American Family vs. Bristol West: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• In general, American Family offers significantly less expensive premiums than Bristol West
• American Family has cheaper prices for policyholders who don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault accidents on their record
• American Family has more affordable premiums for residents of urban areas

American Family vs. Bristol West: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering big discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might be considering American Family or Bristol West as your top options, but between the two, which company will offer you cheaper rates?

As you can see, American Family is quite a bit cheaper than Bristol West, with prices averaging $140 per month compared to $412 with Bristol West when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

That being said, American Family may not be the lowest or best option for every single driver out there. Insurance companies vary their rates depending on things like how good your credit score is, how clean your driving record is, how old you are, where you live, and a variety of other factors, so prices will vary quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of American Family or Bristol West is really the best for you, keep reading to see average premiums for each carrier broken down by multiple different rate factors.

American Family or Bristol West: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

American Family and Bristol West only compete against each other in one states, with American Family offering less expensive prices to the average driver in all of them. Nevada has the most noticable difference, where American Family rates are over 70% more affordable than car insurance premiums at Bristol West.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance cost than just your home state. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive car insurance prices of any group on the road. That's typically because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have American Family for their insurance pay more than $450 less than those who use Bristol West.

Even so, both carriers will lower rates by the time drivers turn 25. Bristol West offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, American Family still has the cheapest premiums at $121 monthly.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age generally enjoy some of the most affordable auto insurance prices you'll ever see. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which normally lowers their chances of collisions and other infractions that can increase rates.

So, which company offers the best prices to retired drivers? American Family gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older over 70% cheaper than the national average for Bristol West.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance premiums are usually less expensive for married drivers than they are for single drivers? That's because policies for married policyholders normally cover several cars, which a lot of companies will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, American Family is the clear winner for single policyholders, with rates about $301 a month more affordable than Bristol West, on average. The advantage for married couples with American Family is also obvious, where drivers save nearly 70% per month.

American Family vs. Bristol West: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into collisions and get speeding tickets. That means when it comes to insurance men will generally end up paying a little more.

With American Family, women typically pay around $5 a month less than men, but surprisingly, with Bristol West, women usually pay about $1 per month more than men.

When it comes to the cheapest prices for each gender, American Family comes out as the most affordable option for both genders. On average, women save about $274 a month and men save around $268 with American Family compared to the average Bristol West policyholder.

American Family or Bristol West: 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.

It's no secret that auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are many different coverages that account for a bunch of different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

But most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to what you get with liability).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, American Family usually offers significantly cheaper premiums of $96 compared to Bristol West's $279. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, American Family again has the edge, with policies about $350 per month more affordable than Bristol West, on average.

Is American Family or Bristol West Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their car insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

Accidents and tickets will most likely raise your prices, but is American Family or Bristol West less expensive for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

American Family policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $29 a month if they get a ticket, while Bristol West normally raises premiums around $100 per month, on average.

However, American Family is generally the more affordable option for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record, offering rates that are $221 and $292 cheaper, respectively, compared to Bristol West.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their auto insurance through American Family can expect to see about an $20 -- or around 14% -- increase in their insurance prices. Drivers who use Bristol West for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill about $140 (or 29%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their car insurance carrier.

Overall, the less expensive premiums come from American Family, with monthly rates averaging $138 compared to Bristol West's $479.

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 ticket or even a collision. Bristol West drivers usually see a 13% increase in their insurance prices after a DUI charge, while American Family will typically raise premiums by around 25%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, American Family tends to be the much cheaper option with average premiums of $158 per month compared to $390 from Bristol West.

How does Credit Score Impact American Family and Bristol West Rates?

Did you know that many car insurance carriers take your credit score into account when calculating prices? Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it might come into play for several drivers.

The reasoning insurance carriers use is that policyholders with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper premiums, while those with poor credit will usually be forced to pay more.

Looking at American Family and Bristol West specifically, which one has the best rates for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is American Family or Bristol West Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

Did you know that the amount of time you spend in your car have a big impact on your monthly prices? Typically, those who drive less will end up with less expensive rates since there's less of a chance of getting into an accident and causing an insurance claim.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles annually, as well as those who average twice that figure, American Family offers more affordable prices than Bristol West. American Family's average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in over 65% less expensive than Bristol West. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay more than 65% less with American Family over Bristol West.

American Family vs. Bristol West: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you park your car can play a substantial role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Generally, policyholders who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural drivers because there are a lot more vehicles on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, American Family normally comes out as the lowest option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, American Family offers prices about $166 a month compared to Bristol West's $539. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay around $134 a month for American Family and $386 for Bristol West. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the most affordable rates from both carriers, with average monthly premiums coming in at $121 and $309 for American Family and Bristol West respectively.

American Family vs. Bristol West Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? The best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many insurance discounts as you can.

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be challenging to find all the ones you can take advantage of.

In the section below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts American Family and Bristol West offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Looking at the total number of discounts, American Family comes out ahead with 21 discounts to Bristol West's 18.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but American Family also offers connect partner discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, DRL discounts, and more that Bristol West does not.

On the flip side, Bristol West has a couple unique discounts of its own -- ABS discounts, continuous insurance discounts, discounts for being a good driver, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is American Family or Bristol West Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your car insurance prices. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which carrier is the right carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

American Family might be best for you if....

• You haven't received any speeding tickets or been in a collision in the last few years.
• You want basic auto insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You live in a rural area.

Bristol West might be best for you if...

• You have a more unique driver profile than those we mentioned above.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between American Family and Bristol West. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from several carriers, not just American Family and Bristol West. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

American Family vs. Bristol West FAQs

Is American Family or Bristol West cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, American Family is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $140 per month compared to $412 for Bristol West. But American Family won't necessarily be the cheapest company for everyone, since there are a range of different factors (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, American Family or Bristol West?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither carrier is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do American Family and Bristol West offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at quite a few different variables when determining the rates they charge drivers. Things such as your driving record, age, gender, where you live, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both American Family and Bristol West calculate premiums using different factors, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different carriers.

How do I know if American Family or Bristol West is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And who knows, the best company for you might not be American Family or Bristol West at all!

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.