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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.
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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.
Featured in
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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
At Insurify, our goal is to help customers compare insurance products and find the best policy for them. We strive to provide open, honest, and unbiased information about the insurance products and services we review. Our hard-working team of data analysts, insurance experts, insurance agents, editors and writers, has put in thousands of hours of research to create the content found on our site.
We do receive compensation when a sale or referral occurs from many of the insurance providers and marketing partners on our site. That may impact which products we display and where they appear on our site. But it does not influence our meticulously researched editorial content, what we write about, or any reviews or recommendations we may make. We do not guarantee favorable reviews or any coverage at all in exchange for compensation.
Table of contents
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.
Foremost vs. GEICO: The verdict
GEICO has a significantly higher IQ Score of 9.2 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 Score | 7.4 | 9.2 |
| J.D. Power customer satisfaction score | Not Ranked | 818 out of 1,000 |
| Average quote: liability only | $118 | $91 |
| Number of discounts | 3 | 16 |
| Number of states where it operates | 50 | 50 |
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.
| User Reviews | 3.9 |
|---|---|
| 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. | NR |
Drivers appreciate the professional interactions but dislike the unexpected rate increases and inadequate coverage. Issues with customer service and claim handling are also common.
Drivers appreciate the professional interactions but dislike the unexpected rate increases and inadequate coverage. Issues with customer service and claim handling are also common.
Foremost is a member of Farmers Insurance Group and operates in all 50 states. Foremost offers car insurance through its partnership with Bristol West and also sells home insurance, classic car coverage, motorcycle insurance, RV insurance, and more. Foremost also offers add-ons like vanishing deductible and new vehicle replacement coverage. Thanks to Foremost’s range of insurance products, policyholders can bundle multiple policies for a discount. Drivers can also get discounts for insuring multiple cars, choosing paperless billing, and more.
Covers a wide variety of vehicles
Coverage available for high-risk drivers
Offers rideshare coverage
Must contact an agent to get a quote or buy a policy
Average rates tend to exceed national rates
More complaints than expected with the NAIC
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]
| User Reviews | 4.0 |
|---|---|
| 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. | 9.2 /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. | $91/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. | $139/mo |
Customers appreciate the reliability and customer service but find the rates to be high and increase frequently, even without claims or accidents. The app has improved, but some find the claims process lacking.
Customers appreciate the reliability and customer service but find the rates to be high and increase frequently, even without claims or accidents. The app has improved, but some find the claims process lacking.
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.
Good rates for good drivers, seniors, and young drivers
Accident forgiveness available
A+ (Superior) financial strength rating from AM Best
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
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.
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 $139 for full coverage, while Foremost came in at $274 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 | $118 | $91 |
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 | $122 |
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 | $224 | $164 |
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 | $142 | $111 |
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 | $101 |
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 insurance | Yes | No |
| Rental reimbursement | Yes | Yes |
| Roadside assistance | Yes | Yes |
| Rideshare coverage | Yes | Yes |
| Mechanical breakdown | No | Yes |
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 record | Yes | Yes |
| Defensive driving course | No | Yes |
| Multi-policy | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-car | Yes | Yes |
| Low mileage | Yes | No |
| Telematics (safe driving app) | No | Yes |
| Anti-theft device | Yes | Yes |
| New car | No | Yes |
| Military/affiliation | Yes | Yes |
| Good student | No | Yes |
| Loyalty | Yes | Yes |
| Auto pay | Yes | Yes |
| Student away at school | Yes | Yes |
| Homeowner | Yes | Yes |
| Alternative fuel | Yes | No |
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 500+ 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
- 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.
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Sources
- J.D. Power. "Auto Insurance Customer Satisfaction Plummets as Rates Continue to Surge, J.D. Power Finds."
- NAIC. "PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE INDUSTRY 2023 TOP 25 GROUPS AND COMPANIES BY COUNTRYWIDE PREMIUM."
- AM Best. "A.M. Best Affirms Ratings of Foremost Corporation Group and Its Members."
)
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.
)
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.
Featured in
)
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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