Progressive Vehicle Protection is an optional coverage you add to a Progressive auto policy that pays for certain non-accident repairs, such as engine, transmission and electrical failures, on newer cars. Progressive says it’s available in most states for vehicles less than 7 model years old, and it requires Progressive liability, comprehensive and collision coverage on the same car.
It also covers minor dents and lost or damaged keys. Progressive sells it as part of your insurance policy, which makes it different from an extended warranty, a separate service contract you buy from a dealer, manufacturer or independent company.
Key Takeaways
- Progressive calls Vehicle Protection “an auto insurance coverage for newer cars.” It’s added to your auto policy and billed with your premium, and Progressive’s page doesn’t name any outside company that runs it.
- To qualify, your car needs to be less than 7 model years old, insured for its actual value, not used commercially, and carrying Progressive liability, comprehensive and collision. Age rules and availability vary by state.
- The deductible is $100 for system repairs and $0 for minor dents or key and fob replacement. Routine maintenance and accident damage aren’t covered.
- You can cancel anytime or renew every six months until the car is eight years old. Progressive doesn’t publish a state list, refund terms or the full coverage wording, so ask for those before you add it.
What Progressive Vehicle Protection Covers
Progressive says the coverage “adds system repair coverage to your auto policy.” Its page lists these covered problems:
- Engine failure
- Transmission and drivetrain issues
- Electronic system and component errors
- AC and heating malfunctions, plus “other system issues”
- Surface dings and dents
- Stolen, lost or damaged keys and fobs
Progressive’s own example: a four-year-old car’s AC compressor fails after the factory warranty ends, and the replacement costs $1,600. If the claim is approved, the driver pays the $100 deductible and Progressive covers the rest. Coverage is “subject to policy terms, limits, and deductibles,” and the full wording isn’t posted.
Progressive’s page names two exclusions. It says vehicle protection plans “don’t cover routine maintenance,” such as oil changes and tire rotations. Accident damage is also excluded because that’s what collision, comprehensive and liability coverage handle.
Is It Insurance or a Service Contract?
Progressive presents it as insurance. Its mechanical breakdown coverage page says “Progressive’s vehicle protection plan is an auto insurance coverage for newer cars” and describes it as “a pay-as-you-go alternative to getting an extended warranty.” Progressive’s main Vehicle Protection page adds that instead of a large lump sum up front, the coverage raises your auto premium “by a small amount.”
The same page offers a separate product, Mechanical Breakdown Coverage by Good Sam, which is “provided and serviced by a third party” not affiliated with Progressive. It has its own age, mileage and state limits, and some Good Sam plans require a Good Sam membership.
Who Can Add It and How
Progressive lists these requirements:
- A “newer car or truck that’s insured for its actual value and isn’t used commercially”
- A vehicle less than 7 model years old (Progressive says age eligibility may vary by state)
- Progressive liability plus collision and comprehensive coverage, so a liability-only policy won’t qualify
- Living in a state where it’s sold. Progressive says “PVP is not available in all states” but doesn’t list them.
In an online quote, the option appears after you select the required coverages, if you qualify. Current customers can log in or call 1-855-347-3939. The page doesn’t mention mileage limits.
How It Compares With Other Coverages and Warranties
| Product | What it pays for | What it doesn’t |
|---|---|---|
| Progressive Vehicle Protection | Covered system repairs after a $100 deductible, plus minor dents and keys with no deductible | Maintenance and accident damage |
| Progressive Loan/Lease Payoff | The gap between the car’s value and your loan or lease balance after a total loss or theft, up to 25% of the car’s value (varies by state) | Repairs of any kind |
| Progressive roadside assistance | Towing, jump-starts, lockouts, fuel delivery, tire changes and up to one hour of labor | Parts and repairs |
| Manufacturer warranty | Defects during a set time or mileage, included in the car’s price | Problems outside the listed defects, and repairs after the time or mileage limit ends |
| Service contract (“extended warranty”) | Repairs listed in the contract, bought separately | Often accident damage and normal wear |
Loan/Lease Payoff solves a different problem. It only matters if the car is totaled or stolen while you owe more than it’s worth, which RateFrog covers in Progressive’s version of gap insurance.
Roadside assistance gets a broken-down car moving or to a shop. Progressive’s roadside page says you’re responsible for “the cost of any parts and/or repairs.” The two can work together: roadside tows the car, and Vehicle Protection may pay for the covered repair. See what Progressive roadside assistance covers for the details.
Watch the overlap with your factory warranty. Progressive’s own chart, based on typical domestic-make warranties, shows the manufacturer covering engine, transmission and electrical systems in the car’s early years. During that stretch, the dent and key coverage is most of what you’d be adding.
Questions to Ask Before You Add It
The FTC’s guide to auto service contracts suggests getting answers in writing before you buy repair coverage. These questions fit Vehicle Protection and any dealer or third-party plan:
- Can I read the coverage wording for my state, including exclusions, before I add it?
- If I cancel mid-term, do I get the unused premium back?
- Which repair shops can I use, and does a repair need approval first?
- How much of my factory warranty is still left, and what would I be paying for until it runs out?
- For a service contract: who is the administrator, can I transfer it if I sell the car, and how are claims paid?
A dealer service contract is only a repair agreement. It does nothing for liability or the other coverage your state requires.
Whether it’s worth it depends on your savings. If you could pay for a repair like the $1,600 compressor in Progressive’s example without much strain, the premium may cost more than it saves. If a surprise bill would put you in a bind and the factory coverage is used up, it can smooth out the cost. Browse RateFrog’s other Progressive car insurance guides if you’re weighing other add-ons too.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does Progressive Vehicle Protection Cost?
Progressive advertises it for “as low as $12 per month,” and its guide to extended warranties says it “starts at $12 per month per vehicle.” The footnote on that price repeats the eligibility rules: most states, vehicles less than 7 model years old, and Progressive liability, comprehensive and collision required. That’s the low end, and Progressive doesn’t publish typical prices, so your quote may be higher.
Can You Add It to a Used Car?
Progressive’s rule is based on model year (less than 7 model years old). Its page doesn’t say the car must be bought new and doesn’t mention leased cars, so ask whether your specific vehicle qualifies in your state.
How Does It Compare With State Farm and GEICO?
State Farm’s site doesn’t list a repair coverage at all, as RateFrog explains in State Farm and mechanical breakdown insurance. GEICO sells mechanical breakdown insurance as a coverage on its auto policy, and its page says you can keep it for 7 years or 100,000 miles. RateFrog has more on GEICO’s mechanical breakdown insurance.
Sources
- Progressive: Progressive Vehicle Protection
- Progressive: Mechanical Breakdown Coverage
- Progressive: Car Insurance Coverages
- Progressive: Extended Warranties for Cars
- Progressive: Loan/Lease Payoff
- Progressive: Roadside Assistance
- FTC: Auto Warranties and Auto Service Contracts
- GEICO: Mechanical Breakdown Insurance