Dairyland vs. Progressive: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, Progressive offers significantly more affordable rates than Dairyland
• Progressive offers more affordable premiums for residents of suburban areas
• Progressive tends to be a much less expensive option for couples purchasing car insurance together

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Dairyland vs. Progressive: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering big discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Dairyland or Progressive for your next policy, but between the two, which company will offer you cheaper rates?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Dairyland is quite a bit more expensive than Progressive, with premiums averaging $256 per month compared to just $180 with Progressive.

Even so, that doesn't mean Progressive will necessarily be more affordable than Dairyland for every driver. After all, insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like where you call home, your credit score, your age, or even your driving record (among other things), so prices will change quite a bit from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both Dairyland and Progressive by multiple different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Dairyland or Progressive: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Dairyland and Progressive compete against each other in seven states, with Progressive offering less expensive prices to the average driver in all of them. South Carolina has the most noticable difference, where Progressive rates are over 70% cheaper than auto insurance prices at Dairyland.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance bill than just where you live. Read on to find out more.

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Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance rates of any group on the road. That's normally because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in a car insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

However, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Progressive for their auto insurance pay nearly $75 less than those who use Dairyland.

But both companies will drop premiums by the time drivers turn 25. Progressive offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Dairyland's average rates reduce more than 55% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age typically enjoy some of the most affordable insurance premiums out there. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which generally lowers their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase prices.

When looking at Dairyland and Progressive specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Progressive gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older over 35% less expensive than the national average for Dairyland.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance prices are usually more expensive for single policyholders than they are for married policyholders? This usually boils down to married drivers having more than one car on their policy -- something many auto insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Progressive is the clear winner for single drivers, with premiums about $75 a month cheaper than Dairyland, on average. For married couples, the advantage is clear again - Progressive has the edge when it comes to average rates.

Dairyland vs. Progressive: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get into collisions and get speeding tickets, they run a larger risk of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, men tend to get higher rates than women.

Women generally pay around $10 per month less than men with Dairyland, and about $5 cheaper with Progressive when compared to their male counterparts.

When it comes to the cheapest premiums for each gender, Progressive comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $78 a month and women save around $73 with Progressive compared to the average Dairyland policyholder.

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Dairyland or Progressive: Compare State Minimum vs. Full Coverage Rates

*State minimum value indicates liability-only policies at each state's minimum bodily injury and property damage (BI/PD) limits

**Full coverage indicates state minimum BI/PD limits with collision and comprehensive coverages added to policy.

Insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are a variety of different coverages that account for lots of different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which normally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages alongside liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Progressive usually offers more affordable prices of $111 compared to Dairyland's $142. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Progressive again has the edge, with policies about $100 per month less expensive than Dairyland, on average.

Is Dairyland or Progressive Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their car insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

It's no secret secret that tickets and at-fault collisions lead to higher premiums, but which company -- Dairyland or Progressive -- has the most affordable prices for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Dairyland policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $40 a month if they get a ticket, while Progressive typically raises premiums around $31 per month, on average.

That being said, Progressive has cheaper prices for drivers in both categories, offering rates that are 34% and 32% more affordable, respectively, compared to Dairyland.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will raise prices pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Dairyland raising by over $70. Progressive has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay $65 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, the cheaper rates come from Progressive, with monthly premiums averaging $214 compared to Dairyland's $297.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple speeding ticket or even an accident. On average, Progressive will raise your prices about 16% after a DUI, while Dairyland's average rates climb by 5%.

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How does Credit Score Impact Dairyland and Progressive Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can come into play when carriers calculate your monthly bill. This isn't always the case (Hawaii, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it will come into play for quite a few drivers.

Insurance companies argue that those with good credit scores are more likely to pay their bills on time every month, which decreases the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad credit.

So, which carrier offers the cheapest premiums for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

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Is Dairyland or Progressive Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

The amount of time you spend behind the wheel of your car plays a big role in your monthly car insurance payment. Generally, those who drive fewer miles will end up with more affordable rates since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision and causing an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Dairyland or Progressive report increasing premiums for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. That being said, Progressive comes out as the lowest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle yearly, with average prices of $180 a month for both.

Dairyland vs. Progressive: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

We've already mentioned how your home state can play a role in how much you pay for auto insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a large impact as well. Normally, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

Progressive tends to offer the lowest rates for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the most affordable prices from both carriers, but Progressive comes out on top with average rates around $154 monthly. Progressive also has less expensive average premiums for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 34% and 29% per month respective difference when compared to Dairyland drivers in similar areas.

Dairyland vs. Progressive Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? The best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many car insurance discounts as you can.

The hard part is finding all of the discounts you're eligible for, since it can feel sometimes like every carrier has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

In the section below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Dairyland and Progressive so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Progressive blows Dairyland away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 23 more discounts than Dairyland.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like agency transfer discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good student, and paid in full discounts. Progressive also offers ABS discounts, advanced safety feature discounts, continuous insurance discounts, and more that Dairyland does not.

Dairyland's discounts come through just a few categories, including Advance Quote, Agency Transfer, Anti-Theft, and more.

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Final Thoughts: Is Dairyland or Progressive Best for You?

You've seen the role certain factors have on your auto insurance and the different discounts companies offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which insurance company is the right carrier for you and your specific driver profile?

Progressive might be best for you if....

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You want basic car insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You drive fewer than 12,000 miles annually.

Dairyland might be best for you if...

• You have a more unique driver profile than those we mentioned above.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Dairyland and Progressive and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your auto insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple carriers, not just Dairyland and Progressive. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

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Dairyland vs. Progressive FAQs

Is Dairyland or Progressive cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Progressive is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $180 a month compared to $256 for Dairyland. However, Progressive won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for each driver, since there are many different variables that come into play when it comes to your insurance cost.

Who is better, Dairyland or Progressive?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like.

Why do Dairyland and Progressive offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at several different factors when calculating the premiums they charge policyholders. Variables such as gender, your driving record, where your home is, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Dairyland and Progressive use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different carriers.

How do I know if Dairyland or Progressive is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Dairyland or Progressive at all!

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Methodology

All of the data referenced in this article has been gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. We analyzed more than 2.5 million rows of carrier-reported data to calculate the average rates referenced above. All rates are based on an insurance profile of a single-vehicle policy for a driver that owns a 2016 Honda Accord. For more information on how we calculate rates, please reference our data methodology.