Progressive Opens Its First Permanent Catastrophe Response Center; The Third Largest Auto Insurance Group in the U.S. Opens Permanent Center for Catastrophe Claims ``Inside Team''; Will Help Them Settle Claims Even Faster

MAYFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio--April 13, 2006--The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies' National Catastrophe Response Team (NCRT) stands at the ready to handle increased claims volume resulting from weather-related events including hurricanes, tornadoes, hailstorms and floods - so called Catastrophe, or CAT claims. Now, the Company has opened its first permanent Catastrophe Response Center in Mayfield Heights, Ohio, and is even better positioned to deliver its hallmark 24/7 claims service at times when people need fast, accurate claims resolution most.

Progressive's NCRT is made up of an "inside" operations team and an "outside" field response team both consisting of full-time claims representatives from throughout the U.S. who either serve in this capacity on a regular basis or have signed up for "CAT duty." Based on the forecasted number and types of claims resulting from a particular weather-related event, the appropriate number of reps are deployed to a storm-stricken area or to the new CAT Response Center. The Response Center can accommodate up to 400 claims reps.

The inside team, which historically has been set up in temporary offices in or near storm-stricken areas, calls customers, verifies coverages and schedules appointments; these tasks will now be handled from the Response Center. The outside team is made up of field claims reps who are deployed to CAT-stricken areas to inspect damage and write estimates in order to settle customers' claims fairly, quickly and accurately. All team members handle CAT claims for Progressive Direct(SM) and Drive(R) Insurance from Progressive customers.

Scott Snapp, national catastrophe response director, Progressive, said: "The storm seasons of 2004 and 2005 resulted in an unprecedented number of CAT events and more CAT claims for Progressive customers than ever before. The frequency and severity of the storm seasons demand that we put into place the most efficient system possible. Staging the inside operations of our National Catastrophe Response Team out of the Mayfield Heights facility increases overall efficiency and reduces our response time for handling CAT claims. For example, booking airfare and hotel rooms during a CAT response is critically important, but time consuming. Having the permanent CAT Response Center allows us to make travel arrangements for our inside team well in advance so that when a storm hits we can focus on getting our field reps into storm-hit areas fast. Being able to use critical resources in the best way possible during a CAT translates to resolving claims even faster and more accurately."

Progressive, the third largest auto insurance group in the U.S., employs more than 13,200 claims people in more than 460 offices countrywide. It also operates more than 26 claims Service Centers in 12 states, which offer drivers the option of using a new "concierge" level of service in which Progressive takes responsibility for managing the entire vehicle repair process.

The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies, in business since 1937, ranks third in the nation for auto insurance and number one for motorcycle insurance based on premiums written and provides drivers with competitive rates and 24/7 in-person and online service. The products and services of the Progressive Direct Group of Insurance Companies are marketed directly to consumers by phone at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE and online at www.progressivedirect.com through the Progressive Direct(SM) brand. The products and services of the Drive Group of Progressive Insurance Companies are offered by more than 30,000 independent insurance agencies and online at www.driveinsurance.com through the Drive(R) Insurance from Progressive brand. The Common Shares of The Progressive Corporation, the Mayfield Village, Ohio-based holding company, are publicly traded at . More information can be found at www.progressive.com.

Scott Snapp is available for interview.