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

Quick Facts

• In general, Electric offers significantly more affordable rates than Bristol West
• Bristol West may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Electric Insurance Company
• Electric tends to be a much cheaper option for policyholders who are looking to purchase insurance with a spouse

Bristol West or Electric: 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 savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might have narrowed your search down to Bristol West or Electric as your top options, but which company will offer you less expensive premiums?

Looking at nationwide averages, Bristol West is quite a bit more expensive than Electric, with rates averaging $412 a month compared to just $266 with Electric.

However, that doesn't mean Electric will necessarily be cheaper than Bristol West for every single driver. Auto insurance carriers use tons of complex algorithms to determine prices, so depending on how old you are or how clean your driving record is (among a bunch of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

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

Bristol West vs. Electric: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Bristol West and Electric only compete against each other in one states, with Bristol West offering less expensive premiums to the average driver in all of them. Maine has the most noticable difference, where Bristol West rates are $52 more affordable than insurance prices at Electric.

But there's more to calculating auto insurance premiums than just where you call home. Read on 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. The reason is that teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

Even so, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Electric for their car insurance pay almost 25% less than those who use Bristol West.

That being said, both companies will offer you dramatically lower prices by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average premiums for Bristol West policyholders drop around $450 and Electric's rates decrease about $300 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the cheapest premiums out there.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Bristol West and Electric? Electric gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older over 50% cheaper than the national average for Bristol West.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married couples tend to get slightly less expensive car insurance rates than single drivers. This usually boils down to married drivers having more than one vehicle on their policy -- something many insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

For single policyholders, the difference in average prices between these two companies is significant, with Electric premiums coming in at a third less than Bristol West's. For married policyholders, the advantage is clear again - Electric has the edge when it comes to average rates.

Bristol West or Electric: Average Rates by Gender

Men tend to pay more for auto insurance than women. That's because women are less likely to get into collisions and get tickets, which decreases the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

Surprisingly, with Bristol West, men normallypay around 0% less per month than women, and about 7% with Electric.

When it comes to the most affordable prices for each gender, Electric comes out as the lowest option for both genders, with average premiums 33% less for men and 38% cheaper for women.

Bristol West vs. Electric: 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 isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are lots of different coverages that account for several different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

But most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which usually refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages alongside liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, Electric has the significant edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $150. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Electric again has the edge, with policies averaging around $383 a month to Bristol West's $544.

Is Bristol West or Electric Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

You'll probably end up paying more with collisions and speeding tickets on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the most affordable prices to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Bristol West for their auto insurance can typically expect their monthly bill to go up about 23% after getting a speeding ticket. Electric policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 12%.

Even so, Electric is generally the more affordable option for drivers both with clean records and with a ticket, offering premiums that are 39% and 46% cheaper, respectively, compared to Bristol West.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Bristol West drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their prices increase by just under $150, while those who have insurance through Electric will see about a $30 increase.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Electric end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average premiums coming in at $236 compared to Bristol West's $479.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single collision or speeding ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. Electric drivers usually see a 46% raise in their insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Bristol West will typically increase premiums by around 13%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable rates, Electric tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $385 to Bristol West's $390.

How does Credit Score Impact Bristol West and Electric Rates?

Did you know many auto insurance companies take your credit score into account when determining prices? This isn't true for everyone (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an auto insurance factor) but it might come into play for several policyholders.

Insurance carriers argue that those with good credit scores are more likely to pay their bills on time every 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 rates for drivers with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, Electric will usually reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, Electric comes in nearly 53.8 more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores normally save around 44% with Electric compared to average prices from Bristol West.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Electric typically offers lower premiums than Bristol West when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 35% per month less with Electric compared to Bristol West, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of around 23% per month.

Is Bristol West or Electric 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 large impact on your monthly auto insurance payment? That's because the more milage you put on your car each year, the more likely you are to be in an accident and file an insurance claim.

For both remote workers and those taking short commutes, Electric offers less expensive rates than Bristol West. Bristol West's average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in about 39% more expensive than Electric. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay around 31% more with Bristol West over Electric.

Bristol West or Electric: 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 car insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a sizable impact as well. Normally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas since there are a lot more vehicles on the road where they live, which increases the chances of an accident.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Electric typically 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, Electric Insurance Company's average premiums are about 44% less than Bristol West. People who live in suburban areas pay around 39% less with Electric compared to Bristol West. Those in rural areas can expect to save about 15% with Electric compared to Bristol West.

Bristol West vs. Electric Discounts

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

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

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Bristol West and Electric so that you can see which one can save you the most money each month.

Overall, Bristol West has a slight advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Electric offers a grand total of 17 discounts, while Bristol West has 18.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Bristol West also offers discounts for continuous insurance, distant student, EFT, and more.

On the other hand, Electric has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like COVID-19 relief discount, driver training discounts, electric vehicle discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Bristol West or Electric Best for You?

You've seen the role certain variables have on your car insurance and the different discounts companies offer. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which company is the best carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

Electric might be best for you if....

• You've been pulled over for speeding recently.
• You already have a great credit score.
• You drive fewer than 6,000 miles each year.

Bristol West might be best for you if...

• You're looking for the carrier with the most discounts.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Bristol West and Electric and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple carriers, not just Bristol West and Electric. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Bristol West vs. Electric FAQs

Is Bristol West or Electric cheaper?

Electric is the more affordable of the two carriers when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $266 a month with Electric and $412 for Bristol West. However, that doesn't mean Electric will be the cheapest company for everyone, since there are a range of different factors (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Bristol West or Electric?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". No single carrier is "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do Bristol West and Electric offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies use a lot of different variables when calculating the premiums they charge. Factors like your driving record, gender, age, where you live, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Bristol West and Electric calculate rates using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from several companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest premium. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Bristol West or Electric at all, but another you hadn't even thought of!

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.