Foremost vs. GEICO: Which Is the Best? (2024)

GEICO is the clear winner, with a 9.0 Insurify Quality (IQ) Score and lower rates in every driver category.

Mark Vallet
Written byMark Vallet
Mark Vallet
Mark Vallet

Mark is a freelance journalist and analyst with more than 15 years of experience covering the insurance industry. He has extensive experience creating and editing content on a variety of subjects with deep expertise in insurance and automotive writing.

Chris Schafer
Edited byChris Schafer
Chris Schafer
Chris SchaferSenior Editor
  • 15+ years in content creation

  • 7+ years in business and financial services content

Chris is a seasoned writer/editor with past experience across myriad industries, including insurance, SAS, finance, Medicare, logistics, marketing/advertising, and many more.

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Konstantin Halachev
Data reviewed byKonstantin Halachev
Headshot of Konstantin Halachev, VP of Engineering at Insurify
Konstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
  • 7+ years experience in data analysis

  • Ph.D. in Computational Biology

Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.

Updated December 19, 2024

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GEICO and Foremost are large national insurance companies that write policies in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

GEICO offers lower rates than Foremost in every category reviewed by Insurify, but it’s important to remember that these insurance companies don’t always serve the same driver base.

If you’re considering a policy with GEICO or Foremost, it’s important to examine all factors. In addition to premium quotes, look at coverage and discount options as well as customer service ratings and claim handling.

Here’s what you need to know when comparing GEICO and Foremost.

Quick Facts
  • GEICO scored an Insurify Quality (IQ) Score of 9.0 out of 5, while Foremost managed a 7.4.

  • GEICO offers lower rates across all driver types and coverages.

  • Foremost specializes in high-risk drivers, while GEICO tends to work with more standard drivers.

Foremost vs. GEICO: The verdict

GEICO has a significantly higher IQ Score of 9.0 compared to 7.4 for Foremost. GEICO also has much lower rates for both liability-only and full-coverage policies. In fact, Foremost was significantly more expensive than GEICO for full-coverage and liability-only policies.

GEICO’s premiums are also well below national averages, while Foremost’s rates tend to be higher than national averages.

But Foremost tends to focus on drivers who may have difficulty finding an insurance policy elsewhere due to incidents on their record. Drivers with a DUI, a total loss claim, or another serious incident on their record may find coverage with Foremost to be the better (or possibly only) option.

You can see how these two insurers compare in the table below.

Factor
Foremost
GEICO
IQ Score7.49.0
J.D. Power customer satisfaction scoreNot Ranked818 out of 1,000
Average quote: liability only$117$54
Number of discounts316
Number of states where it operates5050
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
  • Our editorial team spent more than 350 hours developing the Insurify Quality (IQ) Score and scoring insurance companies. The IQ Score objectively analyzes and calculates a score for insurers using more than 15 crucial criteria. The team weighted criteria by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings.

    We rate each company on a 1 to 10 scale based on five categories: financial ratings, customer satisfaction, affordability, customer support and transparency, and availability. Insurify updates ratings once a year or as more recent information becomes available.

    • Third-party financial ratings: Insurify uses data from AM Best, S&P, Moody’s, and more to compare insurance companies’ credit and ability to pay out future claims.
    • Customer satisfaction: To calculate this score, Insurify analyzed more than 55,000 customer reviews across 155 car insurance companies. We also consider third-party ratings from J.D. Power, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and Trustpilot.
    • Affordability: Our data scientists analyzed more than 90 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partners across the U.S., as well as available discounts, to calculate an affordability score.
    • Customer support and transparency: This measures coverage options, ease of claims filing, and the insurer's transparency surrounding discounts, coverages, and claims process.
    • Availability and reach: Insurify scores availability and reach by identifying the number of states in which insurers offer coverage and company size by market share.

Foremost

Foremost is part of the Farmers insurance group and focuses mainly on high-risk drivers, who sometimes have difficulty finding coverage. Due to the unique market it serves, its average rates exceed national averages.

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User Reviews
2.7
IQ Score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
7.4/10
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.
$117/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.
$268/mo

Founded in 1952, Foremost is a member of the Farmers Insurance Group and operates in all 50 states. Foremost offers car insurance through its partnership with Bristol West. In addition to car insurance, Foremost offers home insurance, classic car coverage, motorcycle insurance, and more. Its range of insurance products allow Foremost to offer discounts for multiple policies with the insurer, multiple cars, paperless billing, and more. Foremost has an A.M. Best rating of A for financial strength and credit, but more than five times the expected number of complaints in the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Customer Complaint Index.

Pros
  • Covers a wide variety of vehicles

  • Coverage available for high-risk drivers

Cons
  • Poor A.M. Best ratings

  • Company website gives no information on the company’s history or affiliations

Read more driver reviews of Foremost
Kenneth - November 19, 2024
Verified

Not Worth It

They are not satisfactory. I have never made a claim, yet they raised my rate by 400 dollars. The coverage they provide is also insufficient. They are not worth it.

Barbara - October 22, 2024
Verified

Foremost Takes Care of My Home

I haven't had much contact with Foremost, but the interactions I've had have been very good and professional.

Tayla - October 8, 2024
Verified

Average

I could never get a hold of anyone.

GEICO

GEICO is the third-largest car insurance company in the nation and offers some of the best rates available for many driver types. It also scores well on customer satisfaction surveys, such as J.D. Power.[1]

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User Reviews
3.1
IQ Score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
9.0/10
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.
$54/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.
$118/mo

GEICO, a subsidiary of the Berkshire Hathaway Group, is the third-largest U.S. insurer by market share. In addition to auto insurance, GEICO sells homeowners, renters, flood, travel, life, and business insurance, among other products. The insurer offers numerous car insurance discounts to help drivers save. For example, drivers who are accident-free for five years could earn 22% off premiums, and good students could earn 15% off. GEICO’s National Association of Insurance Commissioners complaint index score is below average, meaning it receives fewer consumer complaints than average.

Pros
  • Good rates for good drivers, seniors, and young drivers

  • Accident forgiveness available

  • A+ (Superior) financial strength rating from AM Best

Cons
  • High rates for drivers with certain violations, like DUIs

  • No rideshare or new car replacement coverage available

  • Lower customer satisfaction scores from J.D. Power

Read more driver reviews of GEICO
Dianna - December 19, 2024
Verified

Roadside Assistance

When I needed emergency services on the road, they wanted me to go online. That was not possible at the time and they were not helpful.

Alan - December 18, 2024
Verified

Satisfied but too expensive

My experience with GEICO was good. They offer great coverage for the price and I'd recommend them to a friend. However, they are a bit more pricey but provide great services all the way around.

Samol - December 18, 2024
Verified

Geico is Good Insurance

It's excellent, but after a few accidents, the rates are creeping upwards.

GEICO DriveEasy telematics program

GEICO offers a telematics program that allows policyholders a chance to earn a discount on their premiums. Foremost doesn’t offer a telematic program to its customers.

DriveEasy, which is GEICO’s free safe-driving program, lets policyholders use the GEICO Mobile app to earn discounts on their premiums. The app logs driving behaviors, including distance driven, speed, braking, and cornering. It then uses the data to calculate a safe-driving score.

The safe-driving score factors into your insurance rate at each policy renewal, and your premium automatically adjusts. This allows most drivers to save money, but if you’re a riskier driver, your rates could increase.

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Foremost vs. GEICO: Which is the cheapest?

GEICO is the clear winner in terms of low rates. The company offers cheaper premiums than Foremost for every category and age of driver. GEICO has an average monthly premium of $118 for full coverage, while Foremost came in at $268 for full coverage. In the sections that follow, you’ll see how these insurers compare across different categories.

GEICO: Cheapest for drivers with a clean driving record

GEICO is significantly cheaper than Foremost for people with clean driving records. The table below shows average rates for liability coverage from both companies for drivers with no incidents on their records.

Driver Type
Foremost
GEICO
Clean driving record$117$54
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

GEICO: Cheapest for drivers with a speeding ticket

GEICO is the cheapest insurer for drivers with a speeding ticket. Check out the table below to see the average liability rates for drivers with a speeding ticket on their record.

Driver Type
Foremost
GEICO
Drivers with a speeding ticket$163$65
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

GEICO: Cheapest for teen drivers

Young drivers are less experienced behind the wheel, which is why they’re more expensive to insure. If you have a teen on your policy, GEICO is by far the best car insurance option.

The chart below shows the average monthly liability-only premiums for teen drivers.

Driver Type
Foremost
GEICO
18-year-old$218$82
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

GEICO: Cheapest for drivers with bad credit

Insurers consider several factors when setting a premium. Statistics show that people with bad credit are involved in more accidents and claims, which is why they pay more for coverage. GEICO is the best policy option for drivers with poor credit, as you can see in the table below.

Driver Type
Foremost
GEICO
Drivers with bad credit$140$61
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

GEICO: Cheapest for senior drivers

GEICO offers better rates than Foremost for senior drivers (age 60 or higher) as well. A person’s rates tend to increase around age 70 because reduced faculties make it riskier to drive.

The table below shows how full-coverage rates from GEICO compare with those from Foremost.

Driver Type
Foremost
GEICO
Senior drivers$209$90
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Compare coverages: Foremost vs. GEICO

GEICO and Foremost both offer a variety of insurance products ranging from standard coverages, such as bodily injury liability and property damage liability, to personal injury protection. These insurers also offer additional coverage options, such as uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, collision, and comprehensive coverage. Collision coverage and comprehensive will pay to repair or replace your vehicle after an accident, fire, flood, or other covered incident.

Both insurers also offer homeowners insurance. But while GEICO offers a life insurance policy, Foremost doesn’t. Neither insurance company offers health insurance coverage.

Foremost offers gap insurance, while GEICO doesn’t currently offer this coverage. The table below shows which coverages are available with each of these car insurers.

Coverage
Foremost
GEICO
Gap insuranceYesNo
Rental reimbursementYesYes
Roadside assistanceYesYes
Rideshare coverageYesYes
Mechanical breakdownNoYes

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Compare discounts: Foremost vs. GEICO

Both GEICO and Foremost offer multiple discounts to help lower your monthly premium. But GEICO offers more discounts than Foremost.

Check the information below to see which discounts are available with each insurance company.

Discount
Foremost
GEICO
Clean driving recordYesYes
Defensive driving courseNoYes
Multi-policyYesYes
Multi-carYesYes
Low mileageYesNo
Telematics (safe driving app)NoYes
Anti-theft deviceYesYes
New carNoYes
Military/affiliationYesYes
Good studentNoYes
LoyaltyYesYes
Auto payYesYes
Student away at schoolYesYes
HomeownerYesYes
Alternative fuelYesNo

Foremost vs. GEICO FAQs

GEICO is certainly the big winner when it comes to price, but if you’re a driver with incidents on your record, Foremost may be the best option for you. As you narrow your decision between these insurers, the answers presented below can help.

  • Who is GEICO’s biggest competitor?

    GEICO is the third-largest car insurance company in the U.S., according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.[2] State Farm is the largest insurance business in the U.S., and Progressive is the second largest, making these two companies GEICO’s biggest competitors.

    Allstate and USAA round out the top five largest insurers in the country.

  • Is GEICO cheaper than Foremost?

    Yes. GEICO is cheaper than Foremost in every driver category. But Foremost specializes in high-risk drivers, so its average rates tend to be higher based on the drivers it insures.

  • Is Foremost Insurance a reputable company?

    Yes. Foremost Insurance Company is a reputable company that is a partner insurance company of Farmers Casualty Insurance Company. Foremost started out offering coverage for mobile homes but currently offers auto policies to high-risk drivers through its partnership with another affiliated Farmers company, Bristol West Casualty Insurance Company. Foremost enjoys sound financial strength ratings from AM Best.[3]

  • What are the key differences between Foremost and GEICO’s insurance services?

    The main difference is that Foremost specializes in high-risk drivers, while GEICO primarily works with more traditional drivers. They both offer experienced agents, a variety of coverages, and discounts for drivers with a good driving record. In addition, GEICO offers a telematics program called DriveEasy, which monitors your driving and offers a discount for good driving.

Methodology

Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 90 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 50+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.

Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).

Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:

  • Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
  • Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
  • No additional coverage
Full-coverage premium averages correspond to the same bodily injury and property damage limits in addition to:
  • Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
  • Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible

Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.

Sources

  1. J.D. Power. "Auto Insurance Customer Satisfaction Plummets as Rates Continue to Surge, J.D. Power Finds."
  2. NAIC. "PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE INDUSTRY 2023 TOP 25 GROUPS AND COMPANIES BY COUNTRYWIDE PREMIUM."
  3. AM Best. "A.M. Best Affirms Ratings of Foremost Corporation Group and Its Members."
Mark Vallet
Mark Vallet

Mark is a freelance journalist and analyst with more than 15 years of experience covering the insurance industry. He has extensive experience creating and editing content on a variety of subjects with deep expertise in insurance and automotive writing.

Chris Schafer
Edited byChris SchaferSenior Editor
Chris Schafer
Chris SchaferSenior Editor
  • 15+ years in content creation

  • 7+ years in business and financial services content

Chris is a seasoned writer/editor with past experience across myriad industries, including insurance, SAS, finance, Medicare, logistics, marketing/advertising, and many more.

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Konstantin Halachev
Data reviewed byKonstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
Headshot of Konstantin Halachev, VP of Engineering at Insurify
Konstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
  • 7+ years experience in data analysis

  • Ph.D. in Computational Biology

Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.

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