I used the Farmers Signal app every day for a full quarter. I wanted the safe driver discount. But I also wanted to see if it was fair. You know what? It was mostly fair. But it wasn’t perfect.
For an even deeper dive with screenshots and a step-by-step setup guide, you can check out my optional companion piece on Loup: Farmers Signal App Review – My Real Take After 3 Months.
Why I tried it
I have two cars and one kid who just got her license. Insurance isn’t cheap. My agent said Signal could lower our rate if we drive well. I like a clear target. Show me the rules. I can try to follow them.
Setup was easy, but there’s a catch
Install was simple on my iPhone. It asked for motion, GPS, and battery settings. That’s standard for telematics (that’s the fancy word for driver tracking). I turned off Low Power Mode, or it missed trips. That part matters. If you forget, the app can get grumpy.
First week, it logged every drive without me doing a thing. No beeps. No nagging. Just trips and scores.
What the app judges you on (in plain words)
- Hard braking
- Speeding over the posted limit
- Phone handling while moving
- Late-night trips
That’s it. No magic. Just sensors and maps. The accelerometer watches how you stop. GPS checks speed. If you pick up your phone, it knows.
Real moments from my life with Signal
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School drop-off: A dad in a big truck stopped fast. I stopped faster. Signal hit me with a hard brake. I get why, but it still stung. My kid said, “Mom, you saved our bumper.” The app didn’t clap.
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Winter roads: On a slushy morning, I eased into a stop. The tires slid a bit. Signal called it hard braking. It wasn’t reckless. It was ice. That felt unfair.
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Squirrel sprint: Tiny guy dashed out near Maple Street. I braked hard. Safety first. Score dropped. Again, I get it. But still.
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Phone flags: I use Apple Maps in a mount. Once, I nudged the screen to mute a text. Signal counted phone use. Another time I changed a playlist at a red light. It still flagged me. Lesson learned: hands off once you shift into Drive.
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Teen driver: My daughter borrowed the Subaru. She got three hard brakes on one short trip. One was a yellow light she tried to “make.” Good teaching moment. We talked about space and coasting. Her next week? Clean.
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Late-night airport run: 1:10 a.m. pickup. Score dipped a bit. It doesn’t punish you a ton for midnight runs, but it does notice. Makes sense; risk goes up at night.
Can you fix wrong trips?
Yes. Twice it tagged me as driver when I was a passenger. I marked those trips as “not the driver.” It updated in a day. I liked that. But once, it missed a short grocery run when I had Low Power Mode on. No fix for that. Keep your settings open.
Battery, data, and weird quirks
Battery hit was mild for me. About 5–7% more per day. I charge in the car, so no big deal. Data use was small. Maps and trips live inside the app, not your camera roll.
If you’re interested in how other mobile tools juggle battery demands—especially ones that lean heavily on your phone’s camera—my walkthrough of Samsung’s AR Zone app offers a useful contrast.
One odd thing: in a downtown tunnel, it thought I sped. The GPS jumped. My score took a tiny hit. Not huge, but it bugged me.
Of course, Signal’s database only cares about roads and speed limits; it won’t help you hunt down ultra-specific local spots. For example, drivers passing through northern Indiana who want a hyper-focused directory of massage parlors can head over to Rubmaps Elkhart to see detailed ratings, addresses, and user reviews that make scouting a particular kind of stop far easier than relying on generic map apps.
Savings: did I get real money off?
Short answer: yes. I got a small discount for just using the app. After 90 days, my safe driving score pushed it higher. It wasn’t a giant pile of cash, but it paid for two oil changes. Your numbers may be different by state and policy. Mine felt fair for how I drive.
What I liked
- Clear rules. Easy dashboard with trip lists and a simple score.
- Fast trip logging. No start/stop button. It just works.
- Good for teens. Gave me something neutral to show my daughter. Not “Mom said.” The data said.
- Gentle reminders. It nudged me to leave the phone alone. I needed that.
What bugged me
- Hard brake logic. It can’t see why you stopped. Squirrels, ice, surprise trucks—still a ding.
- Phone use flags. Even quick taps in a mount can count.
- Tunnel and map hiccups. Rare, but they happen.
- Night trips. Life happens after 10 p.m. The app doesn’t care why.
How my score changed
Week 1: 78
Week 4: 86
Week 8: 91
Week 12: 92
The big boost came from not touching my phone and giving more space for stops. I also left five minutes early for school pickup. That helped more than I wanted to admit.
Privacy notes (the part none of us love)
It tracks where and when you drive. That’s the whole point. I was okay with it because I wanted the discount and the coaching. But if that feels bad to you, this app won’t feel cozy. You can read the official Signal privacy policy to see exactly what data is collected and how it’s handled.
Farmers Signal vs others I’ve used
I tried Progressive’s tool last year and Allstate’s on a rental. Signal felt calmer. For a different perspective outside of the insurance ecosystem, I also gave Loup a spin and liked how it mapped my routes without judging my late-night snack runs.
It still dings phone use, like the others, but I saw fewer weird jumps.
Quick tips that actually helped me
- Mount your phone and leave it alone once you shift to Drive.
- Turn off Low Power Mode when you drive.
- Build in five extra minutes. Rushing = hard brakes.
- Re-check trips and mark passenger rides fast.
- Watch one habit per week. Mine was following too close. Fixing that helped most.
One unexpected lesson I learned is that smooth, phone-free driving also hinges on plain old energy and focus. Mid-afternoon yawns make your reaction time sluggish, no matter how pristine your telematics score looks. If you’re exploring ways to support stamina—especially guys in the 30-plus club whose hormones aren’t what they used to be—check out this deep-dive review of Weider Prime Testosterone Support which breaks down the supplement’s ingredients, potential benefits, and whether it’s worth adding to your daily routine for sharper mental clarity behind the wheel.
Who will like it
- Careful drivers who coast more than they punch it.
- Parents with teen drivers. It gives you talking points.
- Folks who don’t mind a little tracking if the price drops.
Who may hate it
- Stop-and-go city commuters with short gaps.
- Night shift workers who always drive late.
- People who must use their phone for work calls in the car.
Final word
Farmers Signal nudged me into smoother driving. It wasn’t perfect. It dinged me for real-life stuff, like ice and squirrels. But it made me safer, and it trimmed my bill. I can live with that trade.
Would I keep it on? Yes. But I still talk back to it in school zones. And honestly, it kind of made me a calmer driver—my daughter says I don’t “brake like a bear” anymore. I’ll take the win.