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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, American National offers significantly less expensive prices than Bristol West
• American National has cheaper premiums for policyholders who live in suburban areas
• Bristol West offers more discounts than American National Insurance Company

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

Are you considering a new insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering large discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might have narrowed your search down to American National or Bristol West, but which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, American National is quite a bit cheaper than Bristol West, with prices averaging $87 per month compared to $412 with Bristol West.

But that doesn't necessarily mean American National will be the more affordable option for each driver. After all, insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like where you call home, your driving record, your credit score, or even your age (among other things). So, at the end of the day, premiums from every carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if American National or Bristol West is really the right company for you? Keep on reading to see how average rates can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

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

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

But there's more to auto insurance than just where you live. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how insurance carriers calculate your rates. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- generally pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. It's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

Even so, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance premiums. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have American National for their car insurance pay more than $500 less than those who use Bristol West.

That being said, both companies will offer you dramatically lower prices by the time drivers turn 25. Bristol West offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, American National still has the most affordable premiums at $74 monthly.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll normally enjoy the lowest insurance prices you can find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly rates for auto insurance.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between American National and Bristol West? American National gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older over 80% more affordable than the national average for Bristol West.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance premiums tend to be more expensive for those who are single than they are for married policyholders. That's because policies for married drivers typically cover more than one car, which lots of carriers will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, American National is the clear winner for single drivers, with prices about $362 a month less expensive than Bristol West, on average. For married couples, the advantage is clear again - American National has the edge when it comes to average rates.

American National vs. Bristol West: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know men usually pay more for auto insurance than women? This is because women are less likely to get into collisions and get speeding tickets, which lowers the chances of an insurance claim.

Usually, women see premiums around 1% per month less with American National, but surprisingly, with Bristol West, women typically pay about 0% more a month than men.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, American National comes out as the cheapest option for both genders, with average prices $323 less for men and $325 cheaper for women.

American National 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.

Car insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are lots of different coverages that account for a range 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.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to liability).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, American National generally offers significantly cheaper premiums of $52 compared to Bristol West's $279. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, American National again has the edge, with policies around $400 per month more affordable than Bristol West, on average.

Is American National 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 auto insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

Tickets and at-fault accidents will most likely raise your rates, but is American National or Bristol West cheaper for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

American National policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $17 a month if they get a ticket, while Bristol West normally raises rates about $100 per month, on average.

However, American National has less expensive premiums for drivers in both categories, offering prices that are 80% and 81% more affordable, respectively, compared to Bristol West.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through American National can expect to see around an $28 -- or about 29% -- increase in their insurance rates. Drivers who use Bristol West for their car insurance will see a monthly bill around $140 (or 29%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their auto insurance company.

Overall, drivers who use American National end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly premiums averaging $95 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 speeding ticket or even a collision. Bristol West drivers usually see a 13% increase in their insurance prices after a DUI charge, while American National will usually raise rates by about 36%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, American National tends to be the much less expensive option with average rates of $104 per month compared to $390 from Bristol West.

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

Did you know that many auto insurance companies take your credit score into account when calculating prices? This isn't always the case (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it will come into play for many drivers.

Insurance carriers argue that those with good credit scores are more likely to pay their bills on time each month, which lowers the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad credit.

So, which carrier offers the best premiums for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is American National 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? Normally, the more miles you drive, the more you can expect to pay for car insurance.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles every year, as well as those who average twice that figure, American National offers more affordable premiums than Bristol West. American National's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in around $327 cheaper than Bristol West. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay about $321 less with American National over Bristol West.

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

We've already mentioned how your home state can play a role in how much you pay for insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a considerable impact as well. Usually, drivers who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural policyholders because there are a lot more vehicles on the roads in those areas.

American National tends to offer the cheapest prices for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, American National offers rates around $104 a month compared to Bristol West's $539. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay about $85 a month for American National and $386 for Bristol West. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the lowest premiums from both companies, with average monthly prices coming in at $73 and $309 for American National and Bristol West respectively.

American National 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 car insurance discounts as you can.

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

Below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by American National and Bristol West so that you can 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, Bristol West has the advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. American National offers a grand total of 14 discounts, while Bristol West has 18.

Both carriers offer quite a few of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, and discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company -- but Bristol West also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, continuous insurance discounts, and more that American National does not.

On the flip side, American National has a couple unique discounts of its own -- claim free discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, discounts for getting driver training, and more.

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

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your auto insurance premiums. We've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, is American National or Bristol West the best one for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

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

• You want to save money on your insurance after an accident.
• Your home is located in the suburbs.
• You are purchasing your car insurance with a spouse.

Bristol West might be best for you if...

• You want to save extra money with discounts.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare American National and Bristol West. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your auto insurance.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on insurance -- comparing quotes from multiple companies, not just American National and Bristol West. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

American National vs. Bristol West FAQs

Is American National or Bristol West cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, American National is the more affordable of the two companies, offering average rates of $87 per month compared to $412 for Bristol West. But American National won't necessarily be the most affordable company for each policyholder, since there are several different variables (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, American National or Bristol West?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". One carrier is not necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile.

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

Insurance carriers take a look at a lot of different factors when determining the rates they charge policyholders. Variables such as your driving record, gender, where you call home, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both American National and Bristol West calculate prices using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different companies.

How do I know if American National 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 carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest price. And who knows, the best company for you might not be American National 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.