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Is the reliability worth the price?
Farmers is known far and wide for its reliability and long-standing history. The insurer boasts almost 100 years in business and nearly 20 million policies served.
As a writer for AutoInsurance.com and a longtime Farmers customer, I can confirm firsthand that Farmers delivers on reliability. Because Farmers is one of the largest providers in the country, a live agent is always available to help. And though the company’s premiums fall on the higher end, it might be worth it if you have a clean driving record, qualify for multiple discounts, and want to bundle your home and auto insurance.
Farmers is known for its customizable policies, which may appeal to those who are looking for certain coverages – including custom equipment and rental reimbursement. For drivers of classic cars and custom car enthusiasts, it just might be worth it.
In this review, I’ll help you decide whether Farmers is right for you. I’ll take you through what to expect when it comes to price, customer service, and getting a quote.
Reliable customer service
Customizable policies with extra coverage options
Notable bundling discount, up to 20%
Higher rates across the board, especially for young and senior drivers
Not available in Florida
Quite honestly, I chose Farmers initially because it was my father’s insurance provider when I started driving. However, I stuck with the company as an adult because it made navigating auto insurance easy. Whenever I have a question about my premium or need to change my policy, I can contact my agent and get answers immediately.
Plus, when I had to file a claim, the process was smooth, which solidified my trust in Farmers. Car accidents can be stressful, but in my experience, Farmers takes care of drivers during the most crucial times.
Farmers’ average annual rate for full coverage insurance is 20 percent higher than the national average, or $396 per year. When it comes to minimum coverage, its rates are 16 percent above the national average, or $87 per year.
As a Farmers customer, I’ve watched my premium increase by 7 percent in the past year — and this is for the same policy, with no coverage changes or claims. Farmers has been my provider for years and offers excellent customer service, though I’m not completely satisfied with the price. While I can count on the company to take care of things if I’m in an accident, I’d be happier if its costs were a little lower.
Across the country, the cost of auto insurance has risen significantly for a number of reasons, including an increased number of accidents since the pandemic, higher costs for auto repairs, and a rise in natural disasters due to climate change.1
Check out where Farmers falls in comparison to other providers for full and minimum coverage:
Company | Average annual premium for full coverage | Average annual premium for minimum coverage |
---|---|---|
Allstate | $2,639 | $597 |
American Family | $1,785 | $713 |
Farmers | $2,320 | $634 |
GEICO | $1,572 | $413 |
Nationwide | $1,805 | $613 |
Progressive | $1,891 | $481 |
State Farm | $1,697 | $482 |
Farmers offers plenty of opportunities to save on premiums, so double-check which car insurance discounts you qualify for. Some of them apply to everyone: I get a 5 percent discount when I pay for my policy upfront.
You’ll receive car insurance discounts at Farmers for:
If you’re a driver still attending school, or you have a young driver in your household, the good student discount gives an extra incentive to do well. Since rates for young drivers tend to be high, this discount eases the cost a bit.
You’ll qualify for the good student discount if you meet at least one of the requirements below:
We’ve rounded up the best auto insurance companies for teen drivers.
You’ll enjoy one of the most significant discounts from Farmers if you bundle your auto and home insurance. While most insurers offer this deal, Farmers gives one of the highest bundling discounts: 20 percent off, or an average of $732 saved annually.
If you’re already paying for auto and home insurance from different insurers, it may be worth considering. Just make sure to get a quote from Farmers to compare the cost of bundled insurance with your current insurance premiums. Plus, you can combine this with other existing qualifying discounts, including ones for automatic payments and paperless billing. In addition to saving money, you’ll also gain the ease of managing your insurance policies with a single company.
I can’t fully speak to the process of getting a quote with Farmers since I started on a household policy, but I do recommend starting early if you’re thinking of switching. In general, it’s a good idea to start shopping for a new policy at least 30 days in advance of your current policy’s renewal. That way, you can take advantage of any early signing discounts and ensure plenty of time to gather any necessary paperwork.
With Farmers, you can start a quote online, but in many cases, you’ll need to speak with an agent to finalize your quote. This may take a little longer than companies with fully online quote processes, like GEICO and Progressive. You can also start a quote by phone by calling 1-800-974-6755.
The upside of talking to an agent is the personalized help you receive while navigating the purchase process. An agent can help you decide which coverages you need, find discounts to help you lower your bill, and offer a human touch to the complexity of auto insurance.
Farmers provides the typical auto insurance coverage you’d find at most carriers, including liability insurance, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, collision and comprehensive insurance, and medical payments.
Here are the additional types of coverage you can get with Farmers:
Coverage type | What it covers | How much it costs |
---|---|---|
Roadside assistance | Towing, jump-starts, fuel delivery, flat-tire changes, and lockout services | As little as $1 to $3 per month |
Rental reimbursement | Subsidizes a rental car in covered situations that render your car undriveable, usually with a daily dollar limit | Up to $10 per month, depending on the coverage limit per day you choose |
Custom equipment coverage | Any custom modifications to your car, including wheels, audio systems, and other aftermarket parts | Depends on the cost of the custom equipment |
New-car replacement | A replacement vehicle of the same make and model if your new car is totaled within the first two years or 24,000 miles. | About 5% to 15% of your collision and comprehensive premiums |
Farmers sells auto insurance in 49 states. Like other insurers, it recently pulled out of Florida due to the rising costs of coverage in the Sunshine State. You won’t find gap insurance at Farmers, but if you need it, you may be able to buy a stand-alone gap policy from another company.
Farmers’ Glass Deductible Buyback feature offers coverage for windshield and glass repair and replacement, with a $100 deductible. For a little more protection, you can buy Full Windshield and Glass Coverage, which has $0 deductible on glass repair and replacement.
Opting for Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) coverage ensures a shop uses factory-original parts in covered repairs. This option is available for cars up to 10 years old, guaranteeing the highest-quality replacements for your vehicle’s repairs. Farmers also sells classic car insurance, with optional coverage for spare parts up to $750.
You can also buy accident forgiveness coverage for your Farmers policy. The insurer forgives one at-fault accident for every three years you avoid an at-fault accident. To qualify, drivers must be licensed for at least three years and have a clean driving record. Any recent violations, including a speeding ticket, a DUI, or an at-fault accident, may keep you from accident forgiveness eligibility. Interestingly, drivers under age 21 with fewer than three years of driving experience can qualify for accident forgiveness as long as one parent qualifies. It’s a good offering, considering the statistics on how often teens get into car crashes.
Since I’m just one person, my personal experience won’t encompass the full picture of customer satisfaction at Farmers. I’ve put together some industry data to get a better overview.
Farmers ranks average when it comes to claims, according to the J.D. Power Claims Satisfaction Study. The study takes into account several factors when evaluating carriers, including communication, digital channels, ease of claim resolution, ease of starting a claim, and fairness of claim settlements.
Meanwhile, CRASH Network gave Farmers a grade of C-, which reflects how well an insurer works with body shops. While it’s not a high score, Farmers falls right in the middle among the 10 largest auto insurance companies — the highest score was a C+.
Farmers also scored below average in the J.D. Power 2023 Insurance Shopping Study. This isn’t surprising, given that Farmers is known for its higher-than-average premiums and has a more complicated quote process.
On the positive side, Farmers holds an A rating from AM Best for financial strength, meaning you can count on it to pay out claims.2
In short, Farmers provides a satisfactory claims experience, but it falls short in a couple of areas. Of note, the quality of your repair experience may depend on whether you work with an affiliated shop. In my experience, its affiliated network of auto shops is fairly small, so you’re likely to end up at an out-of-network shop for repairs.
Category | Farmers rating/score |
---|---|
J.D. Power Claims Satisfaction3 | 878 out of 1,000 — Average |
CRASH Network 2023 Insurer Report Card4 | C- — No. 70 out of 88 |
J.D. Power 2023 Insurance Shopping Study5 | 846 out of 1,000 — Below average |
Farmers makes it easy to file a claim on its website or app:
I’ve filed a claim with Farmers, and the whole journey was efficient and easy. My car was vandalized, and I was lucky enough to have comprehensive coverage to pay for repairs. Once I submitted all the details through the claims process, my claims agent reached out to me by phone. Farmers also offers the option to text your claims agent, which makes it easier to stay in touch. It cut down the time I spent waiting for my agent to pick up the phone.
It took about two weeks for my claim to be processed. Because I delayed getting my car to the auto shop, it may have taken less than a week. While Farmers does charge more for premiums, it also takes care of drivers during the claims process. Customer service is outstanding. I had an overview of the claims process on my Farmers account, along with an indication of my claim’s progress. Plus, my agent was responsive and helpful, always returning my calls and texts within a day. I received the money for the claim via direct deposit within a week of the assessment. Even better, my coverage allowed me to get a rental car for up to 20 days.
The Farmers website and mobile app are both easy to navigate. I find that everything is seamless on the app, which allows me to make payments, download my insurance ID card, and view my policy all in one place. While you can’t change your policy from the app, it’s still handy when you’re on the go. It even provides your agent’s information in case you need to contact them.
On the home screen of the app, you’ll find the information you’ll need most: your ID card, policy information, and bills. The bottom of the home screen even has shortcuts to your claims, quotes, and roadside assistance.
The iPhone app has higher ratings than the Android app. I have the iPhone app and have no complaints about it. However, common complaints from Android users range from having trouble displaying their insurance ID card to bugs that prevent the app from running.
App | Rating (out of 5) |
---|---|
iPhone (App Store) | 4.8 stars |
Android (Google Play) | 4.6 stars |
Farmers Insurance is expensive in part because insurance rates are rising across the country. Additionally, you may be quoted a higher insurance price from any insurance company if you don’t fall into its target customer demographic. For example, with Farmers, premiums are higher for young drivers (age 18 to 24) and seniors (age 65 and older).
In general, Allstate is more expensive than Farmers. Allstate charges an average of $2,639 annually for full coverage, while Farmers charges an average of $2,320 annually.
Yes, Farmers Insurance raised its rates. In 2023, the insurer raised premiums by an average of 17.6 percent across 43 states. Other top auto insurers like State Farm and GEICO also increased their rates in the same year due to inflation and the rising price of cars.6
Farmers falls on the more expensive side of providers. The national average for full coverage insurance is $1,924 per year, while the average cost of full coverage insurance at Farmers is $2,320 per year. However, Farmers compensates for higher premiums with excellent customer service. It has a low number of customer complaints for a company of its size, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
For our reviews, we use a comprehensive process engineered to give consumers an accurate, objective overview of each insurer. Our reviews are based on the following methodology:
4 reasons why your car insurance premium is soaring. KQED. (2023, Sep 13).
https://www.npr.org/2023/09/13/1199032000/car-auto-insurance-premium-inflation
AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Members of Farmers Insurance Group. AM Best. (2023, Jun 23).
https://news.ambest.com/PR/PressContent.aspx?refnum=33492&altsrc=2
Auto Insurers Manage Customer Expectations as Repair Cycle Times Double in Two Years, J.D. Power Finds. J.D. Power. (2023, Oct 26).
https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2023-us-auto-claims-satisfaction-study
Top Rated U.S. Car Insurance Companies for 2024. Crash Network. (2024).
https://www.crashnetwork.com/irc/
Auto Insurance Shopping and Switch Rates Reach New Highs as Premiums Surge, J.D. Power Finds. J.D. Power. (2023, Apr 27).
https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2023-us-insurance-shopping-study
Farmers Leads Insurers’ Rate Hikes With 17.6% Increase. Auto Body News. (2024, Jan 22).
https://www.autobodynews.com/news/farmers-leads-insurers-rate-hikes-with-17-6-increase