Bristol, VA Car Insurance

On average, Bristol drivers pay a monthly average rate of around $50 for their car insurance. To learn more about car insurance rates in the Bristol area, read our guide below.
Map of cities where drivers can find cheaper car insurance
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How much can residents of Bristol expect to pay for their car insurance? Compared to their surrounding area, how do rates in Bristol stack up? What about against the rest of Virginia? Discover the factors that go into calculating the average cost in our writeups and charts below:

How much is car insurance in Bristol?

Area Average Monthly Car Insurance Premium
Bristol$50
VA$61
United States$81

Looking at the chart above, you can see it's around $11 a month cheaper to insure your vehicle in Bristol than it is in the rest of Virginia.

Similarly, car insurance rates in Bristol are more affordable than the national average. It's about $31 cheaper to insure your vehicle in Bristol compared to the average rate for the U.S. as a whole.

Although these are the average rates for auto insurance in Bristol, it's important to remember that you could end up paying something different. Insurance companies take in a variety of factors when determining how much to charge you for your car insurance. Your monthly premium is calculated off of your age, gender, vehicle make and model, driving record, and in some cases, your credit score.

We've analyzed the average rate for Bristol and broken down the different factors to help you understand what exactly you might be asked to pay. If you think you might be overpaying for insurance in your area, enter your ZIP below and find out!


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Average Car Insurance Rates by Age

Age Range Average Premium
Under 18$167
18-24$84
25-34$44
35-44$43
45-54$43
55-64$38
65+$39

The more time you have behind the wheel, the more experienced of a driver you should be. When it comes to car insurance bills, that experience can help put some change back into your pocket. In this case, 18-24-year-olds pay twice as much as drivers 65 and older.

You can expect to see a decrease in your monthly premium drop about once a decade or so. You may see your rates begin to increase again once you hit retirement in Bristol.

Average Car Insurance Rates by Gender

Gender Average
Male$51
Female$50

On average, female drivers pay slightly less for car insurance than their male counterparts. The price for car insurance in Bristol, however, is about the same for either group.

Average Auto Insurance Rates by Driving Record

Infractions Average Monthly Premium
1 Accident$58
Multiple Accidents$127
1 Ticket$57
Multiple Tickets$68

Your rates can change quite drastically depending on your driving record. Those with clean records will obviously pay much less than those with infractions. In Bristol, a driving record with one accident will usually get you a rate around $58 a month. Likewise, if you have one ticket, you'll be looking at an average rate of around $57.

Regardless of where you live, accidents, tickets, and other driving infractions can greatly increase your premium. That's why it's important to drive safely and keep your record clean so you can keep your rates as low as possible.

Average Insurance Rates by Vehicle

Vehicle Age Average Monthly Premium
Less Than 1 Year$45
2-3 Years$49
4-5 Years$56
6-7 Years$88
8-10 Years$42
11-14 Years$48
15 Years or Older$47

In terms of affordable coverage, the cheapest vehicles to insure in Bristol are typically SUVs, at $48 per month.

Car owners, on the other hand, by and large pay around $52 a month, while truck and van drivers can expect to pay about $49 per month for car insurance coverage.

Your vehicle's age has an impact on the cost of your policy as well. Generally, newer vehicles are going to be the most expensive to insure. Once your car is a few years old however, your rates may start to dip back down a bit. The most expensive vehicles to insure in Bristol are vehicles six-to-seven years old.

Average Car Insurance Rates by Relationship Status

Relationship Average Monthly Premium
Single (never married)$53
Married$45
Divorced$43
Widowed$38

On average, those who are currently married will pay slightly less for auto insurance. This usually boils down to owners having multiple vehicles on the same policy, something that will often get you a discount.

In Bristol, the difference in rates based on relationship status can be as much as $8 a month.

Average Car Insurance Rates by Housing Situation

Housing Status Average Monthly Premium
Own$45
Rent$51
Live with parents$55

Your living accommodations is another component of how insurance companies calculate your monthly rate. In Bristol, homeowners can expect to pay around $6 a month less than those who rent. But those who live at home with their parents can expect to pay significantly more.

Bundling your home or rental insurance and auto insurance policies can oftentimes reduce your average premiums, depending on your insurance company.

Car Insurance Companies in Bristol, VA

The average rates for car insurance are constantly changing, so it's a good idea to know the recent trends in your area when deciding when and where to shop.

The cost of car insurance coverage in Bristol increased from 2017-2018, before leveling out in 2019. Policy premiums finished down in 2022, at $47 a month

How does Bristol compare to neighboring areas?

Why are car insurance rates in Bristol different from other areas?

When considering how much to charge for coverage, car insurance companies will review many factors. Your insurance policy will depend largely on your home address and will be influenced by things such as:

  • Road Safety (how many accidents each locality has)
  • Availability of off-street parking
  • Crime rates
  • Number of drivers in the region
  • Regional laws

Knowing the make-up of these factors can be helpful when deciding on purchasing a new policy or thinking about making a move. Different towns and cities will all have different average rates, so guides like these are a great place to get started.

How can I find the cheapest car insurance in Bristol?

In the end, the only way to know exactly what your rate will be is by requesting a quote from car insurance companies. Understanding what the average costs are for drivers prior to seeking out a quote can help you understand how closely the quote reflects local trends.

Fortunately, Compare.com does all of that work for you. Just punch in your ZIP Code below, answer a few questions related to the factors we outlined above, and you'll be comparing the cheapest quotes from loads of the car insurance companies offering plans in Bristol.


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Bristol Insurance FAQs

What factors affect car insurance quotes in Bristol?

Quotes are calculated by car insurance companies who take multiple factors into consideration, including things you can't control like your age and gender, but also factors like your credit score, address, marital status and driving record.

Why is the cost of car insurance in Bristol different from other neighboring cities?

Local laws, crime rates, and parking situations -- all of which can change from city to city -- play a large role in the rates that car insurance companies may charge for coverage.

Which car insurance company will offer me the cheapest rate in Bristol?

Since the factors that car insurance companies take into consideration when calculating the rate you might pay differ from person to person, there is no one insurance company that will offer the cheapest rate to everybody. Things like your driving record, the number of drivers on the policy, and vehicle make and model, plus a number of others, are all taken into account. Because of this, it's a good idea to use sites like Compare.com to compare multiple quotes at once.

Do I need to change my insurance if I move to Bristol?

Whenever you relocate or experience another major life event, such as finding a new job or getting married, you should consider revisiting your current insurance policy. Using services like Compare.com to compare quotes from multiple companies at once is a great way to make sure you're getting the cheapest rate for your new location.

Do I need to wait for my policy to expire to switch to a different car insurance company?

No. In fact, you can swap companies at any point, regardless of how much time is left on your current coverage. So, whether you're moving to Bristol or just curious about rates in your area, why not take 10 minutes to see if Compare.com can save you money?

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