Countryway Insurance is a regional property and casualty insurer focused on farms, rural homes, personal auto insurance, and related liability needs. It is part of the Virginia Farm Bureau Group, sells through independent insurance agents, and is especially relevant to consumers whose property or lifestyle does not fit neatly into a standard suburban insurance profile.[1][2]
Countryway is not designed to compete with the largest national insurers on instant online quoting, mobile-app features, or mass-market advertising. Its strongest case is different: local-agent distribution and insurance products built around rural homes, farms, farm equipment, livestock, and other exposures that can require more detailed underwriting.
This review focuses on what Countryway actually publishes about its products, financial strength, claims process, discounts, ownership, and policy-management experience. Where Countryway does not publish enough current information—such as standardized average premiums or a clean state-by-state product list—we say so rather than estimate.
QUICK VERDICT
Is Countryway Insurance a good company?
Countryway is worth considering if you live in an area it serves and want an agent-led policy for a rural home, farm, horse-farm enterprise, or personal vehicle. The insurer is part of Virginia Farm Bureau Group and AM Best upgraded the group, including Countryway, to an A (Excellent) Financial Strength Rating in 2020.[3]
Its main limitation is convenience. Countryway directs shoppers to independent agents rather than an instant online quote flow, and its current website says registration/login functionality is being changed as part of a system upgrade. Consumers who prioritize app-based policy management and fully digital quoting may prefer to compare Countryway with more digital-first insurers before buying.
Countryway Insurance at a glance
| Company | Countryway Insurance Company |
|---|---|
| NAIC number | 10022 |
| Company type | Property and casualty insurer |
| Domicile | New York |
| Parent group | Virginia Farm Bureau Group |
| Current listed address | 12580 West Creek Parkway, Richmond, Virginia 23238 |
| NY license date | October 20, 1954 |
| Countryway name adopted | 2002, after operating as Agway Insurance Company |
| Virginia Farm Bureau acquisition | May 11, 2011 |
| AM Best Financial Strength Rating | A (Excellent), based on the latest public AM Best rating action we verified for the Virginia Farm Bureau Group |
| Primary distribution | Independent insurance agents |
| Main products highlighted by Countryway | Personal auto, homeowners, farmowners, farm equipment breakdown, liability-related coverage, and identity-theft resolution/expense coverage |
What stands out
- Strong specialization in farms and rural communities.
- Independent-agent model can be useful for complex property or agricultural risks.
- Farmowner coverage can combine homes, barns, machinery, livestock, produce, and liability under one policy structure.
- Equipment breakdown coverage is specifically designed around farm and home equipment.
- AM Best A (Excellent) financial strength rating for the Virginia Farm Bureau Group, including Countryway.
- Claims can be reported by phone 24/7.
- Homeowners products publish several concrete coverage features and discount opportunities.
What to consider
- No instant Countryway quote is offered on the main product pages; shoppers are directed to an agent.
- Countryway does not publish standardized average auto or home premiums that allow a meaningful national price comparison.
- Its website currently provides less self-service functionality than many large national insurers.
- Product and discount availability varies by state.
- The company’s own pages use somewhat inconsistent wording about its current geographic footprint, so ZIP-specific availability should be confirmed with an agent.
- Countryway is not commonly included in the largest national customer-satisfaction studies, which limits direct third-party comparisons.
Countryway’s history is older than the Countryway name
One easy mistake is to describe Countryway as a company founded in 2002. New York regulatory records tell a more complete story. The New York Department of Financial Services lists Countryway Insurance Company as licensed in the state on October 20, 1954. The same record shows an earlier company name, Grange League Federation Insurance Company, followed by Agway Insurance Company. The Countryway name appears in the record with an August 28, 2002 change date.[1]
Countryway later became part of Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company. Virginia Farm Bureau states that it acquired 100% of Countryway’s stock on May 11, 2011. At the time, Countryway was already writing farm, home, and auto business through hundreds of independent agencies.[2]
Today, Countryway remains a New York-domiciled insurer in the Virginia Farm Bureau Group. New York regulators list its current address at 12580 West Creek Parkway in Richmond, Virginia. That distinction matters: domicile, historical operating location, parent-company location, and mailing address do not always mean the same thing for an insurance company.
Where is Countryway Insurance available?
Countryway’s current public website does not provide a single clean state-by-state availability table. Its homepage says the company specializes in farms and rural communities in eight northeastern states and Kentucky, while its general products page separately refers to eight northeastern states, Kentucky, and Virginia.[4]
Because availability can differ by product and state, the safest approach is to verify your ZIP code through Countryway’s agent finder before assuming that auto, home, or farm coverage is available where you live. A state in which the company is licensed may also have different product forms, limits, endorsements, or discounts than another state.
Important: Do not choose an insurer based only on whether it appears to operate in your state. Confirm that the specific product and coverage options you need are offered for your address, vehicle, property, or farm operation.
Countryway auto insurance
Countryway’s auto offering is less heavily documented online than its farm and homeowners products. The company says it has served personal automobile needs in rural communities for more than 30 years and offers competitive rates, with a preferred tier for excellent drivers in most states where that feature is available.[5]
Countryway does not publish a full nationwide menu of auto endorsements on its main auto page. That means shoppers should avoid assuming that every optional feature available from another carrier—such as accident forgiveness, rideshare coverage, new-car replacement, or a specific roadside package—is automatically available from Countryway.
When you request a Countryway auto quote, ask the agent to show the policy’s liability limits, uninsured/underinsured motorist options, physical-damage deductibles, medical-related coverages where applicable, rental or towing options if offered, and any state-specific endorsements. Comparing the same auto insurance coverage limits across insurers is more useful than comparing premium alone.
Countryway homeowners insurance: Country Pride Gold and Silver
Homeowners insurance is one of the areas where Countryway publishes more useful detail. Its Country Pride homeowners program includes protection for the home and personal possessions plus personal liability and medical payments to others. Countryway currently presents two named options: Country Pride Gold and Country Pride Silver.[6]
| Feature published by Countryway | Country Pride Gold | Country Pride Silver |
|---|---|---|
| Replacement coverage for home contents | Listed | Listed |
| Inflation protection for insured home value | Listed, subject to availability | Listed, subject to availability |
| Published liability options | $100,000, $200,000, $300,000, $500,000 | $100,000, $200,000, $300,000, $500,000 |
| Installment payment plans | Listed | Listed |
| Smoke alarm/security-system discount | Listed | Listed |
| Higher-deductible savings | Listed | Listed |
| New-home discount | Listed, availability varies | Listed, availability varies |
| “Care-Free Home” discount for qualifying renovated older homes | Not shown on current Gold page | Listed, availability varies |
The key phrase throughout these product pages is availability varies by state. A feature shown online is not a promise that it will appear on every Countryway policy. Ask the agent for the actual form, endorsement, deductible, and limit that would apply to your home.
Farm insurance is where Countryway is most distinctive
Countryway’s farmowners program is the clearest reason to look beyond a generic national-carrier comparison. The company describes a package that can cover multiple parts of a farm operation under one policy, including the residence and contents, barns and other buildings, silos, farm personal property, machinery, livestock, farm produce, and farmer’s comprehensive liability.[7]
That matters because agricultural risk is rarely limited to one house and one vehicle. A working farm can combine residential property, business-use structures, expensive machinery, stored products, animals, and liability exposures. Treating those pieces independently can create overlaps or gaps if policy boundaries are not coordinated carefully.
Farm buildings
Countryway specifically lists barns, buildings, and silos among the property categories its farmowner coverage can address.
Machinery and equipment
Farm personal property and machinery are highlighted separately from the dwelling, reflecting the value and operational importance of equipment.
Livestock and produce
Countryway lists livestock and farm produce among the categories its farmowners policy can protect, subject to policy terms and limits.
Farm liability
Farmer’s comprehensive liability is part of Countryway’s published farmowner offering, helping address liability exposures connected with farm operations.
Farmowner Advantage features
Countryway’s Farmowner Advantage page goes further. It highlights one-policy/one-agent convenience, flexible payment options, replacement cost on dwellings and contents, replacement cost on qualifying modern outbuildings, dairy and poultry loss-of-income coverage, and farm extra-expense coverage. These features can materially change the value of a farm policy, so they are worth discussing explicitly with an agent instead of focusing only on the base premium.[7]
Equipment breakdown coverage deserves its own review
Countryway says equipment breakdown insurance is included as part of its farmowners policy. Its published examples are unusually specific and include electrical distribution systems, boilers and pressure vessels, heating and cooling systems, refrigeration, business computers, deep-well pumps, irrigation equipment, emergency generators, grain dryers, milking machines, ventilation fans, bulk milk storage tanks, and mechanized feed, waste, and egg-handling equipment.[8]
The company also lists covered causes such as mechanical breakdown, electrical short circuit, certain pressure-vessel failures, business-computer breakdown, and resulting utility-service interruption. Actual coverage depends on the contract, but this level of equipment detail is one reason Countryway may be more relevant to a working farm than a standard homeowners policy with a few agricultural endorsements.
Horse farms and mixed rural properties
Countryway’s product overview says it offers property, auto, and liability coverage to farm, residential, and horse-farm enterprises.[4] That makes the company potentially relevant when a property combines a residence with equine or agricultural activity.
However, horse ownership can create very different insurance needs depending on whether horses are kept for personal use, boarding, training, lessons, breeding, events, or another commercial purpose. Do not assume a general farmowners policy automatically covers every equine activity. Tell the agent exactly how the horses, land, barns, trailers, and facilities are used and ask which exclusions or endorsements apply.
Identity theft coverage
Countryway also publishes an Identity Theft Resolution and Expense Coverage endorsement for homeowners and farmowner policies. Its product page describes resolution assistance and up to $15,000 in expense reimbursement after a $250 deductible. Because this page describes a specific endorsement and third-party resolution service, confirm with the agent that the current version is available in your state and policy form before relying on those figures.[9]
What does Countryway Insurance cost?
There is no honest single answer. Countryway does not publish a standardized national average premium on its current consumer product pages, and we did not find a current, sufficiently broad public rate dataset that would justify presenting an “average Countryway rate” as if it applied to most shoppers.
That is especially important for this insurer because a rural property, farm, horse operation, detached buildings, equipment, livestock, vehicle use, deductibles, liability limits, and state-specific forms can make two Countryway policies very different.
For personal auto coverage, compare the Countryway proposal with equivalent quotes using the same drivers, vehicles, limits, deductibles, and optional coverages. Our guide on ways to lower car insurance rates explains why an apparently cheaper quote may not be a better value if protection has been reduced.
Published Countryway homeowners discounts
- Residential smoke alarm or security-system savings.
- Premium savings for choosing a deductible greater than $250.
- New-home discounts for qualifying homes under 20 years old.
- On Country Pride Silver, a “Care-Free Home” discount may be available for qualifying homes over 35 years old when specified systems have been renovated.
Countryway explicitly notes that options and discounts vary by state. Ask the agent to identify each discount applied to your quote rather than assuming every advertised discount is available.
Claims: how Countryway policyholders report a loss
Countryway provides a 24/7 claim-reporting phone line at 1-800-828-6862. The company also lists claim reporting by email at claims@countryway.com and by fax. Its website describes the phone line as the fastest reporting method.[10]
Digital experience and policy management
This is an area where Countryway currently trails many large national insurers. Countryway allows policy payments online without a login and provides online access to claim-reporting information. However, its login page currently says that registration and login functionality has been removed while the company upgrades its systems.
That does not make the insurer weaker financially or reduce the value of a policy, but it matters if your priority is digital self-service. Shoppers accustomed to changing coverage, viewing documents, tracking claims, downloading ID cards, and managing multiple policies through a sophisticated mobile app should ask what Countryway and the local agency can currently handle online.
Countryway’s financial strength
AM Best upgraded the Financial Strength Rating of Virginia Farm Bureau Group—including Countryway Insurance Company—to A (Excellent) from A- (Excellent) in March 2020. AM Best said the ratings reflected the group’s balance-sheet strength, operating performance, business profile, and enterprise risk management at the time of that rating action.[3]
A financial-strength rating is useful because it evaluates an insurer’s ability to meet policy obligations; it is not a guarantee that every customer will be satisfied with a claim, nor is it a prediction of your individual premium. Financial strength should be considered alongside policy terms, service accessibility, complaints, price, and coverage fit.
What about customer satisfaction and complaints?
Countryway is a smaller regional carrier and is not as consistently represented in large national auto-insurance satisfaction studies as State Farm, Allstate, GEICO, and other high-volume insurers. We therefore do not assign Countryway a customer-satisfaction score based on scattered online reviews.
Individual review websites can be useful for identifying recurring themes, but a few positive or negative posts are not enough to establish a company-wide claims trend. When evaluating Countryway, ask the agent how claims are handled in your area, review your state insurance department’s complaint resources when available, and compare the actual policy—not just anecdotes.
Countryway vs. a typical national insurer
| Shopping factor | Countryway | Typical large national carrier |
|---|---|---|
| Primary sales model | Independent-agent focused | Often online, phone, captive agents, or a combination |
| Instant online quote | Not emphasized; shoppers are directed to agents | Common |
| Rural/farm specialization | Core part of the brand and product lineup | Varies significantly by carrier |
| Farm equipment detail | Extensive published equipment-breakdown examples | May require specialty or separate farm products |
| Mobile/digital self-service | More limited based on current public website | Often a major part of the customer experience |
| Public national rate data | Limited | More commonly available for major carriers |
| Best fit | Rural households, farms, and shoppers who value agent guidance | Broad consumer market; exact strengths depend on insurer |
Who should consider Countryway Insurance?
- Farm owners: especially where barns, machinery, livestock, produce, and farm liability need to be coordinated.
- Rural homeowners: particularly consumers who prefer working with a local independent agent rather than relying only on an online quote engine.
- Horse-farm households: Countryway explicitly lists horse-farm enterprises among the types of risks it serves, although the specific equine activity must be disclosed and verified.
- Customers who want to place multiple rural risks with one insurer: Countryway markets home, farm, auto, and liability-related products that may be coordinated through one agent.
- Consumers who value financial-strength stability: the verified AM Best group rating is A (Excellent).
Who may want to compare other insurers?
- Drivers who want to complete the entire quote and purchase process online without speaking to an agent.
- Consumers who place a high value on a feature-rich mobile app and extensive self-service tools.
- People outside Countryway’s service footprint.
- Shoppers who want published national rate averages before providing information to an agent.
- Consumers whose needs are simple and who find a substantially better price elsewhere for genuinely equivalent coverage.
Questions to ask a Countryway agent before buying
- Which Countryway policy form would insure my home, vehicle, farm, or horse property?
- Which buildings, equipment, animals, or business activities are excluded unless specifically scheduled or endorsed?
- Are replacement-cost provisions available for my dwelling, contents, or qualifying outbuildings?
- What liability limit do you recommend for the exposures on this property, and what umbrella options are available?
- Which discounts are actually included in this quote?
- What changes if I raise the deductible?
- How are farm vehicles and personal vehicles classified?
- What happens if equipment breaks down because of a mechanical or electrical failure rather than a covered property loss?
- Can I report and track claims digitally, or will most service be handled by phone and the agency?
- Are all coverages and endorsements shown in writing on the quote or proposal?
Frequently asked questions
Is Countryway Insurance legitimate?
Yes. Countryway Insurance Company is a New York-domiciled property and casualty insurer with NAIC number 10022 and is part of the Virginia Farm Bureau Group. New York Department of Financial Services records list a New York license date of October 20, 1954.
Who owns Countryway Insurance?
Countryway is part of Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company. Virginia Farm Bureau says it acquired 100% of Countryway’s stock on May 11, 2011.
What is Countryway Insurance’s AM Best rating?
AM Best upgraded the Virginia Farm Bureau Group, including Countryway, to an A (Excellent) Financial Strength Rating in March 2020. Consumers should always check the latest AM Best information when financial strength is important to a purchasing decision.
Does Countryway offer car insurance?
Yes. Countryway offers personal automobile insurance and says it has served rural auto-insurance needs for more than 30 years. It also says a preferred tier for excellent drivers is available in most states, subject to availability.
Does Countryway insure farms?
Yes. Farmowners insurance is a major part of Countryway’s product lineup. Published coverage categories include the home and contents, barns and buildings, silos, machinery, livestock, farm produce, and farm liability, subject to policy terms.
Can I get a Countryway quote online?
Countryway’s consumer product pages direct shoppers to local independent agents for details and estimate proposals rather than presenting a standard instant online quote flow. Use the company’s agent finder to confirm local availability.
How do I report a Countryway claim?
Countryway lists 1-800-828-6862 for 24/7 claim reporting and also publishes an email claim-reporting option at claims@countryway.com.
Is Countryway only for farmers?
No. Countryway offers personal auto and homeowners coverage in addition to farm-related insurance. Its specialization in rural communities is a major part of its positioning, but owning a working farm is not the only reason someone might qualify.
Our bottom line on Countryway Insurance
Countryway is not trying to be the most digital insurer in the market. Its value proposition is narrower and, for the right customer, more interesting: an established regional insurer within Virginia Farm Bureau Group that focuses heavily on farms, rural communities, homeowners, and personal auto coverage sold through independent agents.
The farmowners and equipment-breakdown material is the strongest part of Countryway’s published product lineup. Homeowners also get clearly described Country Pride options and several published discount opportunities. On the other hand, shoppers looking for instant quotes, detailed public rate data, and a polished app-first experience may find national carriers easier to evaluate and manage.
The best way to judge Countryway is not to ask whether it is “cheap” in general. Ask whether its policy solves the specific risks you have, then compare its limits, deductibles, endorsements, exclusions, and annual premium with at least two other proposals offering genuinely comparable protection.
COMPARE YOUR OPTIONS
Compare coverage before choosing a carrier
Use your ZIP code to compare available insurance options, then match coverage limits and deductibles before choosing. If you specifically want Countryway, its official website directs shoppers to an independent Countryway agent. Quote availability through InsuranceCoverage.net or third-party partners may not include Countryway.
References
- New York Department of Financial Services, Countryway Insurance Company details, NAIC #10022, licensing, domicile, group, address, and company-name history. Source ↩
- Virginia Farm Bureau, ownership and acquisition history. Source ↩
- AM Best, March 19, 2020 rating action upgrading Virginia Farm Bureau Group and Countryway to A (Excellent). Source ↩
- Countryway Insurance Company, official homepage and product overview. Source ↩
- Countryway Insurance Company, Automobile Insurance. Source ↩
- Countryway Insurance Company, Homeowners and Country Pride product information. Source ↩
- Countryway Insurance Company, Farmowners Insurance and Farmowner Advantage. Source ↩
- Countryway Insurance Company, Farmowner Equipment Breakdown coverage. Source ↩
- Countryway Insurance Company, Identity Theft Resolution and Expense Coverage Endorsement. Source ↩
- Countryway Insurance Company, Policyholder Claim Reporting. Source ↩