Progressive Corp. says it sustained catastrophe losses of about$55 million in October due to Superstorm Sandy, but net income forthe month increased 37 percent compared to the same month lastyear.

Net premiums earned were up 9 percent in October to about $1.58billion, and net realized gains on securities increased 131 percentcompared to a year ago.

Progressive says much of the $55 million in Sandy catastrophelosses—about 80 percent—come from claims in New York and NewJersey.

This year may have been a lower catastrophe-loss year than2011, but Progressive reports year-to-date catastrophe losses of$230 million, compared to $204 million last year.

Year-to-date net income for the Mayfield Village, Ohio vehicleinsurer as of Oct. 31 is down 10 percent to $729.5 million. Totalexpenses thus far in 2012 are up 10 percent.

The insurer's direct policies-in-force increased 5 percent inOctober, compared to the same month in 2011. Agency-drivenpolicies-in-force rose 4 percent.

Progressive today also announced the expansion of its Pay As YouDrive insurance discount Program, Snapshot.

Drivers in Illinois will be able to test Snapshot, even if theyare not Progressive customers.

After 30 days drivers there will be able to see if they couldsave money with Progressive, but there is no obligation toswitch.

In a statement Richard Hutchinson, general manager ofusage-based insurance, says more than one million driversnationwide have participated in Snapshot.

But during a conference call early this month to discussProgressive's third-quarter earnings, CEO Glenn M. Renwick said the“volume of people actually taking the [Snapshot] test drive hasunderperformed our internal estimates.” But of those taking thetest, “a very large number of them are actually getting theopportunity to get a discount off of what our rates otherwise wouldhave been.”

The insurer is planning a new campaign to educate the consumerabout Snapshot and the opportunity to test the product, Renwicksays.