State Farm car insurance review 2026: Excellent customer service from a big insurer

The largest property and casualty insurance company in the U.S., State Farm® has been issuing auto policies since 1922. It's praised for its customer service, earning high scores on J.D. Power's auto insurance study and surveys on insurance shopping and the claims process.

We also like you can breeze through the application process, file claims and manage your policy right on the State Farm website and app.

The benefits and drawbacks of a State Farm auto policy

Pros

• Can get quotes and file claims online
• Bundling can save you up to 25%
• Low rates for teen drivers

Cons

• Low score from the Better Business Bureau
• No gap insurance
• Accident forgiveness requires nine years without an at-fault accident.

State Farm is available nationwide except in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Basic coverage

Full coverage car insurance is typically required if you are financing or leasing your car.

• Liability car insurance: The minimum coverage allowed in most states, liability pays for damages and expenses if you or someone else driving your car is at fault for an accident. 
• Collision coverage: Pays to repair or replace your vehicle after an accident.
• Comprehensive coverage: Pays for damages or losses not caused by a collision, including theft, weather damage or hitting an animal.

Additional coverage

These policies are required in some states in addition to full coverage.

• Personal injury protection (PIP): Also known as no-fault insurance, PIP covers medical bills, lost wages, child care and even funeral costs.
• Medical payments: Also known as MedPay, this covers medical bills for you and any passengers or pedestrians involved in an accident, regardless of fault.
• Payoff Protector: In place of gap insurance, if your car is financed through State Farm Bank, the difference between your policy payout and your outstanding loan balance is canceled.
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist: Covers repairs and medical bills if you are in an accident with a driver with little or no insurance.

Optional features that are offered by State Farm

• Accident forgiveness: Available if you've been accident-free for at least nine years, considerably longer than many insurers require.
• Rental car reimbursement: Covers the cost of a rental while your vehicle is being repaired after a covered accident.
• Rideshare insurance: Expands coverage to any time the rideshare app is on, including when a driver is waiting to match with a rider.
• Roadside assistance: Get help with jump starts, fuel delivery, lockouts, flat tires, towing and winching.
• Travel expenses: Pays up to $500 for food, lodging, transportation and related costs if your car breaks down more than 50 miles from home.
• Vehicle protection: Covers major systems, minor dents and lost keys for newer cars.

State Farm offers numerous discounts. Offerings vary by state and some discounts may not be combined.

• Anti-theft: Lower your rates if your vehicle has an alarm or another security device.
• Away at school: A covered driver under 25 who only uses the vehicle while visiting from school can earn a discount.
• Defensive driving course: Depending on where they live, drivers who complete a driver safety course can qualify for a discount.
• Drive Safe & Save app: Save up to 30% with this usage-based insurance program that tracks your driving habits.
• Driver training discount: Drivers under 21 who complete a driver education course can receive a discount
• Good driver: New customers can earn up to 25% off for avoiding at-fault accidents and violations for three years.
• Good student: Full-time high school and college students can save up to 25% by keeping at least a B average or meeting other academic standards.
• Multi-policy: Bundle your State Farm auto policy with life, home, condo or renters insurance and you could earn up to 25% off.
• Multiple vehicle: Save up to 20% if you insure two or more vehicles through State Farm
• Passive restraint:  Cars from 1993 or earlier equipped with airbags or other passive restraints are eligible for up to 40% on medical-related coverage. 
• Steer Clear app: Drivers under 25 can earn up to 15% off for maintaining a clean driving record and completing safe-driver tutorials. 
• Vehicle safety: Save up to 40% on medical-related coverage if your vehicle was made in 1994 or later, depending on the repair record for your vehicle's make and model.

State Farm was among the top three insurers in six out of the 11 regions surveyed in J.D. Power's 2024 auto insurance study. It came in fourth place out of 17 in a separate survey on insurance shopping and fifth out of 24 for claims satisfaction.

While State Farm received an average number of complaints for a provider of its size, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners complaint index, it received a C- from the Better Business Bureau, which cited unresolved complaints.

State Farm earned an A++ rating for financial strength from A.M. Best, the agency's highest grade and a strong indicator of its ability to pay out on policyholders' claims.

In addition to auto and motorcycle insurance, State Farm offers:

• Homeowners insurance
• Condo insurance
• Renters insurance
• Life insurance
• Health insurance
• Pet insurance through Trupanion

Bundling auto and home insurance with State Farm can save you an average of $1,273 per year, according to the insurer.

State Farm also offers banking products through its partnership with U.S. Bank, including checking accounts and credit cards.

Here's how State Farm stacks up to two major auto insurance providers.

State Farm v. Geico

Geico also offers more discounts, including a multi-vehicle option that could save you up to 25%, compared to 20% with State Farm.

State Farm beats Geico hands down for customer service, however: It consistently lands among the top insurers in J.D. Power's customer surveys. Geico has come in below average for insurance shopping, claims processing and overall customer satisfaction.

State Farm v. Farmers Insurance

State Farm comes out on top for cost, according to Bankrate, averaging $2,624 for 12 months of full coverage to Farmers Insurance's $3,184. State Farm is also cheaper for teens and drivers with speeding tickets and teen drivers.

Farmers has 22 auto insurance discounts, however, the most of any auto insurance provider we've reviewed.

If customer service is your priority, State Farm is the clear choice: It scored near the top on all of J.D. Power's surveys, while Farmers landed in the middle or below average for insurance shopping, claims processing and overall customer satisfaction.

It's easy to get quotes and buy a policy on the State Farm website, by phone at 855-980-8053 or in person with a local State Farm agent. You'll need to:

• Answer questions about your car, including the make, model, year and mileage.
• Share details about your driving history, including any accidents, DUIs or moving violations
• Customize your coverage, limits and deductibles
• Choose your policy and set up a payment method.

You can file claims, access ID cards and get roadside assistance on the State Farm mobile app. Customer service can be reached 24 hours a day at 800-440-0998.

If you've ever gotten the runaround from your car insurance company, State Farm's superior customer service could be enough to get you to sign up. While it has more than 19,000 agents, it's also a good fit if you want to get with insurance online.

If price is the determining factor for you, though, get quotes from a variety of providers. Be sure to compare availability, discounts and other factors that will impact the price you pay.

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every auto insurance provider review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of insurance products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best car insurance companies.

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