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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, Bristol West offers significantly cheaper premiums than Fremont
• Bristol West offers more affordable rates for drivers with a DUI charge on their record
• Fremont offers less expensive average premiums for drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record

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

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering hefty discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Bristol West or Fremont as your top options, but which company will offer you more affordable rates?

As you can see, Bristol West has average rates that are about 25% per month less expensive than those from Fremont when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

However, Bristol West may not be the cheapest or best option for every driver out there. Auto insurance companies vary their prices depending on things like how clean your driving record is, where you live, how good your credit score is, how old you are, and a ton of other factors. So, at the end of the day, rates from each carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both Bristol West and Fremont by multiple different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Bristol West or Fremont: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Bristol West and Fremont only compete against each other in Michigan, where Fremont offers the cheaper average prices. For Michigan residents, Fremont offers insurance for $562 per month on average. Bristol West's average premiums come out to be over 15% more expensive, at $650 a month.

There's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance payment than just the state you live in. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- generally pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. That's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in a car insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

Even so, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Bristol West for their auto insurance pay more than $500 less than those who use Fremont.

That being said, with both carriers, you'll see your rates drop significantly by the time drivers turn 25. Fremont offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Bristol West still has the lowest prices at $357 monthly.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll usually enjoy the most affordable car insurance premiums out there. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly rates for insurance.

So, which carrier offers the best prices to retired drivers? Fremont gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $43 cheaper 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 couples. That's normally because married drivers tend to own and insure several cars, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Bristol West is the clear winner for single drivers, with rates around $217 a month more affordable than Fremont, on average. For married policyholders, the advantage is clear again - Bristol West has the edge when it comes to average premiums.

Bristol West vs. Fremont: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but insurance is typically more expensive for men than for women. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get into collisions and get speeding tickets, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher rates.

Surprisingly, men normally pay about 0% less per month than women with Bristol West; women and men get the same monthly prices with Fremont.

When it comes to the lowest rates for each gender, Bristol West offers the cheapest average prices for both men and women. On average, women save about $150 a month and men save around $151 with Bristol West compared to the average Fremont policyholder.

Bristol West or Fremont: 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.

It's no secret that car insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are several 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 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 -- in addition to liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Bristol West usually offers less expensive premiums of $279 compared to Fremont's $334. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Bristol West again has the edge, with policies about $250 per month cheaper than Fremont, on average.

Is Bristol West or Fremont 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.

Accidents and tickets will most likely raise your rates, but is Bristol West or Fremont more affordable for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Bristol West policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $100 a month if they get a ticket, while Fremont typically raises premiums around $138 per month, on average.

But Fremont tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent speeding ticket and those with clean records, offering prices that are $114 and $76 less expensive, respectively, compared to Bristol West.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both companies will increase rates pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with Bristol West climbing by just under $150. Fremont has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay over $80 more than you were prior to your first accident.

Overall, the more affordable premiums come from Fremont, with monthly prices averaging $307 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 -- generally a lot more than an accident or ticket. For example, Fremont increases average rates by more than $500 a month -- that's just under a 85% 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 1353 from Fremont.

How does Credit Score Impact Bristol West and Fremont Rates?

Did you know that many insurance carriers take into account your credit score when calculating premiums? This isn't always the case (for example, Michigan and Massachusetts are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect several drivers out there.

Car insurance companies argue that those with good credit scores are more likely to pay their bills on time every month, which decreases the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad credit.

So, which company offers the best rates for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

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 premiums. And since Fremont is only available in Michigan, there is no data available on how credit score impacts rates because it's not a factor at all. This may be a good thing, since Bristol West and other companies tend to raise 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 less-than-stellar credit 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 Fremont 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. That's because the more miles you put on your vehicle each year, the more likely you are to get into a collision 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 Fremont charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for Bristol West, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles each year paying about $3 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles annually. Still, Bristol West is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

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

Where you park your car can have a large impact on your monthly insurance bill. Usually, those who live in rural areas will pay less than drivers in urban areas because of the small number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

Bristol West boasts the lowest average prices for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the cheapest premiums from both companies, but Bristol West comes out on top with average rates around $309 per month. Bristol West also has cheaper average prices for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $143 and $150 per month respective difference when compared to Fremont policyholders in similar areas.

Bristol West vs. Fremont Discounts

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

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be difficult to find all the ones you can take advantage of or to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

In the table below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Bristol West and Fremont so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Overall, Bristol West comes out ahead with 18 discounts to Fremont's 14.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Bristol West also offers advance quote discounts, continuous insurance discounts, distant student discounts, and more that Fremont does not.

On the flip side, Fremont has a couple unique discounts of its own -- COVID-19 relief discount, garage discounts, discounts for being a good student, and more.

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

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the variables insurance companies look at, and walked through the different discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, is Bristol West or Fremont the right carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

Bristol West might be best for you if....

• You have above-average credit.
• You're looking for discounts -- Bristol West has the most.
• You're buying car insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Fremont might be best for you if...

• You have a speeding ticket on your driving record.
• Your driving record contains an at-fault collision.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your auto insurance.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Bristol West and Fremont and that it aids in making a more informed decision about 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 several carriers, not just Bristol West and Fremont. Luckily, Compare.com makes 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 companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Bristol West vs. Fremont FAQs

Is Bristol West or Fremont cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Bristol West is the less expensive of the two carriers, offering average rates of $412 a month compared to $562 for Fremont. That being said, Bristol West won't necessarily be the most affordable company for each driver, since there are a bunch of different factors (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Bristol West or Fremont?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No one carrier is "better" for every driver -- it all comes down to what your unique insurance profile looks like. For example, Fremont offers cheaper prices for drivers with an at-fault accident on their record, while Bristol West is more affordable for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

Why do Bristol West and Fremont offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies take a look at a lot of different variables when determining the premiums they charge policyholders. Things such as gender, where you call home, age, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Bristol West and Fremont calculate prices using different factors, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see 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 Fremont 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 companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable price. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Bristol West or Fremont 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.