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State Farm is the largest insurer of auto, homeowners and property and casualty insurance products in the U.S., according to the Insurance Information Institute.
In addition to insurance policies, the company also offers banking and investment services. If you're looking for a new insurance provider or are curious about its other services, here's what you need to know about State Farm.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Long list of insurance products, plus banking and investments | Customer satisfaction ratings are mixed |
| Several discounts and programs to help you save | |
| Large network of local insurance agents |
| State Farm Customer Service 800-732-5246 |
Experian Review
State Farm offers insurance in all 50 states as well as Washington, D.C. In many states, you'll find plenty of local agents who can help you with your policy. The company offers products that cover your vehicles, residence, personal belongings, life, business and more.
State Farm offers a long list of discounts and also runs some programs to help you save based on your driving habits—there's even a driving safety program for young drivers that can help you save.
However, customer satisfaction ratings are mixed, depending on where you live. According to J.D. Power, the insurer was ranked No. 1 in customer satisfaction in the mid-Atlantic and New York regions, and highly in several other regions, but had a ranking that left much to be desired in some places.
Here are all the products and features you can expect from a State Farm insurance policy.
What State Farm Auto Insurance Offers
You can get several different types of coverage for your car through State Farm, including some valuable protection if you get in an accident, and you're far from home.
Choosing the right types and amount of coverage can be challenging. While getting more protection is ideal, it's also important to consider your budget and how much you can afford with the policy's premiums and deductibles.
As you go through the process of getting a quote, consider your financial situation to determine what's best for you. Think about what you can afford to pay now to purchase the policy, but also about what would happen if you're involved in an accident and need to file a claim. You can also speak with a State Farm agent, who can tailor a policy specifically for your needs and budget.
Here are the different auto insurance coverage options available through State Farm.
Liability Coverages
If you get in an accident and you're determined to be at fault, liability coverage will pay for the other party's medical expenses, vehicle repairs and property damage. Most states require at least some liability insurance, but you may want to purchase more than the minimum to increase the chances that you won't have to pay anything out of pocket.
Vehicle Coverages
Collision coverage will cover the cost to repair your car if it collides with another vehicle or object. Comprehensive coverage will pay for repairs associated with other things, including vandalism, fire, theft, collisions with animals and more.
Neither of these coverages is required by law, but may be required if you're leasing or financing your vehicle. The amount of coverage is based on the value of your vehicle, but you can choose how much of a deductible you pay when you file a claim—the higher the deductible, the lower your premium.
Medical Coverage
Depending on where you live, your policy may include medical payments coverage, personal injury protection (PIP) or both. The former covers the costs of medical or funeral expenses if you get in an accident—it doesn't matter who's responsible—while the latter may cover medical bills and funeral expenses, plus rehabilitation, lost earnings and child care expenses.
While some states have requirements when it comes to medical coverage, others may give you the option to include it in your policy or leave it out.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Although liability insurance is required in most states, some people still drive without coverage or don't carry enough. If you get in an accident where the other person is at fault, and they're either uninsured or underinsured, this coverage helps protect you.
Other Optional Coverages
In addition to many of the standard coverage options you can expect from most auto insurance policies, State Farm also offers some other protections that you can add onto your policy:
- Car rental and travel expenses coverage: If you get in a covered accident, State Farm will pay the cost of renting a car while yours gets repaired. Also, if you're more than 50 miles from home when the accident occurs, you'll also get help paying for lodging, meals and transportation.
- Emergency road service coverage: If your car is having trouble on the road, State Farm can help. This feature includes mechanical labor, towing, fuel and oil delivery, tire changes, jump-starts and locksmith labor.
- Rideshare driver coverage: If you drive for a rideshare company like Lyft or Uber, your personal policy and even the insurance provided by the ridesharing company may not provide full protection. This additional coverage helps add some more certainty to your coverage needs.
State Farm also offers insurance policies for antique and classic cars, commercial vehicles and sports cars.
Other Vehicle Policies
In addition to car insurance, State Farm also offers insurance products for a handful of other vehicle types, including:
- Motorcycles
- Boats
- Off-road vehicles
- Motorhomes
State Farm Discounts to Help You Save
Insurance companies often provide various discounts to incentivize consumers to sign up and also to provide some savings for customers who pose less of a coverage risk than others.
As a result, it's important to understand which discounts are available to you so you can maximize your savings. It's also important to take your time to shop around and compare rates from multiple insurers and look for other ways to save on car insurance.
Here are some State Farm discounts you may qualify for based on your vehicle, driving habits and loyalty:
- Multiple auto discount: Insure two or more vehicles in the same household, and you could get up to 20% off.
- Multiple line discount: Bundle your car insurance policy with homeowners, renters, condo or life insurance, and you can save up to 17%.
- Vehicle safety discounts: You can get discounts on medical coverage if your vehicle was made in 1994 or later, and also if it has factory-installed airbags or another passive restraint system. There's also a discount for vehicles with anti-theft devices.
- Accident-free discount: You can save if you haven't been involved in any accidents in the past three years.
- Good driving discount: This discount applies if you've had no at-fault accidents and no moving violations in the last three years.
- Defensive driving course discount: In some states, you may be able to take a defensive driving course and qualify for savings.
- Student discounts: Savings of up to 25% are available if you're a student with good grades. You may also get a discount if one of the drivers of your vehicle is a student who is away at school and only drives when they're home.
- Driver training discount: You can get this discount if all of the drivers on your policy under 21 take an approved driver education course.
State Farm also offers two programs—Drive Safe & Save and Steer Clear—that can help you save money on your policy, but we'll cover those in a minute.
One thing to keep in mind, though, is that not all discounts are available in all states. Speak with a State Farm agent to get more information about savings opportunities where you live.
How to Get a Quote From State Farm
You can request an auto insurance quote from State Farm online, over the phone or in person with one of the insurance company's local agents. The insurer's website can help you find agents in your area.
According to J.D. Power, State Farm ranks No. 3 among large insurers for its purchase experience, behind Geico and Nationwide.
If you want to request a quote online, the process takes roughly 10 minutes. You'll need to provide information about everyone on the policy and all covered vehicles:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Address
- Desired policy start date
- Vehicle year, make and model
- Whether the vehicle is financed
- Primary vehicle use and yearly mileage
- When you first received your driver's license
- Residence status
- Driving history (accidents, moving violations and license suspensions)
- Contact information
Once you submit your request, you'll get a few quotes with the option to customize them based on your coverage needs. You'll also get the contact information for a State Farm agent in your area.
If you choose to move forward and sign up for the policy, you'll need to share your driver's license number and confirm other details about yourself and your vehicle. With this information, State Farm will give you a final quote.
Getting an Auto Insurance Quote Won't Affect Your Credit
When you apply for car insurance, the insurance company will typically run a credit check to help determine your rate. This inquiry is a soft inquiry, which won't impact your credit scores.
In many states, insurers use your credit report to create a credit-based insurance score. While this can help determine your rate, it's typically not used as the sole reason for denying a policy or charging a higher rate. Credit-based insurance scores are not allowed in California, Hawaii and Massachusetts; in Michigan, the use of credit scores to determine rates is prohibited.
State Farm's Auto Insurance Claim Process
In the 2019 J.D. Power Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, State Farm ranks fifth among national car insurers, with an above-average rating.
If you need to file a claim, you can do so by calling your agent or the State Farm claims center, logging into your online account or opening your State Farm mobile app. You'll provide information about the incident, such as the date and a brief description of what happened. If you call to file, you may also need to provide your policy number.
Once you've submitted your claim, State Farm will review it to determine if the incident is covered and assess the damage. A representative may call you if they need additional information about what happened.
You'll then get information about an estimate and repair options and get set up with a rental car—remember, State Farm will cover that cost if you've purchased the rental car coverage.
Finally, if you're due any payments, they'll be provided directly to the repair shop or to you via your bank account or a paper check.
Multiple Mobile Apps Available
State Farm offers three distinct mobile apps to consumers. Depending on your situation, you may only need one. But it's possible to need all three, depending on which programs you're enrolled in.
State Farm Mobile App
The State Farm mobile app is the main app and allows you to manage your insurance policies and bank accounts, access your ID cards, connect with your agent, request roadside assistance, file a claim and more. You can get the app for Android and iOS.
Drive Safe & Save App
If you've signed up for the Drive Safe & Save program, you'll need to download its accompanying app, which is available in Google Play and Apple App Store.
With this program, you'll get a Bluetooth beacon, which connects to your phone and keeps track of your driving. The app provides feedback on your driving habits, such as quick acceleration, hard braking, speeding and more.
What's more, you could save up to 30% on your policy if you regularly practice safe driving habits, such as driving less, driving slower, avoiding night driving, limiting excessive speed and hard stops, and more.
Steer Clear
The Steer Clear program is another discount program for young drivers, and it comes with its own app, available for Android and iOS.
The program includes five training modules, mentoring from a family member and driving practice. To qualify for the Steer Clear discount, which can be as much as 15%, you must:
- Be under age 25
- Have a valid driver's license
- Have no at-fault accidents or moving violations in the past three years
- Complete all of the program's requirements
Homeowners and Life Insurance Coverage From State Farm
State Farm also offers homeowners insurance and life insurance policies to its customers. If you bundle one of these with an auto policy, you could qualify for a discount.
State Farm's homeowners insurance policy can protect your home against various perils, including fire, theft, vandalism and more.
The insurer's life insurance options include term, whole life and universal life. Each of these functions differently in terms of how long you're protected, how much they cost and how much flexibility you have with premiums. In most cases, term life insurance is the best option, but take time to consult with an agent to understand each one and pick the best policy for you.
Additional Insurance Coverage
As one of the largest insurance companies in the U.S., State Farm offers a lot more than just auto, homeowners and life insurance. Here are some other insurance products you can get through the insurer:
- Renters insurance
- Rental property insurance
- Condominium insurance
- Personal articles insurance
- Manufactured home insurance
- Farm and ranch insurance
- Supplemental health insurance
- Medicare supplement insurance
- Individual medical insurance
- Short- and long-term disability insurance
- Individual credit insurance
- Small business insurance
- Personal liability insurance
- Business and professional liability insurance
- Identity restoration insurance
- Pet medical insurance
Is State Farm Insurance Right for You?
State Farm offers a wide range of insurance products, as well as some other financial services to add more value to its customers. Also, the insurer's rental car and travel expense coverage provides some significant value if you regularly travel by car, and discounts are plentiful.
However, there are some other insurance companies that provide types of coverage that State Farm doesn't. Also, customers in some regions have had subpar experiences with the insurer.
As a result, it's important to take your time to research and compare multiple insurance companies before you buy a policy. This process can help you not only save money but also find the right policy for your needs.
Insurance coverage availability, discounts, limits and other details may vary by state and other factors.