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Progressive homeowners insurance has offered mostly online services, but policies can also be quoted through independent insurance agents.
Progressive Homeowners Insurance
Since its founding in 1936 by a pair of Cleveland lawyers selling car insurance, Progressive has exploded into a Fortune 500 company turned leading consumer brand. Operating primarily online, Progressive offers 24/7 customer service, instant quotes, and the option to purchase policies from the comfort of your home.
While it's arguably best known for auto insurance,
In short, some customers want the support of an agent when choosing the best homeowners insurance companies to meet their needs. Brokers who work with Progressive can quote auto, home, and other policies with bundling and other discounts.
Progressive Homeowners Insurance Cost
According to its website, the average cost of a 12-month policy with Progressive for $350,000 in dwelling coverage ranges from $999-$1655, a figure that works out to between $83-$138 per month on average (depending on where you live).
Progressive's formula breaks your home's location into low, medium, and high-cost states. In Massachusetts, for instance, the average monthly price for homeowners insurance is $101 (or $1213 per year). So as a medium-cost state, a homeowners policy in Massachusetts would be close to the mean cost across the country.
Homeowners insurance from Progressive or its partner ASI is available in all 50 states. However, the average costs vary by state. States like Florida may face more significant risks of loss. Average rates reflect this risk.
Progressive continues to lead the way in affordable homeowners insurance. In 2017, the company launched HomeQuote ExplorerⓇ, a platform boasting side-by-side comparison of home insurance rates and coverage in fewer than two minutes from multiple companies.
In addition, Progressive has made calculating coverage limits for homeowners insurance quick and easy. Remember, insurance quotes are based on the specifics of your home. Bottom line: the goal is to estimate how much it would cost to rebuild your home in case of a complete or partial loss. This price, calculated by a "replacement cost estimator," is not the same as your home's fair market value (used when buying or selling an existing structure).
How to File A Claim With Progressive
If your home is damaged, you must initiate the claims process immediately. The sooner you file a claim, the sooner you can get paid. More importantly, homeowners insurance does not cover negligence. So, for example, if you experienced a loss due to water backup, waiting could lead to the buildup of mold, which is one of the most common signs of neglect used by insurance companies.
After locating your policy number, call Progressive directly at 1-800-776-4737. A customer service representative will connect you with an expert who can explain the details of your coverage and how a deductible will apply.
Be prepared to take photos, collect receipts (for damaged personal belongings), and schedule a home inspection with a certified insurance adjuster. All of this information will allow your insurer to complete an estimate of anticipated repair costs and your out-of-pocket expenses.
Once you receive a check for the covered portion of your loss, you can start repairs using your chosen experts. Companies in your area may be willing to start working on repairs while your claim is being processed. However, if more damage is discovered during the repair process, contact your insurer immediately, as you may be entitled to additional compensation.
Throughout the claims process, remain in close contact with your claims representative (who will be appointed by the insurer), who will remain available to answer your questions when they arise.
Progressive Homeowners Insurance Plans
Disasters can occur at any time. From household accidents to extreme weather, ensuring full coverage and generous liability limits is crucial. Progressive offers the policies you might expect for single-family residences and condos. It also sells renters and other residential insurance policies. Progressive provides standard coverage based on your property's estimated replacement cost.
You might see the following coverage types on your Progressive homeowners insurance quote:
Dwelling
Every homeowner's insurance policy includes dwelling coverage (Coverage A). It covers your physical home, attached garage, and other structures integral to the dwelling, from chimneys and decks to kitchen countertops and built-in cabinets and/or vanities.
Generally speaking, a policy's dwelling coverage will pay for the costs associated with repairing, rebuilding, or replacing your home in the event of a loss due to covered perils from fires and falling objects to theft, vandalism, and some weather-related incidents. However, if you're buying a condo policy, you'll need a copy of your condo association's master policy.
Some policies cover "walls-in" with improvements, meaning you don't need a condo policy unless you want other coverages. If it has "walls-in as originally built," coverage A could be $20,000 to fulfill conventional mortgage lender requirements. Dwelling coverage is based on the estimated cost of rebuilding your home after a total loss.
NOTE: Standard policies typically do not protect against floods, earthquakes, or other specific natural disasters. Mortgage holders may be required to carry other regional coverages.
Other Structures
True to its name, this coverage applies to any free-standing structure, from garages and gazebos to patios and pergolas, standing separate from your primary dwelling. For example, this coverage will kick in if a tree falls and crushes your gardening shed. Generally speaking, other structures coverage (Coverage B) is typically set at 10% of Coverage A, dwelling coverage.
Again, this would not be included in condo policies as a condo would not have additional structures.
Personal Property
Often called contents coverage, this provision (Coverage C) helps cover the cost of replacing personal property, from clothing and furniture to electronics and appliances, in the event of damage, destruction, theft, or other covered events.
Personal property coverage comes with two types of settlement: replacement cost value (the cost of replacing stolen or damaged items) or actual cash value cost (the cost to replace your damaged items minus depreciation). Items of worth, like jewelry, fine art, or other collectibles, must be covered under a separate "schedule" or additional rider.
Don't underestimate the value of your personal property. You might not have designer jewelry or other high-value items (which would require additional coverage via riders). But everything from your couches to your clothes and kitchen appliances adds up quicker than you may realize.
Loss of Use
If your home is not inhabitable following a covered loss, loss of use coverage (Coverage D) pays for living expenses. This could include hotel rooms, restaurant meals, laundry services, parking, and storage units, to name a few things.
Coverage is based upon a percentage of your dwelling coverage, designed to help you find other accommodations as you still have to pay your original mortgage.
Personal Liability
This coverage, often called personal liability insurance (Coverage E), provides financial protection if someone is injured at your home. It is a standard inclusion on a homeowners policy. When choosing your limits, you must disclose liabilities, including swimming pools and trampolines.
Many insurance companies also ask about dogs, particularly those with a history of aggression. Progressive's marketing team has written about dog liability, but the pages we read did not specify Progressive's policy on certain breeds.
A licensed insurance agent can advise you on how much liability coverage you want. However, you should consider higher limits if you run a business or have other regular traffic outside your family.
Note: Disclosure is critical when it comes to liability. For example, if a Progressive agent asks you if you have a trampoline or pool and you say no, it could lead the company to deny any claim associated with the non-disclosure.
Additional Coverage Options
Flood Insurance
For homeowners in areas at high risk of floods, flood insurance provides additional protection (plus peace of mind) should rising waters damage your home and/or property. Flood insurance covers damage to your dwelling and foundation as well as attached and detached structures, personal property, and debris removal.
Generally, an insurance agent can check your flood zone to determine if you need it. It's issued by the NFIP, primarily for natural disasters. All policies are underwritten and backed by the NFIP (National Flood Insurance Program). So Progressive will service claims, but the prices should be identical to any other carrier for the same property.
Water Backup
Damage from unnatural water sources, like a backup or overflow from a sewer line or sump pump, can be costly and inconvenient. This additional option provides coverage if your home's physical structure and/or personal belongings are damaged or destroyed by a plumbing issue. This should not be confused with flood insurance, which generally costs a small amount per renewal period.
Personal Injury
This additional coverage pays for legal fees and damages stemming from extreme and uncommon (often legal) situations like a lawsuit, malicious prosecution, wrongful eviction/entry, or false arrest, to name just a few.
Scheduled Items
Special possessions with a high value may not be fully covered under your personal property coverage. Typical examples include jewelry, artwork, and other high-value collectibles. Therefore, an appraisal may be required for some items. In general, this is an affordable option based on the value of the specific item and the cost to replace it.
Computer Coverage
Like scheduled items coverage, computer coverage offers additional specialized coverage for computers and related equipment like monitors, docking stations, etc. This rider is ideal for remote workers, serious gamers, and others with specialized computer equipment.
FAQs
What does homeowners insurance with Progressive do?
Homeowners insurance provides financial protection in the event of damage to or loss of your home and other things associated with your home. While the specifics vary from policy to policy, coverage can include the costs related to repairing/rebuilding your dwelling, replacing personal belongings, paying for alternative lodging during the aftermath of a disaster at home, and home-related liability.
Does my Progressive homeowners insurance renew automatically?
The renewal process can vary from provider to provider. When in doubt, check your homeowners insurance policy to ensure no lapse in coverage. If you have a mortgage, your mortgage company will usually collect monthly premiums and pay your renewal. However, if you receive a warning about nonpayment, it's still up to you to make the payment or ensure your mortgage company does.
Compare Progressive
See how Progressive compares to two other options for home insurance coverage: Liberty Mutual and Safeco.
Progressive vs. Liberty Mutual Homeowners Insurance
Unsurprisingly, Liberty Mutual customers like Namusisi of Tomkins Cove, New York, called the claims process "very streamlined" on ConsumerAffairs.
Liberty Mutual and Progressive offer online and insurance agent-based quoting (and the associated customer service and support. However, Progressive may offer lower prices. Liberty Mutual sells through both in-house and independent agents. So if you quote with a Liberty Mutual agent, they may offer discounts exclusive to in-house agents.
Liberty Mutual Homeowners Insurance Review
Progressive vs. Safeco Homeowners Insurance
Reviews on ConsumerAffairs applauded Safeco's competitive rates and courteous customer service representatives. Janiece of Washougal, WA, wrote on Consumer Affairs: "[Safeco was] amazing to work with. Even though the repairs were over $100,000, they fixed everything and put me up in an apartment for six months while repairs were being made and paid to move me there. I would highly recommend them to anyone."
Progressive policies can be quoted online or through independent insurance agents. It offers affordable premiums, flexible coverage, and more. Compared to Safeco, Progressive offers all options except a "choose your own deductible" feature.
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed Progressive Homeowners Insurance
We consider JD Power and AM Best rankings, customer reviews, policies offered, average premiums, claims process, and more. All of this is detailed in our homeowners insurance rating methodology.
Customer experiences after claims receive careful attention. Each company's financial stability points to how well it manages the difference between premium costs coming in and claims paid out. More importantly, it indicates if the company can fulfill future financial obligations, like paying your claims.