Progressive Accident Forgiveness: Small, Large, and Purchased
Short answer
Progressive publishes three Accident Forgiveness paths. Small forgives a claim of $500 or less, free on Day 1 in most states. Large forgives one accident after you have been a Progressive customer for 5 years with no accidents or violations, free in most states. Purchased adds one forgiveness per policy period in most states, available at purchase or renewal. The loyalty program that delivers the free benefits is not available in Hawaii, Alaska, North Carolina, or California1.
What determines whether it actually helps you
- The claim size. Small applies at $500 or less; above that, Large or purchased or standard surcharge applies1.
- Your tenure with Progressive. Large is earned at 5 years as a Progressive customer, measured by Progressive1.
- Your state. HI, AK, NC, CA do not offer the loyalty program1.
- Whether you purchased it. Purchased adds one more forgiveness and stacks with Small and Large1.
- Whether you switch carriers. Progressive’s internal forgiveness does not change your DMV record used by the next carrier.
The three paths Progressive publishes
| Situation | What the rule is | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Small Accident Forgiveness (free, Day 1) | Progressive publishes that your rate does not go up if you have a small claim of $500 or less. Progressive customers get this free in most states as soon as the policy starts. | The $500 threshold is a hard line. A $501 claim is a different situation and does not qualify as "small."1 |
| Large Accident Forgiveness (free, after 5 years) | Progressive publishes that in most states you automatically get Large Accident Forgiveness after you have been a Progressive customer for at least 5 years and accident-free and violation-free for up to 5 years. | The 5-year clock is measured by Progressive. A clean record elsewhere does not count toward the Progressive tenure requirement.1 |
| Purchased Accident Forgiveness | Progressive publishes that in most states you can buy Accident Forgiveness when you first start a policy or at renewal. The purchased version forgives one accident per policy period, and small and large benefits still apply alongside. | Purchased availability varies by state and policy. Pricing is quoted at purchase time.1 |
| States without the loyalty program | Progressive publishes that the loyalty program is not currently available in Hawaii, Alaska, North Carolina, or California. | In those four states, Day 1 Small and 5-year Large forgiveness benefits delivered through the loyalty program are not offered. Pricing follows standard surcharge rules.1 |
The $500 threshold
Progressive’s Small Accident Forgiveness is unusual among top carriers because it’s a hard numeric line, not a tenure-based benefit. If the total paid claim is $500 or less and you’re in a loyalty-program state, your rate does not go up as a result of that claim1.
Practically this covers many parking-lot dings, minor backing incidents, and small single-vehicle comp losses that would otherwise take a modest surcharge. It does not cover bodily-injury claims or any multi-vehicle collision above the threshold.
Earned Large after 5 years
Progressive’s Large Accident Forgiveness is the tenure-based version: five continuous years as a Progressive customer, accident-free and violation-free during that window, in a loyalty-program state. When those are satisfied, one accident is forgiven at no cost1.
Two mechanical details worth knowing: the clock is measured by Progressive, not by continuous insurance across any carrier; and the forgiveness applies to one accident, after which Small still applies to future $500-or-less losses. Our accident impact calculator estimates the surcharge you’d avoid by having Large forgiveness in force.
Purchased, on top of free
Progressive publishes that in most states you can buy Accident Forgiveness at new business or at renewal, and that the purchased benefit forgives one accident per policy period1. The useful quirk is that purchased stacks with Small and Large: a shopper who purchases, has reached the 5-year Large threshold, and has a $500-or-less Small loss plus a larger second accident, can see more than one forgiveness in the same period.
Where the loyalty program is not offered
Progressive publishes that the loyalty program (which delivers free Small and Large) is not available in Hawaii, Alaska, North Carolina, or California1. In those four states:
- Hawaii, Alaska, North Carolina apply standard Progressive surcharge rules after a first at-fault accident; a shopper there should price other carriers that do sell first-accident protection in-state.
- California uses Prop 103 ratings. A first at-fault accident is a rating factor; it is not forgiven by Progressive.
- Purchased Accident Forgiveness availability in these states is quoted at purchase time; not all states that are on the loyalty-program exclusion list also exclude the purchased version.
What to do with Progressive Accident Forgiveness today
Check whether your state is on the loyalty-program list
If you live in HI, AK, NC, or CA, the free Small and Large benefits are not offered. Price other carriers.
Count your continuous accident-free years at Progressive
Five continuous years as a Progressive customer, accident- and violation-free, triggers Large Accident Forgiveness in most states.
Ask about purchased forgiveness at renewal
In most states you can buy one forgiveness per policy period. It stacks with Small and Large where those apply.
Remember the $500 Small threshold
A paid claim at or under $500 does not surcharge in loyalty-program states. Above that is a different situation.
Compare to another carrier if you shop around
Our GEICO and Allstate breakdowns show carrier differences on the same mechanic.
Shopping first-accident protection? Pull quotes side by side.
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Common follow-up questions
Is Progressive Accident Forgiveness free?
Partly. Small Accident Forgiveness (claims of $500 or less) is free Day 1 in most states. Large Accident Forgiveness is free after you have been a Progressive customer for 5 years with no accidents or violations. Before that threshold, you can purchase the benefit in most states.
In which states is Progressive Accident Forgiveness unavailable?
Progressive publishes that its loyalty program (which delivers the free versions) is not currently available in Hawaii, Alaska, North Carolina, or California. In those four states, standard surcharge rules apply.
What is a "small" accident under Progressive's definition?
Progressive publishes a $500 threshold. If the total claim is $500 or less, Small Accident Forgiveness applies in most states. Above that, the Small benefit does not help; a Large or purchased benefit (or standard surcharge) applies.
How many accidents does Progressive forgive?
If you have purchased Accident Forgiveness, Progressive publishes that one accident per policy period is forgiven. Small and Large benefits still stack alongside purchased, which means more than one accident can be forgiven in the same period.
Does Progressive Accident Forgiveness transfer to a new carrier?
No. The benefit is specific to the Progressive policy. The next carrier re-prices your record from scratch, including any accidents on the state DMV record. Progressive forgiving a loss internally does not erase the DMV record.
Sources
- Progressive: What Is Accident Forgiveness (Small claim up to $500 free Day 1 in most states; Large free after 5 years; purchasable; loyalty program unavailable in HI, AK, NC, CA) (Progressive)
- Progressive: Loyalty Rewards program (tiered benefits including Day 1 Small Accident Forgiveness and 5-year Large Accident Forgiveness) (Progressive)
- Progressive: How Much Does Insurance Go Up After an Accident (surcharge mechanics) (Progressive)
- Progressive: Car Insurance Discounts (loyalty tiers and continuous-insurance savings) (Progressive)
Carrier terms and state availability may change. Confirm current eligibility and pricing with Progressive at quote time. Last reviewed .