State Farm is doling out $100 checks to 49 million customers. Here’s who qualifies and how to get paid

Have a car insured by State Farm? The nation’s largest auto insurer said it will soon send out payments averaging about $100 per vehicle to nearly 50 million customers in what the insurer is describing as a one-time customer giveback tied to its recent financial performance, the company announced Thursday.

State Farm can offer these paybacks thanks to the largest dividend in the company’s history. As a result, the entire pool for customer paybacks is $5 billion.

The move comes after several years of volatility in the auto insurance market, in which rising repair costs and extreme weather have pushed premiums sharply higher for many drivers. As of this month, the average cost of car insurance in the U.S. is $2,697 per year, according to Bankrate, which calls the cost is “an uncomfortably high bill for many Americans.” According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, car insurance premiums are 55% higher than they were in February 2020, NPR reported.

But this isn’t stopping State Farm from giving back to its customers. The insurer said it’s also recently issued other auto insurance rate reductions in many states, saving customers $4.6 billion annually.​

“State Farm Mutual is able to provide value directly to our customers while maintaining financial strength to keep our promises in the future,” State Farm Mutual President and CEO Jon Farney said in a statement. “That translated this year to lower auto rates and cash back in the form of a $5 billion policyholder dividend.”

Why State Farm is sending $100 checks

The company says the payments are a way to share results from a stronger-than-expected year, after earlier periods of steep underwriting losses across the industry.

Auto insurers have been squeezed by inflation in car parts, labor, and medical costs, forcing multiple rounds of rate hikes in many states. As claim costs have begun to stabilize, State Farm is opting to return a slice of surplus directly to customers rather than keep it on its balance sheet.

​That’s because State Farm is a mutual company and “is uniquely positioned to provide value directly to customers rather than shareholders,” according to the company.

Who qualifies for the $100

Roughly 49 million personal auto customers are expected to qualify, according to State Farm. To be eligible, you generally must have (or have had) an active personal auto policy with State Farm in 2025.

​As of Friday, State Farm had not specified any further eligibility requirements.

It’s important to note the average payment to customers averages to $100, but can vary based on state and premiums paid.

How and when you’ll get paid

State Farm said it will start making the one-time payments to qualifying customers this summer. The company has yet to specify how and exactly when customers will receive payment.

A State Farm spokesperson, however, told CBS the cash distribution “will not be issued as a credit.”

​For this story, Fortune journalists used generative AI as a research tool. An editor verified the accuracy of the information before publishing. 

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com