Allstate Drivewise vs. Farmers Signal: Which Service Is the Best (2024)
Unleash a comprehensive comparison of Allstate Drivewise and Farmers Signal, exploring the intricacies of usage-based insurance for safe drivers and securing your journey.
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Brandon Frady
Licensed Insurance Agent
Brandon Frady has been a licensed insurance agent and insurance office manager since 2018. He has experience in ventures from retail to finance, working positions from cashier to management, but it wasn’t until Brandon started working in the insurance industry that he truly felt at home in his career. In his day-to-day interactions, he aims to live out his business philosophy in how he treats hi...
Licensed Insurance Agent
UPDATED: Sep 9, 2024
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Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by insurance experts.
UPDATED: Sep 9, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single insurance company.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different insurance companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
Embark on an insightful journey into the realm of car insurance rates, where the interplay of credit score, mileage, coverage level, and driving record unfolds a compelling narrative. The data table meticulously compares Allstate and Farmers, revealing nuanced insights that guide discerning customers towards the most advantageous rates. Whether you’re a meticulous planner with an unblemished driving record or a frequent road-tripper seeking optimal coverage, this comprehensive analysis paints a clear picture of the competitive landscape. Within these five sentences, discover the tailored solutions each company offers, empowering you to make informed decisions that align with your unique profile and preferences. Secure peace of mind on the road by unraveling the intricacies of insurance rates with this illuminating guide.
| Factor | Allstate | Farmers |
|---|---|---|
| Clean Record | $160 | $139 |
| 1+ Ticket | $188 | $173 |
| 1+ Accident | $225 | $198 |
| DUI | $270 | $193 |
| Poor Credit | $275 | $239 |
| Discount | Allstate | Farmers |
|---|---|---|
| Safe Driver | 15% | 10% |
| Low Mileage | 10% | 8% |
| Anti Theft | 10% | 5% |
| Paperless | 5% | 3% |
| Senior Driver | 5% | 8% |
| Good Student | 10% | 10% |
Allstate Drivewise
Pros:
- Cash Back Rewards: Allstate Drivewise offers cash back rewards for signing up and additional rewards every six months for safe driving.
- Safe Driving Challenges: Users can participate in safe driving challenges to earn additional rewards through Allstate Rewards.
- Comprehensive Discounts: Allstate provides various discounts, including safe driver, anti-lock brake, anti-theft device, and multiple policy discounts.
- National Recognition: Allstate has an A+ rating from BBB and favorable credit ratings from A.M. Best, indicating financial strength.
Cons:
- Higher Complaint Index: Allstate has a higher complaint index (1.88) than the national average, suggesting a relatively higher number of customer complaints.
- Potentially Higher Rates: While discounts are available, the average annual rates may be higher compared to Farmers, and transparency on discounts is not as clear.
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Farmers Signal
Pros:
- Discount Opportunities: Farmers Signal offers up to 5% off upon sign-up, up to 15% off at policy renewal, and an additional 10% off when adding a qualifying relative under 25 years old.
- Fewer Customer Complaints: Farmers has a lower complaint index (1.08) than the national average, indicating fewer customer complaints.
- Transparent Discounts: While not explicitly detailed, Farmers offers defensive driving and multi-car discounts, providing potential savings.
- Financial Strength: Farmers, with an A+ BBB rating and a- credit rating from Zurich Insurance Group Ltd, demonstrates financial stability.
Cons:
- Limited Discount Information: Farmers provides less explicit information about discounts, making it harder for customers to assess potential savings.
- App-Only Tracking: Farmers Signal relies solely on a mobile app for tracking, potentially limiting device flexibility compared to Allstate.
Best Overall: Farmers Signal
After a comprehensive analysis of Allstate Drivewise and Farmers Signal, Farmers Signal emerges as the preferred choice when all factors are considered. While both programs offer usage-based insurance with the goal of rewarding safe driving, Farmers Signal stands out for several compelling reasons.
Affordability: Farmers Signal takes the lead in providing more affordable car insurance rates, as indicated by the average annual rates comparison. Although Allstate offers a range of discounts, Farmers Signal’s lower rates make it a more cost-effective choice for budget-conscious consumers.
Customer Satisfaction: Farmers Signal enjoys a significantly lower complaint index (1.08) than Allstate Drivewise (1.88), reflecting a higher level of customer satisfaction. With only seven customer complaints in the last year, Farmers demonstrates a commitment to resolving issues promptly and maintaining a positive customer experience.
Discount Opportunities: While both programs offer discounts, Farmers Signal provides transparent opportunities, including up to 5% off upon sign-up, up to 15% off at policy renewal, and an additional 10% off for adding a qualifying relative. Allstate’s discounts, though comprehensive, lack the clarity and transparency found in Farmers Signal.
Financial Stability: Both companies boast A+ ratings from BBB, indicating a high level of financial stability. However, Farmers’ parent company, Zurich Insurance Group Ltd, holds a slightly better long-term credit rating (a-) than Allstate (a-), providing an added layer of confidence in their ability to meet financial obligations.
Mobile App Flexibility: While Allstate Drivewise offers various tracking options, including a device plugged into the car, Farmers Signal’s reliance on a mobile app simplifies the process for users who prefer app-based tracking without additional devices.
Farmers Signal emerges as the preferred choice due to its combination of competitive rates, customer satisfaction, transparent discounts, and financial stability. For those seeking a well-rounded usage-based insurance program, Farmers Signal stands out as the best overall option.
What are Allstate Drivewise and Farmers Signal?
Allstate Drivewise and Farmers Signal are both usage-based insurance programs. Both of these programs track your vehicle usage to help safe drivers lower their car insurance rates. Usage-based insurance typically uses GPS, cellular, or other types of technology to track driving behaviors, such as speed, hard braking or cornering, miles driven, what times of the day you drive, and if you use your phone while driving.
While both Allstate Drivewise and Farmers Signal use an app to track your driving behaviors, some programs can use systems already built into your car, a device that is plugged into your car, or a device that is installed and connects to your phone via Bluetooth.
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Who can earn discounts with usage-based insurance?
Usage-based insurance may be a good option for safe drivers. Some usage-based insurance programs will offer a discount just for joining their programs. Others will offer rewards after a specific review period.
Allstate Drivewise car insurance offers cash back rewards for signing up and then every six months after that for safe driving as a component of the Allstate Drivewise car insurance discount. You can also complete safe driving challenges to earn Allstate Rewards. Allstate will reward those who generally drive under 80 mph, make minimal abrupt stops, and limit their late-night driving.
Signal by Farmers offers up to 5 percent off when you first sign up for the program. You then have the opportunity to earn up to 15 percent off at policy renewal and an additional 10 percent off when you add a relative to your insurance policy who is under 25 years old.
The Farmers Signal app will monitor more general driving behavior, so overall safe drivers are likely to benefit from the program. Usage-based insurance may not be the best choice for those who have a “lead foot” or those who drive at higher speeds, brake hard, or have previous traffic violations.
If this sounds like you, signing up for usage-based insurance may help you improve your safe driving, but if you don’t meet the program’s driving standards, it may not decrease your rates — it may even increase your rates at review time.
Do customers like usage-based insurance?
There are a few concerns when it comes to using usage-based insurance. While many consumers say they would use one, many don’t. The main reason is the lack of knowledge across the industry about usage-based insurance.
Consumers often don’t know about telematics (the technology used to record and monitor your driving behaviors), and even insurance agents or customer service representatives feel a lack of knowledge in this area. Therefore, the programs often don’t get discussed.
On the other hand, some consumers are also concerned about privacy while using a monitoring device or app. However, many of these concerns are overshadowed by the fact that the program can earn discounts.
Who has more affordable car insurance rates?
Let’s take a look at Allstate vs. Farmers average annual car insurance rates to compare:
Allstate vs. Farmers Average Annual Car Insurance Rates by Age, Gender, and Marital Status
| Age, Gender, and Marital Status | Allstate Average Annual Car Insurance Rates | Farmers Average Annual Car Insurance Rates |
|---|---|---|
| Single 17-year-old female | $9,282.19 | $8,521.97 |
| Single 17-year-old male | $10,642.53 | $9,144.04 |
| Single 25-year-old female | $3,424.87 | $2,946.80 |
| Single 25-year-old male | $3,570.93 | $3,041.44 |
| Married 35-year-old female | $3,156.09 | $2,556.98 |
| Married 35-year-old male | $3,123.01 | $2,557.75 |
| Married 60-year-old female | $2,913.37 | $2,336.80 |
| Married 60-year-old male | $2,990.64 | $2,448.39 |
In most cases, it seems Allstate car insurance rates would be more expensive than Farmers car insurance rates. However, you should consider which discounts you would be eligible for through each company.
Allstate offers the following discounts: anti-lock brake discount, anti-theft device discount, multiple policy discount, early signing discount, good payer discount, student discounts, new car discount, automatic payment discount, paperless discount, paid-in-full discount, and safe driver discount.
Farmers is not as transparent about what discounts they offer, but some sources report they offer some of the same discounts as Allstate, plus defensive driving discounts and multi-car discounts.
Read more: Farmers Insurance Signal Car Insurance Discount
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How do experts rate Allstate Drivewise vs. Farmers Signal insurance?
Allstate has an A+ rating from the BBB. They have closed 469 customer complaints in the last year, and they have a 1.19/5 star rating. Allstate also has a 1.88 complaint index from NAIC, which is higher than the national average of 1.00. This means they get more complaints than other companies of a similar size.
Farmers also has an A+ rating from the BBB. They have only seven customer complaints closed in the last year, with a 1/5 star rating. Farmers’ complaint index is at 1.08, which puts them just slightly above the national average of 1.00.
A.M. Best has given Allstate’s long-term and short-term credit ratings an a- and AMB-1+, respectively. This means the company has an excellent likelihood of being able to meet its financial obligations. Farmer’s parent company, Zurich Insurance Group Ltd, has a long-term credit rating of a-, meaning it also has an excellent ability to meet its financial obligations.
How can I get quotes?
Allstate car insurance quotes can be found by contacting an agent. If you already have a policy with Allstate, you can use your Allstate login to locate your agent contact information. You can also receive a quote from Allstate using the online quote tool on their website (www.allstate.com). You will need to provide your personal and vehicle information.
For questions regarding Allstate Drivewise, you can call (877) 431-7670. Farmers car insurance quotes can be found by using the free online quote tool on their website (www.farmers.com). You will, again, need to provide your personal and vehicle information.
Our Recommendation: Allstate Drivewise vs. Farmers Signal Insurance
The car insurance company choose will depend on your specific situation. However, choosing between Allstate Drivewise and Farmers Signal, we recommend Farmers based on lower average rates and fewer customer complaints.
Both programs, however, are similar in that they use your driving behaviors to earn discounts on your car insurance premiums. The main difference would be your overall insurance coverage with the company and the customer service experience.
If you need help finding affordable car insurance, enter your ZIP code into our free quote comparison tool below.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are Allstate Drivewise and Farmers Signal?
Allstate Drivewise and Farmers Signal are both usage-based insurance programs. These programs utilize technology such as GPS, cellular, or other tracking devices to monitor driving behaviors, including speed, braking, mileage, and phone usage. The goal is to reward safe drivers with lower car insurance rates.
Who can earn discounts with usage-based insurance?
Usage-based insurance is designed for safe drivers. Both Allstate Drivewise and Farmers Signal offer discounts for joining their programs, with additional rewards for safe driving. Eligibility for discounts may vary, but generally, drivers who maintain safe practices such as staying under speed limits, avoiding abrupt stops, and limiting late-night driving can benefit from these programs.
Do customers like usage-based insurance?
While some consumers express concerns about privacy with monitoring devices or apps, usage-based insurance programs are generally well-received. However, there is a lack of widespread knowledge about telematics technology, and many insurance agents may not discuss these programs with customers.
Who has more affordable car insurance rates: Allstate or Farmers?
On average, Farmers car insurance rates appear more affordable than Allstate. Farmers Signal offers competitive rates, and although Allstate provides various discounts, Farmers Signal stands out for transparency and lower rates. It’s essential to consider individual eligibility for discounts when comparing overall affordability.
How do experts rate Allstate Drivewise vs. Farmers Signal insurance?
Experts rate Farmers Signal higher than Allstate Drivewise based on factors such as affordability, customer satisfaction, transparent discounts, and financial stability. Farmers Signal demonstrates a lower complaint index, indicating higher customer satisfaction, and offers clear discount opportunities, making it the preferred choice in this comparison.
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Brandon Frady
Licensed Insurance Agent
Brandon Frady has been a licensed insurance agent and insurance office manager since 2018. He has experience in ventures from retail to finance, working positions from cashier to management, but it wasn’t until Brandon started working in the insurance industry that he truly felt at home in his career. In his day-to-day interactions, he aims to live out his business philosophy in how he treats hi...
Licensed Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by insurance experts.