Frequently Asked
Questions

Auto Insurance FAQ

Liability Protection

Liability coverage is available to pays claims, if an insured were at fault for injuries or property damage.¹ This includes an accident where, while owning, maintaining, or using the insured vehicle, injury to a person or property damage is caused. For example, to someone else's car, mailbox, or fence.

Collision and Comprehension

Collision coverage is available to pay for damages to one’s car, if it impacted another vehicle or object, or if his/her car rolled over, no matter who was at fault.

Comprehensive coverage is also available for damages to the insured car caused by something other than a collision, such as theft, vandalism, fire, flood, and hail.

Medical Payments

Medical payments coverage is designed to cover, among other things, the costs of doctors, nurses, hospitals, and funeral expenses for insureds, resulting from covered accidents, regardless of who was at fault. The coverage is also available when an insured drives another person’s vehicle (with permission), or if a car hit an insured or his/her family member, as pedestrians. In some states, medical payments coverage is referred to as personal injury protection, and may pay for lost wages².

Enhanced Rental Car Damage Coverage

Just as if there were an accident when driving one’s own purchased car, if there were a covered accident while driving a rented car, there'd be coverage available.

Farmers GroupSelect coverage also provides coverage for things such as³:

• The rental car agency’s income lost during repair to the damaged rental car
• Claim handling expenses
• Decrease in market value of the rental (Not available in NC and not available with all policy forms.)
• Related expenses, such as towing and storage²

Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists Coverage

Uninsured motorists coverage is available to pay the cost of damages and injuries resulting from being hit by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver. It also provides coverage if an uninsured driver struck an insured, or the insured’s relatives while pedestrians.¹

Underinsured motorists coverage is available to pay for damages that exceed the amount of coverage carried by an underinsured driver, meaning someone who does not have enough insurance to cover the damages.²

Want More Coverage?

• New car replacement: Depending on the policy form, if an insured’s new car were totaled within one year of purchase or during the first 15,000 miles—whichever came first—there is coverage to get it repaired, or replaced with a new car with no deduction for depreciation.⁴
• Major parts replacement: Available to pay to replace certain major parts, such as tires, brakes, and batteries, no matter what their wear-and-tear or depreciated value was at the time of the accident.⁵ (Not available in NC and not available with all policy forms). This does not apply to theft of tires or batteries, unless the entire vehicle were stolen.)
• Glass repairs without a deductible: If the insured windshield were chipped or cracked, and it could be repaired, we’d repair it and waive the deductible.²
• Legal defense costs: If one were sued for an incident arising out of the use, operation, or maintenance of the insured vehicle, coverage is available for the associated legal fees. There is also coverage to reimburse the insured for up to $200 per day for lost wages for attendance at hearings or trials at our request ($250 limit available in certain policy forms).
• Lease or loan gap coverage: This is available to pay off the lease or loan on the insured vehicle, if there were a total loss due to an accident, even if the amount exceeded the value of the vehicle.^{1, 2}

Home Insurance FAQ

Could I get a discount based on where I’m employed or because of my membership with a group or association?

Yes, you may be eligible for an additional discount because of your employment with a participating employer, or due to your membership in certain associations or groups. We recommend entering your employer’s or association’s name when you are quoting, so that we can offer you our best possible price.

How could I lower my homeowners insurance premiums?

There are a few ways you could save on your homeowners insurance from Farmers GroupSelect:

• Safety discounts are available in most states. Your premiums would be lower, if your home had fire prevention systems, such as fire alarms, automatic sprinkler systems, smoke detectors, or fire extinguishers. Theft prevention systems, such as central burglar alarms and deadbolt locks, may also qualify you for discounts.
• Bundle your auto and home insurance. Consider purchasing a home policy with an auto policy from Farmers GroupSelect — it could save you hundreds. Check out our Bundle & Save page for more details.
• Consider choosing a higher deductible. The higher your deductible, the lower your premium. But, always make sure that you’re financially able to pay your deductible, if you had a loss.
• See if you’re eligible for group discounts. If your employer or association offers access to our home insurance program, you could save even more. Call an agent to find out if this is available to you.

I’ve never had an insurance claim. Shouldn’t my home insurance costs be going down?

Even if you’ve never had a claim, your insurance costs could still rise over time, although it’s probably rising slower than it is for people who submitted claims. Premiums are based on a number of factors in addition to loss history, including, for example:

• Your home’s age and type of construction.
• How much it would cost to rebuild your home from scratch. Both the cost of materials and regional labor costs are taken into consideration.
• The risks of loss associated with where you live. Is there a high risk of wildfires? Hurricanes? Is it a high-crime area? Insurance companies monitor weather patterns, how quickly a fire department can get to a home, and how close the nearest hydrant is to a property, as well as loss statistics in your area, among other factors that bear on past and prospective loss experience and expenses.  Farmers GroupSelect does not exclude property based on location alone, as it believes good risks can be found everywhere.
• Your premium charges are lower, due to your lack of claims. Yet, other home policyholders have not been as fortunate as you and their claims have contributed to rising insurance costs. Sadly, fraud also contributes to rising insurance costs.

What’s the process for filing a claim?

Immediately following a loss, call Farmers GroupSelect’s claim service team at 1-800-854-6011. You should also:

• Take pictures of all damage and, if safe to do so, complete temporary repairs to your property immediately—for example, patching walls or roofs, or covering shattered windows with plywood and/or heavy-duty plastic.
• Save receipts and invoices associated with any emergency repairs to give to your claim adjuster.
• File a report with the police department and keep a copy for your adjuster, if you’ve been burglarized, making sure to include a detailed list of the items damaged or stolen.
• Make a room-by-room, written assessment of all damaged property, including descriptions, original costs, and approximate ages of all items.
• Once you’ve reported your claim to us, a claim specialist will contact you promptly, as soon as within 24 hours. The claim specialist will review your claim, help organize temporary repairs or emergency services, and set a date for inspecting the damages.

When can I expect to receive a settlement check, and whose name will appear on the check?

Settlement checks are dispatched as soon as we’ve confirmed coverage, completed an investigation, and made a comprehensive damage estimate. We make every effort to issue payment on claims as quickly as possible. If necessary, we dispatch additional supplemental checks once proper re-inspections are performed, or when the claim adjuster prepares a supplemental estimate. We may be required by state laws and policy language to include any mortgagees/lien holders on your settlement check(s). If a mortgagee/lien holder’s name appears on your settlement check(s), the mortgagee or lien holder must sign off on the check before it can be cashed. You should contact your mortgagee or lienholder directly to determine the process for co-signing/cashing settlement checks.

Under our replacement cost loss settlement option, in the event of a covered loss, we'd first pay the actual cash value for the damage to the property. When the item was replaced, or the specified repairs were completed, we'd pay the difference between the replacement cost and the actual cash value amount previously paid. The total amount that would be reimbursed is subject to the terms and conditions of the particular policy, including deductible and limits.

How can I locate a contractor for repairs?

Farmers GroupSelect has arranged with Crawford Contractor Connection network to provide construction repairs following covered losses. Your claim service associate can check whether this service is available in your area and schedule an inspection of your property. The network provides:

• Over 2,200 certified general and specialty contractors nationally
• A two-year warranty on materials and labor provided
• Continuous contractor credentialing process
• Worker’s compensation and insurance protection for the contractors
• Strictly monitored performance standards
• The choice of a contractor is always up to you.

Can I make changes online to my homeowners policy?

We are enhancing our on-line insurance platform and, during this time, you will be able to view and print your policy documents and make one-time payments on your policy. For all other service requests, contact our customer service center for assistance. To report a claim, please contact our 24/7 Claim Department at 1-800-854-6011.

Condo FAQ

Why do I need condo insurance?

As a condo owner, your condo association probably has a master insurance policy that covers a portion of the physical building and grounds.

However, the association’s policy doesn’t cover your personal property, private structures, or property that’s likely your responsibility under your property owner’s agreement. This means updates and improvements you’ve made to your condo, your personal liability, and your legal costs would not be covered by the association’s policy, if something happened in your condo and you’re sued. Having your own policy can provide a source of protection just for you and just in case.

What’s covered with condo insurance from Farmers GroupSelect?

The following features are available in our condo insurance policies:

• Replacement cost coverage is available in the event the insured experiences a loss to  property owned by him/her with respect to the condo unit. This includes any improvements or upgrades  made to the condo.¹
• Loss assessment protection is available to provide coverage in case a common area were damaged from a covered loss and the damage wasn't entirely covered by the condo’s master insurance policy. For example, if an elevator sustained damage from lightning and the cost to fix it exceeded what the master policy covered, the condo owners may be asked to contribute to make up the difference.
• Legal defense costs can be covered, if the insured were sued. Coverage is available to help pay for attorneys, document preparation, or other related legal expenses.
• A personal excess liability policy provides an added layer of liability protection beyond what's in underlying policies. This additional coverage can help the insured  be more prepared for the unexpected and protect him/her from needing to rely on valuable assets to pay for judgments above underlying policy limits.
• Coverage is available for personal belongings worldwide, so that no matter where they were, coverage would be available if they were damaged or stolen.
• Water backup coverage is optional coverage that is available to pay for loss, if water backed up and damages the condo or one’s belongings. Coverage is available for back ups through sewers or drains and sump pump overflows.¹

Could I get a discount based on where I’m employed or because of my membership with a group or association? 

Yes, you may be eligible for an additional discount because of where you are employed, or due to your being a member of certain associations or groups. We recommend entering your employer’s or association’s name when you are quoting, so that we can offer you our best possible price.

How can I lower my condo insurance premiums?

There are a few ways you could save on your condo insurance with Farmers GroupSelect:

• Safety discounts are available in most states. Your premiums would be lower, if your condo had fire prevention systems, such as fire alarms, automatic sprinkler systems, smoke detectors, or fire extinguishers. Theft prevention systems, like central burglar alarms and deadbolt locks, may also qualify you for discounts.
• Bundle your auto and condo insurance. Consider purchasing an auto policy with a condo policy from Farmers GroupSelect — it could save you hundreds. Check out our Bundle and Save page for more details.
• Consider choosing a higher deductible. The higher your deductible, the lower your premium. But, always make sure that you’re financially able to pay your deductible, if you had a loss.

How can I locate a contractor for repairs?

Farmers GroupSelect has arranged with Crawford Contractor Connection network to provide construction repairs for covered losses. Your claim service associate can check whether this service is available in your area and schedule an inspection of your property. The network provides:

• Over 2,200 certified general and specialty contractors nationally
• A two-year warranty on materials and labor provided
• Continuous contractor credentialing process
• Worker’s compensation insurance protection for the contractors
• Strictly monitored performance standards

Can I make changes online to my condo policy?

We are enhancing our online insurance platform, and, during this time, you will be able to view and print your policy documents and make one-time payments on your policy. For all other service requests, contact our customer service center for assistance. To report a claim, please contact our 24/7 Claim Department at 1-800-854-6011.

Renter's FAQ

Why is renter's insurance valuable?

Renter’s insurance provides protection for one’s belongings in case a covered cause of loss happened, subject to policy limits and policy terms and conditions. While your landlord is responsible for many things in your rental unit (such as plumbing and the roof), unless your landlord were found to be responsible for the loss, his/her insurance policy would not cover your personal belongings.

What does renter's insurance from Farmers GroupSelect cover?

All of our renter’s insurance policies have coverage available for the following:

• Personal property coverage is available if a covered cause of loss happened and the insured needed to replace his/her belongings, subject to policy limits, terms, and conditions. If there were a loss, coverage would be available for the cost to replace, up to the actual cash value of the damaged or stolen property, again, subject to policy limits, terms, and conditions.¹
• Replacement cost loss settlement option provides coverage if a covered cause of loss happened and the insured needed to repair or replace the property. Our policies don’t deduct for depreciation (up to the coverage amount). This applies to any improvements, additions, or alterations made to the rental unit at your own expense.¹
• Personal liability protection is available to provide $100,000 of coverage (or more, if choosen), if someone else were hurt when he or she was in the rental unit. It also has coverage available for property damage caused to others that the insured is held responsible for. Coverage is also available for legal defense costs.
• Personal belongings are covered worldwide, so that no matter where they are, they'd be covered, if they were damaged or stolen.

What other renter’s insurance features are available?

In some states, we also offer four endorsements, which can be added to your basic renter’s policy. These endorsements cover electronics, musical instruments, recreational/sports equipment, and luxury items. They feature broader, all-risk coverage than what comes standard, which means protection is available, regardless of where or how the property was lost or damaged, subject to policy terms and conditions and coverage limits.  Property can be  repaired or replaced without deduction for depreciation.¹

• You can choose $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 of coverage, depending on the value of your items within these limits.
• In addition to broader coverage, some of these endorsements also come with a bonus coverage that provides protection if these items broke down or did not work correctly.
• Each endorsement has its own $100 deductible. Choose one or all of these endorsements, depending on your needs.
• To find out if these are available in your state, contact a Farmers GroupSelect representative today.

How could I save on a renter's insurance policy from Farmers GroupSelect?

In addition to our competitive premiums, you may qualify for discounts, including:

• Claim-free discounts — you could save with us when you don’t have any losses.²
• Multi-policy discount — choose us for your renter’s and auto coverage, and you’d be rewarded with our “Home Policy Plus” discount.
• Protective devices discount — if you installed safety and security devices in your rented home, you could secure significant savings.

Could I get a discount based on where I’m employed or because of my membership with a group or association?

Yes, you may be eligible for an additional discount because of your employment with a participating employer, or due to your membership with a participating group or association. We recommend entering your employer’s or association’s name when you are quoting, so that we can offer you our best possible price.

Can I make changes online to my renter's policy?

We are enhancing our on-line insurance platform and, during this time, you will be able to view and print your policy documents and make one-time payments on your policy. For all other service requests, contact our customer service center for assistance. To report a claim, please contact our 24/7 claim department at 1-800-854-6011.

Landlord's Rental Dwelling FAQ

What types of insurance for landlords do you offer?

We have two types of policies: Landlord’s Rental Dwelling insurance and Landlord’s Rental Condo insurance. Whether you’re a landlord with multiple rental properties, or you’re just leasing your home or condo, we’ve got a policy to suit your needs.¹

What does insurance for landlords cover?

The following benefits are available with our policies:

• Property coverage, which covers one’s rental house, meaning one built for one to four families, or a rental condo unit. The policy also has coverage available for private structures on the property (like a garage or shed), and for personal property, like tools, appliances, or furniture that’s stored on the property or used by your tenants. This coverage even includes items that are out for repair or service.
• Loss of rental income provides coverage when one’s rental property suffers a covered loss and the landlord loses rent because his/her tenant has to live elsewhere. The coverage is available for the loss of rental income during the repair or rebuilding period.
• Liability coverage has coverage available for one of the biggest risks landlords face: responsibility for injuries that occur on their rental property. This coverage includes personal liability, which has $100,000 of coverage available (or more if chosen) if someone got hurt or property damage occurred and the landlord were found responsible. This also has coverage for  legal defense costs arising out of ownership of the rental property and includes medical payments to others. So, if someone were hurt on your property, coverage would be available up to $1,000 (or more, depending on the policy) for medical costs.
• Personal injury coverage provides protection for a landlord from lawsuits alleging wrongful entry, wrongful eviction, and invasion of the right of private occupancy.

What other features and benefits do landord's insurance policies offer?

In addition to our basic policy, we offer two different options to protect landlords from out-of-pocket costs, if they ever had to repair or rebuild their investment property:

Extended limits coverage can safeguard against unexpected increases in building and repair costs, providing protection if the dwelling’s replacement cost exceeded the policy’s dwelling limit. If the amount of insurance selected for the dwelling prior to the loss turned out to not have been enough, Extended Limits Coverage can provide 25% more insurance to cover the extra need.

Boat FAQ

What types of boats can be covered by Farmers GroupSelect?

Coverage is available for boats up to 31' in length with values up to $150,000, that are used for private pleasure and recreation. Farmers GroupSelect doesn’t cover commercial uses, nor boats one owns and charters out.

What types of boat insurance coverage does Farmers GroupSelect offer?

Farmers GroupSelect offers a wide variety of coverage options, including:

• Liability protection: Our liability insurance coverage provides for bodily injury and property damage to others when the law holds the insured responsible. We’d also cover legal fees arising from ownership of the boat, should the insured be sued and needed to be defended .
• Boat repair necessitated by a covered loss: We have coverage available for both partial and full losses to the boat, including its hull, motor, trailers, and boating equipment. Covered items include: outboard and inboard motorboats, stern drives, jet skis, sailboats, personal watercraft, and more. Personal effects can be covered too while aboard or being loaded on or unloaded from the vessel, like fishing equipment and water skis. Simply add this optional coverage to your basic boat policy.
• Passenger protection: If for any reason passengers became injured resulting from the ownership, maintenance, or use of the boat, the policy has coverage available for up to $1,000 for each person under medical payments coverage, regardless of fault.
• Coverage for uninsured and underinsured boaters: This protects the insured and passengers in the event any of them were involved in an accident caused by a boat operator who was uninsured or underinsured. Note that UB and UIB coverage varies by state and is not available in all states.
• Hurricane warning protection: Whenever the National Weather Service issues a hurricane advisory, our policy anticipates a payment up to $250 towards hauling the boat out of the water to a protected area. There would be less of a worry about a natural disaster causing damage to the watercraft while it was still moored.
• Unforeseen emergency services: Because everything breaks down at one time or another, we offer emergency services coverage, which has $250 available toward towing and labor on land or in the water, including the delivery of fuel, oil, or a battery. Higher limits are also available. The policy also provides limited coverage for marine salvage costs necessarily incurred in saving and preserving an imperiled vessel.

What types of boat safety discounts and rewards does Farmers GroupSelect offer?

When you complete a boater safety course you may qualify for an additional discount. You may also qualify for additional discounts by having additional safety equipment on board when you are on the water.

Motorcycle & RV FAQ

What types of RV insurance do you offer?

Liability coverage¹: Coverage available for you and co-residing relatives who are ever found legally responsible for injuries or property damage involving the ownership, use, or maintenance of your RV.

Medical payments coverage²: Provides payment for injuries resulting from the ownership, maintenance, or use of a covered RV, if you, your co-residing relatives, or your passengers ever got into an accident.

Uninsured and underinsured motorists coverage³: For accidents with someone who doesn’t have enough, nor any insurance coverage, there would be coverage available under one’s own policy, up to the policy limit.

Physical damage coverage⁴: Covers an insured RV, if it got damaged from accidents, falling tree branches, fire, theft, vandalism, and more.  With respect to motorcycle policies, the coverage can include a motorcycle's accessories, like special handlebars and sidecars as well.

Special parts coverage: Available to take care of out-of-pocket costs for special parts, like tires, brakes, batteries, and shocks with no deduction for depreciation.^{5, 6}

Legal defense costs: Available to cover legal costs arising from use, ownership, or maintenance of the RV,  if one were sued. Reimbursement of up to $250/day is available, if one had to attend a hearing or trial at our request. (The available amounts vary based on policy form between $200 and $250.)

Are trailers covered by the policy?

We do have optional trailer coverage, which you may add onto your policy. This offers the same broad physical damage coverage to protect owned trailers that are used to transport one’s motorcycle, snowmobile, or other recreational vehicle.

Are there coverage suspensions or lay-up periods?

No. Once your policy goes into effect, coverage stays with you 24/7, 365 days a year, subject to policy terms and conditions.

What types of RV insurance discounts does Farmers GroupSelect offer?

Our multi-policy discount lets you save more when you have two or more policies, including RV, boat, auto, and home insurance. Check out our Bundle and Save page for more details.

In the event of any conflict between the coverage descriptions on this site and those in the policies themselves, the language in the policies prevails.

*Savings based on the average nationwide annual savings in 2021 reported by new customers who called the Farmers GroupSelect^SM employee and affinity member call center, switched their insurance to a Farmers^® branded insurance policy issued through the Farmers GroupSelect employee or affinity member program, and realized savings. Potential savings vary by customer and may vary by state and product. Statistics do not reflect sales of products sold on Agent360^SM. 

Auto and Condo FAQ

¹ See policy for restrictions.

² See policy for details and restrictions. All coverages not available in all states.

³ Requires comprehensive and collision coverages on at least one vehicle insured under the policy. See policy for restrictions and state applicability.

⁴ Subject to deductible and state availability. See policy for restrictions. Does not apply to leased, substitute, or non-owned autos. Applies within the first 12 months, or, depending on policy form, the  first 15,000 miles of ownership, whichever comes first.

⁵ Subject to deductible and state availability. See policy for restrictions.

Renter’s FAQ

¹ Subject to policy exclusions.

² Details vary by state.

Landlord's Rental Dwelling FAQ

¹ Landlord's rental dwelling insurance is not available in all states.

Motorcycle, RV, and Boat FAQ

¹ See policy for restrictions.

² Medical payment benefits not available in all states nor for all types of vehicles.

³ Subject to policy terms and conditions

⁴ Refer to the applicable policy for coverage details, conditions, and exclusions.

⁵ See policy for restrictions. A deductible may apply. Does not apply to leased, substitute, nor non-owned vehicles. This coverage does not apply to theft of tires nor batteries, unless the entire vehicle were stolen. Not available in all states.

⁶ Not applicable to off road recreational vehicles.

Boat insurance is not available in all states.

Coverage, rates, discounts, and policy features vary by state and product, and are available in most states to those who qualify. Policies have exclusions, limitations, and terms under which the policy may be continued in force or discontinued. For costs and complete details of coverage, contact your local Farmers GroupSelect representative or the company.

Advertisement produced on behalf of the following specific insurers seeking to obtain business for insurance underwritten by Farmers Property and Casualty Insurance Company (a MA licensee) and certain of its affiliates: Economy Fire & Casualty Company, Economy Preferred Insurance Company, Farmers Casualty Insurance Company, Farmers Direct Property and Casualty Insurance Company (CA Certificate of Authority: 1669-1; Warwick, RI), Farmers Group Property and Casualty Insurance Company (CA COA: 2460-4; Warwick, RI), or Farmers Lloyds Insurance Company of Texas, all with administrative home offices in Warwick, RI. Coverage, rates, discounts, and policy features vary by state and product and are available in most states to those who qualify. Policies have exclusions, limitations, and terms under which the policy may be continued in force or discontinued. For costs and complete details of coverage, contact your local representative or the company. 

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