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Progressive's Points Policy: When They Non-Renew vs. Raise Rates

Progressive's Two-Tier Violation Response: Surcharge First, Transfer Second

Progressive applies a violation surcharge at first renewal after a speeding ticket or at-fault accident—typically 15–30% for a first minor violation, 25–45% for a major violation like reckless driving or DUI. The surcharge persists for three years from the violation date under current carrier surcharge schedules. A second major violation within that three-year window triggers a different response: most drivers are either non-renewed outright or transferred to Progressive's non-standard affiliate depending on the state and whether an SR-22 filing is required.

Progressive does not publish a numeric points threshold for non-renewal because they use their own internal risk scoring system, not your state's DMV point totals. A driver with two speeding tickets 10–15 mph over might see compounding surcharges but stay with the preferred carrier. A driver with one DUI and one at-fault accident in two years will almost certainly be declined at renewal or moved to a higher-cost affiliate.

The affiliate transfer preserves continuous coverage but resets you into a non-standard pricing tier. Rates in Progressive's non-standard programs run 40–80% higher than preferred rates for the same coverage limits. If your state requires SR-22 filing after a suspension, Progressive files it through the affiliate rather than the parent carrier.

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What Counts as a Major Violation in Progressive's System

Progressive classifies violations into minor, major, and disqualifying tiers. Minor violations include speeding tickets 1–15 mph over the limit and most non-moving violations like equipment failures. Major violations include speeding 16+ mph over, reckless driving, at-fault accidents with injury or significant property damage, DUI, hit-and-run, and driving on a suspended license.

A single major violation triggers the surcharge but rarely triggers non-renewal on its own unless it carries an SR-22 requirement or a license suspension longer than 90 days. Two major violations in three years cross Progressive's internal threshold for declination or affiliate transfer in most states. Three violations of any severity in three years—even if all are minor—can also trigger non-renewal depending on your base risk profile and claims history.

Disqualifying violations include DUI with injury, felony hit-and-run, vehicular manslaughter, and racing. Progressive declines coverage immediately at renewal after a disqualifying violation. You won't be offered an affiliate transfer—you'll need to shop the non-standard market directly.

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The Three-Year Lookback Window and How Surcharges Stack

Progressive evaluates your violation history on a rolling three-year lookback from the violation date, not the conviction date or the renewal date. A speeding ticket received on June 1, 2022 affects your rate until June 1, 2025 even if you weren't convicted until August 2022 or didn't receive the surcharge until your October 2022 renewal.

Surcharges compound when violations overlap in the lookback window. A driver with one speeding ticket pays a 20% surcharge. A second ticket received 18 months later triggers its own 20% surcharge on top of the first, resulting in a combined 44% increase over base rate (not 40%, because percentage increases multiply). When the first ticket ages out at the three-year mark, the rate drops back to the second ticket's isolated surcharge level.

Progressive recalculates surcharges at every renewal based on the violations active in the lookback window at that renewal date. If you complete a defensive driving course that removes points from your DMV record, Progressive does not automatically adjust your surcharge—you must request a re-rate at renewal and provide proof of course completion. Most states allow one defensive driving dismissal every 12–24 months, and Progressive honors state-approved dismissals by removing that violation from their surcharge calculation.

When Progressive Transfers You to a Non-Standard Affiliate vs. Non-Renewing Outright

Progressive maintains non-standard affiliate carriers in most states to retain drivers who exceed preferred-tier underwriting guidelines. If you receive a non-renewal notice, check whether it offers continuation through an affiliate program or directs you to shop elsewhere. Affiliate transfers are more common in states with tight non-standard markets or when you carry SR-22 filing, because Progressive retains the filing fee revenue and avoids regulatory scrutiny for declining SR-22 drivers.

Outright non-renewal is more common when your violation profile includes a disqualifying event, when you've filed multiple at-fault claims in addition to violations, or when your state does not require SR-22 and Progressive's non-standard affiliate doesn't operate there. Non-renewal notices arrive 30–60 days before your renewal date depending on state law. You have that window to secure replacement coverage.

If Progressive non-renews you, expect quotes from other standard carriers to come in 30–50% higher than your last Progressive rate, because competing carriers see the same violation history and price it similarly. Non-standard carriers like The General, Acceptance, or Dairyland typically quote drivers Progressive declines, with monthly premiums 50–90% higher than standard-market rates for minimum liability coverage.

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Stop Overpaying While Your Points Fade

Find Carriers That Accept Points

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How to Reduce Your Surcharge or Avoid Non-Renewal After a Violation

Request a rate review at every renewal after completing a state-approved defensive driving course. Progressive applies the dismissal only if you provide the certificate before the renewal processes—missed timing means you wait another six months. Most states allow one course dismissal per 12–24 months, and the dismissal removes the violation from Progressive's surcharge calculation entirely if the state removes it from your driving record.

Avoid filing small claims during your surcharge window. A $1,200 collision claim filed while you're already carrying a speeding ticket surcharge can trigger non-renewal faster than either event alone, because Progressive's risk scoring weights recent claims and violations together. Pay minor damage out of pocket if you can afford it.

Shop your renewal 45–60 days before it processes. If Progressive has already surcharged you once and you're approaching a second violation, competing carriers may offer lower rates because they use different surcharge schedules and lookback rules. State Farm and Allstate often quote competitively for drivers with one minor violation. GEICO and Nationwide frequently decline multi-violation drivers outright, so focus on carriers with robust non-standard programs if you're past the two-violation threshold.

If you receive a non-renewal notice with an affiliate transfer offer, compare the affiliate quote against non-standard market quotes before accepting. Progressive's affiliate rates are competitive within the non-standard tier, but regional non-standard carriers sometimes undercut national affiliate pricing by 10–20% depending on your state and violation mix.

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What Happens When Points Trigger SR-22 Filing on a Progressive Policy

Progressive files SR-22 certificates in every state that requires them, but surcharges SR-22 drivers separately from the underlying violation. If your state requires SR-22 after a DUI or points-triggered suspension, Progressive charges a one-time filing fee of $15–$50 depending on state, then applies an SR-22 surcharge of 20–40% on top of the violation surcharge. The SR-22 surcharge persists for the full filing period—typically three years from the reinstatement date.

SR-22 filing triggers affiliate transfer more often than non-renewal, because Progressive retains SR-22 drivers in non-standard programs even when their violation profile would otherwise trigger declination. Expect your rate to double or triple after an SR-22 requirement between the violation surcharge, the filing surcharge, and the non-standard tier base rate increase.

If Progressive declines to renew you after an SR-22 requirement, you must secure replacement coverage before your policy cancels or your state suspends your license again for lapse of required coverage. Non-standard carriers that specialize in SR-22 filing—The General, Acceptance, Direct Auto, SafeAuto—quote most drivers Progressive declines. Monthly premiums for state minimum SR-22 coverage typically range $120–$250 depending on state minimums and your full violation profile.

Timeline: When Progressive Applies Surcharges and When They Drop Off

Progressive applies the violation surcharge at your first renewal after the violation date, not immediately when the ticket is issued. A ticket received three weeks before your renewal may not appear until the following six-month renewal depending on when the conviction posts to your state driving record. Surcharges persist for three years from the violation date, so a ticket received June 2023 affects your rate through June 2026.

When a violation ages out of the three-year window, Progressive removes the surcharge automatically at the next renewal after the expiration date. You don't need to request removal—the carrier recalculates your rate based on the remaining active violations in the lookback window. If your last violation expires and you have no other violations or claims, your rate drops back to your base preferred rate at that renewal.

Non-renewal decisions happen 30–60 days before renewal, so if you're approaching a second major violation near your renewal date, Progressive may issue a non-renewal notice before the second violation even posts to your record if the carrier runs a motor vehicle report early in the renewal cycle. Timing matters—a second violation that posts two months after renewal gives you six more months of coverage before the next underwriting review.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Progressive non-renew after one speeding ticket?

No. Progressive applies a surcharge of 15–30% at renewal after a first speeding ticket but rarely non-renews unless the ticket triggered a license suspension longer than 90 days or an SR-22 filing requirement. A second major violation within three years triggers non-renewal or affiliate transfer in most states.

How long does a violation surcharge last on a Progressive policy?

Three years from the violation date, not the conviction date or renewal date. A speeding ticket issued June 1, 2023 affects your rate through June 1, 2026. Progressive removes the surcharge automatically at the first renewal after the three-year expiration.

Will Progressive transfer me to an affiliate or cancel my policy after a DUI?

Most drivers with a DUI are transferred to Progressive's non-standard affiliate rather than non-renewed outright, especially if the state requires SR-22 filing. Affiliate rates run 40–80% higher than preferred rates, and the SR-22 surcharge adds another 20–40% on top of the DUI violation surcharge.

Can I remove a violation surcharge by completing defensive driving?

Yes, if your state allows defensive driving dismissal and you provide the completion certificate to Progressive before your renewal processes. Progressive removes the violation from its surcharge calculation only if the state removes it from your driving record. Most states allow one dismissal every 12–24 months.

What happens if I get two speeding tickets in one year with Progressive?

You'll pay compounding surcharges—each ticket adds its own 15–30% increase, and the percentages multiply rather than add. Two tickets in one year also put you at high risk for non-renewal or affiliate transfer at your next renewal, especially if either ticket was 16+ mph over the limit.