Insurance · Reputation warning applies
Farmers Insurance Review
Policyholder-owned insurance group managed by Zurich-owned Farmers Group, selling small business coverage for contractors through Farmers agents
Reputation warning
Farmers agreed to settle a Missouri class action over telemarketing calls and texts that one of its agents sent to numbers on the National Do-Not-Call Registry. In Starling v. Farmers Insurance Exchange (Circuit Court of St. Louis County, case 26SL-CC00138), Farmers Insurance Exchange, Farmers Insurance Company, Inc. and Fire Insurance Exchange agreed to make up to $2,875,000 available to about 8,039 people who received calls or texts from Todd Henderson Insurance Agency, Inc. and/or R. Todd Henderson between October 8, 2020 and March 13, 2026. The final approval hearing was set for July 31, 2026. Farmers denies the claims, and the case concerns an agent's marketing calls rather than claims handling.
Quick verdict
Farmers Insurance is best for Small trades businesses that want business coverage through a Farmers agent, especially owners who already insure a car or home with Farmers. Quote speed: Through a Farmers agent. Pricing: Quoted per account through a Farmers agent based on trade, employees, vehicles and property. Not a construction specialist, coverage placed only through a Farmers agent with premiums quoted per account, and products that vary by state.
About Farmers Insurance
Farmers Insurance is a group of insurers that sells auto, home and small business insurance. It was founded in 1928, and its home office is in Los Angeles (its press releases are datelined Woodland Hills, a Los Angeles neighborhood). Its three main insurers, Farmers Insurance Exchange, Fire Insurance Exchange and Truck Insurance Exchange, are California interinsurance exchanges owned by their policyholders. Farmers Group, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Swiss-based Zurich Insurance Group, acts as their attorney-in-fact and provides non-claims services for a fee. Zurich says it has no ownership interest in the Exchanges themselves. Farmers says Farmers Insurance Exchange is on the 2026 Fortune 500 list.
For contractors, Farmers says it makes it easy for plumbers, electricians, landscapers and other contractors to get the coverage they want in a single, easy-to-manage policy. Its business pages cover a business owners policy (liability and property coverage that can be customized), general liability (which Farmers says is standard on all its business policies), commercial auto and workers compensation.
Coverage is sold through Farmers agents, and Farmers points out that its agents are small business owners themselves. An owner who already has a car or home insured through a Farmers agent can ask the same agent to quote business coverage. Premiums are quoted per account, and Farmers says not all products, coverages or features are available in every state.
The trade-off: Farmers sells small business insurance alongside its auto and home lines rather than running a construction specialty program, pricing is only available through an agent quote, and what you can buy depends on your state. Contractors with high-hazard work or large projects should also get quotes from carriers with dedicated construction programs.
How it works
Farmers business insurance is sold through Farmers agents. The agent asks about your trade, employees, vehicles and property, then quotes a package that can include a business owners policy, general liability, commercial auto and workers compensation, depending on your state. Policies are underwritten by Farmers Insurance Exchange, Fire Insurance Exchange, Truck Insurance Exchange, Mid-Century Insurance Company or an affiliated company, depending on the state and product. The agent handles quotes, policy changes and certificates of insurance. Premiums are quoted per account.
Pros & cons
What works
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Contractor coverage in one policy
Farmers says plumbers, electricians, landscapers and other contractors can get the coverage they want in a single, easy-to-manage policy.
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Core small business lines
Farmers' business pages cover a business owners policy, general liability, commercial auto and workers compensation.
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Local agent relationship
Coverage is sold through Farmers agents, who Farmers notes are small business owners themselves, so you have a named person for quotes, changes and certificates.
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One agent for business and personal
If you already insure a car or home through a Farmers agent, the same agent can quote your business coverage.
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Long-running insurer group
Farmers was founded in 1928, and it says Farmers Insurance Exchange, its largest insurer, is on the 2026 Fortune 500 list.
What doesn't
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Not a construction specialist
Farmers pitches its business insurance at small businesses in general; contractors with high-hazard work or large projects should compare carriers with dedicated construction programs.
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Agent quote required
Business coverage is placed through a Farmers agent and premiums are quoted per account, so you cannot compare prices without an agent's quote.
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Varies by state
Farmers says not all products, coverages or features are available in every state, and different Farmers companies underwrite policies in different states.
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Telemarketing settlement
Farmers agreed to a 2026 Missouri class action settlement over one agent's telemarketing calls and texts to Do-Not-Call numbers; it denies the claims.
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Experience depends on the agent
Service quality depends on the individual agent who places and services your policy.
Coverage
- Insurance lines
- bopgeneral liabilitycommercial autoworkers comp
- Geographic coverage
- Farmers says not all products, coverages or features are available in every state, and the underwriting company varies by state; confirm business coverage with a local agent
- Premiums
- Quoted per account through a Farmers agent based on trade, employees, vehicles and property
- Quote speed
- Through a Farmers agent
- Trade coverage
- HVACPlumbingElectricalRoofingGeneral ContractorsLandscaping & Lawn CarePaintingHandyman Services
- Affiliate program
- Unknown. No public publisher affiliate program confirmed (agent-distributed carrier).
Reviews and complaints at the source
We do not copy third-party review scores onto this page: they change often and we could not verify them. Read Farmers Insurance's current reviews at the source.
Frequently asked
Does Farmers insure contractors?
Yes. Farmers says plumbers, electricians, landscapers and other contractors can get coverage in a single policy, and its business pages cover a business owners policy, general liability, commercial auto and workers compensation. Availability varies by state.
How do I get Farmers business insurance?
Through a Farmers agent, who quotes and places the policy. Premiums are quoted per account. An agent who already handles your personal auto or home policy can quote business coverage too.
Who owns Farmers Insurance?
The three main Farmers insurers (Farmers Insurance Exchange, Fire Insurance Exchange and Truck Insurance Exchange) are interinsurance exchanges owned by their policyholders. Farmers Group, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Zurich Insurance Group, manages them as attorney-in-fact for a fee; Zurich says it has no ownership interest in the Exchanges.
Has Farmers faced lawsuits over marketing calls?
Yes. In Starling v. Farmers Insurance Exchange (St. Louis County, Missouri), Farmers agreed to make up to $2,875,000 available to settle claims that calls and texts from one Farmers agent to Do-Not-Call numbers violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. Farmers denies the claims.
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