I get the appeal of saving money with State Farm, but honestly, price isn't everything. A few years back, my sister had them and ran into some headaches when filing a claim—took forever to sort out. On the flip side, Farm Bureau seems more consistent with customer service from what I've seen. Might be worth paying a bit extra for peace of mind...especially if your parents already have a trusted agent there. Just something else to consider before pulling the trigger.
"Might be worth paying a bit extra for peace of mind...especially if your parents already have a trusted agent there."
Yeah, honestly, this is spot-on advice. I've seen clients chase the cheapest premium only to end up pulling their hair out when things go sideways. Insurance is one of those weird things—you pay for it hoping you'll never need it, but when you do, you REALLY want it to be hassle-free.
Farm Bureau does tend to have a more personal touch from what I've seen. State Farm isn't bad by any means, but their service can vary wildly depending on your local office and agent. Had one client joke that filing a claim with them was like spinning the wheel on Wheel of Fortune—sometimes smooth sailing, sometimes...not so much.
If your folks already have someone they trust at Farm Bureau, that's a big plus. Having an agent who knows your family personally can make all the difference when you're dealing with stressful claims stuff.
Just my two cents—good luck deciding!
Have you checked if Farm Bureau offers any discounts since your parents already have a policy there? Sometimes bundling or family connections can help offset the slightly higher premiums. Honestly, having someone who knows your family personally might save you a ton of headaches later...especially if you're new to dealing with claims. State Farm can be fine, but do you really want to gamble on getting a good agent?
"Honestly, having someone who knows your family personally might save you a ton of headaches later...especially if you're new to dealing with claims."
This right here is pretty spot-on. Have you ever had to deal with a claim before? Trust me, when you're standing in your driveway at 7am staring at a tree limb that's decided your car roof is its new home, the last thing you want is to be stuck on hold with some random call center. Having someone local who actually remembers your name (and maybe even your dog's name) can make a huge difference.
On the flip side, State Farm isn't necessarily a gamble—plenty of people swear by them—but it does depend heavily on your local agent. Do you know anyone nearby who uses State Farm? Ask around and see if their agent is responsive or just another voicemail phantom.
Also, have you looked into how much you'd actually save by bundling or family discounts at Farm Bureau? Sometimes those "slightly higher premiums" aren't as slight as you'd think...but sometimes they're totally worth it for sanity's sake.
Totally agree on the local agent thing—makes a huge difference. A couple quick points from experience:
- Farm Bureau often has membership fees, so factor that into your savings.
- State Farm's app and online tools are pretty solid if you're into DIY claims.
- Check deductibles carefully...sometimes that's the real kicker.
