May 9

State Farm Auto Insurance Review: Compared To Geico & Progressive

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State Farm Auto Insurance Review

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quick highlights

They have a higher than average complaint ratio.

State Farm uses local agents to sell and service policies.

The company also offers homeowners, life insurance, and other financial services.

If you are tired of the impersonal online relationship with your auto insurance company, you may want to consider State Farm. 

State Farm Insurance uses local agents to create relationships with their customers. 

This business strategy has resulted in State Farm being one of the largest insurers in the country. 

This personal relationship comes at a cost with State Farm auto insurance costing quite a bit more than Geico and Progressive Car Insurance. 

How Does State Farm Auto Insurance Coverage Work?

State Farm’s auto insurance policy is similar to most others on the market today.  

They offer all the basic coverage and don’t have  hidden “small print” type problems to worry about.  

 They do have some unique features, such as a ride share coverage endorsement, but for the most part, State Farm is a “meat and potatoes” type insurance policy.  

Nothing fancy but it will probably get the job done.

State Farm is the largest auto insurance provider in the United States.

Everyone knows the “like a good neighbor” jingle.  Its a classic.  

State Farm opened its doors in 1922 as an auto insurance provider in Illinois.  Since then it has expanded its reach to offer insurance in all 50 states.  

They now also offer homeowners, renters and life insurance.

State Farm employs over 50,000 people and has great resources for their policyholders.

 They have agents across the country so that you can find a State Farm professional near your neighborhood. 

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Auto Insurance Program Details

One nice feature offered by State Farm is their use of local agents. They will show you the coverage plan and discounts that are right for your budget and needs.

Most of State Farm’s competitors, suchs as GEICO, have adopted a call center based service plan. 

This can be frustrating because you have no chance of ever developing a relationship with a call center employee.

Insurance, like most service based businesses, is all about relationship.  

So having a relationship with a local agent will help them to give you the right coverage.

The quoting process is similar to any other, you give them your info, they give you a quote in return.  

The signup process doesn’t take much effort.  They make it easy.

 State Farm requires information about your car, like the make, model, year, and mileage. 

They also need to learn a bit about your recent driving history. 

Some locations may even ask for your credit score.

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Insurance companies use “big data” to make decisions about how to price your insurance.  A high credit score indicates to them that you are less likely to cause an accident.

State Farm still offers insurance to people with a few red flags on their driving records.   But if you are too risky, they might just tell you to look elsewhere for insurance.

If you have quite a few tickets or accidents, you may need to get high-risk vehicle insurance.  State Farm is not known for offering high risk drivers great rates.  

If this is you, then plan on getting insurance elsewhere.  

Coverage Plans

State Farm uses its 100 years of industry experience and competitive pricing to offer you various coverage options.

 Some of the many auto insurance options include insurance protection for rental cars, sports cars, or teen drivers. 

There are many coverage plans to choose from, depending on your auto insurance needs. 

State Farm has a plan for everyone, so you find the right coverage quickly. Standard coverage plans include:
  • Liability insurance: Liability insurance pays another person’s medical expenses and vehicle repairs if you’re responsible for causing an accident. 
  • Collision Insurance: This coverage helps pay for repairs to your vehicle if you collide with another vehicle or object.  It only covers collisions! 
  • Rental Insurance: If you travel often, State Farm offers coverage for rental cars that exceed the competition. They cover the cost of a rental if your vehicle is in the shop.  They also pay for the cost of lodging, meals, and transportation if you’re stranded over 50 miles away from home.
  • Comprehensive Insurance:  Comprehensive helps pay to repair or replace your vehicle for all causes of loss, other than collision.  Examples include theft or weather related events such as hail or hurricane.  A tree branch falling on the car while its parked is another example. 
  • Rideshare insurance: Only available in some states!  If you drive for a rideshare company, you will need the extra protection this coverage affords.   

Because auto insurance is regulated at the state level, the options that your local State Farm agent can provide may vary from place to place.  

State Farm also offers more than just a policy for your car. 

They provide car insurance coverage for business travelers, antique car collectors, new drivers, and more.

State Farm offers an uninsured motor vehicle coverage option to help with medical expenses for injuries caused by someone without car insurance. 

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Dodo Tips

If you own an antique or collector car, get it insured for an “agreed value”.  This allows you to specify how much money the insurance company will pay to replace the vehicle if its totaled or stolen.  


Does State Farm Offer Car Insurance Discounts?

Coverage options, deductibles, and discounts affect how much your auto policy costs. 

As a State Farm customer, you could be eligible to receive more than one auto insurance discount at once. 

The Biggest State farm Discounts Available

At State Farm, you could be eligible for multiple discounts. 

State Farm offers four main savings opportunities to everyone for ultimate savings, including auto insurance discounts like:

  • Drive Safe & Save: If you’re a safe driver, you can use the Drive Safe & Save app on your smartphone to earn discounts of up to 30%. The smartphone app calculates your total discount based on information about your driving. They consider driving feedback like hard braking, quick acceleration, speeding, fast cornering, and distracted driving.
  • Steer Clear: Drivers under 25-years-old with no at-fault accidents or violations on their records for the previous three years could save up to 20% with Steer Clear. Similar to the Drive Safe & Save program, you download an app. It records your trips and helps you learn how to become a better driver by watching driving videos and taking quizzes.
  • Good Student Rewards: Teenage drivers with good grades could save up to 25% on auto insurance until they turn 25-year-old. The discount is for full-time students in high school, college, or homeschooling who show proof of a 3.0 GPA or higher. 
  • Multiple Policies Discounts: Loyal customers can bundle more than one policy (homeowners, renters, life insurance, or multiple vehicle insurance) for savings between 17% and 20% on your auto insurance. 
State Farm Car Insurance Review

Safe Driving Discounts

But there are many more discounts available.

 You need to have an accident-free record or currently take steps to learn how to become a better driver to earn rewards. Safe driver discounts include:

  • Accident-Free Discount: This discount is available to you when State Farm insures your car for three years without an accident. The discount increases over time if you continue to have no accidents. 
  • Defensive Driving Course Discount: You can take a qualifying driver safety course to get car insurance discounts between 10% and 15% in some locations. The classes focus on how to drive in traffic situations or poor weather to avoid accidents. 
  • Good Driving Discount: This is available to new State Farm customers. You can receive this discount if you have three years or more without moving violations or at-fault accidents on your driving record. 
  • Driver Training Discount: Any driver under the age of 21 on your policy can complete a qualifying driver education course for discounts. 
  • Student Away at School Discount: Students under 25-years-old who move away for college and only use the car on holidays are eligible for a student away at school discount. The amount varies based on the distance from your home to the school.  They usually only give the discount if a student lives at least 100 miles away from the school.  

Compare Policies

Action Item:  When comparing auto insurance companies, don’t decide based on price alone.  Get two to three quotes, then call or chat online with the company and ask about their claims process.  Does it sound easy and reliable?  You can get started comparing quotes here. 


Safe Vehicle Discounts

If you have a newer vehicle or added safety features, you may also earn more discounts. The discounts you qualify for depending on your car’s year, make, and model. The three most common safe vehicle discounts State Farm offers include:

  • Vehicle Safety: All vehicles from 1994 or later could be eligible to save up to 40%. However, your discount percentage depends on your car and repairs. The discount is also adjusted yearly. 
  • Anti-Theft: If your vehicle has an alarm or another type of approved anti-theft device, you could save a tiny amount on your premium. However, anti-theft features are the minor discounts available, so check with your agent before adding these features for money-saving purposes. 
  • Passive Restraint: Vehicles made before 1993 with factory-installed airbags (or another system) and seat belts receive up to 40% in discounts. 

However, discounts vary based on your state.

How Much Does State Farm Auto Insurance Cost?

State Farm is probably not going to be the absolute lowest priced option.

All of the advertising and sponsorships cost money.  Policy premiums help pay these bills.

If you fit their underwriting criteria, you will be offered a competitive quote.

They like to insure people who have good credit, drive average vehicles, have an average number of kids, and live in average homes.   

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Before shopping for quotes, gather all of your personal information and vehicle info. Then you can be ready to hit the insurance market for an afternoon of shopping.

Your State Farm auto insurance quote varies based on your location and personal information. 

Where you live plays a huge part in your insurance cost because some areas have higher traffic or more traffic congestion, which leads to more accidents.

 But your age, gender, and marital status are also considered because studies show drivers between the age of 25 and 65 have fewer accidents.

 Some locations may also consider your credit score. 

Other factors also influence your car insurance rates, such as:

  • Driving History: Speeding tickets and accidents within the previous three years could cause a higher auto insurance rate than if you have a spotless record.
  • Driving Activity: How frequently and how far you go also affects your rate. Policyholders who drive longer distances may pay more.
  • Safety Rating: State Farm collects data on your vehicle, such as the make and model, safety information, and how much it would cost to repair to determine your rate.
  • Vehicle Size: Larger vehicles tend to hold up better in an accident and keep the occupants safer, so the vehicle size could determine your premium.
  • Anti-theft devices: Tracking devices, alarms, or theft deterrents could help keep your vehicle from thieves, making them less expensive to insure. 

Finally, the car insurance policy you choose most determines the price. 

Some states require drivers to have at least liability coverage, which is the lowest tier. 

State Farm Auto Insurance Review

How much coverage you add impacts how much you pay for the policy. 

The deductible you choose also determines the rate.

 Higher deductibles tend to help lower your auto insurance rate, but you must pay more out-of-pocket if you need to file a claim. 

State Farm offers tons of discounts and coverages, so the best way to know how much your policy may cost is to ask for a quote.

 Request a State Farm car insurance quote to know exactly how much the service will cost you. Call or get a quote online

What’s The Cost To Add My Teenager To My Auto Policy?

add teens to your auto policy

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Insurance companies use “big data” to make decisions about how to price your insurance.  A high credit score indicates to them that you are less likely to cause an accident.

New drivers tend to call for higher insurance premiums. 

However, the company offers competitive rates and discounts for teens. 

How much you pay depends on your coverage, vehicle, and location.

Pros And Cons Of State Farm Car Insurance

In this State Farm auto insurance review, you’ll notice many benefits and disadvantages to the company. 

Pros

  • The largest personal auto insurer in the nation
  • Personalized coverage to your needs
  • Prompt and reliable customer service
  • Offers rideshare insurance in many states
  • Easy-to-use website and app

Cons

  • Too many auto insurance complaints
  • Poor customer reviews
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The Good

Customers love State Farm because the website and app are both intuitive and easy to navigate.

You can get a quote, buy a new policy, find an agent near you, manage a claim, or even learn something new. You could even submit a claim using the app or locate an ATM. 

The coverage options at State Farm encompass anything you could need. There are options for added protection in the case of an accident or hard-to-find policies like ridesharing coverage. 

Two of the State Farm discount programs also come with apps that track your driving behavior, including Drive Safe & Save and the Steer Clear programs.

 People say using these apps is an easy way to earn discounts on coverage. Even teen drivers have options to save.

 There are so many discounts available.

You’re bound to find something for yourself.

The Bad

One downside to State Farm is that they have more complaints than they should for a company of their size (more on this below).

They also have poor reviews from customers.

When looking at customer reviews, remember some people buy the absolute minimum coverage then expect everything to be covered, so take it for what it's worth.

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What’s Are State Farm's Financial Ratings? 

State Farm has excellent insurance ratings from two well-known organizations, including S&P Global Ratings and A.M. Best.

 The insurance ratings come from the company’s financial condition and its ability to pay customer claims. They have been reliable at paying claims promptly since 1922. 

State Farm Auto Insurance Reviews & Complaints

If you look at any State Farm car insurance review, you’ll see more complaints than you would expect for such a large company.

However, their competitive rates make customers love them.

 A 2020 J.D. Power Study shows State Farm still has an above-average rating in customer satisfaction. 

State Farm BBB Reviews

While the Better Business Bureau (BBB) gives State Farm an A+ rating, they have multiple State Farm auto insurance review pages full of poor customer reviews.

Overall, State Farm locations across the nation score under 2 out of 5 stars. Many of these customer complaints are from the last three years.  

A recent customer review from Stewart W. in Illinois calls State Farm the “worst experience I’ve had in a while.

 I will be getting different insurance as soon as I can.

The customer service is terrible. The customer communication is terrible and frankly unfair. They told me I’m covered for commercial liability and then dropped me without even a call…”

Arthur G. backs up these claims in his review on March 10, 2021, where he says, “My brief experience with State Farm is concerning.

First, the ‘good neighbor’ advertising is misleading and void of truth. Our car was struck by a neighbor insured by this company.

[State Farm decided it was] negligence PRIOR to receiving photos of the incident. The insured driver admitted to causing the incident… But not State Farm.”


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