By Michael Shemtoub, trial attorney, Beverly Law. Updated November 2026.
Dealing with an insurance company?
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Who you are dealing with: the exchanges and Farmers Group
Farmers says three exchanges, Farmers Insurance Exchange, Fire Insurance Exchange and Truck Insurance Exchange, provide its auto, home, umbrella and business owners insurance. The exchanges belong to their policyholders, called subscribers, and Farmers Insurance Exchange lists its principal place of business in Los Angeles (Farmers, Our Companies).
A separate company, Farmers Group, Inc., manages each exchange as its attorney-in-fact under the business name Farmers Underwriters Association. Farmers Group is part of Zurich Insurance Group, a Swiss company, and Farmers states that neither Farmers Group nor Zurich has any ownership interest in Farmers Insurance Exchange.
The policy in your claim may come from another company in the family. Companies named on that Farmers page include Mid-Century Insurance Company, Farmers Texas County Mutual Insurance Company, Texas Farmers Insurance Company and Farmers Insurance Company of Washington. Check the company name on the declarations page or the first claim letter so your letters go to the right insurer.
Farmers’ share of the California and Texas auto markets
| State | What the regulator’s data shows | Source |
|---|---|---|
| California | In 2025, Farmers Insurance Group wrote 8.14% of private passenger auto liability premium and 6.78% of auto physical damage premium, and ranked second among all property and casualty groups by total premium | CDI 2025 market share report |
| Texas | In 2025, Farmers Insurance Group ranked sixth in private passenger auto premium, with a 5.21% share | TDI auto market report, 2025 data |
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Reporting the claim and what Farmers says happens next
Farmers lists its Claims Center at 1-800-435-7764 and also takes claims online at farmers.com/claims and through its app. It says a claim representative will contact you and explain how your coverage applies.
For repairs, Farmers says it stands behind work done at its network shops for as long as you own the vehicle (Farmers auto claim steps).
Two points from the Farmers claims FAQ matter most when you did not cause the crash:
- If you claim under your own Farmers policy, you pay your deductible and Farmers seeks the money back from the at-fault driver’s insurer, then repays your deductible.
- Rental coverage applies only if your policy includes it and you are repairing through your policy. It is not available for a drivable car while you wait for a repair appointment.
The deadlines Farmers must meet in each state
| Rule | California | Texas | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acknowledge the claim | 15 calendar days after notice, plus forms and help (10 CCR 2695.5(e)) | By the 15th day, and start investigating and request what it needs (Ins. Code 542.055) | 10 business days (WAC 284-30-360) |
| Investigate and decide | Accept or deny within 40 calendar days after proof of claim, with written reasons for a denial (10 CCR 2695.7(b)) | Accept or reject in writing by the 15th business day after it has all items it asked for, or explain why it needs up to 45 more days (542.056) | Finish the investigation within 30 calendar days unless that cannot reasonably be done (WAC 284-30-370); tell a first-party claimant within 30 calendar days after notice of the claim whether it is accepted or denied, under rules in effect since October 18, 2026 (WAC 284-30-380) |
California’s deadlines protect third-party claimants too (10 CCR 2695.2(c)). The Texas chapter 542 deadlines cover only first-party claims by an insured or beneficiary (542.051), so they help you against your own Farmers policy.
The remedies differ too. California lists unfair claims practices in Insurance Code 790.03(h), but in Moradi-Shalal v. Fireman’s Fund (1988) the state Supreme Court held that section does not create a private lawsuit; the Insurance Commissioner enforces it. A Texas insurer that is liable on a claim and misses the chapter 542 rules owes its policyholder 18% yearly interest plus attorney’s fees (542.060). Washington lets a first-party claimant who is unreasonably denied sue for actual damages, which a court may raise up to three times, after 20 days’ written notice to the insurer and the OIC (RCW 48.30.015).
When several people are hurt in the same crash
In Texas Farmers Insurance Co. v. Soriano (1994), the Texas Supreme Court held that an insurer may enter into a reasonable settlement with one of several claimants even if that uses up or shrinks the money left for the others. With several injured people and a small policy, the order of settlements can change what is left for you. Our page on policy limits explains how per-person and per-crash limits work.
Statements, records and the defense medical exam
Read what not to tell the insurance company before you agree to a recorded call, and limit any medical authorization to crash-related providers and dates.
If the claim becomes a lawsuit, the defense may seek a defense medical exam. In California a defendant may demand one physical exam without a court order if it involves no painful, protracted or intrusive test and takes place within 75 miles of your home (CCP 2032.220). Texas and Washington require a court order on good cause (Tex. R. Civ. P. 204.1; CR 35).
What this means for your case
- On the first call, write down the Farmers company name, the claim number and the representative’s name.
- Make requests in writing and log the dates, so you can show whether the deadlines were met.
- If a denial or low offer arrives, ask for the reasons in writing. A California written denial must tell you that you can have it reviewed by the Department of Insurance and give that unit’s address and phone number (10 CCR 2695.7(b)(3)). See how to respond to a low settlement offer.
- If fault is disputed, each state splits it differently; see comparative fault in California, Texas and Washington.
To complain, contact the California Department of Insurance at 1-800-927-4357 or online, the Texas Department of Insurance at 800-252-3439 (complaint help), or the Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner at 800-562-6900 (file a complaint). Texas cases are handled by the firm’s Texas-licensed attorneys, Joyce Ondich and John Efstathiou.
Common questions
Is Farmers Insurance owned by Zurich?
Farmers Group, Inc., which manages the exchanges, is part of Zurich Insurance Group. The exchanges themselves belong to their policyholders, and Farmers says Zurich has no ownership interest in Farmers Insurance Exchange.
What number do I call to report a claim to Farmers?
Farmers lists its Claims Center at 1-800-435-7764. You can also file online or in the Farmers app.
Should I claim under my own Farmers policy or the other driver's insurer?
Farmers says you can choose. Your own collision coverage means paying the deductible first, while the other insurer will work on repairs only after it decides its driver was responsible.
Can I sue Farmers directly if it insures the driver who hit me?
Usually your injury claim is against the driver, and the insurer defends and pays within the policy. California’s unfair practices statute gives you no private lawsuit. Beverly Law offers a free case review in English or Spanish at (310) 552-6959. You owe no fees or costs unless we win. Find more answers in our injury law FAQs.
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Related pages
Sources
- Farmers Insurance, Our Companies (exchanges, Farmers Group, Inc., Zurich, company list) (farmers.com)
- Farmers Insurance, File or track a claim (farmers.com)
- Farmers Insurance, Steps to filing an auto claim (farmers.com)
- Farmers Insurance, Claims FAQ (farmers.com)
- California Department of Insurance, 2025 Market Share Report, Top 25 Insurance Groups' Concentration Level (insurance.ca.gov)
- Texas Department of Insurance, private passenger auto market report, year ending December 2025 (posted March 2026) (tdi.texas.gov)
- Cal. Code Regs., tit. 10, 2695.2 (Cornell LII) (law.cornell.edu)
- Cal. Code Regs., tit. 10, 2695.5 (Cornell LII) (law.cornell.edu)
- Cal. Code Regs., tit. 10, 2695.7 (Cornell LII) (law.cornell.edu)
- Cal. Insurance Code 790.03 (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov)
- Moradi-Shalal v. Fireman's Fund Ins. Companies (1988) 46 Cal.3d 287 (SCOCAL) (scocal.stanford.edu)
- Tex. Insurance Code 542.051 (statutes.capitol.texas.gov)
- Tex. Insurance Code 542.055 (statutes.capitol.texas.gov)
- Tex. Insurance Code 542.056 (statutes.capitol.texas.gov)
- Tex. Insurance Code 542.060 (statutes.capitol.texas.gov)
- Texas Farmers Insurance Co. v. Soriano, 881 S.W.2d 312 (Tex. 1994) (Leagle) (leagle.com)
- WAC 284-30-360 (app.leg.wa.gov)
- WAC 284-30-370 (app.leg.wa.gov)
- WAC 284-30-380 (app.leg.wa.gov)
- RCW 48.30.015 (Insurance Fair Conduct Act) (app.leg.wa.gov)
- Cal. Code of Civil Procedure 2032.220 (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov)
- Tex. R. Civ. P. 204.1 (South Texas College of Law Houston, Texas Rules Project) (stcl.edu)
- Washington Superior Court Civil Rule 35 (courts.wa.gov)
- California Department of Insurance, Consumer help and complaints (insurance.ca.gov)
- Texas Department of Insurance, Get help with an insurance complaint (tdi.texas.gov)
- Texas Department of Insurance, complaint page with help line (tdi.texas.gov)
- Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner, File a complaint (insurance.wa.gov)
Important: This page is general information, not legal or medical advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different; talk to a lawyer about yours. Texas cases are handled by the firm’s Texas-licensed attorneys, Joyce Ondich and John Efstathiou. Last reviewed: November 7, 2026.