Progressive Named No. 1 Online Insurance Carrier and 'Best Site For Auto Buyers' for Third Consecutive Quarter

              Progressive.com Earns Gomez(TM) WebStar(TM) Award

    MAYFIELD VILLAGE, Ohio, Jan. 23 Progressive Insurance
today announced that its Web site, progressive.com, has received
the Gomez(TM) WebStar(TM) Award for Winter 2000, an honor given to e-commerce
companies that rank number one in their industry according to Gomez, the
Internet quality measurement firm.  For the third consecutive quarter,
progressive.com ranked number one among the insurance carriers that Gomez
analysts evaluated and ranked based on a comprehensive set of 150 objective
criteria.
    Progressive took top overall honors for the Winter 2000 Internet Insurance
Carriers Scorecard(TM) and top honors for Best Site for Auto Buyers.  The site
also ranked number one in "Ease of Use."  Gomez praises
personal.progressive.com(R), the online customer service center, for providing
"best-of-breed functionality for consumers desiring to manage their vehicle
insurance policies via the Internet."  The Scorecard can be viewed at
http://www.gomez.com .
    "This is great news," said Alan Bauer, Internet Business Leader.  "We're
committed to providing consumers and customers with an easy-to-use Web site
that gives them control over buying and managing their auto insurance.   We're
pleased to be recognized for this commitment by the industry's experts."
    Gomez analysts characterize Progressive's instant online quotes and
complete online purchase functionality as a key benefit.  Progressive.com is
the only Web site that offers consumers instant online rate comparisons for
both Allstate and State Farm, whose rates are not yet broadly available
anywhere else on the Internet.  Consumers can compare rates and buy the
Progressive policy instantly online.
    Progressive.com leads the insurance industry in consumer-friendly
innovations. It was the first auto insurance Web site, the first to offer
online auto, boat, motorcycle and RV insurance quoting and comparison rates,
first to offer instantaneous online purchase of auto, boat and motorcycle
insurance policies and first to offer after-the-sale service.  The latest
features include a safety section presenting crash-test video and analysis
from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, shopping tools that help
visitors calculate automobile-related costs including buying vs. leasing, loan
payments and financing vs. paying cash and a variety of safe driving tips.  In
September of 2000, Progressive was the first insurance company to develop
wireless application protocol (WAP) technology, allowing users of web-enabled
cellular phones and hand-held devices wireless access to progressive.com.
    Progressive, in business since 1937, provides all drivers with competitive
rates and 24-hour, in-person services. The company sells its products over the
phone at 1-800-AUTO-PRO, online at progressive.com and through more than
30,000 independent agencies throughout the U.S. The company's headquarters are
in Mayfield Village, Ohio. More information about the company can be found at
http://www.progressive.com .