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

Quick Facts

• In general, Pemco offers significantly less expensive prices than Foremost
• Pemco has cheaper premiums for residents of suburban areas
• Pemco offers more affordable prices for drivers with a DUI charge on their record

Foremost vs. Pemco: 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 it down to Foremost or Pemco as your top options, but which one will save you the most?

As you can see, Foremost has average rates that are about 60% per month more expensive than those from Pemco when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

Even so, that doesn't mean Pemco will necessarily be more affordable than Foremost for each driver. Insurance companies vary their premiums depending on things like how clean your driving record is, how good your credit score is, how old you are, where you live, and all sorts of other factors. So, at the end of the day, rates from each company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

Foremost or Pemco: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Foremost and Pemco only compete against each other in Washington, where Pemco offers the cheaper average prices. For Washington residents, Pemco offers auto insurance for $107 per month on average. Foremost's average rates come out to be over 60% more expensive, at $180 a month.

There's a lot more that goes into your car insurance bill than just where you live. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers typically pay a lot more for insurance than any group on the road. It's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $350 less a month by choosing Pemco over Foremost.

But both carriers will drop rates by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average premiums for Foremost policyholders reduce over 60% and Pemco's rates lower more than 55% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll normally enjoy the most affordable car insurance prices out there. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly premiums for auto insurance.

When looking at Foremost and Pemco specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Pemco gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at around $91 monthly compared to Foremost's $219.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance premiums tend to be more expensive for those who are single than they are for married policyholders. That's because policies for married drivers generally cover more than one car, which a lot of companies will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Pemco is the clear winner for single drivers, with prices about $192 per month cheaper than Foremost, on average. The advantage for married couples with Pemco is also obvious, where drivers save nearly 60% a month.

Foremost vs. Pemco: Average Rates by Gender

Women usually to pay less for auto insurance than men. This is because women are less likely to get into collisions and get speeding tickets, which decreases the chances of an insurance claim.

Men typically pay around $4 per month more than women with Foremost, and about $4 with Pemco.

Looking at overall affordability, Pemco offers the cheapest average premiums for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $163 a month and women save around $163 with Pemco compared to the average Foremost policyholder.

Foremost or Pemco: 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.

Insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are so many different coverages and terms that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- alongside what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Pemco generally offers significantly less expensive rates of $62 compared to Foremost's $173. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Pemco again has the edge, with policies about $200 per month more affordable than Foremost, on average.

Is Foremost or Pemco Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from car insurance carriers offering great prices for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

It's no secret secret that at-fault accidents and tickets lead to higher premiums, but which carrier -- Foremost or Pemco -- has the most affordable prices for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Foremost policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $56 a month if they get a ticket, while Pemco usually raises prices around $16 per month, on average.

However, Pemco tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent speeding ticket and those with clean records. Drivers with a clean record can save about $117 a month and drivers with a ticket can save around $157 per month with PEMCO Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will increase premiums pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Foremost climbing by just under $200. Pemco has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay over $25 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, the cheaper rates come from Pemco, with monthly prices averaging $111 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 speeding ticket or even a collision. Pemco drivers usually see a 35% raise in their insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Foremost will normally climb premiums by about 15%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, Pemco tends to be the much more affordable option with average premiums of $131 per month compared to $238 from Foremost.

How does Credit Score Impact Foremost and Pemco Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can come into play when carriers calculate your monthly bill. This isn't always the case (Michigan, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it does affect several drivers out there.

The reasoning auto insurance companies use is that policyholders with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so typically, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with less expensive prices.

So, which company offers the lowest rates for drivers with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Pemco. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save just under 75% compared to Foremost, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $179 or 69% more affordable every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Pemco typically offers lower prices than Foremost when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $171 a month less with Pemco compared to Foremost, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of around $128 monthly.

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

How much you drive can have a considerable impact on how much insurance carriers will charge for coverage. That's because the fewer miles you put on your vehicle, the less likely you are to get into an accident and cause 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 small difference in monthly premiums for Pemco, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles yearly paying about $6 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, Pemco is the cheaper option for drivers in both categories.

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

We've already mentioned how your home state can play a role in how much you pay for auto insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a substantial impact as well. Usually, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for car insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Pemco generally comes out as the most affordable option for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the cheapest rates from both carriers, but Pemco comes out on top with average premiums around $88 a month. Pemco also has less expensive average prices for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $203 and $168 per month respective difference when compared to Foremost drivers in similar areas.

Foremost vs. Pemco Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new auto insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many insurance discounts as you can.

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be difficult to find all the ones you qualify for.

In the section below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Foremost and Pemco so that you can find the company that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

They both offer great discounts like advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, and distant student discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Foremost or Pemco Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average rates for many of the factors car insurance companies look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each company offers. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which insurance carrier is the right carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

Pemco might be best for you if....

• Your driving record contains an at-fault accident.
• Your neighborhood is in the suburbs.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your insurance.

Foremost might be best for you if...

• You have a more unique driver profile than those we mentioned above.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Foremost and Pemco. 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 auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from several carriers, not just Foremost and Pemco. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Foremost vs. Pemco FAQs

Is Foremost or Pemco cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Pemco is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $107 a month compared to $270 for Foremost. That being said, Pemco won't necessarily be the lowest company for every policyholder, since there are many different variables (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Foremost or Pemco?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". One carrier is not "better" for each driver -- it all comes down to what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do Foremost and Pemco offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies take a look at quite a few different factors when calculating the rates they charge policyholders. Things like age, where you park your car, your driving record, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Foremost and Pemco use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different carriers.

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

The only way to find the car insurance carrier 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, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Foremost or Pemco 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.