American Family vs State Farm: which is better for car insurance in 2026?
Across our six scoring categories, American Family comes out ahead in 2, State Farm in 4. State Farm edges the weighted overall score by 0.6 of a point, on the strength of price, claims satisfaction, financial strength, digital experience. That is not a reason to skip American Family: it scores higher on complaint record, discounts, and a quote that comes in lower beats a review that scores higher. State Farm is the safer default; American Family is worth a quote if you are among midwest drivers who bundle and use telematics.
American Family vs State Farm, side by side
Sources: average premiums from NerdWallet's August 2026 rate analysis (Quadrant Information Services), for a 35-year-old driver with a clean record and good credit in a 2023 Toyota Camry LE at 12,000 miles a year, 100/300/50 limits with $1,000 deductibles — national average $2,356. Claims satisfaction from the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study (segment average 700). Complaint record from NerdWallet's analysis of NAIC complaint data, 2022–2024. Financial strength from AM Best. Discounts and app data from each carrier's published pages and the Apple App Store / Google Play, retrieved August 2026. Updated August 2026.
Category by category
Price
State Farm aheadState Farm averages $2,065/yr for full coverage against American Family's $2,785/yr — about $720 a year, or 60 dollars a month, in State Farm's favor for this profile.
$2,785 a year for full coverage, 18% above the national average. American Family is priced above the market.
At $2,065 a year for full coverage, State Farm sits about 12% under the national average — competitive, but not the cheapest of the national carriers.
Claims satisfaction
State Farm aheadState Farm takes claims satisfaction on 716/1,000 against American Family's 702/1,000.
702 out of 1,000, two points above the segment average. Essentially average.
716 out of 1,000 in the J.D. Power 2025 claims study puts State Farm comfortably above the 700-point segment average, and ahead of every other insurer in the top four by market share.
Complaint record
American Family aheadAmerican Family takes complaint record on Fewer than expected against State Farm's About the expected number.
Fewer complaints than expected for its size — its strongest measure.
State Farm draws about the number of complaints its size predicts. For the largest personal auto insurer in the country, average is a more meaningful result than it sounds.
Financial strength
State Farm aheadState Farm takes financial strength on A++ against American Family's A.
AM Best A (Excellent).
AM Best's top rating, A++. State Farm is a mutual company owned by its policyholders, with no shareholders to pay.
Discounts
American Family aheadAmerican Family takes discounts on 14 published against State Farm's 11 published.
Fourteen published discounts, including several unusual ones — a loyalty discount that rewards a parent's tenure, and a young-volunteer discount.
Eleven published discounts, including a 25% good-student discount and up to 40% off medical coverage for passive restraints. Drive Safe & Save pairs the app with a mailed Bluetooth beacon.
Digital experience
State Farm aheadState Farm takes digital experience on 4.79 iOS / 4.6 Android against American Family's 4.72 iOS / 3.0 Android.
4.72 on the App Store but 3.0 on Google Play. That Android score is among the lowest in this review and hard to overlook.
4.79 on the App Store and 4.6 on Google Play across 1.7 million combined ratings — consistently strong on both platforms, which is rarer than it should be.
So which one?
Pick American Family if…
- You are among midwest drivers who bundle and use telematics.
- You want the lower complaint record — American Family sits at Fewer than expected.
- You expect to stack discounts — American Family's lineup is the broader of the two.
- Availability fits: 19 states, mostly the Midwest and West.
Pick State Farm if…
- You are among drivers who want a local agent rather than an app.
- Price is your first filter — State Farm averages $2,065/yr for full coverage on our benchmark profile.
- You care most about how a claim actually goes: State Farm scores 716/1,000.
- Financial strength is a priority; State Farm holds A++ from AM Best.
American Family vs State Farm, answered
The questions people ask before switching between these two.
Other comparisons
See all 359 head-to-head comparisons →Compare real quotes from both — and 50+ others.
Averages are a starting point. Your rate is the only number that decides it.