Exhibit No. 32(A)

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

      I, Glenn M. Renwick, President and Chief Executive Officer, of The
Progressive Corporation (the "Company"), certify, pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1) the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the period ended December
31, 2004 (the "Report"), which this certification accompanies, fully complies
with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 (U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)); and

(2) information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material
respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

/s/ Glenn M. Renwick
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Glenn M. Renwick
President and Chief Executive Officer
March 1, 2005