State Farm Insurance 2024 Review

State Farm is an insurance company that offers both personal and business lines of insurance coverage.

You might be familiar with some of their iconic ads featuring "Jake from State Farm" or Cheryl and her famous "she-shed." However, State Farm is more than just witty commercials.

The company has been the nation's top auto insurer since the 1940s.

If you'd like to know more about State Farm's insurance coverage, pricing, and industry standing, here's more information that might help.

State Farm Background

Retired farmer and insurance salesman George Jacob "G.J." Mecherle founded State Farm in 1922 based on the vision of operating fairly and doing the right thing for customers.

State Farm began insuring automobiles exclusively and now offers about 100 products and services across five business lines.

The company processes almost 36,000 claims daily and has a nationwide network of nearly 19,000 agents.

Industry ratings

As the nation's largest auto insurer, State Farm ranks #36 on the Fortune 500 list. The Illinois-based insurer is consistently rated A++ by A.M. Best for superior financial condition and operational performance. The company also has an A.A. rating from S&P Global Ratings.

State Farms is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), but they have a profile page on the BBB site. According to their BBB profile page, State Farm has 1,356 complaints closed in the last three years, and 450 complaints in the previous 12 months.

Customer service

State Farm's customer service can be handled online, with a local agent, or by calling the 24/7 customer service line. State Farm has a robust, comprehensive smartphone app to handle claims processing and other customer service functions.

Here are some things you can do using the State Farm app:

• File and manage claims
• Get access to I.D. cards
• Request roadside assistance
• Upload photos and documents securely
• Connect with your agent

State Farms rates and pricing

You can save the most money with State Farm by bundling two or more policies and taking advantage of other discounts State Farms offers to its clients.

According to a 2020 national survey of new policyholders by State Farm, average annual savings were $965 when changing multiple policies to State Farm.

State Farm Auto Insurance Overview

As the nation's top auto insurer, State Farm has a standard slate of offerings that vary according to your state and region. Here are some highlights of their auto coverage options:

Collision coverage

Whether your vehicle hits another object, is overturned in an accident, or collides with another car, collision insurance covers you.

Also, your collision coverage extends beyond your vehicle and could include:

• Temporary substitute cars
• Newly-acquired cars
• Cars you're using but aren't owned by anyone in your household

You should also be aware of what State Farm's collision coverage doesn't cover:

• Theft
• Falling or flying objects
• Flood
• Hail
• Fire
• Hitting or being hit by an animal
• Natural disasters
• Storms
• Vandalism

State Farm's website indicates that you can insure against these perils by purchasing comprehensive coverage (explained below.)

Comprehensive coverage

Comprehensive coverage is for events that may not be related to a collision or auto accident.

Here are examples of covered incidents:

• Car theft and damage from theft
• Fires and explosions
• Weather conditions such as wind damage from hurricanes
• Violence from civil unrest or riots
• Hitting or being hit by an animal

You might consider this type of coverage if you have a high-value vehicle and live in an area where you could be prone to theft, severe weather, or other incidents outlined above.

Liability coverage

If you're at fault in an auto accident, this coverage helps pay for the costs of the other driver's property and medical injuries.

This insurance pays for the property damage and injuries to others up to the covered limit.

Liability coverage also pays for your defense and court costs if you are sued in court related to an auto accident.

The main two types of liability coverage on your auto insurance policy are bodily injury (B.I.) and property damage liability coverage (P.D.) Here are examples of expenses State Farm's liability could cover:

• Medical expenses (B.I.)
• Pain and suffering (B.I.)
• Lost wages (B.I.)
• Vehicle repair (P.D.)
• Removal or repair to a structure you hit and damage (P.D.)

Car rental and travel expenses coverage

This coverage reimburses the cost of renting a car while yours is being repaired due to being damaged by a covered incident. If you're in an accident over 50 miles from home, travel expense coverage helps pay for meals, lodging, and transportation.

Medical payments coverage

You can add this coverage to either your homeowners or auto insurance policy.

It can cover medical and funeral expenses for people injured or killed in an auto accident, no matter who's at fault. It also covers you if you are hurt in a car accident while riding in someone else's vehicle, using public transportation, or walking across the street.

Uninsured/underinsured motor vehicle coverage

If you are in an accident with an at-fault driver who has little to no liability coverage, this coverage helps pay for:

• Lost wages
• Medical expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Related damages to your car (if applicable in your state)

Emergency road service coverage

Emergency road services offered through State Farm include labor, towing, delivery of items that make your car operational, like gas or tire change, and lockout services.

These services have some limitations, so you should speak to your State Farm agent to know exactly what is and what is not covered.

Ridesharing coverage

If you use your vehicle to earn money through Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) like Uber or Lyft, this coverage can supplement any insurance a TNC may provide.

This coverage may bridge the gap between additional insurance needs and the standard TNC auto insurance coverage options.

State Farm auto insurance discounts

State Farm offers several discounts for its auto insurance customers. Here are some ways to lower the cost of insuring your vehicle with State Farm:

• Safe driver discounts
• Accident-free discount
• Defensive driving course discount
• Good student discount
• Good driving discount
• Driver training discount
• Student away at school discount
• Safe vehicle discounts
• Vehicle safety discount (for cars made after 1994)
• Passive restraint discount (airbags, etc.)
• Anti-theft device discount
• Discounts for loyal customers
• Multiple auto discount (two or more cars insured)
• Multiple line discount (multiple policies)

State Farm Homeowners Insurance Overview

State Farm homeowners insurance has standard coverage you'd expect from a national insurance carrier.

Covered perils include damage from fire, wind, hail, theft, and water damage. Flood and earthquake coverage is not included in a standard homeowners policy and must be purchased separately.

Here's what State Farm's homeowners policy provides for standard homeowners coverage:

Property damage & dwelling

This coverage ensures your dwelling, permanent structures on your property, and personal belongings. Covered property could include items like furniture, appliances, and clothing.

It could also protect items and events such as:

• Keepsakes
• Items related to hobbies, like cameras and musical instruments
• Home and garden: Appliances, furniture, clothing, electronics, lawn decorations, swing sets, tools
• Damages resulting from fire, theft, or vandalism
• Other causes: abrupt and accidental discharge of water from a plumbing system, tearing/bulging of heating or cooling systems, artificially generated electrical current

You may add the following coverages to your State Farm homeowner's policy for an additional charge:

• Personal liability
• Business and professional liability
• Pet medical insurance

Note: State Farm ceased insurance sales for personal and business property and casualty coverage in California as of May 27, 2023 (due to the increased risk of wildfires).

State Farm homeowner's insurance discounts

• Multi-policy discount
• Home security: fire, smoke, or burglar alarms or any other home monitoring system
• Roof settlement: settlement for the roof on a replacement cost basis.

State Farm Life Insurance Overview

State Farm offers three main types of life insurance: term, whole life, and universal life.

Term life insurance

State Farm's term life insurance is ideal for people who'd like the most coverage with affordable monthly premiums. There are three options for State Farm's term insurance products:

• Select Term: Available for 10, 20, or 30 years. Renewable to age 95.
• Return of Premium Term: Premiums are returned if the insured outlives the initial term. Available for 20 or 30 years. Renewable to age 95.
• Instant Answer Term: Ideal for protecting goals like paying off a loan or covering final expenses. This policy offers quick approval without tests for qualified applicants.

Whole life insurance

State Farm's whole life insurance product is a permanent life insurance policy with a consistent premium accumulating a cash value that can grow tax-deferred.

Some premiums may be invested to provide additional cash value to policyholders or reduce their premiums. Policyholders can also borrow against the cash value as needed.

Here are some whole life insurance products State Farm offers.

Limited Pay Life Insurance

Available for 10, 15, or 20-year terms, Limited Pay allows policyholders to get a headstart on paying their insurance premiums earlier in life.

The goal is to pre-pay this life insurance policy to avoid paying premiums later in life, like retirement, when income might be reduced.

Single Premium Life Insurance

One single payment for this insurance will cover you for life. The minimum face amount is $15,000.

Final expenses

This policy, also known as a burial policy, can cover various final expenses. The death benefit is guaranteed as long as premiums are paid as required.

Universal life

Universal life insurance is very similar to whole life insurance.

The main difference is that universal life insurance premiums and death benefits are flexible and can fluctuate while the policy is active. State Farm offers a couple of options for their universal life policies:

• Universal Life: Flexibility to change coverage amounts and premiums
• Survivorship Universal Life Insurance: Covers two people; the death benefit is paid when the last person insured under the policy dies.
• Joint Universal Life Insurance: Covers two people. The death benefit is paid upon the first death of the insured.

Pros

• Largest auto insurer in the United States
• Over 19,000 State Farm agents nationwide for high-touch customer service needs
• Ridesharing insurance

Cons

• There is little public information about homeowners' offerings; more information may require agent interaction.
• There is a somewhat high number of complaints on their BBB profile page.

Bottom line

If you are considering State Farm for your insurance needs, it's good to know that their pricing and offerings are on par with other similar national insurance carriers.

If you like a more personal, high-touch approach to your insurance needs and customer service, State Farm's national network of agents may appeal to you as a customer.

It's also an ideal option for those who bundle two or more policy types to save money.