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Writer's pictureJeff Guymon

State Farm Auto Insurance: A Complete Review

Updated: Sep 14, 2020

Rated 4 out of 5 stars across several insurance reviews, State Farm stands out for exceptional customer service. High customer satisfaction comes at a price so make sure you skim through State Farm’s insurance discounts. You can get a quote in eight simple steps and file a claim in four.

Ultimately, your insurance premium depends on your vehicle and driving history. Finding the right insurance company and  coverage options can therefore be quite the headache. Since auto insurance coverage is a must when purchasing and owning a vehicle, this article provides a complete review on the ins and outs of State Farm auto insurance.


We will answer the following questions:

  • What is the hype about State Farm Auto Insurance?

  • How much does State Farm Auto Insurance cost?

  • How to apply? How do I file a claim?

  • What kind of discounts does State Farm offer?

  • What can cause my car insurance rate to go up?

What is the hype about State Farm Auto Insurance?


Known for “Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there”, State Farm was founded in 1922 by George Jacob Mecherle. Being a retired farmer and insurance agent, Mecherle's vision for State Farm was simple; operate fairly and do the right thing for customers. 98 years later, State Farm is one of the leading auto insurer corporations in the United States while also being heavily involved in the passing of seatbelt laws and creating safety programs in local communities. Their slogan advocates for the company creating personable relationships with their customers. State Farm offers a wide range of insurance options such as life insurance, homeowners insurance, auto insurance, disability and liability insurance.


According to the U.S News Best Insurance Companies 2020 list, State Farm ranks 4 out of 9 and  and U.S News rates them at 4.06 out of 5 with 78% respondents claiming they are satisfied or completely satisfied with the ease of filing claims. Once a claim is filed, 3 out of 4 respondents report positive ratings for claim resolutions with 65% being completely satisfied and 11% being just satisfied. Another positive factor State Farm is known for is ranking 4 out of 5 for their outstanding customer service. One respondent said “great customer service, a bit higher prices but customer love is present”. J.D. Powers only ranked State Farm 3 out of 8 for large insurers for customer satisfaction but Nerdwallet.com rated them 4.5 stars out of 5 for overall performance.


Although ranking high on overall performance, some customers were less than satisfied with status updates from the company, with more than one unhappy customer writing “They are slow to react, with no communication during the claims process”. About 46% of respondents said they were completely satisfied with the value and claims satisfaction from State Farm with a response from a customer, “Service is great, premiums are too expensive”. That being said, over 70% of respondents were likely to recommend State Farm and more than 3 out of 4 respondents were likely to renew their insurance policy.


Pros and Cons of State Farm Auto Insurance from Nerdwallet.com are:


Pros:

  • Number of discounts offered 

  • Generous rental car and travel expenses

  • Filing claim as a motorist is easy

  • Great customer service for policyholders

  • Rideshare Driver coverage for Lyft and Uber

Cons:

  • Average rating for car insurance shopping and insurance claims

  • High rates if you have poor credit

  • Agent quality can vary 

  • Does not provide GAP coverage

In sum, State Farm is known for exceptional customer service. Does excellence come at a price?


How much does State Farm Insurance Cost?


There are many deciding factors that play into how much your auto policy will be with any type of auto insurance company. Factors include: age, marital status, annual mileage, coverage type, driving record (safe driving, accident-free and no speeding) and credit history. State Farm’s average annual rate for policyholders is $1,234 compared to other big car insurance companies like Progressive ($1,373), Farmers Insurance ($1,682) and Allstate Insurance ($1,880). Below are average State FarmAuto Insurance rates to help you see what might work for you.


By Age and Marital Status:

  • Single 25-year-old male: $1,468.63

  • Single 25-year-old female: $1,330.05

  • Married 35-year-old male: $1,204.67

  • Married 35-year-old female: $1,204.67

  • Married 60-year-old male: $1,098.01

  • Married 60-year-old female: $1,098.01


By Average Miles Driven Annually:

  • 6,000 miles annually: $1,113.59

  • 12,000 miles annually: $1,234.01


By Type of Coverage:

  • Low: $1,143.10

  • Medium: $1,234.01

  • High: $1,325.66


By Credit History:

  • Good: $1,231.37

  • Fair: $1,605.84

  • Poor: $2,744.71


By Driving Record:

  • Clean record: $1,234.01

  • With 1 speeding violation: $1,374.63

  • With 1 accident: $1,486.96

  • With 1 DUI: $1,680.87


State Farm's car insurance coverage options include: collision, comprehensive, liability, car rental and travel expenses, uninsured motor vehicle, underinsured motor vehicle, medical payments, emergency road service and rideshare driver coverage. 


State Farm’s premiums vary quite a bit based on your personal circumstances. To determine if State Farm is a good fit for you, get a quote!


How do I apply for a quote? How do I file a claim?


To apply for auto insurance, use the Find an Agent tool to find a local State Farm agent’s office in your zip code. Due to covid-19, please call the office number ahead of time to find out their open hours. 


If you still wish to social distance due to the pandemic, use the State Farm Insurance Quote tool to get a free car insurance quote online today. There, you will go through 8 steps of filling out information to then see your quote. Getting a quote is completely free, and does not bind you to any sort of policy.


If you find yourself involved in an auto accident, below is a step by step guide on how to successfully submit a claim.


1. File your claim

Start your claim online, or with the State Farm® mobile app. You can also file your claim by calling 800-SF-CLAIM (800-732-5246) 24/7, or contact your agent, if you prefer.


2. State Farm will review it

State Farm will review the details of your claim, determine if the incident is covered, and assess the loss or damage. They will be in touch if they need additional information, to explain your coverages, or discuss next steps.


3. Estimates + repairs

State Farm will provide you with estimate and repair options so you can make an informed decision.


4. Get paid

Payments are based on the terms of your policy. State Farm may pay the repairer directly, send payments to your bank account, or send them to you by mail.

Once you submit your claim, use the claim tracker to track and see status updates on your account.

If you ever find yourself stuck at the most inconvenient time, call the State Farm 24 hour emergency roadside assistance service. Services include towing, jumpstart, tire change, locksmith and gas or oil. Here are some tips about what to expect when needing to use this emergency roadside assistance service:


  1. As soon as you request assistance, a service provider will be dispatched to assist you and the emergency road service needed. 

  2. If your auto insurance policy covers it, you will have no copay and State Farm will be billed directly. If your policy does not cover it, you will pay for services at a competitive rate negotiated by State Farm. The rate is usually less than market pricing. 

To find out how you can be covered with emergency road service, call your local agent today. To call for State Farm emergency roadside assistance, please call 877-627-5757. State Farm makes it really convenient to get a quote and file a claim. Yet excellence comes at a price. Therefore, let’s explore State Farm’s discounts to further narrow down if State Fam is a good fit for you.


What types of discounts does State Farm offer?


State Farm offers a wide range of discounts to their policyholders and especially rewards for safe driving. Knowing their discounts and save programs ahead of time may aid in finding the best policy and price for you. Here is a list of all the discounts that State Farm has to offer: 


Safe Driver Discounts:

  • Accident Free

  • Defensive Driving Course

  • Student Away at School

  • Good Driving

  • Driver Training

  • Good Student


Safe Vehicle Discounts:

  • Vehicle Safety

  • Passive Restraint

  • Anti-Theft Device


Loyal Customer:

  • Multiple Auto

  • Multiple Line


Featured Discount Programs at State Farm:



The Drive Safe & Save app connects with the Bluetooth beacon they will send you after enrollment. Keep your Bluetooth and location services on to automatically record trips. How you drive determines how much you save. Below is a list of things to watch out for when driving if you apply for this discount program:

  • Quick acceleration

  • Hard braking

  • Fast cornering

  • Speeding

  • Distracted Driving



Steer Clear is a great way for teen and young adult drivers to improve their driving skills, stay accident-free and earn a discount. To qualify, you must:

  • Be 25 years old or younger

  • Have a valid driver’s license

  • Not at fault for any accidents or moving violations in the past 3 years

  • Successfully complete all program requirements


State Farm offers other ways to save, like combining auto and home insurance or multiple auto savings. By combining either homeowners, condo, life or renters insurance with vehicle insurance, you could save up to 17% on your insurance rate. Adding two or more insured vehicles in your household could potentially save you up to 20% off your car insurance rate. 


To see what discounts may or may not apply in your state,  ask a local State Farm agent for a list of qualifying courses and requirements. After all, it’s the small print that often makes the difference and you don’t want to be left along when you need insurance most.


What can cause my car insurance rate to change?


Insurance rates can fluctuate depending on a couple different factors. It is important to keep these factors in mind when applying for auto insurance to ensure that you control your policy rate. Here are some things to consider before purchasing auto insurance products:


How you drive:

Your driving behavior and driving record are the biggest factors that contribute to your auto insurance rate. Any accidents, moving violations or DUI’s will cause your insurance rate to increase. Being a safe driver and creating good driving habits will ultimately keep your auto insurance policy rate low.


Your vehicle:

When shopping for a vehicle, motorists should pay attention to the vehicle’s safety rating and the size, as these factors can either increase or decrease your auto insurance rate. Adding an Anti-Theft device to your vehicle is highly recommended, as this will help lower the chances of a break in and help lower your insurance rate.

Who you are:

Demographics such as where you live, your age, your gender, your marital status and your credit score play a role in your insurance rate.


Insurance policy changes:

Any time you change your coverage, your insurance policy rate can either increase or decrease. It is good to keep this in mind ahead of time, in case you expect to change in the future. Selecting a higher deductible for example  can help decrease your insurance rate, as well applying for any discounts you may qualify for. Adding rental car coverage or roadside assistance and towing can drive up the premium.


In sum, State Farm stands out for exceptional customer service rated 4 out of 5 stars across several insurance reviews. The high customer satisfaction comes at a price but you can save a lot if you manage to take advantage of the numerous discounts. Your car insurance, however, is not your biggest car expense! Your car loan is what makes car ownership expensive, especially since you’re likely overpaying on your rate. Dealers make most of their money on financing and if you’ve made your payments in time, you can likely refinance your auto loan.


So if you have a loan with State Farm Bank or any other lender, you should look into lowering your rate through refinancing.


Haven’t thought about refinancing your auto loan, yet?


If you’re in the market to save money on auto insurance, you will be delighted to hear that you can save even more money and build more financial strength by refinancing your auto loan. You can now lower your payments in 20 seconds or less without ever leaving your home. Check out WithClutch.com today, and see how much you can save.


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