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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, Selective offers significantly less expensive prices than Foremost
• Selective offers more affordable average rates for policyholders who live in urban areas
• Selective has cheaper premiums for policyholders who don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault collisions on their record

Foremost or Selective: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering pretty big savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Foremost or Selective as your top options, but between the two, which company will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Foremost has average rates that are around 30% a month more expensive than those from Selective.

But that doesn't mean Selective will necessarily be more affordable than Foremost for every driver. After all, auto insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to every driver depending on rating factors like your credit score, where you call home, your driving record, or even your age (among other things), so rates will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average prices from both Foremost and Selective by several different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Foremost vs. Selective: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Foremost and Selective only compete against each other in New Jersey, where Selective offers the cheaper average premiums. Selective drivers tend to pay about $208 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Foremost for their car insurance.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance payment than just the state you live in. Continue reading to see how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- generally pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. It's usually because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

Even so, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of almost 20% less a month by choosing Selective over Foremost.

However, with both companies, you'll see your rates drop significantly once you turn 25. For example, average prices for Foremost policyholders reduce over 60% and Selective's rates lower nearly 65% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the cheapest prices you'll ever see.

When looking at Foremost and Selective specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Selective gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older more than 45% less expensive than the national average for Foremost.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married policyholders tend to get slightly cheaper auto insurance prices than single drivers. That's normally because married drivers tend to own and insure multiple vehicles, which can often earn you a discount.

For single policyholders, the difference in average rates between these two carriers is significant, with Selective premiums coming in at a third less than Foremost's. The advantage is also clear for married couples - Selective offers the most affordable average rates.

Foremost or Selective: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but insurance is typically more expensive for men than for women. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher prices.

Usually, women see premiums about 1% per month less with Foremost, and around 5% less with Selective.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Selective offers the lowest average rates for both men and women, with average premiums 31% less for men and 33% cheaper for women.

Foremost vs. Selective: 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.

It's no secret that car insurance can be pretty complicated. There are multiple different coverages that account for lots of different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

That being said, the most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- in addition to what you get with liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, Selective has the significant edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $127. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Selective again has the edge, with policies averaging about $241 a month to Foremost's $366.

Is Foremost or Selective Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

Speeding tickets and at-fault accidents will most likely raise your premiums, but is Foremost or Selective more affordable for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Foremost for their auto insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up around 22% after getting a speeding ticket. Selective policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 35%.

But Selective tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with clean records and with a ticket -- their rates are around 30% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 16% less expensive for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through Foremost can expect to see around an $179 -- or about 47% -- rise in their insurance rates. Drivers who use Selective for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill around $21 (or 13%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their car insurance carrier.

At the end of the day, the more affordable prices come from Selective, with average premiums coming in at $162 compared to Foremost Insurance Group's $381.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge, you can expect some pretty significant increases in your monthly auto insurance bill -- usually a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. On average, Selective will climb your rates about 35% after a DUI, while Foremost's average prices rise by more than 15%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable premiums, Selective tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $217 to Foremost's $238.

How does Credit Score Impact Foremost and Selective Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can be used as one of the factors to determine your monthly insurance prices. This isn't true for everyone (Hawaii, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an auto insurance factor) but it does affect lots of drivers out there.

The reasoning car 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 rates.

So, which company offers the cheapest prices for drivers with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, Selective will normally reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Selective comes in nearly 24.15 cheaper. Drivers with "good" credit scores typically save about 31% with Selective compared to average premiums from Foremost.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Selective typically offers lower rates than Foremost when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 34% per month less with Selective compared to Foremost, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of about 36% monthly.

Is Foremost or Selective 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 auto insurance carriers will charge for coverage. Normally, those who drive less will end up with less expensive prices since there's less of a chance of causing a collision and filing an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Foremost or Selective report increasing premiums for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Still, Selective comes out as the lowest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car each year, with average rates of $184 a month for both.

Foremost or Selective: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can play a considerable role in how much you pay for car insurance. Generally, those who live in rural areas will pay less than drivers in urban areas since there are a lot fewer vehicles on the roads where they live.

Selective boasts the lowest average prices for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save around $66 with Selective compared to Foremost. People who live in suburban areas pay about $83 less with Selective compared to Foremost. For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Selective Insurance's average rates are around $108 less than Foremost Insurance Group.

Foremost vs. Selective Discounts

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

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Foremost and Selective offer their customers so that you can see which carrier offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Overall, Selective comes out ahead with 13 discounts to Foremost's 12.

Both companies offer quite a few of the same discounts -- like advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, and distant student discounts -- but Selective also offers discounts for driver training, good student, group discount, and more.

On the other hand, Foremost has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like EFT discounts, minor child discounts, multi-car/single driver discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Foremost or Selective Best for You?

You've seen the role certain variables have on your auto insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, at the end of the day, which insurance carrier is the best one for you and your specific needs?

Selective might be best for you if....

• You have an at-fault collision on your record.
• You live in an suburban area.
• You live in a rural neighborhood.

Foremost might be best for you if...

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

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Foremost and Selective and that it aids in making a more informed 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 companies, not just Foremost and Selective. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Foremost vs. Selective FAQs

Is Foremost or Selective cheaper?

Selective is the more affordable of the two companies when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $184 per month with Selective and $270 for Foremost. Even so, that doesn't mean Selective will be the cheapest company for every driver, since there are a variety of different factors (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Foremost or Selective?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No one carrier is "better" for each policyholder -- it all boils down to your unique insurance profile.

Why do Foremost and Selective offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers use several different variables when determining the rates they charge. Factors such as gender, your driving record, age, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Foremost and Selective calculate prices differently, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different companies.

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

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from several carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest rate. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Foremost or Selective at all, but another you hadn't even thought of!

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.