Progressive Snapshot Review: Pros, Cons, & Alternatives (2023)

With the cost of just about everything rising, drivers are looking for new ways to save money everywhere they can. More companies are offering a usage-based insurance program (UBI) to help customers save money, but not all drivers can benefit.

Progressive’s usage-based insurance is Snapshot and offers a discount of up to 15%. 

While it’s not as high as most competitors, Progressive Snapshot is a good choice for low-mileage drivers. If you already have Progressive car insurance, Snapshot is worth considering.

Read on to explore what Progressive Snapshot reviews say about this usage-based insurance program and if it might be right for you. Then, compare rates with as many companies as possible to see if other options would be a better fit.

What is Snapshot by Progressive?

Snapshot is Progressive’s usage-based insurance program that encourages safe driving habits by offering cheaper rates. Signing up for Snapshot is free, and you can let Progressive track your driving with either the mobile app or a plug-in device.

You’ll earn a small discount simply for signing up for Snapshot, and Progressive offers savings of up to 15% if you drive well. 

Progressive will track your driving for a period depending on your state and give you a score. Your score will determine how much of a discount you’ll receive on your insurance.

Unlike many other UBI programs, Progressive imposes surcharges for drivers with less-than-ideal driving habits. According to Progressive’s data, about 20% of Snapshot users see their rates increase after signing up.

Does Snapshot actually lower rates?

Although it promises a discount of up to 15%, does Snapshot really produce savings?

The amount you save with Snapshot depends on how well you drive. You can earn the full 15% discount if you practice safe habits. However, your rates might increase if Progressive decides your driving is not up to par. 

Most Progressive Snapshot reviews state they’ve earned at least a small discount, with the average annual savings being about $145. If you’re interested in larger savings with UBI, you should consider looking at other companies. Many of Progressive’s competitors offer larger discounts to safe drivers.

Compare The Best Insurance Quotes In The Country

Compare quotes from the top insurance companies and save!

Auto Home Health Life Business Motorcycle Medicare Rental

 Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

Who should use Progressive Snapshot?

The people who benefit most from Snapshot are those who regularly practice safe driving habits. If you’re prone to speeding, putting a lot of miles on your car, or getting distracted by your phone, you should probably skip Snapshot.

It’s also a good idea for low-mileage drivers. Snapshot isn’t exactly a mileage-based car insurance plan, but it does reward drivers who put fewer miles on their cars.

Residents of New York should also carefully consider their options before signing up for Snapshot. According to state law, New Yorkers have to go through the initial driving evaluation every 36 months to stay in the program.

If you’re interested in Snapshot, you should compare your options before signing up. Progressive is not the only company with a usage-based program, and many of its competitors offer better savings and features.

Unfortunately, Snapshot is not available in California or North Carolina. You also won’t receive a participation discount if you live in New York, Alaska, or Hawaii.

How does Progressive Snapshot work?

When you sign up for Snapshot, you’ll have to decide between the mobile app and a plug-in device to track your driving. Each has its benefits and disadvantages, but many drivers opt for the mobile app for convenience.

If you choose the mobile app, you’ll need to make sure every driver listed on your policy participates in the program. The app does an excellent job of determining who is driving, but you can correct it if it makes a mistake.

The plug-in device allows you more freedom to decide who or what is being monitored. For example, if an unlisted driver plans to borrow your car, simply unplug the device, and they won’t be tracked. You can also plug your device into a different vehicle so you can track your driving no matter what you drive.

Snapshot follows the same procedure through the app or plug-in device, so follow these steps to get started:

• Join the program. You can join Snapshot on the Progressive website, through the app, or with help from a representative.
• Choose your device. If you want to use the mobile app, you’ll need to download it on your phone. If you choose the plug-in, Progressive will mail it to you. Once you get it, plug it into your vehicle’s OBD port.
• Collect your participation discount. New customers using the mobile app should register within 45 days to receive their 5% discount. If you have the plug-in device, you’ll get your discount either after the first 45 days or after collecting 30 days’ worth of data.
• Start driving. Snapshot needs to collect driving data before it can offer you a discount. You can review your results either on the app or the website.
• Get your savings. Once Progressive has enough data, you’ll receive your score and see how much of a discount you earned. Your performance discount replaces the participation savings, and your score will stay the same unless Progressive needs more.
• End your tracking. After Progressive gives you a score, you no longer need to track your driving. You can delete the app or mail the device back.

Choosing the right device for you depends on your lifestyle. The plug-in device might be right for you if you live in a household with multiple drivers or vehicles that aren’t on the same policy. Since it allows you to remove the device whenever you’re not driving, it gives you better control over the data Progressive collects.

How does Snapshot know who’s driving?

If you use the plug-in device, Progressive will track driving habits as long as it’s in the OBD port. That’s why removing the device when you’re not driving is essential to keeping your rates from being affected by someone else’s bad habits.

If you decide the mobile app is right for you, you’ll need to enroll every driver in your policy. You might also have to indicate which car your drive most often, depending on your state. 

In some states, Progressive tracks driving data by phone. In others, it creates an average score using every driver on the account.

Although Progressive promises a high level of accuracy when detecting who is behind the wheel, the Snapshot app occasionally makes mistakes. If you notice an error after a drive, you can correct it in the app.

What driving habits does Progressive Snapshot monitor?

Snapshot looks at the following driving behaviors when you sign up for the program:

• Time of day. The safest time to drive is when the sun is up. If you frequently drive between midnight and 6 a.m., you probably won’t save very much with Snapshot.
• Mileage. Low-mileage drivers will save more with Snapshot than those who drive more frequently. High-mileage drivers are considered riskier simply because they spend more time on the road, so they should avoid usage-based insurance programs.
• Braking and accelerating. When you sign up for Snapshot, you should avoid quick accelerations and hard braking as much as possible.
• Speeding. Drivers who stick to posted speed limits will see higher Snapshot scores than those who frequently speed.
• Distracted driving. Snapshot tracks cell phone use if you sign up for the mobile app. If you text or make phone calls while you drive, your Snapshot score will suffer.

Snapshot looks at a variety of driving habits to determine your overall score. If you struggle to avoid any of the above behaviors, you should probably skip signing up for Snapshot. Learn more about how insurance companies determine rates.

While other companies do not penalize bad driving behaviors, you might see your rates increase with Snapshot.

You should also be aware that the Snapshot app reserves the right to share your data with third parties for the following reasons:

• To service your insurance policy
• For marketing purposes
• As support for insurance rates
• To detect fraudulence
• To help resolve claims
• As permitted to assist law enforcement investigations

You’ll need to agree to this data collection before using the Snapshot app. However, you can skip much of the data collection and sharing by opting for the plug-in device.

Compare The Best Insurance Quotes In The Country

Compare quotes from the top insurance companies and save!

Auto Home Health Life Business Motorcycle Medicare Rental

 Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

Is Snapshot worth it?

The only way to get the most from Progressive’s Snapshot discount is to practice safe driving habits. You should also confirm you drive less than 10,000 miles per year and don’t mind being monitored before you sign up.

For drivers who don’t practice the safest habits, it might be better to skip Snapshot, especially since you might actually pay higher rates.

Progressive Snapshot vs. the Competition

Before you decide if Snapshot is right for you, research other options, as most companies offer UBI, some of which with much bigger savings than Snapshot. We offer reviews of many usage-based car insurance programs to help you get started:

• Allstate Milewise review
• USAA SafePilot review
• Nationwide SmartRide review
• Farmers Signal review
• Travelers Intellidrive
• American Family KnowYourDrive review

Most major companies offer better potential savings than Progressive. However, Progressive’s mobile app receives high scores, and most customers recommend it.

See What Progressive Snapshot Can Do for You

Progressive’s Snapshot program might be a good option if you practice safe driving habits and don’t put too many miles on your car. You’ll also need to be comfortable having your driving data tracked.

Although Snapshot is a good choice for usage-based insurance, there are other options. You might find better savings with other companies, so it’s important to compare quotes before you sign up for a policy. Use our comparison tool below to get free auto insurance quotes from local companies.

Compare The Best Insurance Quotes In The Country

Compare quotes from the top insurance companies and save!

Auto Home Health Life Business Motorcycle Medicare Rental

 Secured with SHA-256 Encryption