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Countrywide Survey Discovers How Americans Shop for Auto Insurance

    MAYFIELD VILLAGE, Ohio, Feb. 26 Results of an extensive
countrywide survey by Progressive Insurance show that while people
ages 18 to 34 were more likely to use the Internet to purchase auto insurance
than people ages 35 to 64, an overwhelming majority of consumers
(67.6 percent) bought their current auto insurance policy with a local
insurance agent with an office in their area.

    Progressive, the fourth largest auto insurance company in the country,
surveyed more than 31,500 consumers over the phone in 156 markets countrywide
from November to December 2000.  Among the findings:

    * When asked how they purchased their current auto insurance policy,
      67.6 percent of respondents said with a local insurance agent with an
      office in the area, 21 percent said directly with an insurance company
      over the telephone and just under one percent said directly with a
      company over the Internet.

    * Respondents ages 18 to 34, however, were significantly more likely to
      have purchased auto insurance using the Internet than respondents ages
      35 to 64.  And, 68.2 percent of respondents ages 35 to 64 said they
      purchase their insurance with a local insurance agent -- compared to
      66.2 percent of respondents ages 18 to 34.

    * Both male and female respondents were more than three times as likely to
      purchase their auto insurance from a local insurance agent than purchase
      directly from a company over the phone.

    
    How do you currently purchase your auto insurance policy?

                                             Percent

     Through a local agent                    67.6%
     Direct over the phone                      21%
     Direct online                              .9%
     Other/Don't know                         10.5%

                                       18 to 34    35 to 64

     Through a local agent               66.2%       68.2%
     Direct over the phone               21.7%       20.6%
     Direct online                        1.4%         .7%
     Other/Don't know                    10.7%       10.5%

                                         Male       Female

     Through a local agent               67.9%       67.4%
     Direct over the phone               21.1%       20.9%
     Direct online                        1.1%         .8%
     Other/Don't know                     9.9%       10.9%