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

Quick Facts

• In general, Frankenmuth offers significantly cheaper rates than Bristol West
• Bristol West offers more affordable average premiums for drivers with a DUI charge on their record
• Frankenmuth tends to be a much less expensive option for people who are single and purchasing auto insurance by yourself

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

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering considerable discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might be considering Bristol West or Frankenmuth for your next policy, but between the two, which carrier has more affordable rates for car insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Frankenmuth has average rates that are about 23% per month less expensive than those from Bristol West.

However, that doesn't necessarily mean Frankenmuth will be the cheaper option for every driver. Auto insurance carriers use a variety of complex algorithms to calculate premiums, so depending on how old you are or where you live (among numerous other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

Wanting to know if Bristol West or Frankenmuth 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 Frankenmuth: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Bristol West and Frankenmuth only compete against each other in one states, with Frankenmuth offering less expensive prices to the average driver in all of them. Michigan has the most noticable difference, where Frankenmuth rates are over 20% cheaper than insurance prices at Bristol West.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance cost than just the state you live in. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance rates of any other group of drivers. It's normally because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

That being said, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance premiums. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $95 less a month by choosing Frankenmuth over Bristol West.

Even so, with both companies, you'll see your prices reduce significantly once you turn 25. Frankenmuth offers the steepest reduction, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Bristol West's average rates lower nearly 55% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

When looking at Bristol West and Frankenmuth specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Frankenmuth gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older over 40% 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 premiums tend to be more expensive for single policyholders than they are for married couples. This usually boils down to married policyholders having multiple cars on their policy -- something many car insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Frankenmuth is the clear winner for single drivers, with rates around $103 per month cheaper than Bristol West, on average. For married drivers, the advantage is clear again - Frankenmuth has the edge when it comes to average premiums.

Bristol West vs. Frankenmuth: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding, which means they'll typically end up paying more for insurance than women.

Surprisingly, men usually pay about 0% less a month than women with Bristol West, and around 2% with Frankenmuth.

Looking at overall affordability, Frankenmuth comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $90 per month and women save about $97 with Frankenmuth compared to the average Bristol West policyholder.

Bristol West or Frankenmuth: 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 so many different coverages and terms that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

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 and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to what you get with liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Frankenmuth normally offers less expensive prices of $214 compared to Bristol West's $279. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Frankenmuth again has the edge, with policies around $100 a month more affordable than Bristol West, on average.

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

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from insurance companies offering great premiums for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

At-fault accidents and tickets will most likely raise your prices, but is Bristol West or Frankenmuth less expensive for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Bristol West policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $100 per month if they get a ticket, while Frankenmuth typically raises prices about $74 a month, on average.

But Frankenmuth is generally the cheaper option for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record, offering rates that are $166 and $192 more affordable, respectively, compared to Bristol West.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Bristol West drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their premiums climb by just under $150, while those who have insurance through Frankenmuth will see around a $40 increase.

Overall, drivers who use Frankenmuth end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly rates averaging $214 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 car insurance bill -- usually a lot more than a collision or ticket. For example, Frankenmuth increases average prices by over $450 per month -- that's just under a 75% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, Bristol West tends to be the much cheaper option with average prices of $390 a month compared to $637 from Frankenmuth.

How does Credit Score Impact Bristol West and Frankenmuth Rates?

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

The reasoning car insurance carriers 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 more affordable premiums.

Looking specifically at Frankenmuth and Bristol West, which one has the best rates for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Frankenmuth. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save over 40% compared to Bristol West, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $133 or 35% less expensive each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Frankenmuth typically offers lower premiums than Bristol West when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $131 a month less with Frankenmuth compared to Bristol West, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of about $19 monthly.

Is Bristol West or Frankenmuth 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 sizable impact on your monthly prices? That's because the fewer miles you drive, the less likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Frankenmuth charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for Bristol West, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicle yearly paying around $3 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, Frankenmuth is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

Bristol West vs. Frankenmuth: 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 auto insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a large impact as well. Usually, policyholders who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban drivers because there are a lot fewer cars on the road in those areas, which decreases the chances of an accident.

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

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the most affordable rates from both companies, but Frankenmuth comes out on top with average premiums about $266 per month. Frankenmuth also has less expensive average prices for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 26% and 25% per month respective difference when compared to Bristol West policyholders in similar areas.

Bristol West vs. Frankenmuth 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 what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be challenging to find all the ones you're eligible for.

In the section below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Bristol West and Frankenmuth offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Bristol West blows Frankenmuth away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering seven more discounts than Frankenmuth.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good driver, and multi-policy discounts. Bristol West also offers ABS discounts, anti-theft discounts, continuous insurance discounts, and more that Frankenmuth does not.

On the flip side, Frankenmuth has a couple unique discounts of its own -- family discounts, group discounts, life policy discounts, and more.

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

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, when it comes down to it, which insurance carrier is the best company for you and your specific driver profile?

Frankenmuth might be best for you if....

• You don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault collisions on your record.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" car insurance.
• Your neighborhood is in a rural area.

Bristol West might be best for you if...

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Bristol West and Frankenmuth 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 a handful of companies, not just Bristol West and Frankenmuth. 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. Frankenmuth FAQs

Is Bristol West or Frankenmuth cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Frankenmuth is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $318 a month compared to $412 for Bristol West. However, Frankenmuth won't necessarily be the cheapest company for each policyholder, since there are a variety of different variables (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Bristol West or Frankenmuth?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique insurance profile looks like. For example, Bristol West offers less expensive premiums for drivers with a recent DUI, while Frankenmuth is cheaper for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do Bristol West and Frankenmuth offer me different rates?

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

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

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier 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. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Bristol West or Frankenmuth 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.