How to Get a Free Vehicle Through the Keys to Progress Program

Every year, Progressive Insurance gives free cars to veterans who need reliable transportation. This incredible program has been running since 2013 and has blessed 1,200 veterans from five branches of the military. As you can imagine, this can be absolutely lifechanging for those who are selected.

I learned about Keys to Progress back in 2017, when a concerned VA representative sent me the application. She knew just how awful our vehicle was at the time and how badly we needed that blessing. I turned it in the application ASAP – and then I came right here to tell you all about it!

I was tempted to keep this information to myself (fewer applicants = better odds of winning, right?) but I couldn’t do that. This is just too good and I know there are many of you who are in a similar situation. So this post was originally published in early 2017, just after I found out about the giveaway. We’ve kept it updated to make sure it’s as useful as possible to you.

On September 25, 2017, I was contacted by a representative from the Keys to Progress vehicle office. They had reviewed my application and she said they really, really, really wanted to give my family a free car… but they only had vehicles with five seats and my family required seven seats.

The representative asked if there was any way we could make a five-seat vehicle work but there really wasn’t. My husband couldn’t drive and he couldn’t stay home with the kids by himself, so we always either went everywhere together or nobody went anywhere. Since this was a needs-based giveaway, we refused to accept the vehicle because we knew there was another veteran out there who needed a five-seat vehicle more than we did.

So without further ado… Here’s everything I know about the Progressive Keys to Progress vehicle giveaway and how to apply.

What is the Keys to Progress Vehicle Giveaway?

The Keys to Progress® Vehicle Giveaway event is an annual event sponsored by Progressive Insurance and their partners. The event began in 2013 when they gave away 59 cars for veterans in one day. In the last 13 years, they’ve given away more than 1,200 cars for veterans!

The cars aren’t brand new. They are typically recent-model used vehicles from purchased Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Progressive works closely with 1-800-Charity-Cars, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Insurance Auto Auctions Inc., and Veracity Research Co. Investigations for these annual giveaways.

What kind of vehicles do they give away?

The Keys to Progress program has expanded in recent years to include even more types of vehicles!

• Personal vehicles may include cars, trucks and SUVs. The exact vehicles available each year varies.
• Commercial vehicles may include business automobiles to help veteran-focused organizations or veteran-owned small businesses. To get one of these, you will need a valid Class C Commercial Driver’s License, hold a leadership position within the eligible organization and provide business tax information (in addition to the typical eligibility requirements below).
• Class 8 tractors are sometimes available as well. They have given away three of these since 2018.

Who qualifies for Keys to Progress?

The cars are only intended for veterans and military members who are experiencing tough life circumstances, such as unemployment, difficulty getting kids to school or getting to medical appointments, or being isolated because they can’t visit loved ones. Those are just a few examples; your hardship may vary.

To qualify for this program, you must meet at least ONE qualifying military category:

• Veteran (with a DD214 form); OR
• Active duty at E-4 or lower (with an LES showing your pay grade); OR
• Spouse of an active duty E-4 or lower military member who is overseas (with an LES showing pay grade and a valid marriage certificate); OR
• Gold Star Status family (with a DD1300 form or DIC eligibility letter)

Regardless of which of the four categories you qualify for, you will also need to meet ALL of the following requirements as well:

• At least 18 years old
• Have a valid driver’s license
• Legal resident of one of the 50 US states or DC (US territories do not count)
• Clean background check (includes a review of public social media activity)
• Clean driving record with no major infractions (DUI, reckless driving, driving with a suspended license, etc) within the last 7 years.
• Household income is at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (with recent tax filing or VA benefit statement)
• No reliable vehicle of your own (if you own a vehicle, you must be able to demonstrate a hardship with it)
• You must be able to obtain and maintain legally required insurance coverage, and pay any applicable taxes and fees.

Please note that you will be disqualified automatically if you have already received a Keys to Progress vehicle in the past, or if you are a current employee (or immediate family member) of Progressive Casualty Insurance Company, Keys to Progress, or any of their affiliates.

How do I apply for a free vehicle?

To apply, you just need to complete the application during the open application window. Remember, they accept applications for several months and then typically make a decision in the fall before the November giveaway event.

1. Request an application. You will need to email KeysToProgress@progressive.com to request an application.
2. Completely fill out the application. Do not leave anything blank. Make sure to fill out all the questions and attach all necessary documents, as incomplete documents may not be considered.
3. Prepare a statement. When I applied for Keys to Progress, the most important part was the statement. I used Google Docs so that I could also insert pictures. I wrote several pages about my husband’s medical condition, and the state of our vehicle (with pictures of pieces falling off because it was truly a mess), and the estimate we’d received from the mechanic. I believe it was the statement that helped us get selected.
4. Submit it all on time. You cannot afford to miss the application deadline so try to get your paperwork in as quickly as possible.
5. Wait to be notified. This is the hard part! Applications are accepted until August but vehicles are awarded during the week surrounding Veteran’s Day. We were notified in late September when we were selected.

Relief Recap

The Keys to Progress giveaway provides free vehicles to veterans who need them. This program will always be near and dear to my heart, because it gave my family so much hope during a dark and difficult season of our lives. I know this program is legit because I’ve talked to them personally and been through the process myself. I wish you all the best of luck in your application!