- Farmers offers the six standard types of car insurance coverage along with additional options like rideshare insurance, accident forgiveness and new car replacement coverage.
- A full coverage car insurance policy from Farmers costs $3,169 annually while a minimum liability coverage policy will cost about $1,153 on average.
- The Signal® is Farmer’s usage-based telematics program that rewards drivers for practicing safe driving behaviors.
In our Farmers Insurance review, we at the MarketWatch Guides team take an in-depth look at the provider’s coverage options, pricing and reputation among customers and industry professionals to see how it compares to the best car insurance companies.
Learn more about our methodology and editorial guidelines.
Farmers Insurance Reviews
We gave Farmers Insurance an 8.6 out of 10.0 rating for its useful range of coverage options and add-ons. The provider’s overall score was aggregated from the provider’s ratings in five key areas: reputation, availability, coverage, cost and customer experience.
Overall Rating | 8.6 |
---|---|
Reputation | 8.6 |
Availability | 10.0 |
Coverage | 9.0 |
Cost | 7.4 |
Customer Experience | 9.0 |
*Ratings are determined by our editorial review team. Learn more about our scoring methodology below.
Is Farmers Insurance Good?
Founded: 1928
Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating: A
AM Best Rating: A-
According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), Farmers held 4.55% of the market share in 2022, writing nearly $12.6 billion in insurance premiums. Overall, Farmers Insurance can be a good choice for many drivers. The company offers a range of coverage options and discount opportunities that drivers can take advantage of.
Below are some specific characteristics that make Farmers stand out from other companies:
- Many local agents: Farmers has more than 48,000 independent insurance agents across the country and is available in all 50 states.
- Wide range of insurance products: In addition to auto insurance, Farmers offers a full line of insurance products such as homeowners, renters, life, business and general liability.
- Plenty of discount offerings: There are several ways to save money on your Farmers insurance premium, especially if you’re a safe driver, good student or first responder.
Farmers Pros and Cons
Here’s a detailed list of pros and cons of Farmers auto insurance:
Great selection of coverage options and add-ons
Available in all 50 U.S. states
Many discount opportunities
Well-reviewed mobile app
Premiums can be high in some states
Mixed customer service reviews
Some customer complaints about slow roadside assistance
Farmers Insurance Customer Reviews
In general, positive Farmers Insurance reviews praise the company’s quick and efficient claims process. Happy customers are also pleased with the affordable rates they find through the company. Negative Farmers Insurance reviews tend to focus on delays with the claims process and slow roadside assistance response times.
Our research team reached out to Farmers Insurance for comment on its negative reviews but did not receive a response.
Farmers Insurance Customer Service
In August of 2022, we surveyed nearly 7,000 car insurance customers on their experiences with different companies. Of those polled, only about 3% reported they had a Farmers car insurance policy. Here’s how Farmers customers rated the company in different areas compared to the overall averages from our survey:
Category | Farmers Average | Insurance Company Industry Average |
---|---|---|
Overall customer satisfaction | 4.0 | 4.2 |
Affordability | 3.5 | 3.7 |
Discounts and savings programs | 3.6 | 3.7 |
Selection of coverage and add-ons | 3.7 | 3.9 |
Car insurance shopping process | 3.7 | 3.9 |
Company website | 3.6 | 3.9 |
Farmers Insurance Reviews: Reddit
Reddit is a news aggregator and internet discussion board. While not a traditional reviews site, users do share their experiences with insurance companies. Our team evaluated Farmers reviews on Reddit to see what internet users said about the company in a more casual setting.
Positive Farmers reviews on Reddit cite personalized customer service through the company’s large network of local agents as an advantage. Reddit users unhappy with Farmers insurance mention the company’s high rates.
Farmers Claims
In our survey, we found that 39% of Farmers policyholders had filed a claim, while over 60% had not. Overall, the respondents who had a Farmers insurance policy were fairly happy with the company’s customer service during the claims process, giving the company a 4.0-star rating out of 5.0.
Additionally, participants gave the company a 3.9-star rating for satisfaction with the claim outcome or settlement.
Farmers Insurance Ratings
Farmers generally receives decent ratings from industry organizations and customer review sites.
Farmers Insurance Reviews: BBB
Farmers holds an A rating and accreditation from the BBB. Customers on the BBB rate the company 1.3 stars out of 5.0, but only 303 left a review, which is a tiny fraction of the company’s customer base.
Farmers Car Insurance: J.D. Power Ratings
Farmers has a decent reputation for customer service but still scored below average in the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Auto Insurance Study℠. The company earned 809 points out of a possible 1,000, which falls below the industry average of 820 points.
The company fared better in the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study℠, earning 862 points out of 1,000, just one point below the segment average for large insurers.
Our research team reached out to Farmers Insurance for comment on its below-average scores but did not receive a response.
Farmers Insurance App
The Farmers Insurance app lets you manage your insurance policy from anywhere. It’s highly rated, earning a 4.8 out of 5.0-star rating on the App Store (based on over 14,000 reviews) and 4.6 stars out of 5.0 on Google Play (based on over 8,000 reviews).
Farmers Auto Insurance Coverage
Farmers Insurance offers the basic types of coverage you need to meet your state’s minimum insurance requirements. While these requirements vary from state to state, they usually include some combination of the following types of insurance:
- Bodily injury liability car insurance: Covers medical expenses for people in other vehicles who are injured in an accident you cause
- Property damage liability car insurance: Covers the cost of property damage to other vehicles and items in an accident you cause
- Uninsured motorist coverage/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM): Covers your property damage costs and medical expenses in an accident caused by a driver without insurance or without enough insurance to pay the full cost of damages
- Medical payments (MedPay): Covers medical expenses for you and your passengers following an accident, regardless of who is at fault
- Personal injury protection (PIP): Covers rehabilitation costs and lost wages following an accident in a no-fault state
Farmers Insurance Policies
You can get a policy from Farmers Insurance that only covers what is required in your state. However, these policies can leave you exposed to serious financial risk. You can be held responsible for what your insurance does not cover if damages or medical expenses from an accident you cause exceed your coverage limits.
Farmers Insurance Coverage Options
Here are some optional coverage choices and policy add-ons Farmers Insurance offers:
- Collision insurance: Covers damages to your vehicle that occur from a car accident
- Comprehensive coverage: Covers damages to your vehicle from events other than an accident, such as vandalism, theft or weather
- Emergency roadside assistance: Covers roadside services such as winching, fuel delivery, tire repair, tire replacement, lockout assistance and up to $150 in towing
- Rental car insurance: Offers reimbursement for the cost of a rental car for up to 30 days following a covered accident
- Rideshare insurance: Covers you if you drive for a rideshare service such as Lyft or Uber
- Glass and windshield coverage: Covers the cost to repair or replace broken auto glass with a $0 deductible
- Accident forgiveness: Keeps your premium from increasing after an accident, but only for one accident every three years
- New car replacement coverage: Covers the full replacement cost of a new car if it has fewer than 24,000 miles on it and is within the first 2 model years.
- Personal umbrella insurance: Offers coverage beyond your liability coverage limits and protects you from lawsuits
- Loss of use coverage: Pays a flat sum when you cannot drive your car after a covered accident and can be used to pay for public transportation or rideshare services
- Customized equipment coverage: Covers aftermarket parts such as custom wheels or infotainment systems
Farmers coverage options and add-ons may not be available to you depending on where you live. Contact your Farmers agent to find out what coverage options the company offers in your area.
Farmers Insurance Signal
Farmers Insurance offers another way to earn a discount: participating in its usage-based insurance program to have your driving behavior monitored and reported. The Signal® mobile app is available in both the Google Play store and the Apple App Store and has received positive feedback in Farmers Insurance reviews.
Signal uses your phone’s GPS to track how fast you accelerate, drive and brake, along with other driving habits. After you sign up for Signal and complete 10 trips while using the app, you’ll get a 5% discount on your auto insurance policy. When it’s time to renew your policy, you can get up to 15% off your premium based on the rating you get from the app.
How Much Does Farmers Insurance Cost?
Our team took an in-depth look at Farmers Insurance costs in the sections below, highlighting the company’s average rates, costs compared to the national average and available discounts.
Farmers Auto Insurance Average Rates
According to our rate estimates, most drivers pay an average of $3,169 per year or $264 per month for a full-coverage Farmers Insurance policy. Minimum-liability coverage from the company averages around $1,153 per year or $96 per month.
Farmers Insurance Prices
Here are some estimates for Farmers auto insurance rates based on driver profiles:
Driver Profile | Farmers Insurance Average Annual Rate Estimate |
---|---|
35-year-old with good driving record and good credit | $3,169 |
25-year-old with good driving record and good credit | $3,626 |
35-year-old with poor credit | $5,528 |
35-year-old with a recent accident | $4,917 |
Like all insurers, Farmers Insurance sets custom rates for each policyholder. The company uses information about you and your vehicle to determine risk and calculate the cost of your premium.
Here are some of the factors that contribute to your Farmers auto insurance costs:
- Coverage options: A policy that includes more coverage will be more expensive. Adding coverage beyond your state’s minimum requirements will increase your rates.
- Deductible: Most insurance providers let you choose the deductible, which is how much you need to pay out of pocket for covered repairs. The lower your deductible, the higher your premium will be.
- Driving history: If you have recent at-fault accidents, tickets or other moving violations on your record, you’ll have to pay higher car insurance rates. Serious offenses like a DUI can send your rates through the roof.
- Age: Teens, young drivers and seniors pay the highest rates for car insurance premiums.
- Gender/marital status: Men and unmarried drivers tend to pay more for car insurance.
- Credit history: Drivers with poor credit pay more for coverage than those with good credit.
- Vehicle: The value, style, make, model and age of your vehicle all contribute to your rates. In general, larger and more expensive vehicles cost more to insure.
- Location: Rates vary even within the same state. Drivers in rural areas tend to pay less for car insurance coverage than those in urban areas.
Is Farmers Insurance Expensive?
Farmers Insurance coverage costs more than the national average. Based on the estimates above, a full-coverage Farmers policy costs about 58% more than the national average of $2,008. A minimum-liability Farmers car insurance policy costs around 84% more than the national average of $627 per year.
To further illustrate this point, here’s how Farmers Insurance compares to nine other leading regional and national providers.
Car Insurance Provider | Average Monthly Cost Estimate | Full Coverage Cost Estimate |
---|---|---|
USAA | $126 | $1,512 |
Erie Insurance | $122 | $1,458 |
Nationwide | $119 | $1,433 |
Geico | $133 | $1,596 |
Auto-Owners | $135 | $1,619 |
State Farm | $138 | $1,657 |
Progressive | $169 | $2,030 |
Travelers | $133 | $1,595 |
Allstate | $217 | $2,598 |
Farmers | $264 | $3,169 |
*The estimates in the table above are based on a 35-year-old married driver with a clean driving history and good credit score.
Farmers Insurance Discounts
Farmers Insurance reviews mention great rates, and that’s in part due to the company’s numerous discount opportunities. Here are some of the car insurance discounts you may find with Farmers:
- Good driver discount: If you keep a clean driving record with no accidents or tickets for a specified period of time, you can get a discount on your auto insurance policy.
- Homeowner discount: Homeowners are eligible for a discount on their car insurance with Farmers.
- Multi-policy discount: You can get a discount with Farmers by bundling your car insurance policy with other policies like renters insurance, homeowners insurance or life insurance.
- Good student discount: Students who maintain high grade averages can save money on auto insurance.
- Occupational discounts: First responders and other emergency workers like doctors, nurses, RNs, police officers, firefighters, EMS workers and more can get a car insurance discount.
- Senior defensive driving discount: Drivers over the age of 55 who complete an AARP online safety course can get a policy discount.
- Alternatively fueled vehicle discount: You can get a discount on your auto insurance if you drive an electric vehicle.
- Safety feature discount: Having safety equipment like daytime running lights, airbags and more can get Farmers customers a discount.
- Multi-vehicle discount: If you insure more than one vehicle with Farmers, you’ll get a discount on your combined policy.
Discounts vary by state, so some of the discounts you see here may not be available where you live. Check with your local agent to see which discounts you qualify for.
Farmers Auto Insurance Quote
Getting an online quote from Farmers Insurance is quick and easy. You can buy your policy online or call to speak with a representative at 1-800-665-5108 if you have any questions.
Here are the steps you need to follow to get a Farmers auto insurance quote:
- Enter your information: You’ll need to give the basics — your name, address and contact information.
- Provide details about your car: You’ll be asked to provide standard vehicle information, including any extra equipment or security features your car has.
- Give details on how much you drive: Mileage is one of the main factors that goes into calculating your car insurance premium. You’ll need to know the number of miles you drive on a regular basis.
- Provide information on other drivers in your household: You must provide details on the drivers within your household. This could include your spouse, partner or children.
- See if you qualify for discounts: You’ll answer a few more questions to see if you qualify for any discount opportunities.
The Bottom Line: Farmers Auto Insurance Reviews
In this article, we reviewed Farmers Insurance and analyzed the provider’s rates, coverage options, customer experience and more.
Farmers Insurance Alternatives
While Farmers Insurance could be a good option for many drivers, we recommend getting insurance quotes from several providers and comparing cost and coverage options. Geico and State Farm can be two smart choices for auto insurance to help you get started.
Geico: Best for Budget-Conscious Drivers
Geico offers consistently low rates for many types of drivers, a huge selection of coverage options and add-ons, and excellent service in all 50 states. The company is one of the largest insurers in the country, second only to State Farm. Geico offers the six standard types of car insurance as well as many optional add-ons like roadside assistance and mechanical breakdown insurance.
Read more: Geico insurance reviews
State Farm: Best Customer Experience
State Farm is one of the biggest names in the insurance business, offering coverage in all 50 states. While there is a lot to like about Geico, our team found that the company stands out for offering great customer service and affordable prices to all of its drivers. If you are looking into one of these categories, you may find some of the best rates and customer service with State Farm.
Read more: State Farm insurance review
Farmers Car Insurance: FAQ
Below are some frequently asked questions about Farmers Insurance:
Yes, Farmers Insurance is a reputable insurance company that scored high marks for customer service and industry reputation in our study. The insurer has an A rating from the BBB, as well as accreditation from the organization.
According to the 2022 J.D. Power U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study℠, Farmers scored above average, earning 882 out of a possible 1,000 points. This points to the company’s ability to pay claims quickly and with minimal hassle to the customer.
AM Best’s most recent rating for Farmers Insurance is an “Excellent” A rating for financial strength. That means the company is capable of reliably paying out insurance claims.
Based on Farmers Insurance reviews, customers report that the company takes about two to six weeks to pay claims after a settlement has been reached. However, reaching a settlement after an accident could take longer.
Our Methodology
Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best car insurance companies. We collected data on dozens of auto insurance providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. The end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the insurers that scored the most points topping the list.
Here are the factors our ratings take into account:
- Cost: Auto insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services and discount opportunities were both taken into consideration.
- Coverage: Companies that offer a variety of choices for insurance coverage are more likely to meet consumer needs.
- Reputation and experience: Our research team considered market share, ratings from industry experts and years in business when giving this score.
- Availability: Auto insurance companies with greater state availability and few eligibility requirements scored highest in this category.
- Customer experience: This score is based on volume of complaints reported by the NAIC and customer satisfaction ratings reported by J.D. Power. We also considered the responsiveness, friendliness and helpfulness of each insurance company’s customer service team based on our own shopper analysis.
Our credentials:
- 800 hours researched
- 45 companies reviewed
- 8,500+ consumers surveyed
*Data accurate at time of publication.