At a glance
- Organization
- Foremost
- Type
- Insurance carrier
- Founded
- 1952
- Base / focus
- Caledonia / Grand Rapids, Michigan area (Foremost Insurance Group)
- Specialty
- Mobile home, specialty dwelling, auto, and recreational vehicles
- Official site
- Visit Foremost
Who is Foremost?
Foremost Insurance Group is a specialty insurer founded in 1952 to insure mobile homes. Now part of Farmers Insurance, Foremost offers manufactured/mobile home, standard and specialty homeowners, vacant and landlord dwellings, auto, motorcycle, boat, RV, and other recreational vehicle coverages through independent agents.
Foremost built its reputation on specialty property and recreational risks that mainstream preferred markets sometimes decline — starting with mobile homes and expanding into RVs, boats, motorcycles, vacant homes, and more.
As part of Farmers Insurance, Foremost remains a distinct specialty brand that independent agents use when a client’s home type, occupancy, or recreational vehicles need tailored underwriting.
Key facts
- Founded in 1952 by Edward J. Frey, Richard E. Riebel, Edward L. Stoddard, and investors
- Created the first insurance policy specifically for mobile homes
- Became part of Farmers Insurance Group in 2000
- Expanded into travel trailers, motor homes, boats, motorcycles, and specialty property
- Writes vacant, seasonal, landlord, condo, and standard home programs
- Distributes primarily through local independent agents
History
In 1952, Foremost Insurance Company was founded to insure American families living in mobile homes when few carriers offered suitable policies.
The company later introduced travel trailer insurance, studied wind effects on mobile homes, partnered on AARP-endorsed mobile home programs, and diversified into boats, motorcycles, snowmobiles, and other recreational products.
Farmers Insurance Group acquired Foremost in 2000. Subsequent growth included automobile offerings via Bristol West affiliation paths and Foremost Choice® standard homeowners programs alongside the specialty portfolio.
Products Foremost offers
Foremost’s public product list is broad and specialty-heavy:
- Mobile / manufactured home insurance (including park models, modular, rental, and vacant mobile homes)
- Standard and specialty homeowners
- Vacant home and seasonal home
- Landlord and rental home
- Renters and condominium (including vacant/landlord condo)
- Flood (NFIP access marketed through Foremost in many cases)
- Auto and collectible auto
- Commercial auto
- Boat, personal watercraft, motorcycle, scooter, ORV, snowmobile, golf cart, NEV
- Motor home, travel trailer, 5th wheel, and luxury motor coach
Who Foremost serves
Foremost serves manufactured-home owners, owners of older or hard-to-place dwellings, landlords, vacant/seasonal property owners, recreational vehicle enthusiasts, and drivers seeking specialty or nonstandard auto options.
Preferred new-construction suburban homeowners may still be quoted, but Foremost’s historic strength is specialty and recreational niches.
Coverage focus with Epic and Easy
We often look to Foremost for:
- Manufactured and mobile home insurance
- Vacant, seasonal, or landlord dwellings
- RV, motorcycle, boat, and other recreational vehicles
- Specialty homeowners that need flexible underwriting
- Related Foremost products we are appointed to offer
Who it’s for in Virginia
Foremost can be a strong fit for Virginia residents in manufactured homes, owners of vacant or rental properties, and hobbyists with RVs, bikes, or boats.
If you only need preferred auto and a standard HO-3, we may start with other markets and still keep Foremost available for specialty pieces of the package.
How Epic and Easy helps
We identify which properties and vehicles need specialty forms, gather occupancy and usage details, and check Foremost alongside other appointed markets.
We explain settlement options and specialty exclusions so you know what you are buying before you bind.
Foremost FAQs
What is Foremost best known for?
Foremost is best known for pioneering mobile home insurance in 1952 and for specialty property and recreational vehicle coverage. It is now part of Farmers Insurance.
Is Foremost only for mobile homes?
No. While mobile/manufactured homes remain a core specialty, Foremost also markets standard and specialty homeowners, vacant/landlord dwellings, auto, and a wide range of recreational vehicle products.
When did Farmers acquire Foremost?
Foremost became part of the Farmers Insurance Group in 2000.
Can Epic and Easy quote Foremost in Virginia?
Yes, when we are appointed and the risk qualifies. Availability depends on property type, occupancy, product, and underwriting.
Does Foremost insure RVs and motorcycles?
Yes. Foremost markets motor home, travel trailer, motorcycle, boat, personal watercraft, and other recreational vehicle coverages.
Sources & methodology
This profile summarizes publicly available information from the organization’s official website and related authoritative pages. Product lists describe what the organization markets broadly and do not guarantee availability through Epic and Easy in every ZIP or risk class.
Coverage, eligibility, pricing, and underwriting rules vary by state, product, and applicant. We do not invent AM Best scores, claim counts, or proprietary premiums on this page.
Advertiser Disclosure: Epic and Easy may be compensated when you request a quote or purchase coverage through our agency relationships. Compensation may influence which products we can offer. Carrier availability varies by product, ZIP, and underwriting. Product lists on this page describe what Foremost markets broadly and do not guarantee that every product is available through Epic and Easy in every location. This page does not invent ratings, claim counts, or proprietary premiums.