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Farmers is one of the nation’s largest insurers and owns several other insurance businesses under the Farmers Insurance Group of Companies. It has an impressive array of coverage and discount offerings, and an extensive network of agents. However, coverages and discounts differ among the various companies, so check whether your quote is from Farmers or one of its other insurers. This review focuses on car insurance from Farmers itself.
- Pros and Cons
- Company Overview
Customizable coverage with some less common endorsements good for classic and collectible car owners
Wide variety of discounts, including one for hybrid or alternative-fuel vehicles
Comprehensive and collision coverage includes up to $1,000 in coverage for any special features you’ve added to your vehicle
Over 48,000 exclusive and independent agents available for personalized help
Less-than-stellar J.D. Power Auto Insurance Satisfaction Study ratings in most U.S. regions
Doesn’t offer loan/lease gap coverage, which many competitors offer
- Official Website www.farmers.com
- Insurance Offered Car, classic/collectible car, motorcycle, RV, homeowners, renters, pet, and more
- Customer Service Available by sending a message from your account or by calling 888-327-6335 (Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. CT; Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT)
- Year Founded 1928
COVID-19 Assistance
Farmers encourages customers looking for payment assistance due to COVID-19-related financial hardship to contact the company directly at 888-327-6335 to discuss their payment options. Farmers is also waiving the 10-trip minimum requirement to qualify for discounts using its driving behavior–tracking app, Signal. Customers who are using the app to save money on their car insurance simply need to keep it activated, even if they’re not driving much.
Farmers Car Insurance Coverage
You’ll find all the standard car insurance coverages with Farmers:
- Liability (bodily injury and physical damage you cause to others, required in most states)
- Personal injury protection
- Collision
- Comprehensive (aka, “other-than-collision”)
- Medical payments
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist
But you may also get to choose from numerous common additional coverages, called endorsements, depending on your location and policy:
- Towing and roadside service
- Rental car reimbursement or flat sum for transportation costs
- Rideshare
- Accident forgiveness
- Customized equipment coverage up to $50,000
- Glass coverage: $0 or $100 deductible plans available
- New car replacement coverage
- Original equipment manufacturer (for vehicles up to 10 years old)
- Guaranteed value
- Spare parts coverage
Some Farmers coverage options may be popular with owners of classic or collector cars, including spare parts coverage, which covers up to $750 of spare parts, and Guaranteed Value, which pays you an agreed-upon value if your car is totaled—without depreciation.
If your quote comes from one of Farmers’ affiliates, it may include a different list of endorsements. For example, while Farmers offers rideshare coverage, its affiliate 21st Century does not.
Factors That Affect Your Cost
Insurers offer unique rates depending upon individual factors, including your driving record, location, age, your vehicle and how you use it (business, personal only), typical mileage, credit-based insurance score, and other factors that can vary among U.S. states. The amount of insurance coverage you want to purchase also impacts your premium.
Farmers Car Insurance Discounts
Farmers provides a wide variety of car insurance discounts, depending on your state:
- Youth discounts: Good student, distant student, young driver, under-29-year-old moving out of a Farmers home
- Loyalty discounts: Multi-policy, multi-car
- Safety discounts: Anti-theft, anti-lock brakes, daytime running lights, passive restraint, homing device (car tracker), safe driver, senior defensive driver, Signal (telematic app)
- Policy-based discounts: Automatic payments, paperless policy, paid in full
- Other discounts: Alternative fuel vehicle (up to 5%), business/professional group discount, homeownership, VIN etching, shared family car, military
In most states, drivers can save an initial 5%, and then up to 15% at renewal, by using Signal, Farmers’ usage-based discount app that tracks your driving behavior. You can save an additional 10% by also enrolling a driver under 25 who lives in your household. If you keep your focused driving score at or above 80%, you’ll automatically be entered into a monthly sweepstakes to win up to $100 in gift cards for a variety of merchants.
If your quote is from one of Farmers’ affiliates, you may be offered different or additional discounts.
Farmers Car Insurance Availability
The Farmers Insurance Group of Companies offer insurance underwriting in all 50 states. These companies include Farmers as well as:
- Bristol West
- 21st Century Insurance
- Foremost Insurance
Farmers may own these companies, but each one functions independently. If your policy is with Bristol West, for example, you would deal with Bristol West directly for claims, customer service, and policy management—not with Farmers.
How to Get a Farmers Car Insurance Quote
Getting a quote online or from your local agent is a straightforward process. You’ll be asked for your basic personal information and car details. You may have to provide your VIN for a more accurate quote if your car’s model isn’t available from the drop-down menu. Moving forward without the VIN directs you to complete your quote with an agent. An agent can also work with you to review the coverages and discounts available from Farmers and several of its affiliates, and find the best fit for your needs.
During the quote process, Farmers only offers male and female gender options. There is no option to self-identify as non-binary.
How to File a Claim with Farmers
You can file a claim online, with your agent, or by calling claim services at 800-435-7764. You’ll be asked about the incident and you’ll need to upload supporting documentation. After you file, your claims representative will contact you if any additional information is needed. If you get your car repaired at one of Farmers’ Guaranteed Repair Program facilities, the repairs are guaranteed for the life of the vehicle.
Farmers Customer Service
Study | How Farmers Fared |
---|---|
J.D. Power Auto Claims Satisfaction Study | #10 out of 24 insurers |
J.D. Power Auto Insurance Satisfaction Study | #8 out of 9 in the Texas region |
J.D. Power Insurance Shopping Study | #6 out of 8 insurers |
J.D. Power Digital Experience Study | #17 out 19 for service #14 out of 22 for shopping |
Overall Satisfaction
J.D. Power ranked Farmers in eight out of 11 regions in its Auto Insurance Satisfaction Study. Farmers placed near the bottom in five regions and about average in the other three. Its average score was 820 out of 1,000, which is 13 points below the average of all areas surveyed. It seems that Farmers auto insurance customers are dissatisfied with their insurance at worst and indifferent toward the company at best.
Auto Claims
Farmers’ overall customer satisfaction score in J.D. Power’s Auto Claims Satisfaction Study is decidedly average—its 872 score out of 1,000 is the same as the industry average.
Digital Service and Shopping Experience
Farmers had below-average scores in J.D. Power’s Insurance Shopping Study and Digital Experience Study. It placed near the bottom for overall customer satisfaction when it comes to purchasing insurance policies online and for its digital range of services for existing customers. As for obtaining online quotes, customer satisfaction was slightly below average. These rankings reveal that Farmers isn’t as strong as many of its competitors in providing a satisfying customer experience when you’re buying and servicing policies online.
Financial Stability
The Farmers Insurance Group’s “A” rating with AM Best demonstrates that it’s a financially stable company with an excellent ability to meet financial obligations, like paying out large claims. AM Best is a rating agency specializing in insurance that reports on the financial strength of insurers.
Other Insurance Provided by Farmers
If you’re in the market for more than auto insurance, it’s helpful to know that Farmers—either through its own brand or through an insurance partner—also provides coverage for:
- Motorcycles
- Boats and personal watercraft
- Travel trailers and 5th wheels
- Off-road vehicles including snowmobiles, dirt bikes, dune buggies, golf carts, and ATVs
- Motor homes / RVs
- Golf carts and other low-speed vehicles
- Classic and collectable cars
The company also offers:
- Homeowners, renters, and landlord insurance
- Business insurance
- Personal umbrella insurance
Compare Other Car Insurance Reviews
A Farmers auto policy won’t be the right fit for everyone. It’s important to compare providers and quotes to find one that offers the best overall value for your needs. Some of Farmers’ competitors include:
Farmers is a great choice if you want:
- A-la-carte coverage for the what matters most to you, whether that’s new car coverage or a $0 glass deductible
- The chance to work with a local agent over the phone or in person
- Lots of discount options
It may not be a good fit if top-ranked customer service is important to you.
Methodology
The Balance strives to give consumers unbiased, comprehensive reviews of auto insurance providers. To ensure that our content helps you make the right insurance decision for your needs, we review each insurance provider’s coverage options, discounts, customer service and satisfaction, and financial stability.