Guides
Farm Bureau insurance: membership, eligibility and how it works
How Farm Bureau car insurance works: the link between state Farm Bureau federations and their insurers, membership dues, who can join, and how to compare it.
Farm Bureau insurance is sold by insurers affiliated with each state's Farm Bureau, a membership organization for farmers and rural families. In most states you join the Farm Bureau, typically for a yearly fee of roughly $25 to $40 according to the insurers' own sites, and then buy auto, home and life insurance through a local Farm Bureau agent. You do not need to be a farmer. There is no single national Farm Bureau insurer: coverage, prices and quality vary by state.
How Farm Bureau insurance is organized
Each state has a Farm Bureau federation, a voluntary membership group that advocates for agriculture and is part of the national American Farm Bureau network. Most federations created or sponsored their own insurance companies in the mid-20th century, when rural families had few insurance options. Today those insurers are separate legal companies, usually mutuals owned by their policyholders, but they keep close ties to the federation and often require membership to buy.
The arrangements fall into three groups:
| Model | Examples from our profiles |
|---|---|
| One-state insurer tied to one federation | Farm Bureau Insurance of Tennessee, Texas Farm Bureau Insurance, North Carolina Farm Bureau Insurance, Kentucky Farm Bureau Insurance, Georgia Farm Bureau Insurance, Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance |
| Multistate insurer serving several federations | Southern Farm Bureau Casualty (Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina); Farm Bureau Financial Services (eight Midwest and Western states); Idaho Farm Bureau Insurance, Idaho's insurer, which completed a merger with Mountain West Farm Bureau Insurance (Wyoming and Montana) in September 2026 |
| Former Farm Bureau insurers that grew beyond it | COUNTRY Financial, which shares leadership ties with Illinois Farm Bureau and sells in 19 states; Nationwide, which began in 1926 as Farm Bureau Mutual, sponsored by the Ohio Farm Bureau, and separated from it in 1948 |
Alfa Insurance in Alabama is the insurer of the Alabama Farmers Federation, the state's Farm Bureau, and follows the same pattern under a different name.
Membership: what it costs and who can join
Membership fees and rules come from each state federation. Figures published by the insurers profiled on this site, as of October 2026:
| State | Annual membership | Required to buy auto? |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | $25 per household | Membership gives access to the insurance |
| Tennessee | $30 per family | Yes |
| Georgia | $35 | Yes |
| Indiana | $36 (primary membership) | Yes, for auto and most other policies |
| Virginia | $40 | Yes |
| Florida (Southern Farm Bureau) | County Farm Bureau dues | Yes |
Other states, including Oklahoma, also require membership; Idaho policyholders become members of the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation. Check the rule and current fee in your state before you quote.
You do not need to farm. Alfa says any Alabama resident can join its federation, Georgia Farm Bureau says it serves all types of people in Georgia, and Tennessee Farmers sells to any Tennessee Farm Bureau member, farmer or not. Membership dues help fund the federation's agricultural advocacy, which some members value and others may not.
Membership extras. Federations negotiate member discounts on hotels, car rentals, prescriptions and other services; North Carolina and Indiana list such benefits, and Oklahoma's federation gives active members free roadside service.
How Farm Bureau auto policies compare
Agents and service
Farm Bureau insurers sell through local agents who represent only the Farm Bureau companies, working much like captive agents. Many have an office in nearly every county: North Carolina Farm Bureau in all 100 counties, Kentucky Farm Bureau in all 120, Georgia Farm Bureau in 158 of 159. If you want a hometown agent and adjuster, this is the model's main appeal.
Satisfaction and ratings
Results vary widely by state. In the J.D. Power 2026 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, Florida Farm Bureau Insurance ranked first of 14 in Florida (693), and Kentucky Farm Bureau placed fourth of 17 in the Southeast, while Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan ranked 19th of 20 in the North Central region. Financial strength ratings also vary: AM Best rated Tennessee Farmers A+ (Superior) as of August 2026, while several other state insurers carry A- (Excellent). Check your state's company.
Discounts and telematics
Bundling auto with home, farm or life insurance is central to the model, and a multi-policy discount is common. Some state insurers run telematics programs, such as Driveology (Farm Bureau Financial Services), Drive2Save (Virginia), DriveRight (Kentucky) and FB Drives Michigan; others advertise none.
Pros and cons
- Strengths: local agents and adjusters; strong ties to rural communities; easy bundling with home, farm and life; some state companies with top satisfaction scores.
- Weaknesses: annual membership fee on top of the premium; most companies sell in one state, so a move means switching; fewer online and app features at some companies; agent-only sales.
Worked example: counting the membership fee
Say a Farm Bureau insurer quotes $1,380 a year and a national insurer quotes $1,400 for identical coverage (hypothetical figures). With a $35 membership fee, the Farm Bureau total is $1,415, so it is $15 more expensive in year one. Include the membership fee in every comparison, and if you would also bundle a home policy, compare the bundled totals.
How to shop Farm Bureau insurance
- Find your state's Farm Bureau insurer; our state guides list it under insurers with a strong presence (for example Tennessee, Texas, North Carolina, Kentucky, Georgia).
- Ask whether membership is required and what it costs, and whether you can get a quote before joining.
- Get a quote for the same coverage you are pricing elsewhere.
- Add the membership fee and compare against at least two other insurers.
- Check the company's AM Best rating, complaint record and J.D. Power regional score with the compare auto insurers side by side.
Key takeaways
- Farm Bureau insurers are separate, usually mutual, companies affiliated with each state's Farm Bureau federation; there is no single national Farm Bureau insurer.
- Most require Farm Bureau membership, typically $25 to $40 a year among the states we checked.
- You do not have to be a farmer to join or buy.
- Quality varies by state: Florida Farm Bureau led Florida in J.D. Power's 2026 study, while other state companies scored below average.
- Include the membership fee when comparing quotes, and expect to switch insurers if you move out of state.