Last Updated on October 30, 2026
Written by licensed insurance agent Andy walker
Reviewed by the Alias Insurance editorial team.
Compare State Farm and Progressive using the total price for your whole family, with the same cars, drivers, limits, and deductibles. Neither insurer is the better choice for every household with a teen. Get the final quotes. Then check which terms your family can meet.
Check State Farm if your teen earns good grades or can take part in Steer Clear training. Check Progressive for its student and teen discounts, plus Snapshot. Check each other’s age, state, and policy rules before counting on savings.
Do not choose based only on the discount for adding your teen. A smaller increase can still lead to a higher bill for the whole family. Compare the final premium after the teen joins, not just the extra amount.
For most families, the useful questions are:
- What will all our cars and drivers cost for the same term?
- Which discounts does our teen qualify for today?
- Does joining a driving app affect the price now or at renewal?
- What limits and deductibles would apply after a crash?
- How do the rules change when our teen leaves for college?
This guide draws on insurer pages and federal safety advice. We did not run a new quote survey. It cannot predict your price. State laws and policy terms vary. So do discount rules. Confirm the final offer with the insurer or a licensed agent.
How do the two insurers compare for families?
Start with the programs that fit your teen. Then check the total family quote.
| Feature | State Farm | Progressive |
| Good student discount | Advertises savings up to 25%, subject to rules | Publishes a discount for eligible full time students under 23 with a B average or better |
| Teen training program | Steer Clear for eligible young drivers | Ask which approved courses qualify for savings in your state |
| Teen driver discount | Check the available teen and training discounts | Published option for drivers 18 or younger, with history and policy conditions |
| Driving data program | Drive Safe & Save | Snapshot |
| Student away at school | Published option for eligible students under 25 | Published option for eligible students 22 or younger who attend school away without a car |
| Help comparing the policy | State Farm agent | Direct channels or an independent agent |
| Lower family premium | Requires your quote | Requires your quote |
Use these features as a list to check. They do not prove how much your family will save. Ask which rules apply in your state. Check which company writes the policy.
Which insurer is cheaper after you add a teen?
You need matching quotes to know. Ask for the price with your teen added. Include all the cars and drivers that belong on the policy.
Also ask your current insurer for the updated household price. Its current price lacks the teen. Compare it with a new quote only after both include your teen.
Made up example: This sample shows how to compare. The figures are not State Farm or Progressive rates.
| Six month quote | Parents without teen | Family with teen | Increase |
| Quote A | $1,200 | $2,400 | $1,200 |
| Quote B | $1,500 | $2,550 | $1,050 |
Quote B has the smaller increase. Quote A still costs $150 less for the family during that term. Judge the full family bill, not just the cost of adding the teen.
Before choosing, check that both quotes use the same limits and deductibles. A cheaper offer may leave out a benefit. Or it may make you pay more toward a claim.
Our guide to the cost of adding a teen driver to car insurance can help you prepare for that budget change.
Why can the monthly payment give the wrong impression?
Check the first payment. Check how many payments are due and what fees apply. Compare the full amount due for the quoted term. One displayed payment may not show the full cost.
Made up example: Quote A costs $900 for six months. Quote B costs $960 for the same six months. The difference is $60 for that term. These are made up prices. They are not quotes from either brand.
Now suppose Quote A has a $1,000 collision deductible and Quote B has a $500 deductible. These are different deals. Ask for quotes with the same deductibles. Then judge the $60 price gap.
Check what you could pay after a covered loss. Could you afford that deductible? A lower price now could strain your budget later. Keep enough cash to pay your deductible.
Our guide to how car insurance deductibles work explains what to check before changing that amount.
What should you compare besides the premium?
Start with a coverage worksheet. Give both insurers the same limits to quote. Ask them to flag any difference.
The NAIC advises shoppers to compare matching coverage, limits, and deductibles. A low price alone does not tell you which policy suits you.
| Policy detail | What parents should check |
| Liability limits | Protection for injuries or property damage your insured driver causes |
| Collision | Covered crash damage to the insured car |
| Other than collision | Covered losses such as theft, fire, or storms |
| Uninsured or underinsured motorist | What applies when another driver lacks enough insurance |
| Medical coverage | Personal injury protection or medical payments, as applicable |
| Deductibles | The amount you may owe toward a covered loss |
| Rental reimbursement | Daily and total limits after a covered event |
| Roadside help | What services and limits the option includes |
“Full coverage” does not specify all those terms. Ask for the actual list of coverages.
If your teen drives a financed car, share the lender’s written requirements with both insurers. Keep those needs in the comparison rather than dropping protection just to reach a target price.
How does State Farm’s good student discount work?
State Farm advertises a good student discount of up to 25%. Its published guidance lists qualifying school performance such as a 3.0 or higher GPA, a place in the top 20% of the class, or a qualifying honor roll or Dean’s List record. Age and state rules apply.
Ask the agent what proof you need. Send the school record it accepts. Check that the discount is on your quote.
Check these details:
- Does our teen meet the age and enrollment rules?
- Which school records do you accept?
- When will the discount start?
- How often must we send new proof?
- Which parts of the premium receive the discount?
The advertised maximum does not guarantee a 25% drop in your whole family bill. Ask for the total after the discount.
If grades change, ask when you must report the change. Keep a copy of the school record and the insurer’s response.
How do Progressive’s teen and student discounts work?
Progressive publishes a good student discount for eligible full time students under age 23 who have a B average or better. Its student page also lists a teen driver discount for drivers 18 or younger.
The details go beyond age. Its teen insurance page describes an insurance history condition of at least 12 months of continuous coverage. Ask how the applicable tenure rule works for your state and whether a new customer qualifies now.
Progressive also sets rules about who holds the policy. To get these teen and student discounts, the student cannot be the primary named insured or that person’s spouse. State exclusions apply.
Check that rule if your teen might buy a policy in their own name. Quote the setup you plan to use.
Ask for a list of approved discounts. Check what proof is still due. Do not assume that entering “student” in a form completes the review.
What makes Steer Clear different from Snapshot?
Steer Clear is a driver training program. Snapshot is a driving data program that helps set a rate. They serve different purposes.
State Farm’s published Steer Clear rules generally require a valid license, an eligible age, and no at fault accidents or moving violations in the past three years. Its usual age limit is under 25. Some states have exceptions.
The program includes five training modules, five hours of driving, and at least 10 trips. The driver earns a certificate to send to the agent. Check your state’s rules first.
Progressive’s Snapshot instead uses driving behavior data for pricing. It warns that riskier driving can lead to a higher rate under some state and program rules.
Ask how these programs work with other discounts. Completing one does not mean you earned a discount from the other.
For broader savings ideas, read how to lower insurance costs for young drivers.
Should your family enroll in a driving data program?
Get quotes with and without the program. Compare them before you join. Then read the setup, data, and renewal rules.
State Farm’s Drive Safe & Save updates its premium adjustment based on mileage and driving characteristics. Its FAQ warns about low mileage estimates. If you drive more miles than first stated, your price may rise at renewal to reflect the actual miles.
Progressive states that Snapshot can produce savings or, under some rules, a higher rate. A discount for joining may end. The price can then reflect your driving data.
| Question | Why it matters for your family |
| Who needs to use the app? | A parent’s setup may not complete every driver’s requirements |
| Which cars take part? | Confirm how shared cars are handled |
| What happens if we miss setup? | A quoted discount may depend on finishing required steps |
| Can the price increase? | Check the rule for your state and program version |
| How do we correct a trip error? | Ask before an incorrect trip affects the record |
| What happens if we leave? | Confirm the effect on the premium |
Talk with your teen before enrolling. Explain what it records. Agree on how you will review it together. Keep practicing with your teen. An app does not replace practice or clear rules.
When should you tell the insurer about a learner’s permit?
Contact the insurer before your teen starts driving. Ask how it handles the permit stage and the change to a full license.
State Farm advises informing the agent before a teen receives a preliminary permit. Ask when you must add the teen. Check what the cost will be. Your policy and state rules matter.
Give both insurers the same facts:
- The teen’s age and permit or license status.
- When the teen expects to get a full license.
- Which cars the teen can use.
- The main home address and where each car stays.
- Any school, work, or other regular driving.
Ask for the answer in writing. Put the license date on your calendar so you remember to update the policy.
Do not assume occasional use means the teen does not need to be disclosed. Ask how the company treats all drivers in your home.
Should your teen stay on the family policy?
Explain where your teen lives, who owns the car, and who drives it. Compare the options the insurer allows. Do not decide based on age alone.
Progressive says the state and insurer set rules for staying on a parent’s policy. Ask how those rules apply if the teen holds the car title.
Ask both companies:
- Can the teen’s car be included with the current title arrangement?
- Who should be a named insured?
- Does a separate policy change student discount eligibility?
- Which household drivers must be listed on each policy?
A policy in the teen’s name may have different terms and discounts. Ask for the full family cost under each allowed setup.
Our guide to how long a child can stay on a parent’s car insurance explains why residence and policy terms matter.
What changes when your teen leaves for college?
Tell the insurer whether your teen takes a car, where it will stay, and how often the teen returns home.
State Farm publishes an away at school discount for eligible students under 25 who use the car only while home during school breaks. Ask about your state’s conditions.
Progressive lists a distant student discount for eligible students 22 or younger who attend school away from home without a car. Its student guide lists a distance of 100 miles or more. Check the exact distance, school, and home address rules for your state.
If the teen takes a car to campus, update the parking address and use. Do not use an old address just to seek a lower price.
Ask what happens during summer, internships, or a move home. Review the policy again if the teen’s car access changes.
For more detail, see car insurance discounts for college students.
How can families reduce costs without creating a gap?
Price several sensible choices before buying a teen’s car. Use the exact year, model, and trim if known. Keep the coverage choices the same across the car quotes.
Ask how each insurer rates your family. If someone suggests assigning the teen to one car, ask how that reflects actual use and access to other cars. Do not report a false primary driver.
Review the deductible with your cash budget. Raising it may change the price. But you need cash to pay it after a covered loss. Get a new quote. Weigh both amounts together.
Ask about savings for training, good grades, more than one car, and bundled policies. Ask which ones your family can combine.
If you switch, check that the new policy is active. Then end the old one. Keep the start date, proof of coverage, and cancellation confirmation together.
What should parents check about safety and claims?
A lower premium does not replace safe driving habits. NHTSA reports that speeding was a factor for 33% of passenger vehicle drivers ages 15 to 18 involved in fatal crashes in 2024. That is a share of drivers involved in fatal crashes, not a teen’s personal crash probability.
Set family rules that support state license restrictions. Discuss seat belts, phones, passengers, night driving, and who to call after a crash. NHTSA recommends that parents stay involved in teen driving safety.
Ask both insurers how to report a crash. Check how to reach the person handling your claim. Check nearby repair shops and the rental benefits in your quote.
State Farm describes its Select Service repair network. Progressive also offers network repair options. Read the repair guarantee terms and ask how using your own shop works.
Keep the claim reporting steps in the car or on the teen’s phone. Review them before the first solo trip.
What if your teen has a ticket or an accident?
Ask for a fresh quote or renewal explanation based on the actual record. Discounts, apps, and courses do not prevent all rate changes.
Steer Clear has driving record conditions, so a new violation or at fault crash may affect eligibility. Ask the agent which terms apply.
Ask which discounts remain. Find out what changed the price. Compare any replacement offer using the same record and protection.
Do not remove a teen who still drives just to lower the bill. Discuss any real change in car access with the insurer first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get quotes for the entire household to find out. Use the same cars, limits, deductibles, and start date. An average for teens cannot tell you your family’s price. Check discount rules before you compare the final totals.
Both publish good student options, but their rules differ. Check age, grades, school, policy role, and state rules. Send the proof they need. Ask for the price with the approved discount.
No. Steer Clear focuses on training and practice for eligible young drivers. Drive Safe & Save uses miles driven and driving habits to help set a price. Ask your agent whether you qualify for either or both.
Yes, under some state and program rules. Progressive warns that riskier driving can lead to a higher rate. Request a quote without Snapshot too, and check how the program applies to the cars and drivers in your household.
Ask the insurer first. A student may still need to remain listed, especially if they drive during visits home. An away at school discount may fit better than removal. Explain the school address, car access, and home visits.
No. Price the exact car with both insurers. The purchase price alone does not establish the insurance cost. Also decide whether you could afford to repair or replace the car if you drop protection for damage to it.
Which insurer should your family choose?
Compare the full family bill, matching coverage, and discount rules your teen can meet. Then choose. State Farm’s training options may suit one family. Progressive’s approved discounts and pricing may suit another. Check the actual offers rather than selecting a brand by reputation alone.
Alias Insurance can help you start comparing car insurance quotes. Keep your family’s driver details and coverage worksheet ready, ask which insurers are included, and choose based on the terms and total cost that apply to your family.
References and Sources
- State Farm: Auto insurance discounts and student requirements
- State Farm: Steer Clear eligibility and training
- Progressive: Student and teen discount requirements
- State Farm: Drive Safe & Save questions and pricing
- State Farm: Adding teen drivers and permit guidance
- NAIC: Comparing online auto insurance quotes
- Progressive: Teen insurance and insurance history conditions
- Progressive: Snapshot program questions
- Progressive: Staying on a parent’s car insurance
- NHTSA: Parents and teen driving safety
- State Farm: Vehicle repairs and Select Service
- Progressive: Photo estimates and repair network terms
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