Country Financial Car Insurance Review
Country Financial is an Illinois Farm Bureau-rooted mutual (1925) that marked its 100th anniversary in 2025 under new CEO Jim Jacobs. Three facts shape a 2026 decision: the AM Best record (A+ or higher since 1976, A or higher since 1933, affirmed again August 6, 2026), the DriverIQ discount-only telematics program (10% at enrollment per vehicle, 1-25% at six-month renewal), and the 19-state captive-agent footprint. Modeled rates run roughly 28% above NerdWallet's national average, and gap coverage is not offered — the trade is multi-line continuity through a single agent plus one of the longest Superior-tier AM Best records in the family.
YesWeSure Bottom Line
Country Financial is a 100-year-old Illinois Farm Bureau-rooted mutual (established 1925) with one of the longest continuous Superior-tier AM Best records in the family (A+ or higher since 1976). DriverIQ is a discount-only telematics program; the trade-offs are a 19-state captive-agent footprint, above-benchmark modeled rates, and no gap coverage.
Strong at
Discount-only DriverIQ plus a century-long A+ record
DriverIQ gives 10% at enrollment per covered vehicle and 1-25% at each six-month renewal with no surcharges for unsafe driving (powered by Cambridge Mobile Telematics). AM Best A+ or higher since 1976, A or higher since 1933, affirmed again at A+ (Superior) / aa- with Stable outlook on August 6, 2026.
Watch for
Above-benchmark modeled rates and no gap coverage
NerdWallet December 2025 modeled Country Financial full-coverage at $2,960/yr versus a $2,315 national benchmark — roughly 28% above. Gap coverage is NOT offered; leased/financed vehicle shoppers should price gap elsewhere. The August 2026 AM Best affirmation (A+ Superior with Stable outlook) signals continuity but does not change the price-gap trade.
Worth comparing if
Multi-line shoppers in the Midwest, Great Plains, and Mountain West
Worth quoting if you live in the 19-state footprint, want a single COUNTRY Financial Representative handling auto, home, farm, life, retirement, and trust, and value DriverIQ's discount-only mechanics. Less compelling if you want direct online bind, chase national-cheapest pricing, or need gap coverage from your auto insurer.
Quote-dependent
State, agent, and which Country entity writes you
Whether your address falls in the 19-state footprint, which COUNTRY Financial Representative handles your policy, and which entity (Country Mutual, Country Casualty, Country Preferred) actually writes your specific risk tier and state.
At a glance
Parent
COUNTRY Financial (multi-line financial-services; Illinois Farm Bureau heritage, 1925)
Availability
19 states (upper Midwest + Great Plains + Mountain West + Southeast + AK): AL, AK, AZ, CO, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, MN, MO, NV, ND, OK, OR, TN, WA, WI
Distribution
Captive-agent exclusive via COUNTRY Financial Representatives
AM Best FSR
A+ (Superior); aa- ICR; affirmed August 6, 2026; Stable; A+ or higher since 1976, A or higher since 19332
Market share (2024)
~0.44% group PPA DWP; sits outside the NAIC top-251
Signature feature
Multi-line financial-services relationship (auto, home, farm, life, retirement, trust) through a single agent
Telematics program
DriverIQ (10% signup per vehicle; 1-25% at each 6-month renewal; discount-only, no rate-up)5
Missing coverage
Gap coverage is NOT offered4
Material 2025 event
CEO transition to Jim Jacobs; 100th anniversary of Illinois Farm Bureau-rooted mutual3
Strengths & considerations
Strengths
- One of the longest Superior-tier AM Best records in the family. A+ or higher since 1976; A or higher since 1933. The August 6, 2026 affirmation at A+ (Superior) with aa- ICR and Stable outlook continues that record.2
- DriverIQ is a discount-only telematics program. 10% at enrollment per covered vehicle and 1-25% at each six-month renewal based on driving. Unsafe driving does not result in a surcharge; the worst outcome is the discount shrinking at renewal.5
- Multi-line relationship through a single agent. COUNTRY Financial Representatives sell auto, home, farm, life, retirement, and trust products. A reader looking for a single-agent financial-services relationship can bundle more lines than typical P&C-only competitors.4
- Low-complaint reputation. Both NerdWallet and Policygenius characterize Country Financial as having far fewer than the expected number of complaints across three years of NAIC data.6
Considerations
- Modeled rates run above the national benchmark. NerdWallet December 2025 modeled Country Financial full-coverage at $2,960/yr versus the $2,315 publisher national average — roughly 28% above. The product trade is multi-line relationship and A+ Superior continuity, not pure-price value.6
- Gap coverage is not offered. If you lease or finance a vehicle and expect gap coverage from your auto insurer, Country Financial does not sell it. Consider gap from your lender or a separate carrier.4
- 19-state footprint — not national. Not available in California, Florida, New York, Texas, or any Northeast state. If you move outside the 19-state footprint, your Country policy may not be transferable.4
- Captive-agent only; no direct purchase. You must work with a local COUNTRY Financial Representative. For buyers who want a direct-first digital purchase, this is friction.4
Coverage options
Country Financial writes standard personal auto coverages plus carrier-specific products listed below. State availability and endorsement limits vary; confirm at quote time.
- Bodily injury and property damage liability4
- Collision4
- Comprehensive4
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist4
- Personal injury protection: Where state requires.4
- Medical payments4
- New-car replacement4
- Personal items coverage: Default $800 limit.4
- Rental-car reimbursement / trip interruption4
- Roadside assistance4
- Safety-glass (windshield) replacement4
- Gap coverage: Country Financial does NOT offer gap coverage.4
Discounts
- Multi-policy: Bundle auto with home, farm, life, or financial products.4
- Multi-car: More than one vehicle on policy.4
- Good Student: B average or better.4
- College graduate: For insureds under 25 with completed degree.4
- Legacy / young driver: Unmarried under-25 insured whose parents are Country clients.4
- Engaged couple: Planning-your-wedding discount for engaged policyholders.4
- Occupation-based: Teachers, firefighters, police, EMTs, paramedics.4
- Good driver: Three or more years clean driving.4
- Defensive driver: Approved course completion.4
- Simply Drive course: Country Financial course credit.4
- Anti-theft: Qualifying anti-theft devices.4
- Advance quote (early shop): Quote before current policy expires.4
- DriverIQ telematics: 10% at enrollment per vehicle; 1-25% at each six-month renewal; discount-only, no rate-up for unsafe driving. (10% enrollment; 1-25% at renewal)5
DriverIQ (telematics)
DriverIQ is Country Financial's smartphone-based telematics program. The app tracks speed, hard braking, hard cornering, hard acceleration, phone use while driving Country Financial markets DriverIQ as a discount-only program; unsafe driving does not result in surcharges. The worst outcome is the discount shrinking at renewal. The program is powered by Cambridge Mobile Telematics (CMT) DriveWell platform and launched in July 2021.5
- Enrollment discount: 10% at enrollment for the first policy period, per covered vehicle5
- Max renewal discount: between 1% and 25% at each six-month renewal based on measured driving5
- Can it raise your rate? DriverIQ is reported as a discount-only program; the headline savings are the only published outcome. Confirm your state's rules at enrollment.5
Pricing
Every Country Financial quote is personal. What follows are modeled premiums for defined driver profiles from reputable publisher analyses — not personalized quotes. Use them to calibrate what to expect, not to replace a real quote in your state.
NerdWallet (December 2025): Composite driver profile; standard full-coverage limits.6
- Full coverage: $2,960 per year ($247/mo)
- Minimum coverage: $911 per year ($76/mo)
Publisher national benchmark: $2,315/yr
How to read these numbers. Different publishers model different profiles and may use different underlying data (Quadrant Information Services is the most common dataset). Your quote depends on your driving record, credit-based insurance score where allowed, vehicle, garaging ZIP, mileage, prior insurance history, age, household composition, telematics participation, and the coverages and deductibles you select.
Complaints and regulatory record
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners publishes a complaint index that normalizes complaint counts against a company's share of premium written. A value of 1.0 represents the baseline expected complaint volume for a company of that size; lower is generally better.
Both NerdWallet and Policygenius characterize Country Financial as having far fewer than the expected number of complaints across three years of NAIC data. Pull current per-entity values on NAIC CIS before signing. Country Mutual is the lead writer; Casualty and Preferred fill specific state and risk-tier roles.9
To look up the current complaint index for the specific Country Financial underwriting entity that writes policies in your state, use the NAIC Consumer Information Source or your state Department of Insurance. The entities most commonly rated for Country Financial are:
- Country Mutual Insurance Company (NAIC Group #0150)
- Country Casualty Insurance Company
- Country Preferred Insurance Company
Complaint index measures regulator-filed complaints, not overall service quality; treat it as one input among several. Index values vary by underwriting entity and by state and can shift year over year, so pull the current number for your state before signing.
Financial strength
AM Best affirmed Country Financial at Financial Strength Rating A+ (Superior) and Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating aa- (Superior) on August 6, 2026 with a stable outlook2. AM Best affirmed FSR A+ (Superior) and ICR aa- (Superior) with Stable outlook for the COUNTRY Financial P&C group members and COUNTRY Life Insurance Company on August 6, 2026. Country Financial has carried A+ or higher since 1976, A or higher since 1933 — no downgrade or outlook change in the trailing 24 months.
What these ratings mean and do not mean. A high financial-strength rating indicates the insurer has the resources to pay claims under a wide range of adverse scenarios. It is not a guarantee of any specific claim outcome, service quality, or price competitiveness in your quote. Ratings can change; check the affirmation date.
Material news (last 24 months)
- AM Best affirmed A+ (Superior) and aa- with Stable outlook (August 2026): COUNTRY Financial P&C and Life group members affirmed. A+ or higher since 1976; A or higher since 1933 — one of the longest continuous Superior-tier records in the family.2
- 100th anniversary (1925-2025) and CEO transition to Jim Jacobs (January 2025): Country Financial marked its centennial in 2025. Jim Jacobs, previously General Counsel, Chief Legal Officer, and Secretary since February 2008, was named CEO succeeding Kurt Bock on retirement. Multi-line structure (auto, home, farm, life, retirement, trust) unchanged.3
- ~13,500 storm claims across severe-weather events (March 2026 onward) (March 2026): Severe-weather claims activity following March 2026 Illinois tornado/hail season — 60% home, 26% auto, 12% farm, 2% commercial. Did not trigger an AM Best rating action.7
YesWeSure Fit Check
Is Country Financial a fit worth quoting?
Country Financial tends to fit if you
- You live in the 19-state Country Financial footprint and want a named local COUNTRY Financial Representative as your multi-line agent.
- You plan to bundle auto with home, farm, life, retirement, or trust through a single relationship.
- DriverIQ's discount-only structure (no surcharges for unsafe driving) appeals more than Allstate Drivewise or Progressive Snapshot two-way mechanics.
- A century-long A+ (Superior) AM Best record is a counterparty bar for you.
Look carefully if you
- You live outside the 19 Country Financial states — the agent-sold product is not available where you live.
- You need gap coverage from your auto insurer; Country Financial does not sell it.
- NerdWallet's $2,960/yr modeled full-coverage benchmark is well above the $2,315 publisher national average.
- You want a direct-first digital-only quote-and-bind path; Country Financial is captive-agent only.
This is decision-support reasoning, not personalized advice. Your real decision depends on your quote in your state, current regulator data, and how much of your total budget an incident could disrupt.
Ready to compare Country Financial against alternatives?
Compare car insurance quotesCommon questions
Where does Country Financial write personal auto?
In 19 states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington, and Wisconsin. Not available in California, Florida, New York, Texas, or any Northeast state.
Is Country Financial related to a Farm Bureau?
Yes. Country Financial was established in 1925 by Illinois Agricultural Association (Illinois Farm Bureau) members as Farmers Mutual Reinsurance Company. The company remains affiliated with the Illinois Farm Bureau and sells across farm, auto, home, life, retirement, and trust lines. 2025 marked the 100th anniversary.
How is Country Financial rated by AM Best?
AM Best affirmed COUNTRY Financial P&C and Life group members at Financial Strength Rating A+ (Superior) and Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating aa- (Superior) with a Stable outlook on August 6, 2026. Country has carried A+ or higher since 1976 and A or higher since 1933 — one of the longest continuous Superior-tier records in the family.
Can DriverIQ raise my rate?
No. Country Financial markets DriverIQ as a discount-only program; unsafe driving does not result in surcharges. 10% enrollment discount per covered vehicle for the first policy period, then 1-25% at each six-month renewal based on measured driving (speed, hard braking, sharp turns, acceleration, phone distraction). The worst outcome at renewal is a smaller discount, not a surcharge.
Does Country Financial offer gap coverage?
No. Country Financial does not sell gap coverage on personal auto. If you lease or finance a vehicle and want gap protection, you will need to buy it from your lender, dealership, or a separate carrier.
Can I buy Country Financial auto insurance online?
No direct online bind. Country Financial sells only through captive COUNTRY Financial Representatives. You will need to work with a local agent to quote and buy coverage.
How does Country Financial compare on price?
NerdWallet December 2025 modeled Country Financial full-coverage at $2,960 per year versus a $2,315 publisher national average — roughly 28% above. Treat the product as multi-line relationship and continuity value, not pure-price value.
Sources & methodology
- [TIER 1] AM Best affirms Country Financial A+ (Superior) and aa- (August 6, 2026 affirmation; A+ since 1976) (AM Best)
- [TIER 1] AM Best: Country Financial appoints Jim Jacobs as Chief Executive Officer (AM Best)
- [TIER 1] Country Financial: Auto insurance product page (coverages, discounts) (Country Financial)
- [TIER 1] Country Financial / Cambridge Mobile Telematics partnership: DriverIQ (Cambridge Mobile Telematics / Country Financial)
- [TIER 3] NerdWallet: Country Financial Auto Insurance Review (updated December 22, 2025) (NerdWallet)
- [TIER 3] FarmWeekNow: Severe storm claims activity (Country Financial VP Claims) (FarmWeekNow)
- [TIER 2] J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Auto Insurance Study (Country North Central 652) (J.D. Power)
- [TIER 1] NAIC Consumer Information Source (per-entity complaint and financial lookup) (National Association of Insurance Commissioners)
Evidence hierarchy on this page: Tier 1 (regulators, insurer documentation, rating agencies), Tier 2 (independent authoritative research including J.D. Power and industry datasets), Tier 3 (reputable publishers with transparent methodology). Every material claim traces to a source in this list, with the tier shown next to each source. Modeled rate figures are premiums produced from Quadrant Information Services or publisher proprietary data for defined driver profiles; they are not personalized quotes. Last reviewed .