Progressive Defensive Driving Discount: Can You Get One?

Taking a defensive driving course is one of the many ways you might be able to lower your car insurance premiums. Insurers want you to be a safer driver, possibly saving them money in the long run. Progressive — one of the biggest names in auto insurance — doesn't offer a defensive driving course itself, though. Insurers typically don't. 

In fact, Progressive and other insurers often don't specify what discount you could get for taking a defensive driving discount at all. But that doesn't mean its not possible, you might just have to reach out to an agent for more information.

What is a defensive driving discount?

A defensive driving discount is a reduction to your insurance premium offered by some auto insurance companies. They want you to drive safer and thus have fewer accidents, and defensive driving courses can help you achieve that. Car insurance companies don't typically offer defensive driving courses, but they might offer a discount for taking one through your state's DMV or another accredited organization.

The best way to find a defensive driving course is by asking your insurance provider if a discount is available and which courses they approve. These courses are often available online or in person and should be four to six hours long. Before taking one, check with your provider about discount restrictions. For instance, some only offer these to elderly (55+) or teen drivers.

If your provider does offer a discount, it will generally be between 5% and 10% off your premium. For example, if your six-month quote is $275, your discount could be $13.75 to $27.50. Depending on how long a company keeps the discount applied, it might be worth four hours of your time. For example, a six-hour defensive driving course offered by Improv online driving courses claims it will save you money on your GEICO insurance for three years.

How to get a Progressive defensive driving discount

Progressive auto insurance may offer defensive driving discounts in some states.

On its website, Progressive talks about the benefits of taking a defensive driving course but does not specify if it recommends one or will give you a discount. This is because this program is covered by individual state regulations, which means discounts can vary based on state laws and specific insurance policies. 

While some states may not offer a discount for completing a defensive driving course, others do. Delaware, for example, offers a DMV-approved six-hour defensive driving course that the state claims could result in up to 15% off Progressive policies. 

It's always best to check with your local Progressive agent to understand the discounts available in your area. Here's how:

1. Call Progressive at 1-888-671-4405 to speak with an agent, learn your discount options, and find out where to take a class.
2. If a class is available, enroll in it. There will most likely be a fee to participate.
3. Know the timeframe in which you must complete the course and if there will be a test to pass.
4. Complete the course and send screenshots or attachments of your certification to your insurance agent. Even if the class says they will send it to your insurance, it's a good idea to be proactive about getting the discount.

What other discounts does Progressive offer?

While it isn't certain if you are eligible for a discount for defensive driving education, there are many other discounts offered.

I think enrolling in Progressive's Snapshot program will give you the most savings with the least effort compared to other discounts, though you do have to implement safe driving habits. Progressive states that individuals save an average of $231 a year using Snapshot. On the other hand, I don't recommend Progressive's Name Your Price coverage tactic to save money because it lowers your coverage. This strategy will always ensure you have the minimum legal insurance required by your state, but it can leave you severely underinsured and in financial trouble in the case of a major accident.

Here are other discounts to ask about:

• Automatic payment: Setting up your insurance bill on auto-pay can save you on your monthly premium. However, this discount is not available in California, and it cannot be combined with the pay-in-full discount.
• Safe driver discount: Progressive's SnapShot telematics app can result in an average annual savings of $231. However, poor driving habits can lead to a higher premium.
• Teen driver discount: This discount is for teens on the policy for at least 12 consecutive months.
• Good student discount: In addition to a teen discount, young drivers can receive up to 10% off their policy if they are full-time students and maintain a B grade or better. This is not available in California or Hawaii.
• Distant student discount: You don't want your college student to be without insurance, and they can receive a discounted premium if they are 22 and under and live more than 100 miles away from their vehicle.
• Multi-car discount: If you insure more than one car with Progressive, you can save an average of 12%.
• Homeowners discount: To receive an additional discount with Progressive, you just need to be a homeowner. You don't need to have your home insurance with Progressive to qualify.
• Online discounts: You will save an average of 7% to 9% if you request auto insurance online, sign your documents online, or opt-in for paperless bills. These discounts are unavailable for California drivers and may be excluded in other states.

Other tips for lowering the cost of your car insurance

Discounts go a long way to help you save money on car insurance, but there are other strategies to try to save even more on your premium.

• Look for accident forgiveness. Certain insurance providers, including Progressive, have accident forgiveness policies where your rates won't go up if a claim doesn't cost more than a certain amount or you've been a loyal customer, accident-free, and without tickets for a few consecutive years. This coverage may increase your premiums before an accident — it's like paying for an extra fishing net — but can often be worth it.
• Shop around. If you think you can find better rates elsewhere, shop around and compare car insurance quotes. Every company wants your business, so it's in their best interests to offer you the best rates they can. When you shop for car insurance quotes, pay attention to not just premiums but coverage and perks to compare apples to apples.
• Negotiate a better rate. If you don't want to switch providers, use an online marketplace to compare quotes from other car insurance companies. If you find lower rates, use that information to negotiate a better rate with your current provider.
• Change your vehicle. If you drive a car that costs more to insure, going with a different option might save you money. Sports cars and other types of high-end vehicles often come with higher insurance premiums.
• Change your driver. If you share an insurance policy with a spouse, ask your agent to run the numbers to see which driver will save more on which car. When I was first married, my husband and I shared two cars, but he had to commute 20 minutes more. The agent played around with our numbers and found out that just switching him to the other car would save us $15 a month. That's a big savings for changing very little.

FAQs

Bottom line

Saving money with Progressive's car insurance policy is easy since they offer so many discounts. While you might not qualify for a defensive driving discount, it is worth asking an agent about. Plus, if you don't qualify, there are so many other discounts you can choose from, including homeowner discounts and multi-policy discounts.

I like to call my insurance company once every six months to a year to have an agent play around with the numbers to see if there are any new ways to save money. Sometimes, we forget that life changes have happened, like moving jobs 15 miles closer or reminding them to apply a safe driver discount to our account. 

The best car insurance companies will work with you to find a policy and price pairing that works for you.