Mountain West Farm Bureau Insurance auto insurance

Overview

Mountain West Farm Bureau Insurance is the Farm Bureau-affiliated property and casualty insurer for Wyoming and Montana, headquartered in Laramie, Wyoming. It sells auto, home, farm and ranch, and business insurance through local Farm Bureau agents, and it insures Colorado customers through its subsidiary 360 Insurance Company. Its website says its property-casualty products are intended for residents of Montana and Wyoming. Life insurance and annuities sold by its agents come from Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company of West Des Moines, Iowa.

NAIC's 2025 market share report ranked Mountain West Farm Group #103 among U.S. private passenger auto insurers by direct premiums written, just outside the top 100. At home it is a major player: the same NAIC data rank it third in Wyoming private passenger auto in 2025, behind State Farm and Progressive, with about 9.3% of the market. The company says it is the largest writer of farm and ranch insurance in Wyoming and among the top four in Montana.

Since September 2026 Mountain West has been owned by IFB Mutual Insurance Holding Company, the parent of Idaho Farm Bureau Insurance, though it keeps its own name, agents and Laramie office. For how state Farm Bureau insurers relate to one another, see Farm Bureau insurance: membership, eligibility and how it works.

History

In 1948 the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation organized the Agricultural Insurance Company of Wyoming and Agricultural Indemnity Company of Wyoming to insure its members. Ranch and farm coverage followed in 1952 and fire insurance in 1954. In 1958 Wyoming Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company formed a partnership with the Montana Farm Bureau Federation to serve Montana's agricultural community too, and in 1973 the company took the name Mountain West Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company to reflect both states. It adopted the American Farm Bureau Federation's national logo in 1987 and moved, with the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation, into its current building at 931 Boulder Drive in Laramie in 2003. In 2011 it formed 360 Insurance Company, a wholly owned subsidiary based in western Colorado.

The 2020s brought financial strain. AM Best said in 2025 that Mountain West's operating results had been volatile for two years, eroding its capital. In September 2025 the boards of Mountain West and IFB Mutual Insurance Holding Company approved a merger, and in September 2026 Farm Bureau Insurance Company of Idaho announced it had received all regulatory approvals and completed the deal. Mountain West was converted from a mutual into a stock insurance company wholly owned by IFB Mutual, and Mountain West, 360 Insurance Company and Mountain West Captive Re joined the Idaho group. The combined organization reports about 250 agents, 450 employees, more than 130,000 members, more than $800 million in annualized premium and $1.2 billion in assets across Idaho, Washington, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado. Jim Geesey was Mountain West's president and CEO when the merger was announced.

Auto insurance coverage

Mountain West's auto policy covers liability, comprehensive and collision, with a choice of deductibles. Optional coverages listed on its site are theft rental reimbursement, special equipment or paint, rental expense, additional living expense, and accidental death or dismemberment. Policyholders have access to emergency roadside service through a dedicated phone line. Farm trucks and farm vehicles with permanently mounted equipment are covered under its farm program, with their own discounts, and business vehicles under commercial auto.

Discounts and programs

Discounts listed on the company's website are:

• Safe driver for drivers accident-free for three or six years
• Good student for a student driver with a 3.0 GPA or better (see how the good student discount works)
• Low mileage for any vehicle driven less than 7,500 miles a year
• Multi-car for several cars on one policy
• Senior citizen for drivers 55 and older who complete a qualifying defensive driving course
• Package policy for insuring home and autos with Mountain West

No telematics or usage-based program is listed. Farm Bureau Federation membership brings separate member perks and discounts.

Claims

Claims start with the local agent: you call or email your agent's office to report what happened, the agent files the claim electronically with Mountain West's claims department, and a claims representative contacts you within three business days, or somewhat longer after a large catastrophe. The representative investigates and evaluates the claim. Roadside emergencies go to the emergency roadside service line at 888-292-3308. The company has not published a separate 24-hour claims number on its site, so keep your agent's contact details handy.

Ratings and reputation

AM Best rates Mountain West B++ (Good), a notch below the A ratings held by many larger carriers. In May 2025 AM Best affirmed that rating but revised its outlook to negative, citing material capital erosion from volatile results. In October 2025, after the merger was announced, it placed the ratings under review with positive implications, and in June 2026 it maintained that review status pending completion of the deal. The Idaho parent's insurer is rated A (Excellent) by AM Best.

Mountain West was not ranked in the Northwest region of the J.D. Power 2026 U.S. Auto Insurance Study or in the 2025 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study.

Who it suits

Mountain West suits Wyoming and Montana households, especially farm and ranch families, who want a nearby Farm Bureau agent and a single company for vehicles, home, farm and life insurance. Its new Idaho parent adds financial backing after several hard years. It suits less well drivers who want to buy or file claims online, need a usage-based discount, or put a high value on a top-tier financial strength rating.

• Strengths: Deep roots and agent presence in Wyoming and Montana; strong farm and ranch line for bundling; low-mileage and senior defensive driving discounts; now backed by a larger regional Farm Bureau group.
• Weaknesses: B++ AM Best rating after capital erosion; claims reported through agents rather than a published 24/7 line; no telematics program; sold only in Wyoming and Montana, plus Colorado through 360 Insurance; not ranked by J.D. Power.

How to contact Mountain West Farm Bureau Insurance