The biggest car insurance company in the nation, State Farm insures more drivers in the United States than any other provider. In this article, we'll dive into State Farm insurance reviews, coverage options, and discounts to see if the company is the right fit for your car and budget. Then, we'll compare State Farm to some of the other leading providers that made it onto our list of the best car insurance companies.
Use the tool above to collect and compare car insurance quotes from providers available in your state.
In this article:
- State Farm Highlights
- State Farm Auto Insurance Coverage
- State Farm Auto Insurance Costs And Discounts
- State Farm Auto Insurance Reviews And Ratings
- State Farm Apps And Technology
- Our Take On State Farm: 4.5 Stars
- Other Recommended Auto Insurance Providers
- FAQ About State Farm Auto Insurance
State Farm Highlights
Company Name: State Farm Insurance Company
Headquarters: Bloomington, IL
Founded: 1922
Availability: Nationwide, though the company is no longer accepting new auto customers in Massachusetts or Rhode Island
Policies And Accounts: Over 83 million
Market Share: 16 percent in 2019 according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC)
AM Best Financial Strength Rating: A++ (Superior)
Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating: A+
State Farm Auto Insurance Coverage
With State Farm car insurance, you can get all the standard types of car insurance offered by most companies:
- Liability auto insurance (BI/PD)
- Collision insurance
- Comprehensive car insurance
- Medical payments (MedPay)
- Personal injury protection (PIP)
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM)
It should be noted that BI/PD is required by almost all states. Some states also require medical coverage or UM/UIM. All no-fault states require PIP since it covers the driver no matter who is at fault.
Car Insurance Extras
You can get a number of add-ons with State Farm, which is one reason why State Farm insurance reviews so well.
- Rental and travel expense coverage: With Car Rental Expense, State Farm will cover a rental car while your car is being repaired after a covered claim (up to the limits you choose). With Travel Expenses, State Farm will pay for meals, lodging, and transportation (up to $500) if you get in an accident more than 50 miles from home and can’t get home. It also covers a return trip to pick up your car. Finally, State Farm auto insurance can pay up to $500 toward a deductible after having an accident in a rental car.
- Rideshare coverage: If you drive for Uber or Lyft, you should add this option to your policy. That’s because a standard auto insurance policy doesn’t cover commercial use of your vehicle. You are usually covered by the rideshare company when you are driving to pick up a person or drop them off, but you aren’t covered when you are waiting to accept a trip from the app.
- State Farm roadside assistance: State Farm offers emergency road service that includes one hour of labor at the breakdown site, towing to the nearest repair shop, fluid delivery, jump-starts, spare tire installation, and lockout services.
State Farm Auto Insurance Costs And Discounts
While it’s impossible to predict what you’ll see on a State Farm car insurance quote, you’ll generally find better-than-average car insurance rates from the company. Let's take a closer look.
State Farm Insurance Costs
On average, we found that State Farm is cheaper than many competitors. According to our estimates, good drivers can find full coverage policies for about $1,339. The estimates below apply to 35-year-old drivers with good credit and driving records.
| Car Insurance Provider | Average Annual Cost Estimate |
|---|---|
| USAA | $1,013 |
| Erie | $1,113 |
| Auto-Owners | $1,229 |
| State Farm | $1,339 |
| Geico | $1,352 |
| Progressive | $1,397 |
| Nationwide | $1,533 |
| Travelers | $1,617 |
| Farmers | $2,032 |
| The Hartford | $2,166 |
State Farm Insurance Costs By State
Of course, car insurance costs depend on a variety of factors. One of the biggest factors is the state in which you live. Below, you can see how State Farm car insurance estimates compare to each state's average. According to our estimates, State Farm insurance rates are usually cheaper than the state's average.
| State | State Farm Annual Cost Estimate | State Average Cost Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| $1,288 | $1,448 | |
| $1,076 | $1,287 | |
| $1,413 | $1,625 | |
| $1,108 | $1,449 | |
| $2,910 | $2,339 | |
| $1,238 | $1,672 | |
| Connecticut | $1,316 | $1,885 |
| $1,038 | $1,921 | |
| $1,498 | $1,787 | |
| $1,753 | $2,894 | |
| $1,523 | $1,548 | |
| $992 | $1,238 | |
| $761 | $1,089 | |
| $1,129 | $1,474 | |
| $878 | $1,087 | |
| $705 | $1,095 | |
| $1,119 | $1,364 | |
| $1,030 | $1,817 | |
| $2,051 | $3,828 | |
| $749 | $995 | |
| $1,608 | $1,941 | |
| Data not available | $2,568 | |
| $3,057 | $4,390 | |
| $1,198 | $1,487 | |
| $1,144 | $1,357 | |
| $2,049 | $1,741 | |
| Montana | $1,040 | $2,214 |
| $1,343 | $1,372 | |
| $1,533 | $2,332 | |
| $755 | $1,181 | |
| $1,887 | $2,108 | |
| $1,003 | $1,356 | |
| $3,374 | $3,964 | |
| $1,316 | $1,277 | |
| $1,013 | $1,310 | |
| $786 | $923 | |
| $1,062 | $1,630 | |
| Oregon | $911 | $1,284 |
| $1,426 | $1,405 | |
| $1,025 | $1,923 | |
| $1,305 | $1,592 | |
| $1,057 | $1,331 | |
| $796 | $1,217 | |
| $1,265 | $2,067 | |
| $1,406 | $1,446 | |
| $625 | $1,013 | |
| $965 | $1,079 | |
| $1,035 | $1,271 | |
| $969 | $1,390 | |
| $795 | $946 | |
| $1,320 | $1,499 |
Why Is State Farm So Cheap?
State Farm is the largest car insurance company in the market, and that means it has a huge variety of drivers who contribute to the insurance pool. This helps keep rates low for everyone. The company also offers a range of discounts that many drivers qualify for.
State Farm Discounts
State Farm-insured drivers can get a number of insurance discounts. This is a huge draw for budget-conscious drivers according to State Farm reviews. State Farm offers three types of discounts – safe driving discounts, safe vehicle discounts, and loyalty discounts. These auto discounts can be broken down further into:
| State Farm Discount | Eligibility Details |
|---|---|
| Accident-Free | Save money by staying accident-free for three continuous years while being insured by State Farm. |
| Defensive Driving Course | Save 10% to 15% by taking an approved defensive driving course. |
| Good Student | Save up to 25% by maintaining a GPA of at least 3.0 or ranking in the top 20% of your class (only available to students). |
| Good Driving Discount | Save money by going three years or more without moving violations or at-fault accidents (only available to new customers). |
| Driver Training Discount | Save money by taking a driver training course (only available for drivers under the age of 21). |
| Student Away At School | Save money when a student on your policy, who is under 25 years, moves away to school and only uses the vehicle while at home for vacations or holidays. |
| Vehicle Safety | Save up to 40% on MedPay coverage if your car was made after 1994 (depending on the make and model). |
| Passive Restraint | Save up to 40% on MedPay coverage if your car was made after 1993 and has factory-installed airbags, seat belts, and other passive restraint systems. |
| Anti-Theft | Save money if your car is equipped with an alarm or other approved anti-theft device. |
| Multiple Auto | Save up to 20% if two or more cars in your household are insured by State Farm and owned by related individuals. |
| Multiple Line | Save up to 17% by bundling your car insurance with one of State Farm's other insurance products, such as life, renters, condo, or homeowners insurance. |
Accident forgiveness may be available for State Farm auto insurance customers who have been accident-free for nine years. However, you can’t purchase accident forgiveness for your State Farm auto insurance policy.
Using State Farm's usage-based insurance program Drive Safe & Save™ could save you up to 30 percent, and the Steer Clear® program makes State Farm a great option for students. Being a safe driver can help you avoid tickets, which is good because tickets raise your insurance premium.
State Farm Auto Insurance Reviews And Ratings
State Farm regularly ranks among the top car insurance companies in the nation. It has high ratings from experts, although customer ratings on sites like the BBB and Trustpilot are mixed.
According to J.D. Power’s 2019 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study℠, State Farm’s quotes and shopping experiences are about average. In our research, we found the online quotes process to be easy to navigate. The online quote system handles coverage for standard vehicles, but if you want insurance for a classic car or ATV, you’ll have to contact a State Farm agent instead.
Is State Farm Good At Paying Claims?
State Farm is generally good at paying claims. State Farm came in sixth place J.D. Power’s 2020 Auto Claims Satisfaction Study℠. The study found that people wait about 10 days on average for a claim to be resolved, but State Farm customers may experience a shorter insurance claims process according to positive State Farm insurance reviews.
Here are a few sample reviews for State Farm:
Positive State Farm Insurance Reviews
"I have been with this agent now for more than 20 years. I have never had an issue with anyone at this office and have stayed with them because of the wonderful customer service all of the staff at this location has provided me. I would refer anyone to them in a heartbeat. They have always been good for peace of mind and I have never worried about them not being there for me or my family. Kudos to an awesome agent and fantastic group of professionals."
- Mickey via BBB
"I had a flat tire [and] needed to be towed an hour away on a Sunday. I called my agent first thing Monday morning. Check in the mail to reimburse me on same day. Great customer service!"
- Jeri C. via BBB
Negative State Farm Insurance Reviews
"My family has been with State Farm for over 20 years and due to numerous issues we canceled our insurance and went with another company; however, State Farm made an auto withdraw from our account the next month and when we called to complain we were told it would take [three] months for a refund and we are still waiting for the refund and it has been [three] months... totally unacceptable!"
- Lisa S. via BBB
"Horrible company. We were with State Farm for [three] years paying $300+ per month for each car, got into an accident and they told us that my last month automatic payment didn't go through so they wouldn't cover the accident."
- Natalie K. via BBB
State Farm Apps And Technology
State Farm's main app has a 4.7-star rating on Google Play and 4.8 stars on the App Store. The provider's other apps – Drive Safe & Save and Steer Clear – have similar ratings from thousands of State Farm auto insurance reviews.
Drive Safe & Save App
Drive Safe & Save is State Farm’s usage-based insurance option. You can get a basic discount for having low annual mileage without the mobile app. You can also get the app and save more based on other data. Data collected includes:
- Acceleration
- Braking
- Cornering
- Speed
- Phone use
- Time of day
- Time traveled
The Drive Safe & Save program only results in a discount on your State Farm auto insurance – it won’t raise your rates. However, if you were already receiving a low-mileage discount and the data shows you no longer qualify, you can lose that discount.
Steer Clear App
State Farm also offers another app-based discount called Steer Clear. It’s available for drivers under the age of 25 who have clean 3-year driving records, which is one of the reasons State Farm insurance reviews among the top choices for students. This app is focused on driver education and involves the following:
- Course training: Drivers complete five training modules in the app, which include quizzes on videos and driving scenarios.
- Mentoring: Drivers’ friends and family can provide feedback and log progress in the app.
- Driving practice: Drivers need to complete at least five hours of driving over ten trips.
- Certification: Upon successful completion of the program, drivers get an in-app certification that can be sent to State Farm for a discount.
Our Take On State Farm: 4.5 Stars
We rated State Farm Insurance 4.5 out of 5.0 stars and named it the Best for Students in 2021. Its many discount opportunities, ability to quickly handle claims, positive State Farm auto insurance reviews and A++ rating from AM Best make it a great choice for most drivers.
| State Farm Pros | State Farm Cons |
|---|---|
| Largest auto insurer in the country | Not taking new customers in Massachusetts or Rhode Island |
| Many discounts for teens and students | Higher rates than some competitors |
| Superior financial strength rating and an A+ rating from the BBB |
|
| Available in 48 states |
|
Use our tool below or call (844) 246-8209 to start comparing free car insurance quotes:
Other Recommended Auto Insurance Providers
If you’re shopping for cheap car insurance, you don’t have to go with the first quote you get. It’s always a good idea to add others into the mix to see which company gives you the best value. In our review of the industry's best car insurance companies, a few others performed as well as State Farm or better in certain areas:
- USAA: This insurance provider offers the best prices and customer service for military members and their families. USAA was the only auto insurer to earn 5.0 out of 5.0 stars in our industry review. Learn more in our complete USAA auto insurance review.
- Geico: This insurance provider is one of the best options for car insurance overall (if you can’t get USAA). Our Geico auto insurance review found that many people find comprehensive coverage and cheap rates through the provider.
- Progressive: This insurance provider also offers competitive prices and a number of discounts – and it’s great for tech-savvy shoppers. Read our full Progressive auto insurance review or check out our Progressive vs. State Farm comparison to see how these two stand up to one another.
Methodology
In an effort to provide accurate and unbiased information to consumers, our expert review team collects data from dozens of auto insurance providers to formulate rankings of the best insurers. Companies receive a score in each of the following categories, as well as an overall weighted score out of 5.0 stars.
- Industry Standing: Insurers with strong financial ratings and customer-first business practices receive the highest scores in this category.
- Availability: We consider availability by state as well as exclusions for specific groups of drivers.
- Coverage: This rating is based on types of insurance available, maximum coverage limits, and add-on policies.
- Cost and Discounts: Our research team reviews sample quotes for a variety of drivers in every state. Companies with lower prices and many car insurance discount opportunities receive the best scores.
- Customer Service: We comb through customer reviews and consumer feedback studies from experts like J.D. Power.
- Technology: Auto insurers with mobile apps, advanced online services and telematics are more likely to meet consumer needs.
More On Insurance:
Read our other insurance articles:
- Assurance Auto Insurance Review
- GoAuto Insurance Review
- Southern Farm Bureau Car Insurance Review
- Penn National Auto Insurance Review
- Charter Oak Insurance Review
About this article