
Foremost Insurance Review
Foremost Insurance, part of Farmers, offers accessible minimum-coverage policies with unique specialty insurance options for drivers in 50 states.
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Key Points:
- Foremost Insurance offers standard minimum coverage auto policies for drivers in 50 states.
- Customer satisfaction scores for Foremost are mixed, and customer complaints highlight issues with claims services.
- Foremost also offers homeowners insurance, renters insurance and mobile home insurance for drivers interested in bundled policies.
Although it’s not one of the most well-known names in the market, Foremost insurance reviews and ratings suggest the company may be worth a look for some drivers. Let’s take a closer look at Foremost car insurance, including its coverage, claims, and customer reviews, to see if the company fits your needs. We’ve also reviewed some of the best and cheapest car insurance companies, so you can find the coverage you need.
Whenever you shop for car insurance, we recommend getting quotes from multiple providers so you can compare coverage and rates. In addition to the insurance company you choose, factors such as your age, vehicle make and model, and driving history can affect your premium, so what’s best for your neighbor might not be best for you.
Foremost Insurance At A Glance
As with most car insurance companies, Foremost comes with its advantages and disadvantages. Here are a few of the top reasons to consider this provider and things to watch out for.
Foremost Auto Insurance Pros And Cons
Pros
- Strong financial standing
- Positive customer reviews
Cons
- No online quotes
- Lacks accident forgiveness
- Few available discounts
Foremost Insurance Rating
Our review team spent hundreds of hours researching top industry providers nationwide. Based on that research, we gave Foremost 3.9 out of a possible 5.0 stars. The company is available for most drivers in all 50 states. It has a strong industry reputation, but falls short on policy costs and customer service. See how Foremost scored in all of our review categories below:
Rating Factor | Rating (Out of 5.0) |
---|---|
Cost | 3.1 |
Coverage | 4.1 |
Reliability | 4.1 |
Availability | 5.0 |
Service | 3.9 |
Overall Rating | 3.9 |
*Ratings are determined by our editorial review team. Learn more about our scoring methodology below.
Foremost Insurance Overview
State availability: 50 states
Founded in: 1952
Coverage policies: vehicle, property
Foremost Insurance is a provider that operates as part of the Farmers Auto Insurance group of companies. The company has over 70 years of industry experience and is based out of Grand Rapids, Michigan. In addition to insuring automobiles, Foremost offers coverage for the following:
- Homes
- Mobile homes
- Travel trailers
- Motor homes
- Seasonal homes
- Motorcycles
- Personal watercraft
- Golf carts
- Off-road vehicles
Foremost home insurance also includes owner-occupied condominium, flood insurance, landlord insurance, and vacant dwelling insurance. Bundling policies for auto and home can help drivers save on Foremost homeowners insurance and auto insurance policies.
For auto coverage, Foremost relies on Bristol West for underwriting. In some states, it also uses the Coast National Insurance Company or Security National Insurance Company.
Foremost Auto Insurance Coverage
Foremost offers standard minimum insurance coverages, such as personal property and bodily injury coverage. The insurance carrier also offers one standout coverage add-on–new vehicle replacement, which covers the replacement cost for qualifying new vehicles that become totaled. See how Foremost coverage compares against Allstate, another leading provider in the auto insurance industry:
Foremost | Allstate | |
---|---|---|
Bodily Injury Liability (BI) | ✓ | ✓ |
Property Damage Liability (PD) | ✓ | ✓ |
Collision coverage | ✓ | |
Comprehensive coverage | ✓ | |
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) | ✓ | |
Medical Payments (MedPay) | ✓ | ✓ |
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) | ✓ | ✓ |
Roadside assistance | ✓ | ✓ |
Rental car reimbursement | ✓ | ✓ |
Rideshare insurance | ✓ | ✓ |
Accident forgiveness | ✓ | |
New vehicle replacement | ✓ | |
Mexico tourist car insurance | ✓ |
Foremost Insurance Discounts
Foremost doesn’t list many discounts on its company website. Below, we compare Foremost discounts against those available from Allstate.
Foremost | Allstate | |
---|---|---|
Multi-policy | ✓ | ✓ |
Good student | ✓ | |
Safe driver | ✓ | |
New vehicle | ✓ | |
Anti-theft | ✓ | |
Anti-lock brakes | ✓ | |
Automatic payment | ✓ | |
Paperless | ✓ | ✓ |
Early signing | ✓ | |
Responsible payer | ✓ | |
Pay in full | ✓ | |
Multi-vehicle | ✓ |
Unlike Allstate, Foremost only offers a few discounts, so you may not get as much money off your premiums as you would with other insurance companies. The only way to get an accurate representation of coverage, though, is to get a free quote for yourself.
Depending on the state you live in, Foremost uses the following information to determine your rate:
- Driving record
- Length of continuous insurance coverage
- Age
- Insurance policy limits/deductible amount
- Credit score
- Your location
- Type of vehicle you drive
- How many miles you drive
Foremost Auto Insurance Quotes And Claims
Our biggest complaint against Foremost auto insurance is that you can’t get a free insurance quote online. To get a quote or begin coverage with Foremost, you must contact an insurance agent. You might not have a local agent in your area, which makes it challenging to contact Foremost in some cases.
To start comparing car insurance quotes, use our tool below:
To file a Foremost auto insurance claim, you can call or fill out an online form. From there, you can track the claim with the online claims center. While Foremost wasn’t included in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, its parent company, Farmers, ranks on par with the study average.
Foremost Auto Insurance Reviews And Ratings
Before we get into the Foremost auto insurance reviews, let’s consider what industry experts have to say about the provider. Foremost has an B+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and an A rating in financial strength from AM Best.
According to customers on Google reviews and the BBB, Foremost auto insurance reception is mixed. On Google, it has 164 reviews and a 3.4 out of 5 star rating. On the BBB, its reviews are mixed in with those for its parent company, Farmers. It has 385 reviews and a 1.16 out of 5 star rating. Positive Foremost customer reviews across both platforms cite helpful customer representatives and affordable coverage. Complaints mention a long claims process and lack of communication.
As with most car insurance companies, it’s natural to have a wide range of positive and negative sentiments. From what we can tell, Foremost tries to keep customers happy and is typically responsive to Foremost auto insurance reviews.
Foremost Technology
Foremost doesn’t offer a mobile app for its auto insurance coverage, but it does provide an online payment and claims portal. Its parent company, Farmers Insurance Group, does offer a highly rated mobile app for bill management, easy-to-access policies, and more.
Foremost Auto Insurance: Our Take
After carefully reviewing Foremost auto insurance offerings, we rated the company 3.9 out of 5.0 stars. While Foremost auto insurance offers sufficient coverage, we can’t ignore the company’s limited discount opportunities and mixed customer reviews. Access to company agents is reportedly inconvenient or difficult, and customers report issues with payments, canceled coverage, or denied claims.
We recommend comparing quotes from Foremost against similar coverage from other providers. The tool below will help you find an insurance company offered in your state with better customer service.
Best Car Insurance Companies
After reviewing Foremost auto insurance, we think you may want to consider some of the industry’s best car insurance companies instead. We’ve already done the research on these providers and found a few car insurance companies that came out ahead of the rest. Here’s an in-depth look at some of our top picks, USAA and State Farm.
USAA: Best For Military Members
USAA provides some of the best car insurance options on the market, but plans are only available to military members, veterans, and their families. This restriction narrows down who can apply for auto insurance with USAA.
What sets USAA apart are its exceptional reviews across the board. The company received an A++ rating from AM Best and excelled in both the J.D. Power Claims Satisfaction Study and Insurance Shopping Study.
In addition to standard insurance coverage, USAA provides these options:
- Roadside assistance: Get coverage for towing, fuel delivery, lockout services, flat tires, and more.
- Rental reimbursement: Receive compensation for a rental car while your vehicle is being repaired following a covered incident.
- Accident forgiveness: With this plan, you can keep the same rates after an at-fault accident.
If you’re eligible for USAA, read our USAA auto insurance review.
State Farm: Best Overall Provider
State Farm writes more car insurance policies than any other provider according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). The company is known for its extensive network of local agents, but you can also get a quote and manage your plan online.
We found that, like USAA, State Farm has a financial strength rating of A++ and excelled in both J.D. Power studies.
Along with standard insurance coverages, State Farm has the following options available:
- Gap Insurance: This takes care of the balance on your loan or lease if your vehicle is totaled in a covered incident.
- Ridesharing Insurance: If you drive for Uber or Lyft, you’re protected from the time you open your app until you drop off a passenger.
- Roadside Assistance: Get help with towing, lockout services, flat tires, fuel delivery, and more.
To learn more, read our full State Farm auto insurance review.
If you want an even lower rate on your premiums, consider using Drive Safe & Save, the company’s app that monitors your driving and rewards safe habits with discounts.
Foremost auto insurance might not be the right choice for you, but there’s a provider out there that will meet your needs. Get several car insurance quotes and compare plans. When you take a few minutes to research your options, it’s easier to find the best protection for you.
Foremost Auto Insurance: FAQ
Below are commonly asked questions about Foremost Auto Insurance:
What discounts does Foremost offer?
Foremost offers three discounts for its auto policies, based on its website: A multi-policy discount, a multi-vehicle discount, and a discount for choosing paperless billing. Talk to your insurance agent to see if there are more discounts for which you may qualify.
Is Foremost Insurance legit?
Yes, Foremost Insurance is legit. It was founded in 1952, and operates as part of the Farmers Insurance group of companies. It’s based out of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and offers insurance coverage for cars, homes, motorcycles, boats, and more.
Where is Foremost insurance available?
Foremost Insurance is available in all 50 states.
What types of coverage does Foremost Insurance offer for motorcycles?
For motorcycles, Foremost Insurance offers replacement cost total loss settlement coverage, transport trailer coverage, helmets and safety apparel coverage, and optional equipment coverage.
How We Rated Foremost Auto Insurance:
Our review team extensively researches auto insurance providers to deliver informed and unbiased assessments of leading companies. We evaluate several key rating factors that are important to consumers to determine which providers are the best in the industry:
- Reliability: It’s important that an auto insurer is able to meet its claims obligations. Companies with a strong financial strength rating from AM Best score best in this category. Established insurers with a long history of reliable service also receive positive marks.
- Availability: Insurance companies that offer wider availability to consumers in terms of state availability and few eligibility requirements are more likely to meet consumer needs.
- Coverage: To determine our coverage score, we look at the number of coverage options available as well as coverage limits and deductible options. Our ratings also take into account additional services and benefits like roadside assistance.
- Pricing: Cost can be difficult to compare between insurers because so many factors impact annual premiums. The cheapest insurer for one driver may not be the cheapest for another. To determine our cost score, we look at insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services, discount opportunities, and consumer reports.
- Service: We comb through customer reviews on sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to learn about customer experiences. Insurers with a low volume of complaints score well in this area. We also consider the claims process, giving higher ratings to car insurance providers that offer a smooth experience.
- Technology: Providers with an online quote tool, easy-to-use claims app and a usage-based insurance app score best in this category.
*Data accurate at time of publication.