Common Questions about Comparison Rates

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Why would you tell me if one of your competitors had a lower rate?
How do you determine comparison rates?
How do I know these comparison rates are accurate?
What companies are included in the comparison rates you provide?
Why are rates unavailable for certain companies?
Will you include my current insurance company in your comparison rates?
What information might cause my comparison rates to change?
Why do I get more than one rate for some companies?

Why would you tell me if one of your competitors had a lower rate?

Consumers have said they want insurance shopping to be easier, so we help you compare rates for Progressive Direct with rates for other top companies on our Web site. In fact, you can see comparison rates other shoppers receive when you view the rate ticker on our home page.

How do you determine comparison rates?

Each state generally requires auto insurance companies to file their rates publicly. We program the filed rates for various insurance companies into our comparison rating system. We then use the information you provide about your vehicle, yourself and other drivers on your policy to calculate comparison rates. We do this to help you better understand what the other companies would charge you for an insurance policy.

How do I know these comparison rates are accurate?

We check regularly with each state's Department of Insurance to see if any of our competitors have changed their rates. If rates have changed, we obtain the new rates, reprogram our systems and retest the rates. If we find that a competitor has changed its rates and we think we may have given you the old rates, we will send an e-mail notifying you of the change.

What companies are included in the comparison rates you provide?

Companies are selected based on their share of the national or state market. We do not review rates for every company in the market. There may be insurance companies not represented in our comparison rating service that might offer you a lower rate. Also, Progressive Direct rates may vary from the rates you'll receive from an agent or broker. To check the rate for policies sold through agents and brokers, go to ProgressiveAgent.com or click the "Find Agent/Get Agent Quote" button. We encourage you to shop around for insurance.

Why are rates unavailable for certain companies?

Insurance companies may update their rates in each state several times a year. When they do this, we must reprogram their rates into our system and test those rates for accuracy. During the time required to do this, we make those competitor rates unavailable to consumers.

Another reason may be that you are not eligible for a policy from that company. If we know that you do not meet a company's eligibility requirements based on the information you provided, we will not display a comparison rate for that company.

Will you include my current insurance company in your comparison rates?

Although your current insurer might be included in our comparison rating service, we will not provide you with a comparison rate for that company. The rates we provide are for new customers, not customers who are renewing their policy. Renewal rates differ from new rates, based on discounts and other renewal incentives the company may offer. Because we cannot provide you with an accurate rate that includes those discounts, we will not provide you with a rate for your current company. You should contact your current insurance company directly to obtain your renewal rate.

What information might cause my comparison rates to change?

Sometimes, the comparison rate we provide for an insurance company may not match the rate you would receive from the same company. A number of factors could be involved in the change of your rate, including:

Additional discounts: You may qualify for additional discounts from one of our competitors. Because we cannot confirm the eligibility rules for these discounts, we don't reflect them in the comparison rates we provide to you. You would have to contact that company directly to see if you are eligible for any additional discounts. An example would be a discount for having multiple policies (home, life and auto) with the same company.
Driving record: Your rate was determined, in part, based on the information you provided about your driving history. If your actual driving record is different from the information you provided, your rate may change when a company obtains your motor vehicle report.
Revised rates: Insurance companies may update their rates in each state several times a year. We regularly test the rates of our competitors to ensure their accuracy. Once we obtain updated rates, program them into our system and verify them, you can visit our Web site again to obtain new comparison rates.

Why do I get more than one rate for some companies?

Insurance companies that you may know by a brand name often use a group of companies to provide different insurance programs. These programs may reflect a difference in the way driving record, claims history and credit history are factored in when determining rates. You may not be eligible for all of these programs. For example, if you have a DUI on your record, an insurer may accept you, but only in the company that specializes in higher-risk drivers because you meet the underwriting requirements of that company. Likewise, if you have a spotless driving record, an insurer may accept you and place you in their company that specializes in lower-risk drivers.