When your car insurance bill goes up, switching providers can seem like the obvious answer.

But choosing a policy based only on the lowest advertised price can be a mistake. The better question is whether you’re getting the right combination of coverage, discounts, service, and price for your situation.

Farmers is one of the major insurance companies available to U.S. drivers, offering auto insurance along with home and other types of coverage. Its website currently allows shoppers to request an auto insurance quote online or work with an agent.

Before you decide whether Farmers is right for you, here are seven things worth checking.

1. Compare Your Current Price With a Farmers Quote

The easiest way to determine whether switching makes sense is to compare actual prices.

Your premium can depend on factors such as your driving history, vehicle, location, coverage selections, and other personal circumstances. That means a price advertised to another driver may not be the price you receive.

Farmers currently advertises that drivers could save an average of $530 by switching, but actual savings will vary by customer.

Get a Farmers car insurance quote

Getting a personalized quote gives you something much more useful than a general estimate.

2. Check Which Coverage You Actually Need

Don’t compare policies based on premium alone.

A lower-priced policy may have different deductibles, limits, or optional coverage than your current policy.

Farmers offers common auto insurance coverages such as liability and comprehensive coverage, with other coverage options depending on the policy and location.

Before switching, compare:

• Liability limits
• Comprehensive coverage
• Collision coverage
• Deductibles
• Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage
• Optional protections

The goal isn’t simply to find the cheapest policy. It’s to find a policy that provides the protection you actually want at a reasonable price.

3. Look for Discounts You May Be Missing

Insurance discounts can make a meaningful difference in the final premium.

Farmers lists discounts that may apply based on factors such as bundling, multiple vehicles, loyalty, and other policy or driver characteristics. Eligibility varies by location and individual circumstances.

One option that may be particularly interesting to households with multiple policies is bundling.

Farmers says customers can save 10% or more by bundling home and auto policies, although actual savings and eligibility depend on the customer and policies involved.

So when getting a quote, don’t forget to ask about every available discount.

4. Think About More Than Your Monthly Payment

A $20 difference in your monthly premium can look significant at first.

But consider the bigger picture.

Compare the:

Annual premium + deductible + coverage + available discounts + policy features

rather than simply asking which company has the lowest monthly payment.

A policy that’s slightly more expensive could offer coverage that makes more sense for your vehicle and financial situation.

5. Consider Bundling Home and Auto Insurance

If you already own a home or have renters insurance, it’s worth checking whether combining policies could make sense.

Farmers specifically promotes bundling home and auto insurance and says customers can potentially save by placing multiple policies with the company.

Even if you’re primarily shopping for car insurance, requesting a bundled quote can give you another price to compare.

6. Make Sure the Quote Matches Your Situation

A car insurance quote is only useful if the information going into it is accurate.

Farmers says its quote process can require information about you and your vehicle, including driver details, driving history, vehicle information, and current insurance information.

Before requesting a quote, have information such as your:

• Driver’s license information
• Vehicle details
• Current insurance information
• Driving history
• Household driver information ready.

The more accurate the information, the more useful the resulting quote should be.

7. Don’t Automatically Stay With Your Current Insurer

Many drivers renew the same policy year after year without checking whether they’re still getting a competitive rate.

But you don’t necessarily have to wait until your policy expires to compare alternatives.

Farmers notes that drivers can generally switch insurance companies at any time, although cancellation fees may apply depending on the circumstances. It also recommends making sure the new policy begins before the old one ends so there isn’t a lapse in coverage.

That makes comparison shopping a relatively simple way to check whether your current policy still makes sense.

What Kind of Driver Should Consider Farmers?

Farmers may be worth researching if you’re looking for:

• A major national insurance provider
• Multiple insurance products under one company
• Potential home-and-auto bundling savings
• A variety of auto coverage options
• Opportunities to qualify for discounts
• The option to get a quote online or through an agent

Of course, whether Farmers is the best choice depends on your individual circumstances and the quote you actually receive.

Before You Switch, Compare These 5 Numbers

When you receive a Farmers quote, put it next to your current policy and compare:

Annual premium

What will you actually pay over the policy period?

Deductibles

How much would you pay out of pocket after a covered claim?

Liability limits

Are the limits comparable to your current policy?

Coverage options

Are you losing any coverage you currently value?

Discounts

Which discounts are included, and which require additional eligibility?

This makes it much easier to compare policies based on value instead of price alone.

Ready to See What Farmers Would Charge?

You don’t have to guess whether switching could save you money.

Farmers currently offers online auto insurance quotes, allowing drivers to enter their information and see pricing based on their individual situation.

Check Your Farmers Auto Insurance Rate

Getting a quote doesn’t mean you have to switch. It simply gives you another number to compare with what you’re paying today.

And sometimes, that’s all you need to determine whether your current car insurance is still giving you a good deal.