VALUE OF THE AGENT ENFORCED

Results of an extensive countrywide survey by Progressive Insurance showed that while people ages 18 to 34 were more likely to use the Internet to purchase auto insurance than people ages 35 to 64, a majority of consumers (67.6 percent) bought their current auto insurance policy with a local agent. Progressive, the fourth largest auto insurance company in the country, surveyed more than 31,500 consumers over the phone in 156 markets countrywide from November to December 2000. Respondents ages 18 to 34 were significantly more likely to have purchased auto insurance using the Internet than respondents ages 35 to 64. And, 68.2 percent of respondents ages 35 to 64 said they purchased their insurance with a local insurance agent—compared to 66.2 percent of respondents ages 18 to 34. Both male and female respondents were more than three times as likely to purchase their auto insurance from a local agent than to purchase directly from a company over the phone.