Retrieve a Previous Quote
Terms & Definitions

 




Additional Interest Insured
Another person or company who may be liable for an accident involving an insured or an insured vehicle and who has been named as an Additional Interest Insured under the policy.

Antitheft Device
Select Recovery Device if the system has a device that is capable of tracking (homing) and recovering the vehicle. These systems must automatically contact a response center where the process of vehicle recovery begins. This does not include alarms that do not have contact with a center or vehicle tracking. To receive an anti-theft discount, comprehensive and collision coverage must be present on your policy.

Bodily Injury Liability Coverage

Pays when an insured person is legally liable for bodily injury or death caused by your vehicle or your operation of most non-owned vehicles. This coverage also pays for your legal defense if you are sued.

Common Exclusions: No coverage for (1) bodily injury/death when you are using your vehicle to carry persons or property (including magazines, newspapers, food) for compensation or a fee; (2) liability assumed under a contract; (3) bodily injury/death to an employee; (4) bodily injury/death caused by an intentional act; (5) property owned by, rented to, or in the charge of an insured person; (6) bodily injury/death to you or a relative; (7) bodily injury/death or property damage resulting from a relative’s use of a vehicle, other than a covered vehicle, owned by a person who resides with you; or (8) bodily injury or property damage resulting from your operation or use of a vehicle owned by you, other than a covered vehicle.

Collision Coverage

Pays for loss to your covered vehicle when it collides with another object or overturns. We will also pay for a collision loss to any non-owned vehicle, or to a vehicle you have rented other than a vehicle rented for use in connection with your business or employment, while that vehicle is in your custody, or while you are operating it.

Common Exclusions: No coverage for damages or loss (1) to a vehicle while being used to carry persons or property for compensation or a fee; (2) resulting from intentional acts, racing, or preparing for a race or stunting activity; (3) to custom parts or equipment, including electronic equipment, in excess of the value declared in the application; or (4) to tapes, compact discs, other media or their carrying cases.

Comprehensive Coverage

Pays for loss or damage to your covered vehicle caused by any event other than collision. This includes damages due to events such as fire, theft, windstorm, flood, and vandalism. We will also pay transportation and loss of use expenses under this coverage if your motor vehicle is stolen.

Consumer Report

Consumer reports include your credit history, accident history and driving record. These reports are helpful for predicting future accidents and for verifying driving and claims records. We order consumer reports in order to give you an accurate rate for a Progressive insurance policy.

Continuously Insured

Insurance coverage was in effect from an insurer or more than one insurer at all times, without a break or lapse in coverage for any reason.

Declarations Page

The report from your insurance company listing:

  • the types of coverage you have elected;
  • the limit for each coverage;
  • the cost for each coverage;
  • the specified vehicles covered by the policy;
  • the types of coverage for each vehicle covered by the policy; and other information applicable to the policy.
Deductible

The amount of each loss you agree to pay. Generally, choosing a higher deductible will lower your premium.

Driver Improvement Course

A voluntary refresher course available for drivers age fifty-five (55) and older to enhance their driving skills. Participants are eligible for a discount if they can provide a certificate to Progressive as proof of completion. The course must have been completed within three (3) years of the date the policy is to begin.

Driver Status

Provides information concerning whether the driver has been rated or listed on the policy.

Garaging Location

The ZIP code where your vehicle is parked when not in use and usually corresponds to your primary residence.

Limits

The most we will pay for a specific insurance coverage. You may choose the limit that meets your needs. Most states have laws that specify the minimum limits you must purchase.

Loan/Lease Payoff Coverage

Loan/lease payoff coverage, sometimes called "gap" coverage, pays the difference between what you owe on your vehicle and what your insurance pays if your vehicle is damaged beyond repair (totaled) or stolen and not recovered.

Named Insured

The first person in whose name the insurance policy is issued.

Medical Payments (Med Pay)

Optional insurance that pays for reasonable and necessary medical and funeral expenses for covered persons. These expenses must be incurred as a result of an auto accident.

Occasional Driver

The person who is not the primary or principal driver of the vehicle.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

Coverage in which an insurer pays, within the specified limits, the medical, hospital and funeral expenses of the insured, others in his vehicles and pedestrians struck by him. The basic coverage implemented under No-Fault Automobile.

Policy Expiration Date

The date when your current insurance policy expires. This date can be found on your current policy, Declaration (or "DEC") page, insurance identification card or recent cancellation notice. This date is not to be confused with the date of your next payment or when your renewal payment is due.

Policy Term

The length of time that the policy is in force. In most states, Progressive offers annual and semi-annual policies.

Premium

An amount of money paid to an insurance company in return for insurance protection.

Primary Residence

The place where you will reside for the majority of your policy term. If you are a homeowner who does not reside in the home you own, please choose the "rent" or "other" option.

Primary Use

What your vehicle is mainly used for:

  • To/From Work — If you you use your vehicle to commute to and from your work ad/or school.
  • Business— If your vehicle is used for one or all of the following:
    • Used to make sales calls
    • Used as vehicle for business trips to bank or post office, picking up supplies, going to different locations
    • Owned or leased by a partnership or corporation that have a business listed as an additional interest on the car
  • Farm — If your vehicle is used primarily on a farm, ranch or orchard.
  • Artisan—If your vehicle is operated by you in a trade or business where the vehicle is:
    • Owned or leased by an individual
    • Operated solely by the named insured or other resident relatives
    • used to transport tools or other materials where such transport is incidental to the insured’s trade or business
    • At no more than 2 job sites per day
    • Not used to transport explosives or flammable materials
    • Not carrying equipment weighing more than 500 lb.
    Artisan occupations may include but are not limited to: appliance repair, landscapers, blacksmith, painters, cabinet makers, photographers, carpenters, plasterers, carpet installers, pool cleaners, construction workers, pool maintenance, drapery installers, radio/TV repairmen, electrician repairmen, exterminators, roofers, fence installers, tree trimmers, furniture repairmen, upholsterers, heating/AC repairmen, surveyors, interior decorator, welders, janitorial services
  • Pleasure—No others apply.

Principal Driver

The person who drives the car most often.

Prior Address

We ask for your prior address only if you moved within the last 60 days. Progressive orders consumer reports to determine the correct rate for you. The prior address provides an additional piece of information to match the consumer report correctly with the customer. If we don’t collect this information, our chance of error increases and we might not calculate your rate correctly.

Property Damage Liability Coverage

Pays when an insured person is legally liable for damage to the property of others caused by your vehicle or your operation of most non-owned vehicles. This coverage also pays for your legal defense costs if you are sued. Common Exclusions: Same as Bodily Injury Liability Coverage exclusions, but the exclusions apply to damage to property.

Roadside Assistance

Provides services such as towing, flat tire change, locksmith service and battery jump-start to customers, who may elect the service for an additional premium if it is not already included with their policy.

Salvage Titles

State laws determine if a vehicle requires a salvage title.

  • Some states base salvage titles on the extent of damage a vehicle has sustained. For example, in Louisiana, damage to a vehicle must equal or exceed 75 percent of the vehicle’s retail value in order for it to require a salvage title, according to state law.
  • Other states, such as Florida, require a vehicle to have a salvage title if the insurance company declared the vehicle a total loss. These titles generally indicate whether the vehicle is “rebuildable” (can be repaired and driven on the road) or “not rebuildable” (must be sold for parts).
  • Other states “brand” or “notate” the vehicle’s title when the estimate of damages reaches a certain percentage of the vehicle’s retail value (in New York, it is 75 percent), even if the vehicle has not been declared a total loss and is able to be repaired. Other states have no guidelines for issuing salvage titles.
  • Other states have no guidelines for issuing salvage titles.
Second Named Insured

The named insured or listed agent/broker on a policy may request to designate any other person listed on the policy as a "second named insured". The second named insured has the same coverage under the policy as the named insured.

Social Security Number

Progressive requests detailed information about you to provide you with the most accurate rate. We order consumer reports to determine the correct rate for you. We need several pieces of information to match the report to the customer appropriately. If we don’t collect this information, our chance of error increases and we might not calculate your rate correctly.

SR-22

A document required by the court that demonstrates proof of financial responsibility for persons convicted of certain traffic violations.

Uninsured Motorist Coverage

Protects you, your resident relatives, and occupants of a covered vehicle if any of these insured sustain bodily injury, including any resulting death, in an accident in which the owner or operator of a motor vehicle who is legally liable does not have insurance.

Common Exclusions: No coverage for bodily injury/death sustained by any person while using or occupying a (1) covered vehicle while being used to carry persons or property for compensation or a fee; (2) covered vehicle without the permission of you or a relative; or (3) non-owned vehicle without the permission of the owner.

Underinsured Motorist Coverage

Protects you, your resident relatives, and occupants of a covered vehicle if any of these insured sustain bodily injury, including any resulting death, in an accident in which the owner or operator of a motor vehicle who is legally liable does not have enough insurance.

Common Exclusions: No coverage for bodily injury/death sustained by any person while using or occupying a (1) covered vehicle while being used to carry persons or property for compensation or a fee; (2) covered vehicle without the permission of you or a relative; or (3) non-owned vehicle without the permission of the owner.

Uninsured Motorist Property Damage Coverage

Available in some states as an alternative to Collision Coverage. This coverage pays you for damage to the covered vehicle that has been sustained in an accident in which the owner or operator of a motor vehicle who is legally liable does not have insurance.

Common Exclusions: No coverage for property damage sustained by a (1) covered vehicle while being used to carry persons or property for compensation or a fee; or (2) covered vehicle without the permission of you or a relative.

Underinsured Motorist Property Damage Coverage

This coverage pays you for damage to the covered vehicle that has been sustained in an accident in which the owner or operator of a motor vehicle who is legally liable is an underinsured motorist. This coverage is available in only a limited number of states.

Common Exclusions: No coverage for property damage sustained by a (1) covered vehicle while being used to carry persons or property for compensation or a fee; or (2) a covered vehicle without the permission of you or a relative.

VIN

The vehicle identification number (VIN) on your vehicle. This number is usually found on the dashboard of your vehicle on the driver’s side, and is usually listed on the vehicle registration and title. The VIN number is a combination of letters and numbers 17 characters in length that can be used to identify the make, model, and year of your car.


Please Note: These definitions provide a brief description of the coverages we offer and some of the terms and phrases used in connection with vehicle insurance. These definitions are not applicable in all states or for all products. This is not an insurance contract. Other terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Please read the Progressive policy for full details about the coverages. These definitions do not alter or modify the terms of any insurance contract. If there is any conflict between these definitions and the provisions of the applicable insurance policy, the terms of the policy control.

 
Copyright 1995 - 2010. Progressive Casualty Insurance Company. All rights reserved.
Auto insurance products and prices are different when purchased directly from Progressive or through independent agents/brokers. Because each group makes decisions about their businesses that result in different rates, you won't know which group provides the lowest rate for you until you obtain a quote from our agency and our direct businesses. Progressive quotes available through the Get a Quote button are only for policies purchased through agents/brokers.