Is Foremost Auto Insurance Good for New York Drivers?
Last Updated on October 2, 2021
Foremost is one of the many companies you can choose from when shopping for car insurance in New York. With so many different options, it can be difficult to find the car insurance policy that best fits your needs. In this article, we’ll take a look at Foremost’s car insurance offerings in New York to help you decide if it’s the right choice for you.
About Foremost Insurance Group
Foremost Insurance Group is part of the broader Farmers Insurance umbrella. Farmers acquired Foremost in 2000, but Foremost has been in business since 1952. They have always specialized in insurance for mobile homes, RVs, and other non-traditional vehicles. However, they also provide traditional car insurance and other forms of insurance. Today, Foremost provides its car insurance policies through a subsidiary called Bristol West.
| Foremost Insurance Contact Info | |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 0915 Carol Stream, IL 60132-0915 |
| Phone Number | 1-800-527-3905 |
| Hours | Monday – Friday, 9 AM to 8 PM ET |
| Website URL | https://www.foremost.com/ |
Foremost Insurance Coverage Types
Foremost Insurance provides all of the essential car insurance coverage that you’ll need in New York. This includes the liability coverage you will need to meet New York state law. They also offer collision, comprehensive, and underinsured motorist coverage. While these coverage types are not required by law, many people consider them essential.
Collision insurance providers coverage for any type of collision, including one-car collisions and collisions where you are found at fault. It’s important to note that New York is a no-fault state. This means that you are not responsible for bodily injury liability if you are found at fault in an accident, but you are still held liable for property damage. Comprehensive insurance provides coverage for many other types of car damage, including damage from vandalism or natural disasters. Finally, uninsured motorist coverage provides coverage if you are hit by someone who does not have car insurance or does not carry enough car insurance to cover the damages.
Foremost also offers a few extra types of car insurance coverage that you can use to supplement these basic options. These include roadside assistance, gap insurance, and rental car reimbursement. They also offer rideshare coverage, which is a type of insurance that has been in very high demand over the past few years. Rideshare coverage is designed for those who drive for services like Uber and Lyft.
Foremost Insurance Pricing and Discounts
Foremost Insurance specializes in providing insurance to high-risk drivers. These drivers may struggle to find affordable prices through Farmers and other mainstream car insurance companies. While Foremost doesn’t have the cheapest car insurance on the market, it’s going to be a more affordable option for those who have a history of accidents in the past or who require an SR-22.
Like many other car insurance companies, Foremost also offers a list of standard discounts that could save you money. These include discounts for insuring multiple vehicles or bundling your car insurance with other policies, like home and renter’s insurance policies. You can also get a discount for paying your insurance in full, setting up auto-pay, or transferring from another insurance provider. Additionally, families can earn discounts for their teen driver or having a child away at college.
Foremost Financial Security Ratings
Before signing up with any insurance company, it’s very important to check their financial security ratings. You’ll want to ensure that they are financially stable enough to pay their claims regardless of current economic conditions. Foremost Auto Insurance currently has an A rating from AM Best, an organization that rates the financial stability of insurance companies. While this is not the highest rating possible, it does indicate that this company can pay its claims comfortably.
Foremost Customer Service
Foremost has an above-average complaint rating when compared to other car insurance companies of its size, which is important for consumers to be aware of before signing up. They also don’t have an accreditation from the Better Business Bureau. Most of these complaints are likely because signing up for Foremost and filing claims can be rather difficult.
Foremost does not provide the option to get a quote online. Instead, you need to contact an insurance agent in your area. Because of this, the signup process can be tricky and time-consuming, as there are a limited number of agents available. Filing a claim is much easier, but can still be a lengthy process. To do this, you can call their claims hotline or fill out a form on their website. You can then track your claim online until it is closed.
Foremost does have an easy online bill pay option. However, they do not currently have a mobile app for customers.
Advantages of Foremost Insurance
If you struggle to find affordable car insurance through more traditional providers, Foremost Insurance could be a good choice for you. When you’ve been in multiple accidents or have a history of filing claims, your car insurance company is going to view you as a risk and increase your monthly premiums. With Foremost Insurance, you don’t have to worry about being denied because of your record, or being charged exorbitantly high prices.
Another advantage of using Foremost for your car insurance is that it’s very easy to bundle with other types of insurance. Foremost specializes in insurance for RVs and mobile homes, so if you have one of these in addition to your car, you can bundle the insurance for good coverage. Foremost also offers home insurance for properties that are considered high risk, such as older low-cost homes. This may make it an attractive choice to bundle with other types of coverage.
Finally, Foremost Insurance does offer rideshare coverage as an add-on. It’s important to have this kind of coverage as an Uber or Lyft driver, and this could be a good option.
Disadvantages of Foremost Insurance
The biggest disadvantage of Foremost Insurance is that they don’t offer a wide range of car insurance policy options. If you need to customize your coverage to fit your unique needs, they don’t have as many options as larger insurance companies. While Foremost Insurance does offer affordable policies for those who are considered at-risk drivers, they aren’t going to be the cheapest option for those who have a clean driving record. On top of that, Foremost Insurance does not get good reviews for its customer service. It’s difficult to get a quote online, so the sign-up process may be challenging for those who don’t have a local agent nearby. On top of that, Foremost does not have a mobile app, making it harder to manage your plan on the go.
Final Thoughts on Foremost
Finding insurance as a high-risk driver in New York can be difficult. Foremost Insurance is a reliable option under the Farmers umbrella for those in this situation.
