Progressive Defensive Driving Discount: How It Works, Potential Savings, and More
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Written byMandy Sleight
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Mandy Sleight has over 15 years of insurance knowledge and expertise in auto, home, life, health, pet, supplemental benefits, and other insurance products. She’s a sought-after insurance expert, appearing in Bankrate.com, Moneygeek.com, U.S. News & World Report, Reviews.com, CNET, and other publications, and she's been writing for Compare.com since 2023.
Mandy uses her background and experience working for well-known insurance companies like State Farm and Nationwide Insurance to create engaging and easy-to-understand content that helps readers make smarter insurance choices that have a positive effect on their budgets and finances.
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Edited byMatthew Gross
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Matthew Gross is an editor at Compare.com. With a background in editing and SEO, he’s passionate about creating content that helps readers get the information they need to make more informed decisions. Prior to Compare.com, Matthew brought his user-centered approach to his work with global brands like Apple and Adobe.
Matthew graduated from Illinois State University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Journalism.
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You have many ways to save money on car insurance, but taking advantage of discounts is the easiest. Drivers in most U.S. states can save up to 15% after completing a state-approved defensive driving course, but qualifications and course length requirements vary by state and insurance company.
Progressive offers a defensive driver discount to eligible drivers in 34 states and Washington, D.C. We’ll explain how to get Progressive’s defensive driving insurance discount, plus other ways to save money on your car insurance.
What Is the Progressive Defensive Driving Discount?
Most car insurance companies offer a defensive driving course discount. But many — including Progressive — offer it only in states that legally require it. Some states make the defensive driving course discount available to drivers of all ages, while others allow it only for specific age groups.
The following drivers typically qualify:
New drivers age 21 and younger
Drivers age 50 and older
Drivers in states mandating the discount
Most states also require you to complete the course voluntarily, not because of a court order or governmental requirement.
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How Much Can You Save With the Progressive Defensive Driving Discount?
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Progressive doesn’t advertise the defensive driver discount on its website, and the discount amount varies by state and coverage. But you can typically get up to 15% in 34 states and Washington, D.C., after completing a defensive driving course.
For example, Delaware and New York drivers of all ages can save 10% on:[1]
In Delaware, the discount lasts for three years, and you can recertify within 180 days of the end of the three years to receive a 15% discount.[2]
Savings vary, and the discounts you already have factor into how much you can save, as several Reddit users found out.[3] A few pointed out that many insurers cap how much you can save with discounts. So you may not save much with the defensive driving discount if you already have multiple discounts on your car insurance policy.
How does Progressive’s defensive driving discount compare to competitors?
Many other insurers offer a defensive driving course discount, including State Farm, GEICO, Allstate, and Liberty Mutual.
The table below compares average rates, discount availability, and maximum savings for Progressive and its top competitors, according to Compare.com data.
Company  | Average Full-Coverage Premium | Discount Availability | Maximum Discount Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Progressive | $145 | Only in states that require it | 15% |
| State Farm | $116 | Not available in Arizona, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont, or Wisconsin | 15% |
| GEICO | $115 | Not available in Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, or Vermont | 15% |
| Allstate | $128 | Only in states that require it | 15% |
| Liberty Mutual | $245 | Only in states that require it | 15% |
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Compare.com's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Savings are similar from company to company — especially in states that mandate a defensive driver discount. While Progressive, Allstate, and Liberty Mutual offer a defensive driver discount only in states that require it, State Farm and GEICO offer it in more states.
How to Get the Progressive Defensive Driving Discount
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You must complete a qualifying defensive driving course to get a discount from Progressive. Your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) may have a list of approved courses and can provide information about whether you have to complete the course in person or if you can do it online. In-person classes can cost around $100, while online courses usually cost between $5 and $50, according to our research.
You’ll also need to check if you meet the age and other requirements. For example, Florida offers this discount only for seniors 55 and older.[4] You also must have a clean driving record with no traffic violations or accidents within the last three years.
Georgia has the same driving-record requirements,[5] and it also requires drivers 25 and older to complete a course that’s at least six hours long. Drivers younger than 25 must complete a 30-hour course and six hours of driver training.
Since you need to pay for the course and set aside the time to complete it, it’s worth checking with Progressive to see how much you can save and compare the course cost for each eligible driver.
Other Progressive Discounts to Consider
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Progressive offers multiple car insurance discounts that you can combine to get the most out of your savings. Some discounts you may qualify for include:
Multi-policy discount: Combine Progressive auto insurance and at least one other insurance policy to save an average of 7% with a multi-policy discount.
Multi-car discount: Insure at least two vehicles with Progressive and get an average of 12% off your insurance premium with a multi-car discount.
Good student discount: Full-time students with a B average or better can qualify for 5% or more in savings with a good student discount.
Homeowner discount: Homeowners can save on their car insurance even if they don’t insure their home with Progressive.
Teen driver discount: Drivers 18 and younger are eligible for Progressive’s teen driver discount.
Online quote discount: Receive an average of 7% in savings when you get a quote online, even if you finish the quote by phone with a Progressive representative.
Sign online: Save an average of 9% by signing your insurance policy documents online.
Paperless discount: Sign up to receive your documents electronically to get the paperless discount.
Progressive Defensive Driving Discount FAQs
We answered common questions about Progressive’s defensive driver discount. Check them out below.
Does Progressive offer a discount for defensive driving?
Yes. Progressive offers a defensive driving discount in 34 states and Washington, D.C. These states require insurers to provide a discount for completing a state-approved defensive driving course. Savings can vary by state.
Which insurance company offers the largest defensive driving discount?
State Farm and Farmers offer up to 15% savings with a defensive driving discount in some states. Arkansas and Delaware drivers can save up to 15% on liability, medical, and collision coverages after completing a qualifying driving course.
How much is the Progressive defensive driving discount?
Progressive’s defensive driving discount savings vary by state, ranging from 5% to 15%. The discount may apply only to certain coverages. Check your state’s DMV website for more information.
What’s a defensive driver discount?
A defensive driver discount allows drivers in some states to save on car insurance. Qualifying drivers must complete a state-approved defensive driving course and provide a copy of the completion certificate for a discount.
Is a defensive driving course worth it?
It depends. A 2022 National Safety Council study found that completing a defensive driving course reduced traffic violation rates by more than 70%.[6] These courses can make you a safer driver and may help you get a discount on your car insurance.
Methodology
Data scientists at Compare.com analyzed more than 50 million real-time auto insurance quotes from more than 75 partner insurers in order to compile the rates and statistics seen in this article. Compare.com’s auto insurance data includes coverage analysis and details on drivers’ vehicles, driving records, insurance histories, and demographic information.
All the rates listed in this article have been collected from a combination of real Compare.com quotes and external insurance rate data gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. Compare.com uses these observations to provide readers with insights into how auto insurance companies determine their premiums.
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Sources
- DriveSafe.com. "New York Defensive Driving Course: PIRP and IPIRP (Classroom and Online)."
- Deleware Division of Motor Vehicles. "Driving Courses."
- Reddit. "Mature Driver Discount BS."
- Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. "Mature Driver Discount Insurance Courses."
- Justia. "2024 CODE OF GEORGIA Title 33 - INSURANCE (§§ 33-1-1 — 33-66-8) Chapter 9 - REGULATION OF RATES, UNDERWRITING RULES, AND RELATED ORGANIZATIONS (§§ 33-9-1 — 33-9-44) Section 33-9-42 - Reduction in premiums for motor vehicle liability, first-party medical, and collision coverages for certain named drivers."
- National Safety Council. "New Study: NSC Online Training Leads to 70% Decrease in Violation Rates."
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Mandy SleightInsurance Writer
Mandy Sleight has over 15 years of insurance knowledge and expertise in auto, home, life, health, pet, supplemental benefits, and other insurance products. She’s a sought-after insurance expert, appearing in Bankrate.com, Moneygeek.com, U.S. News & World Report, Reviews.com, CNET, and other publications, and she's been writing for Compare.com since 2023.
Mandy uses her background and experience working for well-known insurance companies like State Farm and Nationwide Insurance to create engaging and easy-to-understand content that helps readers make smarter insurance choices that have a positive effect on their budgets and finances.
Matthew Gross is an editor at Compare.com. With a background in editing and SEO, he’s passionate about creating content that helps readers get the information they need to make more informed decisions. Prior to Compare.com, Matthew brought his user-centered approach to his work with global brands like Apple and Adobe.
Matthew graduated from Illinois State University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Journalism.
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