Progressive vs. The General: Which company is best for you?
Progressive and The General are both recognizable names in insurance, and each offers a wide selection of policy types and coverage options. But which is the best option? Take a closer look at each of the two companies below in our in-depth comparison to see if one of these insurers might be a good choice for you.
Progressive car insurance
Progressive has become a household name and a popular choice in auto insurance over the last decade or so (although they've been around since 1937), namely for offering convenience and affordable rates when online insurers were just becoming mainstream. The company offers wide-ranging coverage options and its vast selection of discounts means that most drivers will find Progressive’s insurance rates to be reasonably affordable. It’s also one of the top companies for commercial auto insurance coverage. They have corporate campuses throughout the country and most areas have local agents if you prefer more personal interaction.
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The General car insurance
The General Insurance, founded in 1963 and based in Nashville, TN, offers auto insurance policies for a wide range of drivers, especially for those who may have an imperfect driving record. They offer relatively affordable rates for drivers who may have difficulty finding coverage after tickets or violations but have a high number of complaints to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The company has a network of providers they work with for many other insurance lines, from motorcycle and boat coverage to phone and pet insurance. Brick-and-mortar offices are located only in Louisiana, but The General's online presence is the focus and adds a layer of convenience for today's shoppers.
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Which company comes out on top?
Progressive
While both companies have plenty of coverage options and reasonable rates, Progressive comes out on top due to the company’s higher customer satisfaction ratings and more local representatives throughout the country. However, The General may offer coverage for drivers who struggle to find affordable coverage elsewhere, so if you've got a less-than-great driving record don't count them out of the running when searching for quotes.
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Rating comparison: Progressive vs. The General
We know that cost is an important factor when it comes to insurance, but don't let it be the only factor. Make sure you're also getting the coverage that you need to feel secure behind the wheel, quality customer service and possible options for additional products as your life changes. See how The General and Progressive compare in their ratings from trusted sources.
| Ratings comparison | Progressive | The General |
|---|---|---|
| Financial strength (A.M. Best) | Superior | Excellent |
| JD Power (claims satisfaction) | Below Average | Not rated |
| JD Power (customer satisfaction) | Below Average | Not rated |
| NAIC rating | Good | Poor |
| The Zebra's editorial review score | 4/5 | 3.5/5 |
| The Zebra's Customer Satisfaction Survey | 4.3/5 | Not rated |
Which company scores best?
Progressive
While the two companies are reasonably close in most ratings, Progressive scores slightly better in key areas including overall customer service. The General is unrated in certain areas, which also adds a challenge as far as an apples-to-apples comparison. Keep in mind that drivers have different experiences with insurance companies and that they aren't one size fits all.Â
The Zebra's Customer Satisfaction Survey
The Zebra conducted a survey to get a deep sense of customer satisfaction with their insurance company, looking at a variety of considerations. Below you can see how customers viewed their experience with Progressive (The General was not part of this particular survey).
Progressive car insurance placed among the top five companies overall with a score of 4.3, signifying that customers are generally pleased with the level of service they receive from the company. The company place in the top three for online satisfaction, indicating that Progressive's website and app selection are considered quite valuable by its customers.
- Top five overall for auto insurance
- Number three for online satisfaction
- Among the top five companies for bundling home and auto
The Zebra Customer Satisfaction Survey methodology
Findings are based on an online quantitative survey of 4,794 current U.S. auto and home insurance customers, with Census-balanced sampling by age, gender and region. Categories with n=<20 responses are considered insufficient sample size and are not reported. This survey was developed by The Zebra and executed by independent research firm Maru/Blue in 2023.
Progressive vs. The General: discount comparison
Saving money on insurance premiums is a goal for most drivers, so it's important to know a company's auto insurance discount options. The good news is that most companies tend to offer at least a few discount options, and some discounts can vary by location so the best way to check your eligibility is to reach out to the company for an individual quote.
Telematics options: Progressive vs. The General
For drivers interested in potentially saving money through telematics programs, Progressive offers safe driver discounts through their Snapshot tool. Take a look at the details of Progressive Snapshot below.
Snapshot is Progressive's telematics option. The app tracks drivers' behavior while behind the wheel (including hard braking, speeding and more) to reward them based on how and how much they drive — also referred to as usage-based insurance. In most states, you qualify for a discount just for participating in the program. Progressive says that drivers who save with Snapshot can save an average of $156 per year. Keep in mind that Snapshot also tracks poor driving habits, and while uncommon, rates can actually increase for drivers with risky behaviors.
Zebra tip: Explore telematics
If you're typically a safe driver then a telematics program could be a great option for you to save money, but Progressive is the only one of these two companies offering the option.
Roadside assistance: Progressive vs. The General
No one leaves the house and expects a side-of-the-road emergency situation, but it does happen to the best of us, and being prepared with a roadside assistance program can offer peace of mind every time you get behind the wheel. Both The General and Progressive have roadside assistance options, so take a look below to compare the two.
Progressive
Progressive partners with a company called Agero to provide roadside assistance. You can use the program for your car as well as an RV or motorcycle. If you opt for the addition to your policy, it includes 24-hour emergency services including the following:
- Fuel delivery
- Flat-tire changes
- Battery jump-start
- Battery recharge for EVs
- Lock-out services
- On-scene labor
- Winching services
 In most states, you'll need to have Comprehensive and Collision coverage on the vehicle to add Progressive's Roadside Assistance.
The General
The General works with Nation Safe Driver to offer additional roadside assistance plans regardless of the policy you carry, as it is a separate optional feature. It covers many of the same potential issues that Progressive's assistance program does, including 24-hour assistance with:
- Towing
- Fuel delivery
- Battery jump start
- Flat-tire change
- Lock-out services
Progressive vs. The General: home insurance
Both Progressive and The General offer homeowners coverage options to meet customer needs, although they do use other providers within their networks to finalize a policy. Both companies have unique homeowners insurance offerings at differing price points, so have a look at our comparison below to find out which company offers the best coverage for your individual situation.
Progressive homeowners insurance review
Progressive offers homeowners insurance in all 50 states plus Washington D.C. While it provides basic coverage options, homeowners looking for very specific policies or extra inclusion options might find Progressive's options lacking. That, paired with a few low ratings in customer satisfaction, could mean that Progressive isn't the best option for some homeowners. The company does, however, encourage shoppers to compare different companies after entering personal information only once on the Progressive website. This convenient way to shop around in one place may be a draw for some drivers.
- The Zebra Customer Satisfaction Survey – 4/5: While a rating above 4 stars is sufficient, Progressive home ranked last overall among the 15 carriers surveyed.
- J.D. Power Rating – Below average: J.D. Power rates Progressive a score of 801 out of 1,000 in their 2022 Home Insurance Study (16 out of 20 companies)
- Financial Strength – Superior: A "Superior" financial strength rating from AM Best shows Progressive has a solid ability to pay out claims.
- NAIC Rating– Poor: The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) received significantly more customer complaints than average regarding Progressive homeowners insurance in 2020.
The General homeowners insurance review
The General is most well-known for its automobile insurance for drivers with poor driving records, but the company also offers home insurance options. They match customers with home insurance providers to create a policy, and companies vary based on your location in the U.S. Depending on where you live, The General Labs might actually send you to Progressive for a home insurance quote.
- Claims satisfaction (J.D. Power) — Not rated
- Customer satisfaction — (J.D. Power) — Not rated
- Financial strength — Excellent: AM Best rates The General highly, meaning the company is in good financial shape and is able to payout claims effectively.
- NAIC Rating — Poor: The National Association of Insurance Commissioners received more complaints about The General than other major insurance companies.
Which company comes out on top?
Progressive
Both companies have a network of other insurers who underwrite home insurance policies, and this can give you more options in choosing the right home policy and carrier. They'll both match you with providers that offer coverage in your area to finalize the quote and take care of the policy-binding process. However, Progressive can still bundle your car and home insurance, seem to offer more discounts upfront, and have fewer complaints noted by NAIC compared to The General.
The General vs. Progressive: homeowners discount comparison
The General and Progressive both connect customers with other providers for home insurance coverage, however, Progressive still offers the option to bundle and save to their customers. It's important to note that The General's partner home insurance providers may offer their own discounts — so although discounts are not noted here doesn't mean they don't exist, depending on who The General partners with and what state you're in.
| Discount comparison | The General | Progressive |
|---|---|---|
| Claims free | ||
| Recent homebuyer | ✓ | |
| Multi-policy | ✓ | |
| Protective devices (smoke/burglar alarms, etc.) | ✓ | |
| New home construction | ✓ | |
| Early signing | ||
| Newer/more durable roof | ||
| Paid-in-full | ✓ |
Progressive vs. The General: home insurance rate comparison
Homeowners insurance rates can vary widely depending on the location, the homeowner and the company. The General works with a network of other insurance providers to connect you with a local insurer in your area. Sometimes smaller local insurers offer much cheaper rates, so this could be the case depending on your area and what's available. Progressive provides multiple quotes from its network of companies and is still able to bundle homeowner and auto policies.Â
Remember that while cost is an important factor when shopping for homeowners insurance, it's most important to have good coverage from an insurer that you can trust.Â
The Zebra’s homeowners insurance data methodology
The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool for home and auto insurance rates utilizes the latest ZIP code-level rate filings from across the U.S., sourced from Quadrant Information Services and S&P Global. These filings, typically updated annually or biennially by insurers, are verified through Quadrant’s QA process and then integrated into The Zebra’s estimator.
The displayed rates are based on a dynamic home and auto profile designed to reflect the content of the page. This profile is tailored to match specific factors such as age, location, and coverage level, which are adjusted based on the page content to show how these variables can impact premiums.
For a comprehensive understanding, see our detailed methodology.
Zebra tip: Check out Progressive for discounts
Although Progressive works with other insurers to underwrite policies, they can still bundle your homeowners and auto coverage together as well as offer a variety of discounts. Safety and alarm discounts, pay in full, and new home or new construction are a few of their home insurance savings options.
Other insurance products and bundling options
Both insurance companies have options for bundling policy types. They each offer a wide range of insurance lines that will fulfill most needs, so be sure to ask about discounts for carrying multiple policies. As with homeowners insurance, the companies may not provide the policy themselves but instead connect you with another provider in their network.
| Other products | Progressive | The General |
|---|---|---|
| Boat/Personal water craft | ✓ | ✓ |
| Condo insurance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Life insurance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Homeowners insurance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Travel trailer insurance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Renters insurance | ✓ | ✓ |
| RV insurance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Motorcycle insurance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Golf cart/Segway/snowmobile | ✓ | |
| Mobile home insurance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Umbrella | ✓ | ✓ |
| ATV insurance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pet insurance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Commercial insurance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Phone | ✓ | ✓ |
| Health | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wedding & Event | ✓ | |
| Travel | ✓ | |
| ID Theft | ✓ |
Progressive is a major carrier for many types of commercial insurance, such as automobiles and small businesses. For those who use their vehicle for their job, like rideshare drivers or those doing delivery services, Progressive might be the better option.
Other assorted insurance options cover everything from pet insurance and phone coverage to weddings and identity theft protection. The General offers quite a few products (many are underwritten by other companies), but Progressive outranks them in this category.
There are pros and cons to each company, and it comes down to what's best for you as a driver or homeowner. For those with poor driving history, lapses in coverage or other issues that make finding car insurance tough, The General might be a great option for you. For folks with straightforward insurance needs who typically qualify for discounts, Progressive might be the best way to go. Either way, both companies offer a range of insurance products and boast a long history in the industry.Â
Find the best insurance policy for your needs.
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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.