Progressive's Drive Insurance Agents to Sell Homesite Policies

August 21, 2006

Drive Insurance from Progressive, the largest writer of auto insurance through independent agents and brokers in the U.S., has signed a joint marketing agreement with Homesite Insurance Group, a national provider of home insurance products. The agreement paves the way for a test that will allow selected Drive agents in three states—Ohio, Pennsylvania and Oregon—to provide their Drive auto insurance customers quotes for homeowners, renters and condo insurance policies underwritten and serviced by Homesite.

In the test, independent agents will use Drive's ForAgentsOnly.com (FAO) Web site to provide eligible customers with homeowners product quotes. New or existing Drive Insurance customers are eligible for a homeowners quote from Homesite if they have prior auto coverage without a lapse and at least 100/300 liability limits.

Drive and Homesite will work together to identify a hand-selected group of about 150 agents in the three states to whom this program will be offered. Drive agents will sign an agency agreement and will be appointed by Homesite; the agent is then the agent of record and owns expiration rights to policies sold.

"It is our goal to make the Drive brand a 'must-have' for all growing, successful independent agencies," said Sharena Ali, product manager, Drive. "Providing agents with more flexibility in packaging home and auto policies and leveraging existing easy-to-use technology can help us to solidify our core position in their offices and give us an additional opportunity to grow together with them."

The three-state test will launch in late 2006; if the test is successful, that is, it helps Drive agents sell more Drive policies, further rollout may happen in 2007.

"We are excited about this opportunity," said Fabian Fondriest, CEO, Homesite. "As a monoline home insurer with technology that is highly compatible with Drive's, we look forward to providing packaged home policies with the ease-of-use that Drive agents have come to expect."

The products and services of the Drive Group of Progressive Insurance Companies are marketed to consumers under the Drive® Insurance from Progressive brand through more than 30,000 independent insurance agencies in the U.S.

Founded in 1997, the Homesite Insurance Group writes homeowners, condominium owners, and renters insurance policies in 46 states and the District of Columbia.

Source: Progressive