Progressive Insurance

How Progressive Began

On March 10, 1937, Joseph Lewis and Jack Green started Progressive Mutual Insurance Company. They wanted to provide vehicle owners with security and protection, and they thought an insurance company was a good investment for a couple of lawyers who were just getting started.

Since its beginning, Progressive has taken an innovative approach to auto insurance. We offered drive-in claims service before any other auto insurance company, and, in another industry first, we allowed customers to pay their premiums in installments — an appealing option for those who couldn't afford annual payments. Progressive wanted — and still wants — to make auto insurance accessible and easy so more people could protect their vehicles.

By 1951, Progressive's growth prompted a move to new offices in downtown Cleveland. In 1955, Jack Green became CEO after the death of Joe Lewis, and Peter Lewis, Joe's son, began his career with Progressive. Peter immediately began looking for ways to distinguish the company from its competitors. In 1956, Progressive Casualty Company was formed to write auto insurance for high-risk drivers. Today, the company insures all types of drivers.

More growth and expansion in the 1960s brought about the formation of The Progressive Corporation. In 1965, Peter Lewis assumed the title of CEO, a position he held for 35 years until he turned the reins over to Glenn Renwick in 2000. Glenn then passed the leadership torch to Tricia Griffith, current CEO and President, in 2016.

Growth and Innovation

Progressive's steady growth continued through the years, which helped fuel the decision to become a public company in 1971. Three years later, in 1974, Progressive moved its headquarters to the Cleveland suburb of Mayfield Village.

The next two decades saw steady growth for the company, and in 1987, Progressive surpassed $1 billion in premiums. That same year, the New York Stock Exchange listed Progressive stock under the PGR symbol.

Our business philosophy was to approach auto insurance in an innovative way — like no other company had. From that mindset came the following industry standards and achievements:

• In 1990, we introduced Immediate Response® claims service, available 24/7, to provide customers with personal service and support immediately after they reported a claim.
• In 1992, Progressive was recognized as the largest seller of auto insurance through independent insurance agents.
• In 1994, Progressive surpassed $2 billion in written premium.
• Also in 1994, we introduced 1-800-AUTO-PRO, a cutting-edge auto insurance rate comparison shopping service. Consumers no longer had to call several companies to compare auto insurance rates — in one phone call to 1-800-AUTO-PRO, they'd receive a Progressive quote and comparison rates for up to three competitors. Plus, if customers wanted to buy from Progressive, they could purchase an insurance policy directly and immediately on the phone. Today, this service is available by dialing 1-800-PROGRESSIVE (1-800-776-4737).
• Another industry first in 1994 was the introduction of the Immediate Response® Vehicle (IRV), a specially marked and outfitted vehicle that brought trained claims professionals to wherever customers needed them — even to the scene of an accident.
• In 2003, Progressive changed its claims focus and launched its concierge level of claims service, which provided a better overall experience for every party involved in a claim, including the customer and the body shop. With this service, Progressive oversaw all elements of the claim/repair process from beginning to end. Customers dropped off their cars at a claims service center and picked them up once the repairs were complete. Since 2003, we’ve been constantly evolving our claims service and process to better meet customers’ needs.

In 2006, Progressive expanded its service to address the special needs of drivers whose vehicles were totaled in an accident or other claim. This service has since evolved into the Progressive Car Shopping Service by TrueCar®. This service makes car shopping easy and offers: real pricing on cars (not estimates), the ability to see what others paid for new cars, and the potential to save thousands off MSRP* on new vehicles. Available in most locations.

Currently, Progressive is one of the largest auto insurance groups in the United States, thanks to innovations including comparison rates and 24/7 customer and claims service. Our growth continues at a steady pace, too: Between 1996 and 2005, Progressive grew an average of 17 percent per year, from $3.4 billion to $14 billion.

Online Insurance and Beyond

In 1995, when the Internet was just gaining popularity, Progressive stepped ahead of the competition and became the first major auto insurer in the world to launch a Web site. The site was primarily informational, but it soon became more interactive. By 1996, consumers could obtain comparison rates online, and by 1997, they could buy auto insurance policies online in real time.

The site has continually evolved with technology, and today, customers can use the following features, 24/7, on Progressive's Web sites:

• Policy Service and Management — Policyholders can log in to update information, make payments, get vehicle recall information and more.
• Online Claims Reporting — Policyholders can log in to report auto accidents and glass claims in minutes. For glass claims, you can show us what type of glass damage occurred using our unique visual reporting tool. For claims other than glass, you may even have the option to schedule an appointment at a network repair shop when you report your claim.
• Rate Ticker — Our scrolling rate ticker displays actual Progressive Direct auto insurance rates side-by-side with those of other top auto insurers.
• Agent Locator — If you prefer to buy insurance through an agent, you can search for local independent insurance agents by entering your ZIP code or by selecting the type of insurance you'd like to buy.
• Talk to Me — Our online customer service feature uses Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology to allow online shoppers who have questions about their Progressive Direct auto insurance quote to click on an icon and talk to a representative over the Internet or have a representative call them directly.
• Instant Quotes — Whether you want to purchase online or through an agent, you can receive online insurance quotes for your vehicles. Prices vary based on how our customers choose to buy.

And that's not all. With Progressive, you can insure more than just your car — we offer insurance policies for motorcycles, boats/PWC, RVs, business vehicles, snowmobiles and Segway® HTs. We can also assist in helping you find homeownersinsurance.

What's Next?

We want to stay one step ahead of the competition by offering customers the products and services they want, when they want them. It's our philosophy — and it's helped make us one of the largest auto insurance groups in the country.

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