Progressive Direct Makes It Easy for Champlain Valley Fair Goers to Fill Up on More Than Just Corn Dogs

ESSEX JUNCTION, Vt.--Aug. 7, 2006--

The State's Fourth Largest Auto Insurance Group, Progressive Direct, Helps Ease the Pain at the Pump; Gives Away More Than $20,000 in Free Gas Cards at "Vermont's Greatest Show"

The Progressive Direct Group of Insurance Companies makes it easier to endure the pain at the pump and enjoy the Champlain Valley Fair this summer. Vermont's fourth largest auto insurance group and title sponsor of the fair is giving away more than $20,000 in free gas cards, helping hundreds of fair goers fill up on more than just corn dogs at this year's event.

People will have plenty of chances to win. On opening day, Saturday, August 26, more than 20,000 Spin-to-Win contest cards will be handed out to fair visitors over the age of 16. Each card will feature an eight-digit alpha-numeric code; participants will then log on to www.progressive.com/fair, enter the code and see if they're an instant winner. People can also retrieve a code and enter the contest simply by visiting the Web site. Progressive Direct will award 700 instant-win gas card prizes worth $20 each. All participants who log on and enter the code will also be entered into a drawing to win one of two grand prize $500 gas cards.

Also, people can register to win one of 200 gas cards valued at $20 each and two grand prize $1,000 gas cards by visiting participating new and used car dealers in the area. For more details, listen to or visit the Web site of one of the following radio stations' Web sites: WOKO-FM/98.9 (www.woko.com); WKOL-FM/105.1 (www.wkol.com); WBTZ-FM/99.9 or WIZN-FM/106.7 (www.999thebuzz.com); and WJOY-AM/1230 (www.wjoy.com) from July 15 through August 13, 2006. Gas cards will also be handed out on-site at the fair from August 26 through September 4, 2006.

"We've conducted surveys in the past that have shown that drivers change their driving habits as a result of high gas prices, such as taking short day trips instead of driving to a destination farther away," said Cathy Wilton-Bransch, product manager, Progressive Direct. "Just like we make it easy to shop for, buy and own a car insurance policy we want to ease the burden high gas prices have on local drivers and give people another reason to visit this year's Champlain Valley Fair."

In addition to the more than $20,000 in free gas cards, Progressive Direct is also hosting two additional online contests giving people the chance to win free VIP parking passes, general admission tickets and premium seats to some of the Fair's featured events including the Tractor Pull, Figure 8 Motorcycle Racing and Demolition Derby as well as concerts and performances by country superstars Keith Urban and Rascal Flatts, and Blue Collar Tour's funny man Larry the Cable Guy, among others. These online contests will run from July 13 through August 20, 2006; log on to www.progressive.com/fair for more details.

The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies, which sells the Progressive Direct(R) brand of insurance, has been 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 under the Progressive Direct brand by phone at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE and online at www.progressivedirect.com and www.progressiveseguros.com, a site for Spanish-speaking consumers. Progressive Direct offers consumers conveniences that help make car insurance easier, including comparison rates of other top companies and the ability to shop for, buy and manage their policies by phone or online, 24/7. More information can be found at www.progressive.com.

Cathy Wilton-Bransch, product manager, Progressive Direct, is available for interview.