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Mandy Sleight has over 15 years of insurance knowledge and expertise in auto, home, life, health, pet, supplemental benefits, and other insurance products. She’s a sought-after insurance expert, appearing in Bankrate.com, Moneygeek.com, U.S. News & World Report, Reviews.com, CNET, and other publications, and she's been writing for Compare.com since 2023.
Mandy uses her background and experience working for well-known insurance companies like State Farm and Nationwide Insurance to create engaging and easy-to-understand content that helps readers make smarter insurance choices that have a positive effect on their budgets and finances.
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Lequita Westbrooks is an insurance editor at Compare.com. Her writing and editing experiences span several industries, including insurance, personal finance, higher education, and more. She excels at explaining complex topics like auto insurance in simple, easy-to-understand language and is passionate about helping readers save money. Lequita graduated from the University of South Florida, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in English.
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At Compare.com, it’s our mission to give you the tools to find the best (and most affordable) insurance for your unique needs and budget. We strive to provide information that’s helpful, clear, and unbiased, and we believe that comparing insurance companies should never put you at risk of spam. Our editorial team — which is made up of experienced writers, editors, insurance agents, and data analysts — has spent thousands of hours researching and creating the coverage overviews, side-by-side comparisons, and detailed reviews you see across our site.
While we make money through partnerships with some of the brands we discuss in our articles, our editorial team operates 100% independently, and these partners never influence or affect the topics, reviews, ratings, or recommendations we provide. We never guarantee favorable reviews or mentions in exchange for compensation from any brands or partners, and we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure our content is always independent, truthful, and unbiased.
| User Reviews | 4.2 |
|---|---|
| Our Rating Compare.com's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The objective formula used in these reviews weighs several important factors to consider when choosing financial products and services, including customer satisfaction ratings, ease of use, and a number of other components. | 4.2 /5 |
| Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $110/mo |
| Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $228/mo |
Customers appreciate the helpful staff and quality of coverage but dislike the frequent and unexplained premium increases.
Customers appreciate the helpful staff and quality of coverage but dislike the frequent and unexplained premium increases.
Derek
March 14, 2025
Incorrect Quote and Unexpected Price Increase
Ronald
March 1, 2025
I never hear from my agent and they don't return calls. I've been a Farmers customer for 40 years and they doubled my rate, changing payments from monthly to every 6 months with less than 3 weeks' notice.
Gloria
February 27, 2025
Very Poor
If you want to work with a local agent, Farmers is a solid option. It offers fairly robust policy options, especially for people looking to bundle auto and home insurance. But it’s likely not the cheapest option (and be sure to read reviews of your Farmers office before making the switch).
Lots of coverage options
Plenty of discounts and bundling opportunities.
Local agents
Above-average premiums
Telematics can raise rates
Below-average customer satisfaction
An increasing number of car insurance companies offer telematics programs. Farmers Insurance customers can participate in its Farmers Signal telematics program to earn savings and other rewards. The Signal app tracks your driving habits and rewards you for good behavior, like not speeding, slamming on the brakes, or driving during rush hour.
Although the program can lead to decent savings, it’s not for everyone, especially if you need to work on safer driving habits. You could save up to 15% on your Farmers auto insurance premiums, too many risky driving behaviors could cause your rates to increase at your next renewal. Some people say the app doesn’t always accurately record their trips, but several customers say they save 5%–10% by participating in the program.
Here’s how Signal works, ways to maximize your savings, and how it stacks up against the competition. Plus, we’ll share reviews from real-life Signal participants to help you determine if the program is worth it.
Signal is a telematics program offered by Farmers Insurance that tracks your driving habits through a smartphone app. Your good driving behavior could help you save money on your Farmers auto insurance policy.
The Signal app monitors your behavior as you drive and gives you a score after each trip. If you maintain a score of 80% or higher, you may be eligible to win up to $100 in rewards — not to mention lower car insurance rates.
Farmers Insurance isn’t the only telematics program available. Many of the best auto insurance companies offer usage-based insurance options, including:
Liberty Mutual and Safeco RightTrack
State Farm Drive Safe & Save
Allstate Drivewise
Progressive Snapshot
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The Signal program works through a smartphone app that you download onto your phone and will remain in your phone’s background. Once it detects you’re driving, the Signal app automatically starts recording the trip. After the trip ends, it’ll show up in your home screen trip list, allowing you to review your results and change the trip type (more on that later).
Knowing what the app tracks and how it determines who’s driving can help you better understand how Signal works.
Let’s take a closer look.
Like many other usage-based insurance programs, Signal monitors driving habits and behaviors, including:
Hard braking
Driving faster than the posted speed limit
Phone usage while driving
Mileage of each trip
The time of day you drive
Signal also has an optional CrashAssist feature that uses sensors in your phone to detect if you’ve been in an accident. You’ll get a push notification on your smartphone asking you to confirm whether you were in a crash. From there, the app can:
Contact emergency services in the area
Help you file a claim
Access roadside assistance
Although Signal tracks your location and the personal information you provide at enrollment, it can’t track other app data or personally identifiable information (PII).
The Signal app observes your behavior — including your phone’s rotation as you get into your car — to determine who’s driving, according to the Farmers website. You can change the trip after it’s complete if the app incorrectly labeled you as the driver.
To do so from the Home screen:
Go to the Trips section.
Select “All Trips.”
Locate the trip in question and click the right arrow.
Scroll to the bottom and click “Edit.”
Change the type to Passenger, Not a Car, or Driver, then click “Done.”
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Signal customers save 5% when enrolling and can save up to 15% for practicing safe driving habits. Keep in mind your discount will vary and can change at each renewal depending on driver participation and behaviors throughout the prior policy term.
All household drivers must participate to be eligible for the maximum discount. Besides the discount potential, you can win a monthly reward of up to $100 if you earn a driving score of 80% or better.
Some Farmers customers say they earn around 10% in savings or less with the Signal app, as shown in the reviews below.
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Usage-based and telematics programs are extremely popular among auto insurance companies — even the cheapest insurers typically offer this option for potential savings.
The table below shows some of the most popular usage-based insurance programs, including initial and maximum discounts.
Program | Initial Discount | Maximum Discount |
|---|---|---|
| Farmers Signal | 5% | 15% |
| Allstate Drivewise | Varies by state | Varies by state |
| American Family KnowYourDrive | 10% | 20% |
| Chubb SafeLane | 10% | 20% |
| Direct Auto DynamicDrive | 10% | Not disclosed |
| Liberty Mutual RightTrack | 10% | 30% |
| Nationwide SmartRide | 10% | 40% |
| Progressive Snapshot | Varies by state; average discount of $94 | Varies by state; average discount of $231 |
| Safeco RightTrack | 10% | 30% |
| State Farm Drive Safe & Save | 5% | 30% (may exceed 30% in some states) |
| The Hartford TrueLane | 12% | 25% |
| Travelers IntelliDrive | 10% | 30% (up to 40% in Nevada) |
| USAA SafePilot | 10% | 30% |
Farmers’ and State Farm’s telematics programs offer the lowest initial discount of 5%. And Farmers’ maximum discount is also the lowest of all programs on this list. Several companies — like Liberty Mutual, Nationwide, and Travelers — offer higher discounts of up to 40%. That means safe drivers and low-mileage drivers could potentially see significant savings.
If you want to get the maximum Signal discount, make sure you enroll young drivers in your household into the program — and be sure that every household participant practices safe driving habits. Here are some helpful tips:
Use a phone cradle: Put your phone in a cradle or stand so it doesn’t move around, which can cause false phone usage readings.
Calibrate your phone’s accelerometer: Smartphones have built-in sensors that measure movement. Adjust yours to improve app accuracy.
Follow the speed limit: Stay within the posted speed limit to earn a higher safety score.
Avoid driving during peak times: If you can, don’t drive during peak times, like morning and evening rush hour or late at night.
Keep your mileage low: Carpool, ride your bike, or take public transportation to reduce mileage.
Yes. Farmers Signal can decrease or increase your discount based on your driving behavior. And while safe drivers can save on their insurance premiums, drivers with risky behaviors — like excessive speeding or phone use while driving — could see a rate increase.
You can also get a rate increase from other factors, such as:
Not having all drivers in the household use the Signal Farmers app
Driving through heavy traffic or late at night
Letting a passenger use your cell phone while you’re driving
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Though Farmers Signal may be worth it for the safest drivers who don’t drive many miles, it may not be worth it for everyone. Its low discount potential makes it one of the telematics programs least likely to offer significant savings.
With that said, the CrashAssist feature could help you receive emergency care faster if you get into an accident, and the potential to win Signal Rewards may make it worthwhile.
Looking at online reviews, Signal customers note that the program makes them more aware while driving, but many are frustrated by inaccurate trip logging, phone usage errors, and the app draining their phone battery.
One customer also mentions speed limit changes on a local road that the app hasn’t picked up, resulting in an inaccurate record of excessive speeding. But this doesn’t appear to have a significant effect on their score.
Check out the reviews below to help determine if Farmers Signal is worth it for you.
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It’s easy to sign up for Farmers Signal. Follow the steps below to get started.
New and existing auto insurance customers can sign up for Signal through Farmers. If you’re new, ask about including the Signal discount when getting a quote. If you’re a current customer, contact your Farmers agent or call 1 (800) 709-7821 to enroll in the program.
To start the Signal program, you first have to download the mobile app. Farmers will text you a link; go to the link and download the Signal app on your smartphone. Then, enter your personal information and enable app permissions for location and tracking to get started.
Driving safely can help you get and keep a high focused driving score, lowering your premium and making you eligible for Signal Rewards. Farmers monitors the following driving behaviors when calculating your score:
Hard braking
Speeding
Time of day you’re driving
Mileage
Phone use while the vehicle is in motion
The Signal app lets you view the last 30 days of your trip history. Click “My Driving Behavior” to view details and compare your driving score to other driver scores in your household.
The Signal app shows your current discount on the home screen in the top right corner. Click on “My Discount” to see your estimated renewal discount. Your discount can change at each policy renewal.
These answers to the most common questions about the Farmers Signal app and program can help you determine if it’s the right choice for you.
It depends. With Signal, eligible Farmers customers can save up to 15% on their insurance premiums. It may be worth it for safer drivers who obey the speed limit and avoid hard braking, using their phones while driving, and driving during heavy traffic periods. Customers report average savings of around 10%.
Farmers Signal collects personal information you provide during enrollment. It uses cookies to track your location when you’re in motion and keep you logged in so the app can automatically run when you drive. The app may also gather anonymous data to determine the average miles driven and trips taken for all users.
It depends. Farmers Signal can lower your bill, but your premium can also go up if you practice risky driving behaviors. You can track your trips and driving score through the Signal app to see what your savings could be at your next policy renewal.
The Signal app doesn’t allow you to see trip details for other household drivers. But you can see their focused driving scores by going to the “more” screen and clicking on “All Household Drivers.”
Sources
Google Play, “Signal by Farmers,” Accessed April 1, 2024.
App Store, “Signal by Farmers,” Accessed April 1, 2024.
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Mandy Sleight has over 15 years of insurance knowledge and expertise in auto, home, life, health, pet, supplemental benefits, and other insurance products. She’s a sought-after insurance expert, appearing in Bankrate.com, Moneygeek.com, U.S. News & World Report, Reviews.com, CNET, and other publications, and she's been writing for Compare.com since 2023.
Mandy uses her background and experience working for well-known insurance companies like State Farm and Nationwide Insurance to create engaging and easy-to-understand content that helps readers make smarter insurance choices that have a positive effect on their budgets and finances.
Lequita Westbrooks is an insurance editor at Compare.com. Her writing and editing experiences span several industries, including insurance, personal finance, higher education, and more. She excels at explaining complex topics like auto insurance in simple, easy-to-understand language and is passionate about helping readers save money. Lequita graduated from the University of South Florida, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in English.
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