6,000 Hours of Productivity Are Lost as a Result of the 185 Car Crashes That Happen in Detroit Each Day.

DETROIT -- Drivers Involved in Crashes Report Spending Four Days' Time Managing Claims/Repair Process; New Service from Progressive Cuts That Down to 15 Minutes

More than 67,500 car accidents happen in the Detroit metropolitan area each year - that's nearly 1,300 a week and 185 a day. And, while more than half of all claims handled by Progressive in the area are considered minor in terms of repair costs since they cause less than $2,000 in damage per vehicle, the time wasted and inconvenience caused are anything but minor. About 40 percent of drivers involved in crashes report spending four or more days managing the process of getting their vehicles repaired. This means Detroit drivers involved in accidents in just one day collectively lose nearly 6,000 hours of time - that's about two years - managing the claims/repair process as a result of even minor accidents.

Not anymore.

The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies, which represents two brands of private passenger auto insurance, Progressive Direct(R) and Drive(R) Insurance from Progressive, today announced the opening of its second Detroit-area Service Center; drivers here can now choose to receive a "concierge" level of claims service that reduces the time each driver spends on the claims/repair process from four days to about 15 minutes. And the service is not limited to just Progressive customers - it's also available to anyone involved in a claim handled by Progressive.

With Progressive's new service, a driver simply drops off the damaged vehicle at the new Sterling Heights Service Center and, in about 15 minutes, can leave in a rental car assured that a claims representative will handle the process from beginning to end and that the repairs will be guaranteed. Without a Service Center, drivers have to spend several days doing everything themselves - arranging for alternate transportation, getting repair estimates, finding a shop, getting updates, inspecting the repairs, etc.

"The Service Center approach is simple and it works," said Matthew Jones, Sterling Heights Service Center manager, Progressive. "By using a service that handles the claims/repair process from start to finish, people can save time and spend it the way they want to."

The opening of the new Service Center at 40770 Mound Road in Sterling Heights marks the 40th Progressive Service Center in the U.S. and second in the Detroit area.

How the Service Center Works

--The customer calls Progressive to report the claim any time of the day or night and then schedules an appointment to bring the vehicle to the specially designed Service Center.

--In about 15 minutes, the customer can be on his or her way in a rental car with assurance that Progressive will keep him or her informed of the status of the claim throughout the repair process.

--A Progressive claims representative prepares a repair estimate and contacts an auto body shop based on its track record of providing quality repairs, superior service and ability to begin work promptly. Both Progressive and the shop reach agreement on the cost of the repairs; the shop then transports the vehicle from the Service Center to its facility and the repair work begins.

--When the work is finished, the vehicle is returned to the Service Center where representatives from both Progressive and the body shop inspect the quality of repairs.

--Once satisfied with the repair quality, Progressive calls the customer and asks him or her to return to the Service Center where, together with the claims representative, the customer inspects the repairs.

--The customer then leaves with a written guarantee on the repairs that both Progressive and the body shop stand behind as long as the customer owns the vehicle.

All Service Center people handle claims for Progressive Direct(R) and Drive(R) Insurance from Progressive customers and undergo specialized claims and customer satisfaction training at the company's expanded claims training facility in Tampa, Fla.

Progressive employs more than 13,200 claims people in more than 460 offices countrywide. Although this concierge level of claims service is not yet available in all markets where Progressive operates claims offices, claims representatives there continue to personally handle each customer's claim from start to finish.

The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies, in business since 1937, ranks third in the nation and fifth in Michigan for auto 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 by phone at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE and online at www.progressivedirect.com through the Progressive Direct(R) brand. The products and services of the Drive Group of Progressive Insurance Companies are offered by more than 30,000 independent insurance agencies and online at www.driveinsurance.com through the Drive(R) Insurance from Progressive brand. More information can be found at www.progressive.com.

Matthew Jones, Sterling Heights Service Center manager, is available for interview.

Editor's note: Customer and body shop testimonials available upon request.