Foremost Insurance Review: Home and Auto
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Foremost Insurance is a nonstandard carrier, meaning it provides insurance coverage in higher-risk scenarios. The company will insure cars, boats, motorcycles, and off-road vehicles, but it's best known for its mobile home, traditional home, and RV coverage. Foremost's auto insurance is provided by an affiliate company that Foremost owns, called Bristol West. Bristol West also specializes in riskier insureds, including drivers who need SR-22 insurance.
Foremost homeowners and Bristol West auto are part of the Farmers Insurance Group of companies.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- 1
Foremost Insurance is a non-standard insurance provider known for its coverage of mobile homes, RVs, and traditional homes, although it also offers coverage for other high-risk scenarios.
- 2
Foremost is a good option for people who have been declined by standard carriers for home or auto insurance, while its complaint history for homeowners is better than average but below average for auto coverage.
- 3
Foremost coverages are sold through insurance agents, and not online.
History
Foremost Insurance was founded in 1952 specifically to insure mobile homes. At that time, the mobile home industry was just starting out and owners of mobile homes needed more choices for insurance coverage. Foremost stepped in to fill that need and would soon become an advocate for mobile home safety. In the 1960s, for example, Foremost commissioned a study on mobile home wind damage. The results of that study along with lobbying by Foremost led to the enactment of state law mandating mobile home tie-downs.
Over the years, Foremost expanded its product line with specialty coverages for travel trailers and motorhomes, along with insurance options for boats, motorcycles, minibikes, snowmobiles, and ATVs.
In March of 2000, Farmers Insurance Group acquired Foremost. Seven years later, Foremost acquired Bristol West to create Foremost Auto, the company's auto division that's now available in 43 states.
Today, Foremost is based in Caledonia, Michigan.
Foremost Complaint History: Average
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners tracks complaints against insurance carriers, by type of coverage. Foremost's complaint history for its homeowners coverage is better than what you'd expect for a company of its size. But the complaint history for Bristol West, Foremost's auto affiliate, is worse than average.
The table below shows how Foremost and Bristol West performed on the NAIC's complaint index from 2017 to 2019. The numeric values are calculated by dividing each insurer's share of complaints by cumulative premiums. A number higher than 1 translates to relatively more complaints than peers of a similar size. You can see in the table below that Foremost ranks below 1, meaning fewer complaints than the index, on its homeowners coverage. Bristol West ranks above 1, a below-average score, on its auto coverage.
Policy Type | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
Homeowners | Above Average (.54) | Above Average (.57) | Above Average (.80) |
Bristol West Auto | Below Average (1.74) | Below Average (2.15) | Well Below Average (4.63) |
Table data source: NAIC
Is Foremost Right for You?
Foremost and its auto affiliate Bristol West specialize in nonstandard insurance coverage. The company is a good fit if you've been declined for home or auto coverage by other carriers. Perhaps your home is older, has structural issues, or you personally have bad credit or multiple tickets or accidents on your driving record. In that case, it's worth your time to get a quote from Foremost and/or Bristol West.
Foremost is right for you if… | Foremost may not fit if… |
You've been declined by standard carriers for home or auto insurance. | You have a good driving record and a good credit history. |
You need to insure a mobile home, older home, or travel trailer. | You want to bundle home and auto with a single carrier. |
You have multiple infractions on your driving record. | You don't live in a state that Foremost serves. Foremost is licensed in 50 states for some lines of coverage, but Foremost/Bristol West auto insurance is only available in 43 states. |
What We Think About Foremost
Foremost got its start insuring mobile homes and has stayed in that non-traditional segment ever since. Today, Foremost caters to owners of older or lower-value homes, and insureds with poor credit or bad driving records, including drivers who need an SR-22. Note that although Foremost markets its auto insurance product, those coverages are actually provided by Bristol West. That creates some inefficiencies for policyholders, because there's no single website or app where you can manage your Foremost homeowners insurance and your Bristol West auto coverage.
The coverage options for home and auto are adequate. Homeowners can choose full, comprehensive coverage with extended replacement value or the more affordable named perils coverage. Optional add-ons include replacement cost coverage for personal items, coverage for jewelry, and home-based business liability and property insurance. But you can't get more advanced coverages like mortgage rate protection or computer and data recovery.
Drivers also have fairly standard coverage options, including liability insurance, comprehensive, collision, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverages, rental reimbursement, and roadside assistance. Foremost/Bristol West does not offer premium auto features like disappearing deductibles, new car replacement, and accident forgiveness.
Foremost coverages are sold through insurance agents. Notably, you can't even get a non-auto quote from Foremost online. Instead, the carrier refers you to an agent finder tool on its website. Unlike State Farm agents or Allstate agents, these are independent agencies that represent various carriers. Typically, you can lean on an independent agent to source multiple quotes and find you the best possible rate. Once you initiate coverage, you'd manage policy changes and updates through that agent.
Foremost homeowners insurance summary:
Foremost provides basic coverage options for nonstandard homes.
Foremost/Bristol West auto insurance summary:
Through its affiliate partner Bristol West, Foremost auto specializes in coverage for drivers with poor credit and/or poor driving records.
How Foremost Car Insurance Works
See the table below for the main auto coverage options offered by Foremost.
Auto Coverage Type | How it Works |
Property Damage Liability Bodily Injury Liability | Your liability coverages pay for damages you cause to someone else in an accident, up to the limits stated in your policy. Property damage liability will cover the costs needed to repair another driver's car or someone else's property that you damage. Bodily injury liability pays for someone else's medical bills if that person is injured in an accident you caused.
|
Uninsured Motorist Property Damage Liability and Bodily Injury
| If a driver without car insurance hits you, uninsured motorist coverage pays for the damages up to your policy limits. The uninsured motorist property damage liability coverage will pay to repair your vehicle or your property. The uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage assumes responsibility for your medical bills. |
Underinsured Motorist Property Damage Liability and Bodily Injury
| A driver might hit you and cause damage that's in excess of his or her liability limits. If that driver's property damage liability coverage limit is $30,000, but the property damage totals $50,000, your underinsured motorist property damage liability coverage could make up the difference. |
Collision | Collision coverage helps pay for repairs to your vehicle if it collides with another car or an object, such as a tree or center divider. You are responsible for a deductible. |
Comprehensive | Comprehensive coverage helps pay for repairs to your vehicle that are not accident related, such as hail, falling objects, vandalism, or theft. You are responsible for a deductible. |
Medical Payments
| Medical payments cover your medical bills resulting from an accident. Foremost/Bristol West has a standard coverage limit for medical payments of $10,000. |
Rental Reimbursement | If you need to rent a car while your vehicle is being repaired for a covered loss, Foremost/Bristol West will reimburse you $50 daily for up to 30 days. |
Towing and Roadside Assistance | With Towing and Roadside Assistance coverage, you'll have access to free towing and breakdown services, such as jump-starts and tire changes, up to your stated policy limits. |
Table data source: Bristol West1
How Foremost Homeowners Works
See the table below for homeowners coverage options available through Foremost.
Homeowners Policy Features | How it Works |
Comprehensive Property Coverage | Comprehensive property coverage helps pay for sudden and accidental losses that aren't specifically excluded in your policy. |
Named Peril Coverage | Named peril coverage is a more affordable option than comprehensive coverage, because it only covers a specific list of events, such as damage caused by fire, hail damage, windstorms, etc. |
Liability Coverage | If you cause an accident that injures someone or damages someone else's property at your home, liability coverage covers those costs, up to your stated policy limits. |
Actual Cash Value | Actual Cash Value establishes how much your insurance will pay if your home is destroyed by a covered loss; with actual cash value coverage, your policy only covers rebuild costs up to the replacement cost less depreciation. |
Replacement Cost | Replacement Cost is an alternative to Actual Cash Value. With Replacement Cost coverage, your policy would cover the rebuild costs to replace your home if it's damaged due to a covered loss. Depreciation is not deducted. |
Extended Replacement Cost | Extended Replacement Cost allows you to increase the insured amount on your home by 25%. This option is only available in certain states. |
Additional Living Expenses | Additional Living Expenses helps pay for costs you incur if you have to live elsewhere after your home is damaged by a covered loss. |
Replacement Cost Coverage on Personal Property | Replacement Cost Coverage on Personal Property pays to replace personal items that are damaged in a coverage loss. Depreciation is not deducted. |
Jewelry, Watches, and Fur | Most standard homeowners policies exclude jewelry, watches, and fur coats from covered personal property. With Foremost, you can optionally add coverage for those items. |
Business Property and Liability | If you operate a home-based business, you can add coverage for your business-owned items. Business liability coverage protects you if a customer is injured at your home. |
Table data source: Foremost2
More About Foremost
Foremost's online policy management tools are somewhat lacking. You can use Bristol West's app or website to access your auto policy, but most of your non-auto policy management will have to be done through your agent.
Foremost online policy management
Once you initiate coverage with Foremost, you can create a login here to view your Foremost non-auto policies and access your ID cards. You can also make payments to Foremost via a different web portal here. To access your auto policy, you have to use Bristol West's online tools, which are most robust. At Bristol West's website, you can make a payment, report or view a claim, and view your ID cards.
Foremost/Bristol West iOS and Android apps
Foremost does not have a mobile app, but Bristol West does. Use the app to make payments on your auto policy, view your ID cards, manage your claims, and access your agent's contact information. The Bristol West app for iOS has a rating of 3.8 out of 5 and the Bristol West app for Android has a rating of 2.9 out of 5.
Download the iOS app from the App Store and the Android version from Google Play.
Foremost Discounts
Here's a look at different ways you can lower your Foremost premiums. Note that not all discounts are available in all states.
Discount | How You Get It |
Multipolicy Discount | You qualify for the discount if you have multiple policies with Foremost, Bristol West, or Farmers Insurance. |
High Deductible Discount | Your premium is reduced when you select a high deductible for your homeowners or auto coverages. |
Claims-free Discount | You qualify for lower rates if you don't file a claim for an extended period of time. |
Senior Discount | Insured aged 50 or older qualify for the senior discount. |
Multicar Discount | If you have multiple cars on one policy, you'll see a reduction in your premium. |
Paid-in-Full Discount | If you pay your premium upfront rather than breaking it up into monthly payments, you qualify for a discount. |
Online Payment Discount | You qualify for this discount by paying your premium online. |
Table data source: Policy Genius3, Insurance Panda4
Foremost Insurance FAQs
What is the best way to file an auto claim after an accident?
You can file an auto claim via Bristol West's website, mobile app, or by calling 800-274-7865.
Can Foremost/Bristol West help me if I need an SR-22?
Foremost/Bristol West specializes in covering drivers who are required to file an SR-22. You can start a quote online or contact your insurance agent to get a rate quote from Bristol West. If your coverage is approved, Bristol West will file the SR-22 with your state's DMV once you pay the premiums.
What information do I need to file a homeowners claim?
You can start a claim against your Foremost homeowners policy online or by calling 800-527-3907. You will need your home address, policy number, the date of loss, a description of what happened, and a phone number where your adjuster can reach you.
Foremost resources
Foremost provides additional resources to customers at its Learning Center. Here are the highlights.
What to do after an accident
Blog post: Nine steps to follow after a car accident
Tips for buying a used car
Blog post: Five tips to help you buy the right used car
Questions you should ask before signing a property lease
Blog post: Nine questions to ask before leasing an apartment or a home
When a tornado destroys your home
Video: Here's a quick look at an actual claim involving a home destroyed by a tornado.
- Auto insurance 101. (n.d.). Retrieved August 26, 2020, from https://www.bristolwest.com/home/auto-insurance101
- Home insurance. (n.d.). Retrieved August 26, 2020, from https://www.foremost.com/products/home/
- Foremost homeowners insurance review. (2020, February 12). Retrieved August 26, 2020, from https://www.policygenius.com/homeowners-insurance/reviews/foremost/
- Is Bristol West good for auto insurance? (n.d.). Retrieved August 26, 2020, from https://www.insurancepanda.com/faq/is-bristol-west-good-for-auto-insurance/
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