Does Progressive Have Accident Forgiveness?

Last Updated on July 11, 2022

Progressive offers automatic, complimentary accident forgiveness to many policyholders.

Progressive forgives small accidents (with less than $500 in damage) for customers enrolled in their loyalty program, and they forgive larger accidents for customers with 5 years of clean driving history.

How does Progressive’s accident forgiveness work? Is it worth adding Progressive’s accident forgiveness to your policy? Keep reading to discover everything you need to know about Progressive’s accident forgiveness.

Table of Contents:

• How Progressive’s Accident Forgiveness Works
• How to Qualify for Accident Forgiveness with Progressive
• Types of Progressive Accident Forgiveness
• How Much Does Progressive Raise Rates After an Accident?
• How Much Does Progressive’s Accident Forgiveness Cost?
• Is Progressive’s Accident Forgiveness Worth It?

How Progressive’s Accident Forgiveness Works

Progressive offers accident forgiveness to some policyholders automatically. Alternatively, some policyholders choose to pay extra to add accident forgiveness to their policy.

If you have accident forgiveness, then Progressive will ignore your first at-fault accident.

That means Progressive will not charge higher rates after your first at-fault accident. It also means you can keep your safe driving discount.

Progressive’s accident forgiveness applies to all drivers in your household and all other authorized drivers who operate your vehicle. If you or any authorized driver is involved in an accident, and you have accident forgiveness on your policy, then Progressive will ignore your first at-fault accident.

If you purchase Progressive’s accident forgiveness, then you can forgive one at-fault accident per policy period (say, one at-fault accident every 6 to 12 months).

How to Qualify for Accident Forgiveness with Progressive

Progressive customers qualify for some types of accident forgiveness automatically. Or, some Progressive customers buy accident forgiveness.

Here’s how to qualify for Progressive’s accident forgiveness:

Method #1: Qualify Automatically

You can qualify for Progressive’s accident forgiveness automatically by being part of the Progressive loyalty program or by maintaining a safe driving record:

Be Part of the Loyalty Rewards Program: If you are part of Progressive’s Loyalty Rewards program, then you automatically receive Small Accident Forgiveness, regardless of your driving record or how long you’ve been insured with Progressive. Progressive offers its Loyalty Rewards program to new customers in most states. Typically, you receive this benefit as soon as your policy begins. With Progressive’s Small Accident Forgiveness, the company automatically forgives all accidents where the total claim is less than or equal to $500.

Maintain 5 Years of Safe Driving History: You automatically qualify for Progressive’s Large Accident Forgiveness if you have 5 years of accident-free and violation-free driving history. If you have not caused any accidents or received any citations (like speeding tickets) in the last 5 years, then you automatically qualify for Large Accident Forgiveness. Progressive will forgive a single at-fault accident even if the total claim exceeds $500. You also must be a member of the Progressive Loyalty Rewards program to qualify for this discount.

Method #2: Pay to Add Accident Forgiveness to Your Policy

You can also pay Progressive to add accident forgiveness to your policy.

If you pay a few extra dollars per month, Progressive will add the most powerful version of accident forgiveness to your policy: Progressive will forgive one at-fault accident per policy period (instead of one at-fault accident in total).

Some Progressive customers double up: they qualify for accident forgiveness through the Loyalty Rewards program or their safe driving history, and they add accident forgiveness to their policy. Progressive applies the Loyalty Rewards program and safe driving history accident forgiveness first, and then applies the purchased accident forgiveness. This method allows you to forgive two at-fault accidents.

Types of Progressive Accident Forgiveness

Progressive offers three main types of accident forgiveness, including Small and Large Accident Forgiveness and paid accident forgiveness coverage.

Here are the types of Progressive accident forgiveness and how they work:

Small Accident Forgiveness: Progressive’s Small Accident Forgiveness forgives any accidents where the claim’s total damage is $500 or less. Progressive offers Small Accident Forgiveness to customers in most states automatically. If you are a new Progressive customer and join the Loyalty Rewards program, then Progressive automatically adds Small Accident Forgiveness to your policy.

Large Accident Forgiveness: Progressive’s Large Accident Forgiveness forgives accidents where the claim’s total damage is $500 or more. Progressive automatically adds Large Accident Forgiveness to your policy if you have 5 years of safe driving history. You must be accident-free and violation-free for 5 consecutive years to qualify for Large Accident Forgiveness.

Progressive Paid Accident Forgiveness: You can also pay to add Progressive’s accident forgiveness to your policy. Progressive’s accident forgiveness forgives one eligible accident per pay period, regardless of the cost of the claim. Progressive applies any Small Accident Forgiveness and Large Accident Forgiveness to your claim first before using your paid accident forgiveness.

You can contact Progressive at 1-866-749-7436 to add accident forgiveness to your policy, verify whether or not you have accident forgiveness, or check if you qualify for accident forgiveness.

How Much Does Progressive Raise Rates After an Accident?

Progressive may raise rates anywhere from 20% to 80% after a single at-fault accident.

Progressive, like all insurers, raises premiums after an at-fault accident. You might pay 20% to 80% higher premiums based on factors like:

• The severity of the accident
• Your driving history
• The value of the claim
• The type of accident
• Your percentage of fault

If you were 51% at-fault for a minor collision, for example, then you should have a smaller premium hike than someone who was 100% at-fault in a serious collision involving extensive injuries and costly medical bills.

How Much Does Progressive’s Accident Forgiveness Cost?

Progressive offers free accident forgiveness to qualifying customers.

If you are a member of the Progressive Loyalty Rewards program, then you automatically have Small Accident Forgiveness (forgiving accidents under $500).

Or, if you have 5 years of safe driving history, then you automatically have Large Accident Forgiveness (forgiving accidents over $500).

You can also pay to add accident forgiveness to your Progressive policy. Progressive charges different rates depending on your driving history, the make and model of your vehicle, and state insurance laws, among other factors. Generally, customers can expect to pay somewhere from $40 to $200 per year to add accident forgiveness to their Progressive policy.

Is Progressive’s Accident Forgiveness Worth It?

Progressive offers free and paid accident forgiveness.

Depending on your budget, aversion to risk, and driving record, it may or may not be worth it to add accident forgiveness to your policy.

If you have accident forgiveness and are involved in an accident, then it can quickly pay for itself. You might pay $100 to add accident forgiveness to your policy, but you avoid $3,000 in added premiums over the next 3 years.

Consider your insurance needs and your likelihood of an accident to determine if adding accident forgiveness to your policy is worth it.

Final Word – Progressive Accident Forgiveness

Progressive offers some of the best accident forgiveness in the insurance industry.

Progressive automatically provides free Small Accident Forgiveness (for claims under $500) to all Loyalty Rewards program members. The company also offers free Large Accident Forgiveness (for claims over $500) to customers with 5 years of safe driving history.

Alternatively, you can buy accident forgiveness through Progressive for a few extra dollars per month.

To learn more about Progressive’s accident forgiveness or to see if you qualify, contact Progressive today.