What insurance companies are under Farmers Insurance?
Farmers Insurance Group includes several major subsidiary and affiliate companies.
(Note: The core Farmers Insurance exchanges are reciprocal insurers owned by their policyholders rather than a corporate parent, while management services are handled through Farmers Group, Inc., which is owned by the Zurich Insurance Group.)
Major Subsidiaries and Brands
- Foremost Insurance Company: Specializes in standard-preferred and specialty insurance, including mobile homes, recreational vehicles, and motorcylces.
- Bristol West Insurance Group: Provides non-standard and standard auto insurance.
- 21st Century Insurance: Offers direct-to-consumer auto insurance options in select regions like California.
- Toggle: Operates as a digital-first platform offering renters and auto insurance.
- Farmers New World Life Insurance Company: Provides life insurance policies and annuities.
- Farmers GroupSelect: Focuses on group insurance and affinity market programs through carriers like Farmers Property and Casualty Insurance Company.
- Farmers Financial Solutions: Offers mutual funds and variable universal life products.
- Mid-Century Insurance Company: Functions as a wholly owned subsidiary underwriting auto and property coverage.
What companies are affiliated with Farmers Insurance?
Farmers Insurance Group is affiliated with several core reciprocal exchanges, subsidiaries, and specialized brands that provide auto, home, life, and specialty insurance.
Core Exchanges
- Farmers Insurance Exchange
- Fire Insurance Exchange
- Truck Insurance Exchange
- Mid-Century Insurance Company
Major Affiliated Brands and Subsidiaries
- Foremost Insurance Group: Specializes in policies for mobile homes, recreational vehicles, watercraft, and specialty properties.
- Bristol West Insurance Group: Focuses primarily on non-standard auto insurance.
- 21st Century Insurance: Operates as a direct-to-consumer auto insurance subsidiary (notably in California).
- Farmers New World Life Insurance Company: Provides life insurance policies and annuities.
- Farmers GroupSelect: Offers group insurance and employer-sponsored affinity market policies (including entities like Farmers Property and Casualty Insurance Company and Farmers Casualty Insurance Company).
- Toggle: Provides customizable, online-first renters and auto insurance.
- Farmers Financial Solutions, LLC: A broker-dealer offering financial products such as mutual funds and variable universal life insurance.
You can view the full organizational details and state-by-state company breakdowns on the official Farmers Companies Overview and Farmers State Companies List.
What are the top 5 worst homeowners insurance companies?
Based on recent industry surveys like J.D. Power's property and satisfaction studies, the lowest-ranking homeowners insurance companies for customer satisfaction and claims include Universal Direct, Tower Hill Insurance, National General, Homesite, and Foremost.
Lowest-Ranking Home Insurers
- Universal Direct: Ranks at the very bottom of major customer satisfaction and claims surveys due to slow response times and service issues.
- Tower Hill Insurance: Frequently scores near the bottom for overall customer experience and policyholder satisfaction.
- National General: Scores poorly on consumer satisfaction metrics regarding communication and payout handling.
- Homesite: Routinely lands at the bottom of J.D. Power claims satisfaction rankings for property coverage.
- Foremost: Receives below-average customer satisfaction scores for handling claims and policy value.
Are Farmers and progressive insurance the same?
No, Farmers Insurance and Progressive are not the same company; they are completely separate, competing corporate entities in the insurance industry.
Key Differences
- Corporate Ownership: Farmers Insurance operates as a group of exchanges and subsidiaries managed under Farmers Group, Inc., while Progressive operates independently as Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and its subsidiaries.
- Market Position: Progressive is one of the largest auto insurers in the United States, whereas Farmers has a smaller overall market share.
- Offerings and Rates: While both offer similar mainstream products like auto, home, and recreational insurance, their pricing structures, discount options, and telematics programs differ significantly.
Are Farmers and Allstate the same company?
No, Farmers and Allstate are not the same company; they are completely separate, competing national insurers.
Key Differences
- Founding and Ownership:
- Allstate: Founded in 1931 and originally started by Sears, Roebuck and Co. It operates as a publicly traded corporation (NYSE: ALL).
- Farmers Insurance: Founded in 1928 with a focus on rural and farm drivers. It is owned by a group of exchanges and international holding entities like Zurich Insurance Group.
- Underwriting:
- Allstate policies are underwritten by the Allstate Insurance Company group.
- Farmers policies are written through the Farmers Exchanges and its distinct subsidiary network.
- Market Position:
- Allstate is larger, ranking as one of the top four auto insurers in the United States.
- Farmers is smaller, generally ranking as the seventh-largest personal lines insurer nationwide.
Farmers Auto Insurance Review: What You Need to Know Before You Buy
9 related questions found
Who did Farmers Insurance merge with?
Farmers Insurance did not merge, but instead acquired MetLife Auto & Home (Metropolitan Property and Casualty Insurance Company) for $3.94 billion in 2021.
Key Details of the Acquisition
- Cost: $3.94 billion in cash.
- Date: Completed in April 2021.
- Impact: Added 2.4 million in-force policies and expanded Farmers into a nationwide presence across all 50 states.
- Partnership: Included a 10-year distribution agreement to offer products on MetLife's U.S. Group Benefits platform.
- Rebranding: MetLife Auto & Home was later rebranded as Farmers GroupSelect.
Past Acquisitions
Farmers (owned by Zurich Insurance Group) has also acquired other companies in the past, including:
- 21st Century Insurance (acquired from AIG in 2009)
- Bristol West (acquired in 2007)
- Foremost Insurance (acquired in 2000)
Who is cheaper, State Farm or Farmers Insurance?
State Farm is cheaper than Farmers Insurance on average for both auto and home policies.
📊 Average Cost Comparison
| Coverage Type | State Farm Average | Farmers Average |
|---|---|---|
| Auto Full Coverage | $1,168 per year | $1,256 per year |
| Auto State Minimum | $1,032 per year | $1,623 per year |
| Home Insurance | $1,933 per year | $2,371 per year |
✅ Why State Farm Wins on Price
- State Farm rates run 10% to 15% lower.
- Minimum auto coverage costs significantly less.
- Safe driving savings are more generous.
- Clean records secure lower baseline premiums.
⚠️ When Farmers Might Make Sense
- Farmers offers broader specialty coverage options.
- Discount varieties are more numerous.
- High-risk credit profiles get competitive pricing.
- Custom add-on bundles fit specific needs.
What insurance companies should I stay away from?
You should review consumer complaint data and legal evaluations before picking an insurer, as large companies like Allstate, State Farm, and Liberty Mutual frequently rank poorly for delaying or undervaluing claims.
Major Insurers Frequently Criticized for Claims Practices
- Allstate: Legal and consumer groups often cite this company for low initial settlement offers, strict litigation tactics, and high complaint volumes.
- State Farm: Policyholders frequently report long wait times, poor communication, and disputes over how storm or property damage is classified.
- Liberty Mutual: Personal injury attorneys and consumer reports often flag this company for low payout offers and difficulties during the auto claims adjustment process.
- Progressive: This carrier faces regular criticism for undervaluing vehicle repair estimates and pushing back heavily on injury claims.
Budget and High-Risk "Last Resort" Companies
- Minimum-Coverage Specialists: Smaller budget companies (such as Fred Loya or Country-Wide) focus on high-risk drivers. They often sell bare-minimum policies that leave you exposed, and they have reputations for poor customer service and slow response times.
- Guaranteed Acceptance Ads: Any company that advertises zero turn-downs or guaranteed coverage usually provides limited dollar limits and high out-of-pocket costs when an accident happens.
You can read a detailed breakdown of bad-faith tactics in the Colorado Law Worst Insurers Guide.
Who has the best homeowners insurance right now?
Amica ranks as the best overall homeowners insurance company right now due to its top-tier customer service, low complaint rates, and affordable average prices. Industry rankings from major publications like Money and U.S. News consistently place Amica at the top of the list.
Top Homeowners Insurance Providers
- Best Overall: Amica offers great customer support and a fast claims process. Average rates sit around $1,500 to $1,700 per year.
- Best for Military Families: USAA provides industry-leading coverage, low rates, and special deployment perks, though it is only open to the military community and veterans.
- Best Large Company: State Farm has a massive nationwide network and offers huge savings when you bundle your home and auto policies.
- Best for Digital Tools: Allstate stands out for its high-rated mobile app, which lets you pay bills, file claims, and track repairs easily.
- Best for High-Value Homes: Chubb provides high liability limits and specialized coverage for expensive properties and luxury items.
What homeowners insurance to avoid?
Avoid policies and coverage traps that leave you unprotected or financially exposed when buying homeowners insurance.
Policies and Plan Types to Avoid
- Actual Cash Value (ACV) Policies: Avoid policies that pay out based on ACV instead of replacement cost. ACV subtracts depreciation for age and wear, meaning you will receive far less than what it actually costs to rebuild your home or replace items today.
- The Cheapest Policy Available: Do not automatically pick the lowest-cost premium. Rock-bottom prices usually hide high deductibles, low coverage caps, and severe structural exclusions.
- Poorly Rated Insurers: Research financial stability and customer satisfaction. Companies with low A.M. Best ratings, excessive NAIC complaint ratios, or a reputation for slow claims processing (such as certain low-tier or high-complaint regional providers) can make post-disaster recovery painful.
Coverage Gaps and Exclusions to Watch For
- Standard Flood and Earthquake Exclusions: Standard policies never cover rising natural floodwaters or ground movement. If you skip separate flood or earthquake endorsements, you carry 100% of the risk.
- Sewer and Drain Backups: Water backup from overloaded municipal sewers or failing sump pumps is excluded by default. Always add an endorsement if your basement contains finished living space.
- Unscheduled High-Value Valuables: Standard limits for jewelry, fine art, firearms, and collectibles are very low. Avoid leaving these items unlisted; purchase a scheduled personal property rider.
Common Mistakes During the Buying Process
- Insuring for Market Value vs. Rebuilding Costs: Never base your policy limit on your mortgage balance or original purchase price. Insure your home for current local construction and labor replacement costs.
- Neglecting a Home Inventory: Failing to document your belongings with photos or videos before a loss makes the claims process slow and difficult.
- Failing to Disclose High-Risk Features: Forgetting to mention trampolines, aggressive dog breeds, or unpermitted renovations can lead an insurer to deny a claim or cancel your policy entirely.