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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, State Auto offers slightly cheaper premiums than Foremost
• Foremost offers more affordable average rates for single people who will be the only person on the insurance policy
• State Auto may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Foremost Insurance Group

Foremost or State Auto: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

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

You might have narrowed your search down to Foremost or State Auto as your top options, but which carrier will offer you less expensive premiums?

Looking at nationwide averages, Foremost is around $11 more a month than State Auto.

But State Auto may not be the lowest or best option for every single driver out there. Car insurance carriers use all sorts of complex algorithms to determine prices, so depending on how clean your driving record is or how good your credit score is (among a variety of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

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

Foremost vs. State Auto: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Foremost and State Auto only compete against each other in one states, with Foremost offering more affordable rates to the average driver in all of them. Texas has the most noticable difference, where Foremost premiums are $56 cheaper than auto insurance rates at State Auto.

But there's more to calculating insurance prices than just the state you live in. Continue reading to learn more about 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. That's because teen 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 premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use Foremost save over 20% per month compared to those who use State Auto.

Even so, both companies will offer you dramatically lower prices by the time drivers turn 25. State Auto offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than a quarter of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Foremost's average rates drop more than 60% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age usually enjoy some of the cheapest car insurance premiums you'll ever find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which typically lowers their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise prices.

When looking at Foremost and State Auto specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? State Auto gets the edge here, with average premiums coming in at about $167 per month compared to Foremost's $219.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that insurance rates are normally more expensive for single drivers than they are for married couples? This usually boils down to married drivers having multiple vehicles on their policy -- something a lot of car insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

For single policyholders, the difference in average prices between these two companies is not very significant, with Foremost rates coming in at around 4% less than State Auto's. But for married policyholders, the advantage is clear - State Auto offers the most affordable average premiums.

Foremost or State Auto: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into accidents and file an insurance claim, which means they'll typically end up paying more for insurance than women.

Generally, men see rates about $4 a month higher with Foremost, and around $24 more with State Auto.

Looking at overall affordability, State Auto comes out as the cheapest option for both genders. On average, women save about $21 per month and men save about $1 with State Auto compared to the average Foremost policyholder.

Foremost vs. State Auto: 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 isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs insurance, but there are so many different terms and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- alongside liability coverage).

When it comes to state minimum limits for liability insurance, State Auto has the edge, while Foremost offers the most affordable average premiums for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Policyholders looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $25 with State Auto Insurance, while full coverage comes out to be around $3 less expensive with Foremost Insurance Group.

Is Foremost or State Auto Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

It's no secret secret that speeding tickets and collisions lead to higher prices, but which company -- Foremost or State Auto -- has the lowest premiums for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers who use Foremost for their car insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up about 22% after getting a speeding ticket. State Auto policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 22%.

That being said, State Auto is usually the cheaper option for both drivers who have a recent ticket and those with clean records -- their rates are around 16% more affordable for drivers with clean records and 16% cheaper for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their auto insurance through Foremost can expect to see about an $179 -- or around 47% -- rise in their insurance rates. Drivers who use State Auto for their car insurance will see a monthly bill about $99 (or 37%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their insurance carrier.

At the end of the day, State Auto offers the most affordable prices for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average rates coming in at $269 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. On average, State Auto will climb your premiums around 55% after a DUI, while Foremost's average prices climb by more than 15%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable premiums, Foremost tends to be more affordable for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $238 to State Auto's $380.

How does Credit Score Impact Foremost and State Auto Rates?

Often times, your credit score can come into play when carriers calculate your monthly bill. Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a car insurance factor, but it will come into play for many policyholders.

Car insurance carriers argue that those with good credit scores are more likely to pay their bills on time every month, which reduces the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad credit.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

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

How much you drive can have a big impact on how much auto insurance companies will charge for coverage. That's because the more milage you drive, the more likely you are to be in an accident and file an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Foremost or State Auto report increasing prices for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. State Auto comes out as the lowest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car yearly, with average rates of $259 a month for both.

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

Where your home is can have a considerable impact on your monthly car insurance cost. Normally, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

State Auto boasts the cheapest average prices in urban and suburban areas, while Foremost wins in rural areas.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, State Auto Insurance's average premiums are around 0% less than Foremost Insurance Group. People who live in suburban areas pay about 18% less with State Auto compared to Foremost. Those in rural areas can expect to save around 9% with Foremost compared to State Auto.

Foremost vs. State Auto 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 auto insurance discounts as possible.

The difficult part is finding all of the discounts you can take advantage of, since it can feel sometimes like every carrier has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Foremost and State Auto offer their customers so that you can see which company can save you the most money each month.

State Auto knocks Foremost out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 18 different discounts to Foremost's 18.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, distant student discounts, and discounts for being a good driver. State Auto also offers discounts for ABS, advantage program , COVID-19 relief, 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 State Auto Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the factors insurance carriers look at, and walked through the different discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, is Foremost or State Auto the best one for you and your specific driver profile?

State Auto might be best for you if....

• You have above-average credit.
• You care about discounts (State Auto offers the most).
• You and your spouse are buying car insurance together.

Foremost might be best for you if...

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You live in a rural neighborhood.
• You want to save money while purchasing auto insurance for a teenager.

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Foremost and State Auto and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your insurance.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on auto insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of companies, not just Foremost and State Auto. 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 carriers in your area, all for free.

Foremost vs. State Auto FAQs

Is Foremost or State Auto cheaper?

State Auto is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $259 per month with State Auto and $270 for Foremost. However, that doesn't mean State Auto will be the lowest carrier for each policyholder, since there are several different variables (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Foremost or State Auto?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No single company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile. For example, State Auto is more affordable for drivers who have already retired, while Foremost offers cheaper rates for single drivers.

Why do Foremost and State Auto offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers use lots of different factors when determining the premiums they charge. Variables such as your driving record, age, where you live, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Foremost and State Auto calculate prices differently, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different companies.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do 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 cheapest price. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Foremost or State Auto 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.