Progressive's Points Policy: When They Non-Renew and When They Don't

Progressive evaluates non-renewal using three separate thresholds: total points accumulated over a rolling 36-month window, specific violation categories that trigger automatic review regardless of point value, and total incident count combining at-fault accidents and moving violations. Most drivers focus only on the points total—typically 6-8 points depending on state—but Progressive can non-renew at lower point totals if you've crossed a violation-type threshold or accumulated three incidents in three years even if each carries minimal points. The violation-type trigger includes DUI, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident, driving on a suspended license, and any conviction involving bodily injury. A single occurrence in any of these categories places your policy under underwriting review at renewal, separate from your total point count. Under current state DMV point rules, a reckless driving charge might carry 4 points in your state, but Progressive's internal categorization flags it for non-renewal consideration even if you have zero other violations. The combined incident count looks at your total at-fault accidents plus moving violations over 36 months. Three incidents—regardless of point value—triggers non-renewal review. Two speeding tickets of 1-15 mph over plus one at-fault accident with no injuries puts you at the three-incident threshold even if your total points sit at 6 or below in most states.

Progressive renews policies with points when the driver stays below all three thresholds and maintains continuous coverage without lapses. A single speeding ticket of 1-15 mph over—typically 2-3 points depending on state—triggers a surcharge at renewal but does not approach non-renewal territory. You'll see a rate increase of 15-30% that persists for three policy years, but the renewal notice arrives without issue. Two violations in 36 months also typically clear renewal if both are minor moving violations—speeding tickets under 20 mph over, failure to yield, improper lane change. Progressive applies surcharges for each violation, stacking the premium impact, but underwrites the policy through renewal as long as no accident appears in the same window and neither violation falls into the flagged categories. The combined surcharge can push your premium 40-60% above your clean-record baseline, but you receive a renewal offer. Progressive also renews when violations age off the lookback window before renewal. Moving violations affect Progressive's rating for three years from the violation date, not the conviction date. If your speeding ticket occurred 37 months before your renewal date, it no longer appears in the underwriting window even if it remains on your DMV record for another year. You'll see the surcharge drop at that renewal, assuming no new violations appeared.

Progressive non-renews at the three-incident threshold even when total points remain low. One at-fault accident with $3,500 in property damage, one speeding ticket of 10 mph over, and one failure-to-stop violation over 30 months places you at three incidents. In many states, that combination totals 5-6 points—below the typical 8-point non-renewal threshold—but Progressive counts incidents separately and issues a non-renewal notice at your next renewal date. Any violation involving license suspension triggers non-renewal regardless of point count. If you received a speeding ticket that carried an automatic license suspension—common for speeds 25+ mph over the limit in many states—Progressive flags the suspension status even if you completed a defensive driving course to remove points from your DMV record. The suspension appears on your motor vehicle report separately from the point total, and Progressive's underwriting system reads it as a categorical non-renewal trigger. Claims activity combined with violations accelerates non-renewal decisions. Progressive reviews total loss activity over 36 months, including comprehensive claims. A driver with two minor moving violations and two comprehensive claims—windshield replacement and a deer strike—can face non-renewal because the combined activity signals higher risk even though comprehensive claims don't involve fault. Four incidents of any type in three years, including no-fault claims, pushes you into non-standard underwriting territory where Progressive typically declines to renew.

Progressive sends a non-renewal notice 30-60 days before your policy expiration date, depending on state-required notice periods. The notice states that your policy will not renew and provides the effective end date of coverage. You remain covered through that end date as long as you continue paying premiums, but no new term begins after expiration. The non-renewal does not cancel your existing coverage mid-term unless you stop paying. You must secure new coverage before the non-renewal effective date to avoid a lapse. A lapse triggers additional consequences: most states require continuous coverage verification, and any gap generates a coverage lapse surcharge from your next carrier that compounds the violation surcharges you already carry. Non-standard carriers writing drivers with points charge 20-40% more for applicants with a recent lapse than for applicants with continuous coverage, even when both carry identical violation records. Progressive does not automatically move non-renewed customers to a higher-risk subsidiary. Some carriers operate tiered companies—a preferred company, a standard company, and a non-standard company under the same brand—and transfer customers between tiers at renewal. Progressive non-renews outright, requiring you to shop the non-standard market independently. Carriers writing drivers after Progressive non-renewal include The General, Direct Auto, Acceptance Insurance, and regional non-standard carriers. Expect quotes 50-80% higher than your pre-violation Progressive rate, depending on your state and specific violation profile.

Your first moving violation triggers a surcharge at your next renewal, not immediately. Progressive applies the surcharge when your policy renews after the violation date. If you receive a speeding ticket three months into your current six-month term, you pay your existing premium for the remaining three months. At renewal, the surcharge appears—typically a 15-30% increase for a first minor violation—and persists for three policy years. A second violation within 36 months stacks an additional surcharge on top of the first. Each violation generates its own three-year surcharge window. If your first speeding ticket added 20% to your premium and your second ticket occurs 18 months later, your premium at the next renewal reflects both surcharges—compounding to a 40-50% total increase above your clean-record baseline. The first surcharge remains in effect for another 18 months; the second runs for the full three years from its application date. Progressive reviews your total premium at each renewal and may apply an additional underwriting adjustment when you approach non-renewal thresholds. Drivers sitting at 5-6 points or two incidents sometimes see a renewal offer with a larger-than-expected increase—60-80% above baseline—that reflects Progressive's assessment of non-renewal risk. Accepting that renewal keeps your coverage in place, but the premium signals you're one violation away from non-renewal. Declining it and shopping competitors often produces similar quotes because your motor vehicle report shows the same violations to every carrier.

Complete a state-approved defensive driving course immediately after a violation if your state allows point reduction through course completion. Many states remove 2-3 points from your DMV record after you finish an approved course, and some states mandate that carriers reduce surcharges after point removal. Progressive does not automatically apply the discount—you must request a re-rate at renewal and provide proof of course completion. Missing that request means the surcharge persists even though your DMV point total dropped. Avoid any additional violations or at-fault accidents in the 36 months following your first incident. Progressive's rolling window resets with each new event. If you stay violation-free for three years after your last ticket, that violation ages off the underwriting review at your next renewal. Adding a second violation restarts the clock—both violations now remain active in Progressive's system for three years from the most recent date, extending your surcharge period and keeping you closer to non-renewal thresholds. Maintain continuous coverage without lapses. Progressive's underwriting system flags coverage gaps as an independent risk factor. A lapse during a period when you already carry points compounds your risk profile and moves you closer to non-renewal even if you add no new violations. Set up automatic payments and monitor your payment method expiration dates to prevent accidental lapses that trigger non-renewal review.

Request quotes from competitors as soon as you receive a renewal notice with a surcharge increase above 40%. Progressive's willingness to renew signals that other standard carriers may also quote you, though at similarly elevated rates. State Farm, Nationwide, and American Family often quote drivers with one or two minor violations, and comparison shopping at this stage sometimes produces a 10-20% savings compared to Progressive's surcharged renewal rate. Shop before your second violation if possible. Once you cross into two violations or one violation plus one at-fault accident, your quoting options narrow significantly. Preferred carriers decline multi-violation applicants in most states, leaving standard and non-standard carriers as your realistic options. Securing a quote from a standard carrier after your first violation but before a second gives you a coverage option if Progressive non-renews after the second event. Do not wait for the non-renewal notice to start shopping. Carriers and surcharge schedules vary by state and change periodically, and securing quotes takes 7-14 days when you carry violations because underwriting reviews motor vehicle reports individually. Starting your search 60-90 days before your renewal date gives you time to compare non-standard carriers, verify coverage requirements, and bind a new policy before your Progressive coverage ends. Waiting until the non-renewal notice arrives leaves you 30-45 days to find coverage, compress your shopping window, and increase your likelihood of accepting a higher-priced quote because you're out of time.