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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Farm Bureau offers cheaper rates than Bristol West
• Bristol West tends to be a much less expensive option for drivers with a DUI charge on their record
• Farm Bureau offers more affordable premiums for residents of urban areas

Bristol West vs. Farm Bureau: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

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

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Bristol West or Farm Bureau as potential options, but between the two, which one has more affordable rates for insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Farm Bureau has average rates that are about 17% per month less expensive than those from Bristol West.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean Farm Bureau will be the cheaper option for every driver. After all, auto insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your age, where you call home, your driving record, or even your credit score (among other things). So, at the end of the day, prices from every carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

Bristol West or Farm Bureau: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Bristol West and Farm Bureau only compete against each other in Michigan, where Farm Bureau offers the cheaper average prices. For Michigan residents, Farm Bureau offers car insurance for $343 per month on average. Bristol West's average rates come out to be over 70% more expensive, at $650 monthly.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance cost than just your home state. 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 usually because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance premiums. As you can see above, teens who use Farm Bureau save $300 a month compared to those who use Bristol West.

However, both companies will decrease prices by the time drivers turn 25. Farm Bureau offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying a quarter less what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Bristol West still has the most affordable premiums at $357 a month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

So, which carrier offers the best rates to retired drivers? Farm Bureau gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older more than 20% more affordable than the national average for Bristol West.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

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

When it comes to relationship status, Farm Bureau is the clear winner for single drivers, with rates around $106 per month less expensive than Bristol West, on average. But for married couples, that advantage is much less clear - Farm Bureau has the edge when it comes to average premiums.

Bristol West vs. Farm Bureau: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into accidents and file an insurance claim, which means they'll normally end up paying more for insurance than women.

Surprisingly, women generally pay about $1 a month more than men with Bristol West; men and women end up paying the same monthly prices with Farm Bureau.

Looking at overall affordability, Farm Bureau comes out as the lowest option for both genders. On average, women save about $69 per month and men save around $68 with Farm Bureau compared to the average Bristol West policyholder.

Bristol West or Farm Bureau: 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.

For most people, car insurance can be pretty complicated. There are several different coverages that account for a variety 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 that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- 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 -- alongside what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Farm Bureau typically offers more affordable rates of $218 compared to Bristol West's $279. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Farm Bureau again has the edge, with policies about $75 a month cheaper than Bristol West, on average.

Is Bristol West or Farm Bureau 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 collisions will most likely raise your premiums, but is Bristol West or Farm Bureau less expensive for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Bristol West policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $100 per month if they get a ticket, while Farm Bureau usually raises rates around $94 a month, on average.

That being said, Farm Bureau has cheaper premiums for drivers in both categories. Drivers with a clean record can save about $137 per month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save around $143 a month with Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

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

Overall, Farm Bureau offers the most affordable premiums for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly rates averaging $233 compared to Bristol West's $479.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge, you can expect some pretty significant increases in your monthly insurance bill -- normally a lot more than a collision or ticket. On average, Farm Bureau will climb your prices around 68% after a DUI, while Bristol West's average rates increase by just under 15%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, Bristol West tends to be the much more affordable option with average prices of $390 monthly compared to $641 from Farm Bureau.

How does Credit Score Impact Bristol West and Farm Bureau Rates?

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

The reasoning auto insurance companies use is that drivers 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 generally be forced to pay more.

Looking specifically at Farm Bureau and Bristol West, which company has the lowest rates for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Michigan is one of a just a few states that prohibits insurance carriers from using credit scores to calculate prices. And since Farm Bureau is only available in Michigan, there is no data available on how credit score impacts premiums because it's not a factor at all. This may be a good thing, since Bristol West and other companies tend to increase prices quite a bit in other states if you don't have excellent credit.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have a below average credit score and live in Michigan, the good news is it won't cost you extra when it comes to auto insurance. As you can see, poor credit can really cost Bristol West drivers in other states, but no need to worry if you live in Michigan.

Is Bristol West or Farm Bureau 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 rates? That's because the more miles you put on your vehicle, the more likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles yearly, as well as those who average twice that figure, Farm Bureau offers less expensive premiums than Bristol West. Farm Bureau's average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in about $78 cheaper than Bristol West. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay around $59 less with Farm Bureau over Bristol West.

Bristol West vs. Farm Bureau: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can have a large impact on your monthly car insurance payment. Typically, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

Farm Bureau tends to offer the most affordable prices for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Farm Bureau offers rates about $457 per month compared to Bristol West's $539. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay around $349 per month for Farm Bureau and $386 for Bristol West. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the cheapest premiums from both carriers, with average monthly prices coming in at $223 and $309 for Farm Bureau and Bristol West respectively.

Bristol West vs. Farm Bureau Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? The best way to do that is by utilizing 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 challenging to find all the ones you can take advantage of.

Below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Bristol West and Farm Bureau so that you can see which carrier can save you the most money each month.

Bristol West blows Farm Bureau away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 18 different discounts to Farm Bureau's five.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, and multi-policy discounts. Bristol West also offers ABS discounts, continuous insurance discounts, defensive driver discounts, and more that Farm Bureau does not.

On the flip side, Farm Bureau has a couple unique discounts of its own -- group discounts and term discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Bristol West or Farm Bureau Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average rates for many of the factors auto insurance companies look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers. But, at the end of the day, which insurance company is the right fit for you?

Farm Bureau might be best for you if....

• You have a clean record.
• You live in a rural area.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's insurance policy.

Bristol West might be best for you if...

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You're looking for discounts -- Bristol West has the most.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Bristol West and Farm Bureau and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your car 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 auto insurance -- comparing quotes from several carriers, not just Bristol West and Farm Bureau. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Bristol West vs. Farm Bureau FAQs

Is Bristol West or Farm Bureau cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Farm Bureau is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $343 a month compared to $412 for Bristol West. However, Farm Bureau won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for each policyholder, since there are many different variables (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Bristol West or Farm Bureau?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". No single company is "better" for every driver -- it all depends on what your unique insurance profile looks like. For example, Bristol West offers less expensive prices for drivers with a recent DUI, while Farm Bureau is cheaper for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do Bristol West and Farm Bureau offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies take a look at many different factors when determining the rates they charge policyholders. Things like where you park your car, age, where you live, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Bristol West and Farm Bureau calculate premiums using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different carriers.

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

The only way to find the insurance company 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, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Bristol West or Farm Bureau 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.