California Casualty vs. Foremost: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• In general, California Casualty offers significantly cheaper rates than Foremost
• California Casualty offers more affordable average prices for policyholders who live in suburban areas
• Foremost offers more affordable rates for drivers with a DUI charge on their record

California Casualty vs. Foremost: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering a new insurance policy? After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering hefty discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to California Casualty or Foremost as your top options, but between the two, which carrier has less expensive premiums for insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, California Casualty has average rates that are about 25% per month more affordable than those from Foremost.

However, that doesn't necessarily mean California Casualty will be the cheaper option for every driver. Car insurance companies use a ton of complex algorithms to calculate prices, so depending on where you live or how clean your driving record is (among a bunch of other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

Wanting to know if California Casualty or Foremost is really the right company for you? Keep on reading to see how average rates can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

California Casualty or Foremost: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

California Casualty and Foremost only compete against each other in one states, with California Casualty offering less expensive prices to the average driver in all of them. Washington has the most noticable difference, where California Casualty premiums are over 20% more affordable than auto insurance rates at Foremost.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance payment than just the state you live in. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance prices of any other group of drivers out there on the road. Usually, that's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have California Casualty for their car insurance pay nearly $150 less than those who use Foremost.

That being said, with both carriers, you'll see your rates decrease significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average prices for California Casualty policyholders reduce almost 60% and Foremost's rates drop more than 60% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll generally enjoy the lowest insurance premiums you'll ever see. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly prices for auto insurance.

When looking at California Casualty and Foremost specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? California Casualty gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $70 cheaper than the national average for Foremost.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance prices are typically more expensive for those who are single than they are for married drivers? That's normally because married couples tend to own and insure more than one car, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, California Casualty is the clear winner for single drivers, with rates around $83 a month less expensive than Foremost, on average. The advantage for married policyholders with California Casualty is also obvious, where drivers save nearly 25% per month.

California Casualty vs. Foremost: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents, which means they'll generally end up paying more for insurance than women.

With California Casualty, women typically pay almost 10% a month less than men, and about 1% less with Foremost when compared to their male counterparts.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, California Casualty offers the most affordable average prices for both men and women, with average rates 23% less for men and 28% cheaper for women.

California Casualty or Foremost: Compare State Minimum vs. Full Coverage Rates

*State minimum value indicates liability-only policies at each state's minimum bodily injury and property damage (BI/PD) limits

**Full coverage indicates state minimum BI/PD limits with collision and comprehensive coverages added to policy.

Auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different terms and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which usually refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, California Casualty normally offers significantly more affordable premiums of $122 compared to Foremost's $173. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, California Casualty again has the edge, with policies around $85 per month cheaper than Foremost, on average.

Is California Casualty or Foremost Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their car insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

You'll probably end up paying more with tickets and at-fault accidents on your record, but which of these two companies offers the lowest rates to drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

California Casualty policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $33 a month if they get a ticket, while Foremost usually raises prices about $56 per month, on average.

But California Casualty tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with clean records and with a speeding ticket -- their rates are around 32% less expensive for drivers with clean records and 34% cheaper for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

California Casualty drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their premiums increase by over $60, while those who have insurance through Foremost will see around a $200 increase.

Overall, drivers who use California Casualty end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly prices averaging $198 compared to Foremost Insurance Group's $381.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple ticket or even an accident. For example, California Casualty increases average rates by over $150 a month -- that's just under a 55% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, Foremost tends to be the much more affordable option with average premiums of $238 per month compared to $300 from California Casualty.

How does Credit Score Impact California Casualty and Foremost Rates?

Often times, your credit score can come into play when carriers determine your monthly bill. This isn't always the case (for example, Massachusetts and Michigan are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect quite a few policyholders out there.

Insurance companies argue that someone with good credit is more likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them less risky to insure. Because of that, drivers with good credit will often be rewarded with less expensive rates.

So, which carrier offers the most affordable premiums for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, you'll usually find a better deal with California Casualty. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save over 40% compared to Foremost, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $87 or 33% more affordable each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

California Casualty typically offers lower rates than Foremost when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $67 per month less with California Casualty compared to Foremost, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of about $21 a month.

Is California Casualty or Foremost Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

The amount of time you spend behind the wheel of your car plays a big role in how much car insurance carriers will charge for coverage. Generally, those who drive less will end up with less expensive prices since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision and causing an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Foremost charges. However, there's a pretty significant difference in monthly rates for California Casualty, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles every year paying around $25 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, California Casualty is the cheaper option for drivers in both categories.

California Casualty vs. Foremost: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you call home can have a large impact on your monthly auto insurance cost. Normally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas because of the number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

California Casualty tends to offer the most affordable premiums for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the lowest rates from both companies, but California Casualty comes out on top with average prices about $164 monthly. California Casualty also has less expensive average premiums for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 31% and 23% a month respective difference when compared to Foremost drivers in similar areas.

California Casualty vs. Foremost Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? The best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many insurance discounts as you can.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be hard to find all the ones you're eligible for or to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

In the table below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both California Casualty and Foremost so that you can see which one offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Looking at the total number of discounts, California Casualty has a slight advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Foremost offers a grand total of 12 discounts, while California Casualty has 14.

Both carriers offer lots of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a good driver, multi-policy discounts, and paperless discounts -- but California Casualty also offers ABS discounts, driver training discounts, education discounts, and more that Foremost does not.

On the flip side, Foremost has a couple unique discounts of its own -- advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is California Casualty or Foremost Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your auto insurance and the different discounts companies offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which company is the best fit for you?

California Casualty might be best for you if....

• You have above-average credit.
• You live in an urban area.
• You're buying insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Foremost might be best for you if...

• You have a DUI charge on your record.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between California Casualty and Foremost. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your car insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple carriers, not just California Casualty and Foremost. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple quotes from some of the best car insurance companies in your area, all for free.

California Casualty vs. Foremost FAQs

Is California Casualty or Foremost cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, California Casualty is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $201 per month compared to $270 for Foremost. Even so, California Casualty won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for every driver, since there are multiple different variables (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, California Casualty or Foremost?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". One company is not necessarily "better" for each driver -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile. For example, Foremost offers more affordable prices for drivers with a recent DUI, while California Casualty is cheaper for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do California Casualty and Foremost offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies take a look at many different factors when calculating the premiums they charge policyholders. Things such as gender, age, where you live, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both California Casualty and Foremost calculate rates using different variables, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different carriers.

How do I know if California Casualty or Foremost is right for me?

The only way to find the auto insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be California Casualty or Foremost at all!

Methodology

All of the data referenced in this article has been gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. We analyzed more than 2.5 million rows of carrier-reported data to calculate the average rates referenced above. All rates are based on an insurance profile of a single-vehicle policy for a driver that owns a 2016 Honda Accord. For more information on how we calculate rates, please reference our data methodology.