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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Farmers offers significantly less expensive premiums than Bristol West
• Farmers tends to be a much more affordable option for drivers with a DUI charge on their record
• Farmers offers more discounts than Bristol West

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

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering huge discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

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

Looking at nationwide averages, Bristol West is quite a bit more expensive than Farmers, with rates averaging $412 per month compared to just $203 with Farmers.

Even so, that doesn't mean Farmers will necessarily be less expensive than Bristol West for every single driver. Insurance companies use a ton of complex algorithms to calculate premiums, so depending on how clean your driving record is or how good your credit score is (among a variety of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

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

Bristol West or Farmers: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

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

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?

You might already know that teen drivers generally pay a lot more for insurance than any group on the road. That's typically because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

However, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance rates. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Farmers for their car insurance pay more than $250 less than those who use Bristol West.

But both carriers will offer you dramatically lower prices once you turn 25. For example, average rates for Bristol West policyholders lower nearly $450 and Farmers's premiums reduce about $400 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

So, which carrier offers the best prices to retired drivers? Farmers gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $221 less expensive than the national average for Bristol West.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that auto insurance prices are normally more expensive for single drivers than they are for married drivers? That's usually because married policyholders tend to own and insure multiple cars, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Farmers is the clear winner for those who are single, with rates around $222 a month more affordable than Bristol West, on average. The advantage is also clear for married couples - Farmers offers the lowest average premiums.

Bristol West vs. Farmers: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding. That means when it comes to insurance men will generally end up paying a little more.

Surprisingly, men typically pay about $1 per month less than women with Bristol West, and around $7 with Farmers.

Looking at overall affordability, Farmers comes out as the cheapest option for both genders, with average rates 50% less for men and 51% cheaper for women.

Bristol West or Farmers: 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, auto insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are a variety 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 a collision.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, alongside liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Farmers normally offers significantly cheaper prices of $126 compared to Bristol West's $279. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Farmers again has the edge, with policies about $250 a month more affordable than Bristol West, on average.

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

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

It's no secret secret that tickets and at-fault accidents lead to higher premiums, but which company -- Bristol West or Farmers -- has the most affordable prices for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Bristol West policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $100 per month if they get a ticket, while Farmers usually raises rates around $44 a month, on average.

That being said, Farmers is generally the cheaper option for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record, offering prices that are $177 and $233 less expensive, 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 premiums increase by just under 30%, while those who have insurance through Farmers will see about a 30% increase.

Overall, Farmers offers the lowest rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly premiums averaging $224 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 ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. Farmers drivers usually see a 27% increase in their insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Bristol West will typically raise prices by around 13%.

How does Credit Score Impact Bristol West and Farmers Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can be used as one of the factors to determine your monthly car insurance rates. 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 lots of policyholders.

The reasoning auto insurance companies use is that drivers with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so normally, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with cheaper premiums.

Looking at Bristol West and Farmers specifically, which one has the most affordable prices for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

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

The amount of time you spend behind the wheel of your car plays a big role in how much car insurance carriers will charge for coverage. Typically, the more miles you drive, the more you can expect to pay for insurance.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Farmers charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for Bristol West, with policyholders who drive the least paying about $3 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, Farmers is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

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

Where you live can have a sizable impact on your monthly auto insurance cost. Generally, drivers who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban policyholders because of the small number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

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

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the most affordable rates from both companies, but Farmers comes out on top with average premiums around $170 per month. Farmers also has less expensive average prices for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $288 and $197 per month respective difference when compared to Bristol West drivers in similar areas.

Bristol West vs. Farmers Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many auto insurance discounts as you can.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem difficult to find all the of the ones you're eligible for.

Below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Bristol West and Farmers so that you can see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Farmers knocks Bristol West out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 10 more discounts than Bristol West.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, distant student discounts, and discounts for being a homeowner. Farmers also offers alternative fuel discounts, driver training discounts, ESC discounts, and more that Bristol West does not.

On the flip side, Bristol West has a couple unique discounts of its own -- continuous insurance discounts, minor child discounts, mobile home policy discounts, and more.

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

You've seen the role certain variables have on your car insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which insurance company is the right one for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Farmers might be best for you if....

• You don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault collisions on your record.
• You want basic insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You have a short drive to work everyday.

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 Bristol West and Farmers. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your auto 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 companies, not just Bristol West and Farmers. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Bristol West vs. Farmers FAQs

Is Bristol West or Farmers cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Farmers is the more affordable of the two companies, offering average rates of $203 a month compared to $412 for Bristol West. Even so, Farmers won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for everyone, since there are lots of different factors that come into play when it comes to your car insurance payment.

Who is better, Bristol West or Farmers?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No one company is "better" for every driver -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile.

Why do Bristol West and Farmers offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers take a look at several different variables when calculating the prices they charge policyholders. Things like your driving record, where you call home, gender, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Bristol West and Farmers calculate rates using different factors, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different companies.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several carriers 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 free quotes from dozens of the best insurance companies 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 Farmers 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.