Fremont Insurance Company
Carrier website links, underwriting access points, mapped product lines, and appetite notes in one place.
This appetite summary is only a guide. Confirm eligibility, submission requirements, restrictions, and binding authority directly with the carrier or underwriter before relying on it.
Carrier appetite summary
Fremont Insurance is a regional writer focused on Michigan and selected neighboring states (notably MI and WI for workers compensation). Its appetite and underwriting are documented primarily through product manuals (commercial package, businessowners, homeowners) and product quick reference guides for agents. PREFERRED / TARGET BUSINESS - Commercial package & BOP: Main-street, well‑maintained, lower‑hazard mercantile, office, and service risks using ISO‑based forms with Fremont exceptions. Businessowners manual outlines eligibility and service/wholesale programs with specific classifications and underwriting guidelines. Risks with good character, stable operations, and acceptable inherent risk exposures, plus favorable safety and loss history, are favored. ([fmic.com](https://www.fmic.com/sites/default/files/2020-12/businessowners-manual-202101.pdf?utm_source=openai)) - Commercial property within packages: Risks that are essentially loss free in the commercial property line for the prior three years are preferred. Fremont expects complete ACORD applications with building details, and generally wants buildings either newer or properly updated. ([fmic.com](https://www.fmic.com/sites/default/files/2021-10/commercial-package-policy-manual-2022_5.pdf?utm_source=openai)) - Workers Compensation: Available in Michigan and Wisconsin; target is standard/emerging small to mid‑size employers where Fremont also writes associated package/auto, emphasizing safety and claims management. The HBA Western Michigan program indicates particular interest in construction‑related members that meet underwriting criteria, where character, operations, inherent risk exposures, safety, and loss history are key considerations and can qualify for group discounts on commercial package, auto, and workers compensation. ([fmic.com](https://www.fmic.com/business-insurance/workers-compensation?utm_source=openai)) - Personal lines (home, personal umbrella, marine): Owner‑occupied, well‑maintained homes and supporting personal lines (auto, umbrella, boats) with favorable insurance score and loss history; Fremont historically emphasizes multi‑policy customer relationships and places focus on age 30–69 with strong insurance scores and low violation history on auto, which often supports umbrella and watercraft placements. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1271245/000090572904000053/fremonts1_012904.htm?utm_source=openai)) RESTRICTED / DECLINED CHARACTERISTICS (OPERATIONAL THEMES) - Commercial property: - Accounts with significant recent property loss activity (last three years) are generally not acceptable unless otherwise cleared; Fremont may require hard copy loss runs for any non‑clean account. ([fmic.com](https://www.fmic.com/sites/default/files/2021-10/commercial-package-policy-manual-2022_5.pdf?utm_source=openai)) - Older buildings (25+ years) are typically written on an actual cash value basis unless the structure has been fully renovated; partial or undocumented updates may be restricted or require underwriting approval and possibly ACV settlement. ([fmic.com](https://www.fmic.com/sites/default/files/2021-10/commercial-package-policy-manual-2022_5.pdf?utm_source=openai)) - Businessowners: The BOP manual distinguishes eligibility classes and contains separate underwriting guidelines for the standard and wholesale programs; high‑hazard classes, certain contractors, large manufacturing, and other non‑BOP‑type exposures would typically be ineligible and must be placed in other programs or are declined, but class details require referring to the class and eligibility sections of the manual at time of quote. ([fmic.com](https://www.fmic.com/sites/default/files/2020-12/businessowners-manual-202101.pdf?utm_source=openai)) - Personal lines home: The homeowners manual has specific underwriting rules, including construction, occupancy, protection class, and solid fuel heating controls. Solid fuel or other higher‑hazard features may be written only with additional underwriting controls (survey, specific endorsement) or declined depending on details. Rental dwellings and incidental business are handled under separate guidelines/quick reference tools rather than standard HO. ([fmic.com](https://www.fmic.com/sites/default/files/2020-12/homeowners-manual-202002.pdf?utm_source=openai)) - Marine / watercraft: Yacht Owners and Small Boat Endorsement checklists highlight eligibility and exposures; homemade or heavily modified craft, high‑performance or racing risks, and poor maintenance conditions are typically outside appetite and should be pre‑cleared with underwriting or declined in line with checklist guidance. GEOGRAPHIC NOTES - Workers Compensation: Explicitly available in Michigan and Wisconsin. ([fmic.com](https://www.fmic.com/business-insurance/workers-compensation?utm_source=openai)) - Commercial package, BOP, homeowners and other lines: Fremont is historically a Michigan‑domiciled regional carrier; manuals and agent tools are written assuming Michigan as core territory, with specific territorial definitions and protection class rules contained in the manuals. Producers should confirm current state availability and any moratoriums or county‑level restrictions through the agent portal before marketing outside Michigan. ([fmic.com](https://www.fmic.com/sites/default/files/2020-12/businessowners-manual-202101.pdf?utm_source=openai)) SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS (COMMON EXPECTATIONS) - Commercial package: - Completed ACORD applications for all lines (property, GL, etc.) with square footage, occupancy, age of buildings, construction, and updates, plus exterior/interior photographs. ([fmic.com](https://www.fmic.com/sites/default/files/2021-10/commercial-package-policy-manual-2022_5.pdf?utm_source=openai)) - Three full years of loss information; loss‑free history is strongly preferred, and underwriters may request company‑produced loss runs when any prior losses or gaps are indicated. ([fmic.com](https://www.fmic.com/sites/default/files/2021-10/commercial-package-policy-manual-2022_5.pdf?utm_source=openai)) - Businessowners: - Use classifications and eligibility sections of the BOP manual along with the underwriting guidelines pages to confirm the risk can be written on the BOP form before submission; provide detailed class description, annual sales/payroll, and building information as applicable. ([fmic.com](https://www.fmic.com/sites/default/files/2020-12/businessowners-manual-202101.pdf?utm_source=openai)) - Workers Compensation: - Standard new‑business WC submissions should include fully completed ACORD apps, ownership/FEIN details, description of operations, payroll by class code and state, and five‑year currently valued loss runs where available, with emphasis on safety programs given the HBAWMI program’s focus on safety and loss history. ([fmic.com](https://www.fmic.com/business-insurance/workers-compensation?utm_source=openai)) - Personal lines (Home/Boat/Umbrella): - Homeowners: follow homeowners manual underwriting rules, including details on construction, year built, updates, occupancy, and any solid‑fuel or special exposures. - Boat/Yacht: utilize the Yacht Owners and Small Boat Endorsement quick reference guides and checklists; include hull information, use (pleasure vs. commercial), mooring/lay‑up details, prior losses, and operator history. ([fmic.com](https://www.fmic.com/product-quick-reference-guides-insurance-review-checklists?utm_source=openai)) BROKER / PRODUCER NOTES - Agent access: Agents work through the Fremont Agent Portal for rating, forms, and manuals. Product quick reference guides and checklists are provided as aids but explicitly are not guaranteed to produce a loss‑free E&O experience; they are intended as groundwork only, and agents are responsible for developing their own procedures and verifying coverage needs. ([fmic.com](https://www.fmic.com/product-quick-reference-guides-insurance-review-checklists?utm_source=openai)) - HBA Western Michigan program: Members of the Home Builders Association of Western Michigan who meet Fremont’s underwriting eligibility may receive a 10% group discount on Commercial Package, Commercial Auto, Inland Marine, and Workers Compensation. Underwriting specifically considers character, operations, inherent risk exposures, safety, and loss history when determining eligibility, so agents should highlight favorable risk management and clean loss experience when submitting these accounts. ([kalamazoohomepage.com](https://www.kalamazoohomepage.com/preferred-partners-insurance?utm_source=openai)) - Historical appetite indications: Company filings emphasize consistent application of underwriting standards, heavy reliance on third‑party data (MVRs, prior carrier information), and preference for multi‑policy personal lines accounts with good credit/insurance scores and low violations, which continues to shape personal and umbrella underwriting today. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1271245/000090572904000053/fremonts1_012904.htm?utm_source=openai)) Operationally, producers should treat the FMIC manuals and quick reference guides as the controlling documents, verify territorial and product availability in the agent portal at time of quote, and pre‑clear borderline or higher‑hazard classes with an underwriter, especially for older buildings, non‑standard construction, higher‑hazard commercial occupancies, or unusual watercraft.