State Farm and California: what to do if you've been non-renewed

If State Farm non-renewed your California home — or won't quote you a new policy — you're not alone, and there's a clear path forward. Here's what's going on and exactly what to do.

Key takeaways

• State Farm General stopped accepting new California homeowner applications in May 2023 and writes renewals only for most policyholders.
• It has non-renewed a share of existing policies, concentrated in higher wildfire-risk areas, and received an emergency interim rate increase in 2025.
• You have options: re-shop the admitted market, and line up the FAIR Plan + DIC as a fallback.
• Don't let coverage lapse — it can raise future rates and violate your mortgage terms.

What State Farm actually did

State Farm General — its California subsidiary — announced in May 2023 that it would stop accepting new applications for homeowners and most other property/casualty lines in the state, citing wildfire exposure and the cost of reinsurance. It later moved to non-renew a portion of existing policies, and in 2025 the California Department of Insurance approved an emergency interim rate increase. For most current policyholders the practical picture is: renewals only, and not everyone is renewed.

This is part of a broader retreat, not a judgment about you specifically. As carriers pulled back, more Californians fell to the FAIR Plan — now over 696,000 policies statewide (June 2026). See the full picture on the State Farm carrier page.

Your step-by-step plan

1. Find your dates and don't lapse. Note the exact non-renewal date and keep your current policy active until a replacement is bound.
2. Re-shop the admitted market first. A standard policy is cheaper and broader than the fallback. A high-risk specialist broker may place you with a carrier that's still writing. Check which insurers are likely to write your address and your county's typical premiums so you know your target.
3. Line up FAIR + DIC in parallel. If the admitted market comes up empty, you want the fallback ready. The FAIR Plan covers fire; a DIC policy adds liability, water, and theft. See how to apply.
4. Document wildfire mitigation. Defensible space, a Class-A roof, and ember-resistant vents earn credit under California's "Safer from Wildfires" rules and can move you from "declined" to "writable."
5. Re-shop every renewal. Carriers are re-entering under the Sustainable Insurance Strategy; your address may become writable again.

Who's still writing

Several admitted carriers committed to California's Sustainable Insurance Strategy continue to write new business, including Farmers, Mercury, CSAA, the Auto Club, USAA, and Travelers. Whether any of them will write your home depends on its wildfire risk — see which insurers are still writing in California and check a specific address on the map.

---

This is general information, not legal or insurance advice, and not a quote. Carrier actions are summarized from California Department of Insurance and public reporting. Who Will Insure provides estimates and referrals to licensed brokers, and never sells or binds coverage.