State Farm

Founded in 1922 and headquartered in Bloomington, Illinois, State Farm is the largest property and casualty insurer in the United States. It is a mutual company, meaning policyholders rather than shareholders own it, and it writes auto, home, renters, life, health and business coverage.

Auto is where it is strongest: State Farm holds the number-one market share in the country. The clearest advantage for most households is multi-line bundling, which combines auto, home and life under a single agent for a meaningful discount.

Standard liability, collision and comprehensive coverage, with optional rental and travel reimbursement, roadside assistance and new-car replacement in the first model year. Rideshare coverage is available for Uber and Lyft drivers.

Drive Safe & Save tracks driving behavior through the app or an in-vehicle beacon and can reduce the premium by up to 30 percent.

Homeowners policies cover the dwelling, personal property, liability and additional living expenses if the home becomes uninhabitable. Endorsements include identity restoration, scheduled personal articles, water backup and earthquake coverage.

The mobile app includes a home inventory tool, which makes documenting belongings before a claim considerably easier.

One of the broadest discount lists in the industry: multi-line bundling, good driver, good student, defensive driving, the Steer Clear program for drivers under 25, Drive Safe & Save telematics, home security systems, autopay and long-term loyalty. The bundle is the one worth asking about first.

Claims can be filed in the app, on the web, through the 24/7 claims line, or with a local agent. The app supports photo documentation and status tracking, and there is a network of preferred repair shops with guaranteed work.

Complaints cluster around timelines on complex claims, disagreements over damage valuations, and reaching agents during catastrophe events — issues shared by most large carriers.

Public review sites skew negative for every large insurer, so the NAIC complaint index is the more useful measure: an index near 1.0 means complaints are proportional to market share, and State Farm generally lands close to that line.

The agent model shows up as both the most praised and most criticized aspect. A good local agent is a real advantage; an unresponsive one is a real problem.

Best for multi-policy households that want one agent handling auto, home and life, and for families with young drivers who can use the Steer Clear and good student discounts.

Look elsewhere if price is the only factor, if you would rather never speak to an agent, or if you qualify for USAA through military service.