KEY TAKEAWAYS: State Farm has begun distributing dividend payments to eligible Louisiana auto insurance customers. The insurer will return a total of $136 million to policyholders across Louisiana. The average payment is $138 per eligible vehicle for policies in effect Dec. 31, 2025. State Far m expects payments to continue in phases through the end of 2026.   Louisiana’s State Farm auto insurance customers are beginning to receive policy dividend checks in the mail or through direct deposits as part of the company’s $5 billion nationwide rebates. Republican Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple said he is aware that the payments have commenced. “Anytime ratepayers can have money returned to their pockets is a good thing, but especially as people struggle with high grocery and gas prices,” Temple said Aug. 26 in an interview with USA Today Network. State Farm previously announced its dividend program after it recorded strong profits nationwide. State Farm, the largest auto insurance provider in Louisiana with 30% of the market, will return a total of $136 million to its Louisiana customers. The average payment will be $138 per vehicle for policies in effect as of Dec. 31, 2025, Temple said. “Insurance companies base their rates on projections of how much they will collect in premiums and how much they will pay out in claims,” Temple said. “When an insurance company takes in more money than anticipated and pays out less in claims, whether due to national trends, state-level reforms, or both policyholders should benefit directly through lower premiums.” Temple said private auto insurance companies have filed more than 45 rate decreases in Louisiana in 2025 and 2026 combined that he said are tied to a host of new laws supported by Temple and passed by the Legislature and Gov. Jeff Landry. Landry has said the new insurance laws created a “balanced approach” that will curb both insurance companies’ profits and personal injury lawsuit awards and “hold both sides accountable.” “Those reforms include modifying our state’s comparative fault system, repealing the direct action statute, limiting third-party litigation financers’ influence in lawsuits, reversing the Housley presumption, increasing medical billing transparency in litigation, strengthening distracted driving laws and more,” Temple said in a statement. Still, Louisiana is listed as the No. 1 or No. 2 most expensive states for auto insurance by outlets like Forbes, MarketWatch and Insure.com in 2026 rankings. “We’re made substantial progress, but there’s so much more to do,” Temple said in a previous interview with USA Today Network. Temple is running for reelection in 2027. Customers with multiple eligible vehicles may receive more than one rebate payment. State Farm customers who have questions about the payments should call 1-888-808-9532 or visit sfdividend.com. The company anticipates that payments will be issued in phases through the end of this year. Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1. This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Louisiana customers begin receiving State Farm dividend payments Reporting by Greg Hilburn, Shreveport Times / Shreveport Times USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect ...read more read less