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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for auto insurance, Grange offers significantly more affordable rates than Bristol West
• Grange has less expensive premiums for drivers with a DUI
• Grange offers cheaper average prices for policyholders who live in urban areas

Bristol West or Grange: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering large savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Bristol West or Grange as potential options, but which company will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Grange is quite a bit cheaper than Bristol West, with rates averaging $249 a month compared to $412 with Bristol West.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean Grange will be the more affordable option for every single driver. Insurance carriers vary their premiums depending on things like where you live, how clean your driving record is, how old you are, how good your credit score is, and all sorts of other factors, so rates could vary drastically from person to person.

Wanting to know if Bristol West or Grange 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 vs. Grange: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Bristol West and Grange only compete against each other in two states, with Grange offering cheaper premiums to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Michigan, Bristol West is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at the overall average rates. Grange is the cheaper option in California.

But there's more to car insurance than just the state you live in. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how auto insurance carriers determine your prices. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance premiums of any group out there on the road. Normally, that's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Grange for their car insurance pay almost 30% less than those who use Bristol West.

But both companies will offer you dramatically lower premiums by the time you turn 25. Grange offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Bristol West's average rates decrease nearly 55% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to auto insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the most affordable prices out there.

So, which carrier offers the best rates to retired drivers? Grange gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $164 more affordable than the national average for Bristol West.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance prices are usually less expensive for married policyholders than they are for single policyholders? That's because policies for married drivers typically cover more than one vehicle, which lots of carriers will give you a discount for.

For those who are single, the difference in average premiums between these two companies is significant, with Grange rates coming in at a third less than Bristol West's. The advantage for married couples with Grange is also obvious, where drivers save almost 45% per month.

Bristol West or Grange: Average Rates by Gender

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

Surprisingly, with Bristol West, women typicallypay around $1 a month more than men, and about $12 less with Grange.

Looking at overall affordability, Grange comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $169 per month and men save around $156 with Grange compared to the average Bristol West policyholder.

Bristol West vs. Grange: 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.

Auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different limits and terms that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- in addition to liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, Grange has the significant edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $185. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Grange again has the edge, with policies averaging about $313 a month to Bristol West's $544.

Is Bristol West or Grange 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.

Speeding tickets and accidents will most likely raise your prices, but is Bristol West or Grange more affordable for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Bristol West for their auto insurance can generally expect their monthly bill to go up around 23% after getting a speeding ticket. Grange policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 23%.

Even so, Grange has cheaper rates for drivers in both categories. With Grange Insurance, drivers with a clean record can save around $159 per month and drivers with a ticket can save about $204 a month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their insurance through Bristol West can expect to see around an $140 -- or about 29% -- rise in their auto insurance premiums. Drivers who use Grange for their car insurance will see a monthly bill around $86 (or 32%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their insurance company.

At the end of the day, Grange offers the lowest rates for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average prices coming in at $266 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 accident or speeding ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. Grange drivers usually see a 43% climb in their auto insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Bristol West will usually raise premiums by about 13%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable prices, Grange tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $314 to Bristol West's $390.

How does Credit Score Impact Bristol West and Grange Rates?

Did you know many insurance carriers take into account your credit score when determining premiums? This isn't true for everyone (for example, California and Massachusetts are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for many drivers.

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

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, Grange will normally reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Grange comes in nearly 43.57 cheaper. Drivers with "good" credit scores typically save about 41% with Grange compared to average prices from Bristol West.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Grange typically offers lower rates than Bristol West when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 39% per month less with Grange compared to Bristol West, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of about 38% monthly.

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

How much you drive can have a large impact on your monthly prices. Usually, those who drive fewer miles will end up with less expensive premiums since there's less of a chance of causing a collision and filing an insurance claim.

Grange tends to be the more affordable option for both remote workers and those taking short commutes. Bristol West's average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in around 40% more expensive than Grange. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay about 39% more with Bristol West over Grange.

Bristol West or Grange: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you call home can play a sizable role in how much you pay for car insurance. Normally, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas since there are a lot fewer cars on the road where they live, which lowers the chances of an accident.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Grange usually comes out as the lowest option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Grange Insurance's average premiums are around $247 less than Bristol West. People who live in suburban areas pay about $151 less with Grange compared to Bristol West. Those in rural areas can expect to save around $89 with Grange compared to Bristol West.

Bristol West vs. Grange Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new auto insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many insurance discounts as possible.

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be difficult to find all the ones you're eligible for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Bristol West and Grange offer their customers so that you can see which one offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Grange knocks Bristol West out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 28 different discounts to Bristol West's 28.

Both companies offer lots of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, distant student discounts, and multi-policy discounts -- but Grange also offers discounts for advanced safety feature, agency transfer, annual mileage, and more.

On the other hand, Bristol West has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like advance quote discounts, EFT discounts, homeowner discounts, and more.

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

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your car insurance prices. We've broken down the different discounts each company offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, is Bristol West or Grange the right carrier for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Grange might be best for you if....

• You don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault collisions on your record.
• Your home is located in the suburbs.
• You want to save money while purchasing auto insurance for a teenager.

Bristol West might be best for you if...

• You have a more unique driver profile than those we mentioned above.

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Bristol West and Grange and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your car insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of carriers, not just Bristol West and Grange. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple quotes from some of the best car insurance companies in your area, all for free.

Bristol West vs. Grange FAQs

Is Bristol West or Grange cheaper?

Grange is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $249 a month with Grange and $412 for Bristol West. However, that doesn't mean Grange will be the most affordable carrier for each policyholder, since there are a variety of different factors that come into play when it comes to your auto insurance cost.

Who is better, Bristol West or Grange?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". One company is not necessarily "better" for every policyholder -- it all comes down to what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do Bristol West and Grange offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies use a lot of different variables when calculating the premiums they charge. Things such as where your home is, age, where you live, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Bristol West and Grange calculate rates using different factors, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the car insurance company 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 makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest rate. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Bristol West or Grange 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.