Farmers Auto Insurance Review

Last Updated on July 17, 2024

Farmers is the seventh-largest car insurance company in the United States. The company offers a full spectrum of auto insurance products, home insurance policies, financial services, and more. Today, Farmers is known for its competitive pricing, extensive selection of insurance options, and low complaint index compared to other insurers of its size.

Types of Auto Insurance Coverage Offered by Farmers

Farmers offers everything from minimum liability insurance policies to full coverage plans. Whether looking to meet your state’s minimum required insurance limits or purchase umbrella coverage, you can find the insurance policy you need through Farmers.

Liability Coverage: Farmers offers liability coverage to meet or state minimum required limits in your state. States typically require $25,000 to $50,000 of bodily injury liability coverage and $25,000 of property damage liability coverage. Many drivers choose to exceed these limits for added protection. Farmers offers liability coverage for drivers in all 50 states.

Collision Coverage: Collision coverage is part of a full coverage car insurance policy. It covers the cost of repairing your own vehicle after a collision.

Comprehensive Coverage: Comprehensive coverage also protects your own vehicle, but it covers things like house fires, vandalism, and theft. Farmers offers comprehensive coverage to policyholders across the country.

Personal Injury Protection: Some states require drivers to carry personal injury protection or medical payments coverage. These coverages cover medical bills, ambulance costs, and similar expenses after an accident. Other states require insurers to offer these coverages as an option. Farmers offers personal injury protection (PIP) coverage and medical payments coverage in select states.

Rideshare Insurance: Farmers offers a specific coverage option for rideshare drivers. You can add this coverage to your policy for a few extra dollars per month. The policy is specifically designed to cover the gaps left by Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare companies. If you are driving for a rideshare company, then your personal insurance policy will not cover you in all situations, nor will Uber’s commercial policy. That’s why most rideshare drivers carry insurance to fill in the gaps.

Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Millions of drivers in America have no insurance. Millions more are underinsured, carrying too little coverage. Farmers offers uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage in all states, allowing drivers to buy added protection for peace of mind.

Rental Car Reimbursement Coverage: Farmers offers rental car reimbursement coverage to compensate you for the cost of renting a vehicle if your ordinary car was damaged in a covered accident. Rental car reimbursement covers the cost of renting a car for up to 30 days while your car is repaired. Farmers can also handle the rental car arrangements and billing in this situation.

Towing and Roadside Service: Farmers offers 24/7 roadside assistance if your car is disabled. For a few extra dollars per month, you can get help paying for towing, tire changing, locksmith services, and jumpstarts, among other roadside situations.

Loss of Use Coverage: Farmers provides you with a flat sum of compensation for transportation while your car is being repaired. If your car was damaged in a covered event, then Farmers can compensate you for public transit, car rentals, taxis, and rideshare services. You have lost the use of your vehicle, so Farmers’ loss of use coverage covers you.

Guaranteed Value Coverage: Some drivers prefer guaranteed value plans, where the insurer guarantees to cover a specific, agreed-upon value for a vehicle. Farmers offers guaranteed value plans and agreed-value plans. This coverage is popular for owners of classic cars and collector cars.

Customized Equipment Coverage: Farmers offers customized equipment coverage, which covers the cost of repairing or replacing permanent additions to your vehicle. If you added aftermarket parts, wheels, stereo systems, and more to your vehicle, then you can buy customized equipment coverage through Farmers to cover these parts.

Personal Umbrella Insurance: Umbrella insurance provides additional liability coverage above and beyond the limits of your auto insurance policy. If you have assets worth seizing, then umbrella insurance can protect these assets from lawsuits.

Rental Car Coverage: If you have a standard automobile insurance policy with Farmers, your Farmers policy should extend to any cars you rent.

Glass Deductible Buyback Coverage: Farmers’ glass deductible buyback coverage covers windshield and glass repairs and replacements with a low ($100) deductible. You pay the $100 deductible yourself and Farmers covers the remaining portion.

Full Windshield and Glass Coverage: Farmers offers a $0 deductible on glass repairs and replacements through its full windshield and glass coverage. If you opt for this add-on, then you pay nothing out of pocket when repairing the windshield and glass on your vehicle.

Spare Parts Coverage: Farmers’ spare parts coverage covers the cost to replace spare parts you keep on hand, up to $750. This coverage is popular with owners of classic cars and collector cars.

Original Equipment Manufacturer Coverage: If you opt for original equipment manufacturer (OEM) coverage, then Farmers covers the cost of using factory-original parts in covered repairs. This coverage is available on cars up to 10 years old.

New Car Replacement Coverage: Some insurers offer new car replacement coverage, while others do not. With Farmers’ new car replacement coverage, the company will replace your car with a new one of the same make and model. This coverage is available when your car is totaled within the first two model years and 24,000 miles.

Accident Forgiveness: Farmers will forgive one at-fault accident for every three years you drive accident-free. Under this accident forgiveness program, your premiums will not increase after a single accident.

Classic Car and Collector Car Insurance Coverage: Farmers offers insurance for classic cars and collector cars. The company’s classic car insurance can cover rare replacement parts, cars used in car shows, cars that travel around the world for expositions, and other unique situations. Farmers also offers agreed-value coverage and similar coverage options.

RV and Motorhome Insurance: Farmers offers insurance for RVs, motorhomes, travel trailers, fifth wheels, and similar vehicles. Farmers’ recreational vehicle insurance covers direct and accidental physical damage to a motor home and any permanently-installed accessories.

Alternative Vehicle Insurance: Farmers offers a full range of insurance products and services, including boat and watercraft coverage, ATV and off-road vehicle insurance, and more.

Non-Owner Coverage: If you do not own a car, but you still drive occasionally, you might consider non-owner insurance from Farmers to make sure you are covered when you are behind the wheel. Non-owner coverage is great for people who frequently rent cars or borrow their friends’ cars.

SR-22/FR-44 Coverage: Farmers sells SR-22 coverage in most states. An SR-22 form is a proof of financial responsibility document that ensures you have adequate insurance coverage. SR-22s/FR-44s are often required for drivers with high-risk driving history.

Rebuilt Title Insurance: Farmers offers full coverage insurance for cars with salvage or rebuilt titles. Other insurers usually only offer liability coverage for cars with rebuilt titles.

What Makes Farmers’ Auto Insurance Unique?

Farmers has several features that make it unique, including policies, programs, and discounts that differentiate the company from competitors.

Signal: Farmers Signal is a telematics driver tracking program. You receive a 5% discount for signing up for Signal, then get further discounts based on your driving habits. Signal tracks your driving habits, then awards discounts based on those habits. Drivers with low mileage, low-risk driving habits, and other advantages will pay less for car insurance.

Unique Coverage Options: Farmers offers unique coverage options we don’t see with other providers, including loss of use coverage, customized equipment coverage, and rideshare coverage, among other policy options.

Extensive Range of Insurance and Financial Products: Farmers is the fifth largest home insurance company in the United States and the seventh-largest auto insurance company. Like other large providers, Farmers offers an extensive range of insurance products and financial services. Whether looking for retirement planning, life insurance, home insurance, or other unique services, you can keep it within one company by working with Farmers.

Accident Forgiveness: Farmers offers one of the most generous accident forgiveness policies in the industry. Farmers will forgive one accident for every three years you go accident-free. For most drivers, that means a single accident will not raise insurance rates.

No Gap Insurance: Some of America’s largest insurers offer gap coverage, while others do not. Farmers does not offer gap insurance in any state. Gap coverage covers the difference between the amount remaining on your lease or loan and the actual cash value of your vehicle.

How Much Are Farmers’ Insurance Rates?

Farmers offers similar car insurance premiums to other major insurance companies in the United States. The company isn’t as cheap as famously affordable options like GEICO, USAA, and State Farm. It’s also not as expensive as some of its larger competitors. Overall, Farmers offers mid-range pricing in most states.

According to quotes provided to our average driver profiles, the average Farmers policyholder pays around $1,395 per year for full coverage car insurance, which is around $50 less than the nationwide average of $1,450 per year.

Rates vary widely across the country. Farmers does not cater to any specific group or region. However, the company’s rates vary based on your ZIP code, state insurance laws, demographics, driving history, and other factors.

Farmers’ Auto Insurance Discounts

Farmers makes it easy for drivers to save money on car insurance. The company offers dozens of discounts, including:

Signal: Signal is Farmers’ driver tracking program. You download the Signal app, then start driving to save money. Signal tracks your driving habits, then charges customized rates based on your recorded driving habits. Farmers gives you a 5% discount for signing up for Signal, with further discounts of 10% to 15% available each renewal. Drivers who keep their focused driving score at 80% or better are also eligible to win up to $100 in rewards each month.

Multiline Discount: Policyholders who buy multiple insurance products and services with Farmers will save money. You qualify for the multiline discount if you combine your Farmers policy with at least one other qualifying Farmers policy, including home, life, umbrella, small business, and specialty insurance coverage.

Affinity Discount: Drivers qualify for an affinity discount if they are a member, employee, or retiree of certain businesses, occupational groups, or professional associations. Farmers partners with groups across the country to offer this affinity discount.

Military Discount: Farmers extends its affinity discount to military personnel. Customers who are active duty, active reserves, retired, and honorably discharged military veterans will qualify for a military-based affinity discount.

ePolicy Discount: Policyholders who enrol in the ePolicy program and accept Farmers’ Go Paperless terms and conditions will qualify for an additional discount.

Good Payer: Available in all states except California, Farmers’ Good Payer discount is available to customers with no billing late fees assessed within the previous 12 months prior to the renewal processing date.

Safe Driver Discount: If you have zero BI Points as assessed by Farmers, then you qualify for the company’s safe driver discount.

Distant Student Discount: Farmers provides a distant student discount to policyholders who have a child on their policy going to school at least 100 miles away without regular access to covered cars.

Youthful Driver: Drivers in your household under 25 who are a child or grandchild of the primary named insured could qualify for a youthful driver discount. Your policy must be in force for at least 12 months to qualify for this discount.

Good Student Discount: Farmers offers a good student discount to drivers with a GPA of 3.0 or better. This discount also applies to students who are on the Dean’s List, on the Honor Roll, in the top 20% on standardized testing, or in the top 20% of their class.

Shared Family Car Discount: This discount applies to all vehicles on the policy when there is a single driver up to age 20 in the household and there are more active drivers than vehicles in the household (i.e. if you share a car with multiple family members). The discount is not available in California. The discount does not apply to vehicles defined as storage-use.

On Your Own Discount: You qualify for the On Your Own discount if you move away from home while being a covered Farmers member. If you are under 29 and listed on your parent’s car insurance policy with Farmers, for example, and then move away from your home, then you could qualify for Farmers’ On Your Own discount.

Mature Driver, Defensive Driver, and Senior Driver Discount: Known under various names in each state, the mature driver, defensive driver, or senior driver discount is available to drivers over 55 who have completed state-approved driver training in the last three years.  The discount is not available in all states.

Homeowner Discount: Drivers who own their own home qualify for an additional discount with Farmers, regardless of who insures the home.

Alternative Fuel Discount: Available exclusively in California, the alternative fuel discount applies to vehicles powered by anything other than gasoline, including hybrid, electric, natural gas, and propane vehicles.

EFT Discount: Policyholders who make automatic monthly payments through Farmers.com will qualify for an additional EFT discount.

Pay in Full Discount: Drivers who pay their car insurance premium in full upfront at the start of the policy can qualify for an additional pay in full discount.

Antilock Brake Discount: Antilock brakes have been standard features on vehicles for decades. Farmers offers antilock brake discounts in some states. Your antilock brakes must be factory installed, not aftermarket, to qualify for this discount.

Anti-Theft Discount: If your vehicle has passive or active anti-theft devices, then you might qualify for Farmers’ anti-theft discount. This discount is not offered in all states.

Daytime Running Lights Discount: Vehicles with daytime running lights (headlights that remain on during operation, regardless of the time of day) qualify for an additional insurance discount in some states.

Passive Restraint Discount: Passive restraints include airbags and automatic seatbelts. Farmers offers a passive restraint discount in some states.

Homing Device: If your vehicle has a homing device that can track and locate the car if stolen, then you can qualify for an additional homing device discount. This system must be approved by Farmers to qualify for the discount.

VIN Etching Discount: Drivers who etch their VIN onto the glass or other area of their vehicle qualify for an additional VIN etching discount. This discount is not available in all states.

Pros and Cons of Farmers

Farmers is one of the top ten largest insurance companies in the United States. Like other large insurance companies, Farmers has good and bad reviews. Some customers have an excellent experience with Farmers, while others are dissatisfied. Overall, Farmers has average ratings for customer service, claims satisfaction, and overall customer experience.

Pros and cons of buying car insurance with Farmers include:

Pros

• Wide range of auto insurance discounts
• Extensive selection of auto, home, and life insurance products, financial services, and more
• Policies for all types and styles of vehicles
• Strong J.D. Power ratings
• Good mobile app and website

Cons

• No gap insurance
• High number of customer complaints
• Average ratings for customer satisfaction
• Six-month policies

Frequently Asked Questions About Farmers Auto Insurance

Farmers Reviews: What Do Customers Have to Say?

Farmers has strong reviews from some industry ratings organizations and average reviews from other organizations.

A.M. Best has awarded Farmers a financial strength rating of A (Excellent), indicating that the company should have little issue covering its financial liabilities and claims in the near future. That rating sounds good – and it is. However, many of Farmers’ larger competitors have financial strength ratings of A+ (Superior) or A++ (Superior), the two highest possible ratings from A.M. Best.

In the 2020 auto insurance claims satisfaction study, J.D. Power frequently ranked Farmers below average. Farmers scored lower than competing car insurance companies in multiple categories. In California, for example, Farmers scored 801 on a 1,000 point scale, lower than the regional average of 821. Farmers also scored below-average in the Central (821 points out of 1,000), Mid-Atlantic (826), and Northwest (810) subregions. However, Farmers scored slightly above average in the North Central region (831 points out of 1,000, 1 point higher than the regional average of 830).

Farmers has an average rating of 1.44 stars out of 5 from the Better Business Bureau with 620+ complaints closed in the last three years. The company also has an A- rating with the BBB. Most insurance companies have bad scores from the BBB, as policyholders rarely take the time to rate their insurance company unless dissatisfied with service.

Customers give average scores to Farmers on review websites. Clearsurance has an average rating of 4 stars out of 5 for Farmers based on 2,900+ reviews, for example. Review aggregator website WalletHub, meanwhile, has an average rating of 3.5 stars out of 5 based on 440+ reviews.

Final Word on Farmers

As one of the top ten largest insurance companies in the United States, Farmers offers similar service to its larger competitors. The company has average ratings for claims satisfaction and customer service, although Farmers offers an extensive range of insurance products and services to suit all types of unique needs.

Founded in 1928, the Los Angeles-headquartered company has nearly a century of experience insuring drivers, homeowners, and businesses across the country. Request a quote from Farmers today to see how they compete in your subregion.

Farmers Contact Information
Website	https://www.farmers.com/
Customer Service Phone Number	1-888-327-6335
Claims Phone Number	1-800-435-7764
States Served	All 50 States