Founded by a retired farmer and insurance salesman in 1922, State Farm is now one of the largest homeowners insurance companies in the U.S. In addition to homeowners insurance, State Farm sells car, life, umbrella and other insurance policies both online and through a network of more than 19,000 agents.
Who it’s good for: State Farm homeowners insurance is a good pick for those who prefer to develop a personal relationship with an agent and feel most comfortable buying insurance from a well-established company.
State Farm homeowners insurance
State Farm homeowners insurance earned 5 stars out of 5 for overall performance. NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account coverage and discounts, ease of filing a claim, website transparency, financial strength, complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and more.
Based on these ratings, State Farm is among NerdWallet’s Best Homeowners Insurance Companies.
State Farm homeowners insurance coverage
In addition to the standard coverage that’s part of most homeowners policies — such as liability for other people’s accidents in your home and coverage for your personal belongings — State Farm offers a number of add-ons for its homeowners policies.
One of them, the “increased dwelling limit,” is available at no cost and will automatically extend your replacement cost coverage up to 20% as long as you’ve insured your home at least up to its estimated replacement cost. Here’s how that works: Say State Farm estimates that your home will cost $200,000 to rebuild, so that’s how much dwelling coverage you’ve selected on your policy. If a disaster strikes your area and construction costs go up accordingly, State Farm will automatically pay up to 20% more — or a total of $240,000 — to rebuild your home.
Other coverage options cost extra, including:
- Coverage for backup of sewers or drains.
- Coverage for identity fraud or cyber attacks.
- Earthquake coverage.
- Liability coverage for those providing in-home child or adult care, or for those in certain occupations such as nursing.
- Coverage for structures located outside the premises of your home.
- Coverage for homes that are rented out more than 30 nights a year.
- Liability coverage for libel, slander or other personal injury claims.
- Service line coverage for underground utility lines that are damaged.
- Coverage to replace a damaged water heater, air conditioner or heating unit with a more energy-efficient model.
- Coverage for theft, vandalism or broken glass if your home is left vacant more than 30 days.
- Coverage for the costs of complying with building codes or zoning laws.
- Various coverage options while a new home is under construction, including theft of building materials and liability in a temporary home.
- Coverage for the breakdown of home systems such as furnaces and air conditioning units.
- Incidental business coverage for those who do some types of work out of their home.
- Coverage for your portion of a loss that affects all members of a homeowners association.
- Liability coverage for damage to other people’s property due to a waterbed.
Before electing any of these additional coverage options, be sure to read the fine print or ask your agent to talk you through any relevant limitations and exclusions.
» MORE: Homeowners insurance: What it is and what it covers
State Farm home insurance discounts
State Farm homeowners discounts vary by state, but may include the following:
- Multiple line discount.
- Protective device discount for home monitoring systems such as burglar or smoke alarms.
- Discount if your roof is made of certain impact-resistant materials.
State Farm complaints and customer satisfaction
State Farm had fewer than the expected number of complaints to state regulators relative to its size for home insurance, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
The company was rated above average for overall satisfaction in a homeowners insurance study by J.D. Power in 2019. However, State Farm ranked slightly below average in a 2020 study focused solely on homeowners insurance claims.
» MORE: State Farm auto insurance review
State Farm website and app
State Farm’s website is intuitive and user-friendly, allowing you to get a quote or file a claim online right from the homepage. You can also track your State Farm homeowners claim online. The company’s “find an agent” tool is equally easy to use if you need to talk through an issue with a live person.
One nice feature is the ability to quickly access certain tasks — including paying your bill, enrolling in autopay and getting your ID cards — without having to log in with a password.
There’s plenty of useful information for homeowners on the State Farm site, though it sometimes takes a little scrolling to find. Keep an eye out for the Simple Insights section of the site for in-depth tips.
The State Farm mobile app lets you view policy information, file a claim and make payments in a variety of ways, including with Apple or Android Pay. If you use State Farm’s banking or investing services, you can also access those on the app.
Other State Farm insurance policies
State Farm offers a wide selection of insurance policies.
| Other types of insurance from State Farm include: | |
|---|---|
| Personal and commercial car insurance | Life insurance |
| Renters insurance | Condo insurance |
| Farm and ranch insurance | Manufactured home insurance |
| Boat insurance | Off-road vehicle insurance |
| Umbrella insurance | Small business insurance |
| Disability insurance | Health insurance |
| Rental property insurance | Identity restoration insurance |
| Motorcycle insurance | Motorhome insurance |
State Farm also offers checking and savings accounts, traditional and Roth IRAs, credit cards, home loans, annuities and other financial products.
Recap: State Farm pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| User-friendly website | Few discounts available |
| Agents offering personalized service | Lower than average consumer satisfaction with homeowners claims |
| Fewer consumer complaints than expected based on company size |
