Did You Know... Each Week, More Than 500 Car Crashes Occur in Portland; Progressive Drivers Here Are More Likely to Crash Than Those in Seattle

PORTLAND, Ore.--April 27, 2006--The Progressive Corporation :

       Oregon's Fourth Largest Car Insurance Group, Progressive,
                   Reveals Local Car Accident Data;

   Introduces New Level of Service That Reduces Drivers' Time Spent
Dealing with Accident Repairs from About Four Days to About 15 Minutes

More than 26,000 car crashes will happen in metropolitan Portland this year - that's about 500 crashes a week and more than 70 a day. The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies, the third largest auto insurance group in the country and fourth largest in Oregon, released local accident data today in conjunction with the opening of its first Service Center in Portland. Progressive claims data shows that while its Portland drivers are 3 percent less likely to be involved in an accident than its average driver countrywide they are 13 percent more likely to crash than people it insures in Seattle.

However, overall, Progressive's Oregon drivers are about 5 percent less likely to be involved in a crash than its average U.S. driver. By comparison, Idaho drivers are 18 percent less likely to be involved in a crash than the average, Washington drivers are 16 percent less likely and Nevada drivers are 13 percent less likely.

So why is this and what does this mean for you?

Generally speaking, the more populated an area, the greater the likelihood of being involved in a crash.

In Portland, more than half (51 percent) of all crash claims handled by Progressive are considered minor in terms of repair costs since they cause less than $2,000 in damage per vehicle, but the time and inconvenience caused is anything but minor. In general, many drivers who have been involved in accidents and have had their cars repaired afterward estimate they spent at least four days of their time arranging for alternate transportation, getting repair estimates, finding a shop, getting updates, inspecting the repairs, etc. So, in a single day in Portland, drivers collectively lose more than 400 days - that's more than a year - of time spent managing the claims repair process.

But now, thanks to Progressive's new "concierge" level of claims service that oversees all elements of the vehicle repair on behalf of the driver, the time spent managing the claims repair process has been reduced to about 15 minutes. A driver simply drops off the damaged vehicle at the newly opened Portland Service Center and can leave in a rental car assured that a claims representative will handle the repair process from beginning to end and that the repairs will be guaranteed. And the service is not just for Progressive customers - it's also available to anyone involved in a claim with a Progressive customer.

"We're sharing local crash data to highlight the fact that accidents do happen and when they do, no matter how minor, they cause major inconvenience for Portland drivers who then have to spend days managing the vehicle repair process themselves," said Jayson Gorta, Portland Service Center manager, Progressive. "By using a service that handles all aspects of the repair process 'soup to nuts' for them, people can save time and spend it the way they want to."

The opening of the new Service Center at 8115 S.E. 82nd Ave. marks the 27th Progressive Service Center in the U.S. and the first in the Portland area.

The objective of the service is to create a more efficient and positive experience for everyone involved in a claim - customers, body shops and Progressive.

"The Service Center approach is simple and it works," said Gorta. "It shortens the amount of time customers have to spend dealing with the claims repair process from at least four days to about 15 minutes and can also reduce the time it takes to get their car back after an accident."

How the Process Works

-- The customer calls Progressive to report the claim any time of the day or night and then schedules an appointment to bring the vehicle to the specially designed Service Center.

-- In about 15 minutes, the customer can be on their way in a rental car with assurance that Progressive will keep them informed of the status of their claim throughout the repair process.

-- A Progressive claims representative prepares a repair estimate and contacts an auto body shop based on its track record of providing superior service and ability to begin work promptly. Both Progressive and the shop reach agreement on the cost of the repairs; the shop then transports the vehicle from the Service Center to their facility and the repair process begins.

-- When the work is finished, the vehicle is returned to the Service Center where representatives from both Progressive and the body shop inspect the quality of repairs.

-- Once satisfied with the repair quality, Progressive calls the customer and asks him or her to return to the Service Center where, together with the claims representative, the customer inspects the repairs.

-- The customer then leaves with a written guarantee on the repairs that both Progressive and the body shop stand behind as long as the customer owns the vehicle.

All Service Center people handle claims for Progressive Direct(SM) and Drive(R) Insurance from Progressive customers and complete specialized claims and customer satisfaction training at the company's expanded claims training facility in Tampa, Fla.

Progressive employs more than 13,200 claims people in more than 460 offices countrywide. Although this concierge level of claims service is not yet available in all markets where Progressive operates claims offices, claims representatives there continue to personally handle each customer's claim from start to finish.

The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies, in business since 1937, ranks third in the nation for auto 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 NYSE:PGR. More information can be found at www.progressive.com.

Jayson Gorta, Portland Service Center manager, is available for interview.

Editor's note: Customer testimonials available upon request.