more important to you. Esurance no longer writes new policies, but you can seek coverage through its parent company, Allstate. Allstate rates are generally lower than Progressive. But Progressive offers more coverage options and discounts than Esurance.

  • Is Esurance good at paying claims?

    Allstate, which owns Esurance, has an AM Best financial strength rating of A+ (Superior), which means the company is able to reliably pay out claims.

    In addition, 69% of Esurance customers who file a photo claim see their claim approved for payment in just one day, according to the company.

  • Does Progressive or Esurance offer better auto insurance discounts?

    “Better” depends on the number of discounts applicable to you, but it’s important to note that Progressive offers more discounts than Esurance.

Methodology

Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 90 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 50+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.

Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).

Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:

  • Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
  • Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
  • No additional coverage
Full-coverage premium averages correspond to the same bodily injury and property damage limits in addition to:
  • Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
  • Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible

Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.

Sources

  1. Insurance Information Institute. "Facts + Statistics: Insurance company rankings."
  2. J.D. Power. "Auto Insurers Manage Customer Expectations as Repair Cycle Times Double in Two Years, J.D. Power Finds."
  3. Better Business Bureau. "Esurance, Inc.."
Daria Kelly Uhlig
Daria Kelly Uhlig

Daria Uhlig is a freelance writer and editor with over a decade of experience creating personal finance content. Her work appears on USA Today, Nasdaq, MSN, Yahoo Finance, Fox Business, GOBankingRates and AOL. As a licensed Realtor and resort property manager, she specializes in real estate topics, including landlord, homeowners and renters insurance. In her spare time, Daria can be found photographing people and places on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Connect with her on LinkedIn.

Chris Schafer
Edited byChris SchaferSenior Editor
Chris Schafer
Chris SchaferSenior Editor
  • 15+ years in content creation

  • 7+ years in business and financial services content

Chris is a seasoned writer/editor with past experience across myriad industries, including insurance, SAS, finance, Medicare, logistics, marketing/advertising, and many more.

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Konstantin Halachev
Data reviewed byKonstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
Headshot of Konstantin Halachev, VP of Engineering at Insurify
Konstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
  • 7+ years experience in data analysis

  • Ph.D. in Computational Biology

Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.

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