When you sign up for a car insurance policy with Progressive, you’ll have many options on how to pay for your policy. Along with making a full up-front payment, you can break up your policy payments monthly through a variety of payment options.
Our guide covers which payment methods Progressive accepts, how long the car insurance company gives you to pay your bill, payment discounts you could use to lower your insurance premium and the top providers to consider.
Key Takeaways
- Progressive allows policyholders to pay their insurance premiums through monthly installments or by making one up-front payment.
- You’ll earn a discount if you pay in full when buying your policy.
- Online and phone payments get posted as paid at the time you make the payment. Automatic payments come out on the date you set up the payment, and Progressive uses the postmark date as the paid date for mailed payments.
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The MarketWatch Guides Team is committed to providing reliable information to help you make the best decision possible about insuring your vehicle. Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best car insurance companies. We collected data on dozens of auto insurance providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. After 800 hours of research, the end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the insurers that scored the most points topping the list.
Learn more about our methodology and editorial guidelines.
What Are Progressive Car Insurance Payment Options?
When you buy a car insurance policy with Progressive, you’ll have ample choices on how to pay your insurance bill. You can make an up-front payment to pay in full or you can make monthly payments. If you’re running behind to pay your premium, Progressive will give you a certain amount of time to deliver that payment before canceling your policy. It can also help you set up a payment plan that can work for you in the future.
How Long Does Progressive Give You To Pay Your Bill?
Depending on your state’s laws, you’ll have from 10 to 20 days after a premium is due to make your payment. If you know you’re going to pay late, contact Progressive to see if you can set up a payment plan and to see how long you have to make your payment.
If you don’t set up a payment plan and you miss the final payment date, your insurance coverage will lapse. If you drive without insurance, you’ll violate state laws and could face steep fines.
Does Progressive Charge for Late Payments?
Progressive charges you a late fee for making late payments. Fees vary by state, and the average charge is $10.
How To Pay Your Progressive Bill
Progressive has several ways for you to pay your bill, including online, on your phone and with the Progressive mobile app. Here’s the full list of ways.
Online
Online is among the easiest and safest ways to pay your bill. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to make your insurance payment online:
- You’ll need your policy number to sign up for an account. Progressive sends your account number with your insurance documentation at the time you buy your policy.
- Once you sign up, log into your account.
- When you log in, you’ll see your account dashboard. If you set up automatic payments, you’ll see how much and when the next one gets deducted from your bank account. You can also click on the billing and payments link to set up automatic payments or make a payment on your policy.
- You can pay online with a credit card, bank account or debit card.
Progressive Mobile App
Progressive has a free mobile app that you can download to access insurance documents, file claims and make policy payments. Similar to paying online, you’ll need to sign up for an account.
From there, log into your account and scroll down to the billing and payments section. Tap on that and either make a payment, set up automatic payments or view upcoming payments.
Phone and Text Messages
You can locate Progressive’s phone number on any of your policy documents. Calling 1-800-776-4737 takes you to automated prompts where you can make payments on your policy. If you feel more comfortable speaking to an insurance agent about processing payments, you can do so.
Also, Progressive accepts payments via text messages. Sign up for bill pay and policy reminders through text and follow the prompts to make a payment.
Mail Payments
You can mail check or money order payments to Progressive by sending them to the following address:
P.O. Box 984105
Los Angeles, CA 90189-4105
Include a billing statement or your policy number to ensure faster processing.
Automatic Payments
When you sign up for automatic payments with Progressive, you can earn a discount on your policy by using the Progressive mobile app and website. You could also call a Progressive agent to assist you. The agent will up future deductions to come out of your bank account on or before the date your premium is due.
Payment Forms That Progressive Accepts
Progressive makes it easy for policyholders to pay their premiums in several ways. You can use:
- An electronic funds transfer (EFT)
- A money order
- An online check
- A personal check
- PayPal
- Your checking account
- Your credit or debit card
Payment Discounts From Progressive
Progressive customers receive discounts based on how they pay their premiums. You can get a discount for paying the full amount up front. Although California drivers can get car insurance discounts based on their driving record and other factors, they’re not eligible for any discounts based on how they pay their premiums. You can also earn a discount by setting up automatic payments. However, California drivers aren’t eligible for this discount, either.
How To Save Money on Car Insurance
Whether you buy a policy with Progressive or from another provider, you could do a few things to save money on your car insurance.
Balance Coverage With Cost
If you need to save money but have full-coverage car insurance, you should aim to have a middle-of-the-road deductible ($1,000) for your comprehensive and collision coverages. Doing so keeps your premiums lower and ensures you don’t have to pay as much out of pocket when you need to pay your portion of the claim.
Reduce Coverages
If you have an older vehicle, you can save money by foregoing full coverage and having liability coverage only. Because it won’t cost you as much money out of pocket to fix or replace that older car, you can take the insurance savings and use them when you must.
Keep in mind that reducing coverage still means your injuries and your vehicle won’t be covered after a car accident, however — so saving for these circ*mstances regardless of your car’s age is crucial if you opt for the minimum amount of coverage.
Ask for Discounts
Many providers automatically apply discounts for safe driving, bundling and having vehicles with anti-theft devices. Still, by reaching out to the provider ahead of time, you can ask for discounts that might not automatically apply, such as being a part of a professional organization, completing a safe driving course and more.
Improve Your Credit Score
Insurance providers usually check your credit scores and assign a risk rating based on your credit history. If you have a lower credit score, it may indicate that you could struggle to pay your premiums — and earn you higher premiums. By improving your credit score, you can save money on your car insurance costs.
Bundle Insurance Policies
Progressive gives discounts for bundling multiple policies with its auto insurance, like homeowners, renters and more insurance coverages. Having two or more vehicles under the same Progressive policy will also earn you a discount.
Try Usage-Based Insurance Programs
Progressive’s usage-based insurance program is called Snapshot®, a proprietary app that monitors your driving behaviors. You can use its free mobile app or ask for a plug-in device. Once installed, Snapshot logs when you drive, how often you brake hard and other data. If you have good driving habits across the board, you may save up to $231 annually by using this feature.
Progressive Insurance Payment Options: The Bottom Line
Progressive has an abundance of payment options for policyholders. You can also earn discounts by paying your policy in full or by setting up autopay, which is where Progressive deducts your monthly installments from your preferred payment method.
Progressive offers a grace period if you’re late on payments. However, after 10 to 20 days, depending on your state’s law, you could face a lapse in coverage. If you’re struggling to make your payments, reach out to Progressive immediately to see what options it can offer. The insurer has many payment options, from credit cards to PayPal, so chances are you can find something that works for you.
Car Insurance Recommendations
Along with Progressive, it’s ideal to receive insurance quotes from multiple providers. Doing this helps you see which carrier offers the best insurance coverage at affordable prices. And when shopping for insurance companies, here are two of the best to consider:
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State Farm: Best Customer Experience
State Farm offers ample insurance coverage, such as liability, full coverage and rideshare insurance. You can also lower your premiums through discounts for completing safe driving courses, having anti-theft devices in your vehicle and bundling multiple policies.
When it comes to claims, State Farm has strong financial health, evidenced by its A++ rating with AM Best. State Farm also has personalized coverages, ample payment options and enough discounts to make them an enticing option.
Read more: State Farm Insurance Review
Geico: Best for Budget-Conscious Drivers
Geico has a full range of auto insurance coverages like liability insurance, full coverage, emergency roadside assistance and mechanical breakdown insurance. You can also get a discount of up to 25% when you bundle multiple vehicles under one policy.
Geico also has flexible payment options where you can pay in full or break up your insurance premiums into installments. With its DriveEasy program, you also earn discounts for displaying your safe driving behaviors. Add this up and Geico is an intriguing and wallet-saving provider to consider.
Read more: Geico Insurance Review
Compare: State Farm vs. Geico
Progressive Online Payment: FAQ
Below are frequently asked questions about Progressive’s online payment options:
Progressive accepts debit and credit cards and automatic payments through your checking account. You can also mail a check or money order, use PayPal or set up an electronic funds transfer (EFT).
No, you can’t technically skip a payment with Progressive. That said, if money is tight, you can request the carrier to push back your due date by as much as 10 days. Depending on your state of residence, you’ll have 10 to 20 days after the initial due date before your coverage lapses.
Yes, you can set up payment arrangements by contacting an insurance agent or going online to schedule a payment. You can also receive notifications of a pending insurance cancellation because of non-payment. You must make the minimum payment by the pay-by date or else you’ll have a lapse in insurance coverage.
Progressive charges a $10 fee for late payments, but the amount varies based on your state residence.
Our Methodology
Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best car insurance companies. We collected data on dozens of auto insurance providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. The result was an overall rating for each provider, with the insurers that scored the most points topping the list.
Here are the factors our ratings take into account:
- Cost: Auto insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services and discount opportunities were both taken into consideration.
- Coverage: Companies that offer a variety of choices for insurance coverage are more likely to meet consumer needs.
- Reputation and experience: Our research team considered market share, ratings from industry experts and years in business when giving this score.
- Availability: Auto insurance companies with greater state availability and few eligibility requirements scored highest in this category.
- Customer experience: This score is based on volume of complaints reported by the NAIC and customer satisfaction ratings reported by J.D. Power. We also considered the responsiveness, friendliness and helpfulness of each insurance company’s customer service team based on our shopper analysis.
Our credentials:
- 800 hours researched
- 45 companies reviewed
- 8,500+ consumers surveyed
*Data accurate at time of publication.
If you have feedback or questions about this article, please email the MarketWatch Guides team at editors@marketwatchguides.com.
