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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Key offers significantly more affordable prices than Bristol West
• Bristol West has cheaper rates for drivers with a DUI charge on their record
• Key offers more affordable prices for drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record

Bristol West vs. Key: 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 substantial discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Bristol West or Key, but between the two, which one will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Key has average rates that are about 30% per month less expensive than those from Bristol West.

Even so, Key may not be the cheapest or best option for every single driver out there. After all, auto insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your credit score, where you call home, your driving record, or even your age (among other things). So, at the end of the day, rates from every carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

Bristol West or Key: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Bristol West and Key only compete against each other in Nevada, where Key offers the cheaper average prices. For Nevada residents, Key offers insurance for $285 per month on average. Bristol West's average premiums come out to be over 70% more expensive, at $567 a month.

But there's more to car insurance than just your home state. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how insurance companies calculate your rates. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- usually pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. It's generally 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.

That being said, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance prices. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $100 less a month by choosing Key over Bristol West.

But both carriers will lower premiums by the time drivers turn 25. Key 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 reduce nearly 55% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age normally enjoy some of the lowest auto insurance premiums you'll ever see. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which typically decreases their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase prices.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Bristol West and Key? Key gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at around $223 monthly compared to Bristol West's $364.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single policyholders tend to get offered slightly more expensive insurance rates than married policyholders. This usually boils down to married drivers having more than one car on their policy -- something a lot of car insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Key is the clear winner for single drivers, with premiums about $122 per month more affordable than Bristol West, on average. For married couples, the advantage is clear again - Key has the edge when it comes to average rates.

Bristol West vs. Key: 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 generally end up paying more for insurance than women.

Surprisingly, men usually pay around $1 a month less than women with Bristol West, and almost $55 with Key.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Key comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $100 per month and women save about $154 with Key compared to the average Bristol West policyholder.

Bristol West or Key: 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.

Car insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different coverages and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- alongside liability).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Key normally offers significantly less expensive premiums of $196 compared to Bristol West's $279. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Key again has the edge, with policies around $150 a month cheaper than Bristol West, on average.

Is Bristol West or Key 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.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers with Key auto insurance policies don't report seeing their premiums increase after getting a ticket, but Bristol West policyholders can expect to see their monthly bill increase by about a quarter.

However, Key has more affordable rates for drivers in both categories. Drivers with a clean record can save around $129 per month with Key Insurance Company, and the same can be said for those with a ticket, too.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through Bristol West can expect to see about an $140 -- or around 29% -- increase in their insurance prices. Drivers who use Key for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill about $25 (or 11%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their car insurance company.

Overall, Key offers the most affordable premiums for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with monthly prices averaging $235 compared to Bristol West's $479.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple speeding ticket or even a collision. On average, Key will raise your rates around 57% after a DUI, while Bristol West's average prices rise 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 cheaper option with average rates of $390 a month compared to $483 from Key.

How does Credit Score Impact Bristol West and Key Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance carriers take your credit score into account when calculating premiums? This isn't always the case (for example, Michigan and California are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for several policyholders.

Insurance companies argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time each month, which increases the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

Looking specifically at Bristol West and Key, which carrier has the lowest prices for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Key. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save over 15% compared to Bristol West, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $95 or 25% more affordable every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Key typically offers lower rates than Bristol West when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $128 a month less with Key compared to Bristol West, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of about $271 per month.

Is Bristol West or Key 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 how much car insurance carriers will charge for coverage? Normally, the more miles you put on your vehicle, 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 Key charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly prices for Bristol West, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their car yearly paying around $3 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles every year. Still, Key is the less expensive option for drivers in both categories.

Bristol West vs. Key: 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 car insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a considerable impact as well. Typically, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas because there are a lot more vehicles on the road in those areas, which increases the chances of an accident.

Key tends to offer the most affordable prices for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save about $75 with Key compared to Bristol West. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around $152 less with Key compared to Bristol West. In urban areas, Key Insurance Company's average premiums are about $153 less than Bristol West.

Bristol West vs. Key Discounts

Regardless of 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 possible, and 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 qualify for.

In the table below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Bristol West and Key so that you can see which company can save you the most money each month.

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

A couple of those are overlapping for things like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company, and passive restraint discounts. Bristol West also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, and more that Key does not.

Key's discounts come through just a few categories, including Defensive Driver, Good Driving, Multi-Car, and more.

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

You've seen the role certain variables have on your auto insurance and the different discounts companies offer. But, at the end of the day, which company is the right carrier for you and your specific driver profile?

Key might be best for you if....

• You want to save money on your insurance after an accident.
• Your neighborhood is in a city.
• You drive fewer than 12,000 miles annually.

Bristol West might be best for you if...

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You care about discounts (Bristol West offers the most).

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Bristol West and Key. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to 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 a handful of carriers, not just Bristol West and Key. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Bristol West vs. Key FAQs

Is Bristol West or Key cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Key is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $285 per month compared to $412 for Bristol West. But Key won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for everyone, since there are a bunch of different factors (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Bristol West or Key?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". No single company is necessarily "better" for each driver -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like. For example, Bristol West offers less expensive prices for drivers with a recent DUI, while Key is cheaper for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do Bristol West and Key offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at quite a few different variables when determining the premiums they charge policyholders. Things like your driving record, gender, age, where you park your car, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Bristol West and Key calculate rates using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different carriers.

How do I know if Bristol West or Key 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 does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Bristol West or Key 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.