Bristol West vs. Main Street America: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Main Street America offers significantly cheaper premiums than Bristol West
• Main Street America has less expensive rates for policyholders who drive a short distance to work everyday
• Main Street America has more affordable prices for policyholders who haven't received any speeding tickets or been in a collision in the last few years

Bristol West or Main Street America: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering big savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might be considering Bristol West or Main Street America for your next policy, but between the two, which company has less expensive premiums for auto insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Main Street America is quite a bit cheaper than Bristol West, with rates averaging $227 a month compared to $412 with Bristol West.

But that doesn't necessarily mean Main Street America will be the more affordable option for each driver. After all, car insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to every driver depending on rating factors like your driving record, your credit score, your age, or even where you call home (among other things). So, at the end of the day, prices from each carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

Bristol West and Main Street America only compete against each other in one states, with Main Street America offering cheaper rates to the average driver in all of them. South Carolina has the most noticable difference, where Main Street America prices are $78 less expensive than insurance premiums at Bristol West.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your car 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 auto insurance rates of any other group of drivers. It's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

Even so, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high insurance premiums. As you can see above, teens who use Main Street America save over 40% per month compared to those who use Bristol West.

That being said, both carriers will reduce prices by the time drivers turn 25. Main Street America offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Bristol West's average rates drop almost 55% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll typically enjoy the most affordable car insurance premiums you'll ever find. 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? Main Street America gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older more than 50% cheaper than the national average for Bristol West.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married policyholders tend to get slightly more affordable auto insurance premiums than single policyholders. This usually boils down to married couples having several vehicles on their policy -- something several car insurance companies will reward with discounts.

For those who are single, the difference in average prices between these two carriers is significant, with Main Street America rates coming in at around half of Bristol West's. The advantage is also clear for married drivers - Main Street America offers the lowest average prices.

Bristol West or Main Street America: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women tend to pay less for auto insurance than men? That's because men are more likely to get speeding tickets and get into collisions, which raises the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

Surprisingly, with Bristol West, men generallypay about $1 a month less than women, but surprisingly, with Main Street America, men usually pay around $6 per month less than women.

When it comes to the cheapest premiums for each gender, Main Street America comes out on top for both men and women, with average rates 45% less for men and 44% cheaper for women.

Bristol West vs. Main Street America: 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, insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different terms and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

However, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which normally refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages in addition to liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum limits for liability insurance, Main Street America has the significant edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $159. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Main Street America again has the edge, with policies averaging about $295 a month to Bristol West's $544.

Is Bristol West or Main Street America Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

Collisions and speeding tickets will most likely raise your rates, but is Bristol West or Main Street America less expensive for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Bristol West for their auto insurance can typically expect their monthly bill to go up around 23% after getting a speeding ticket. Main Street America policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 26%.

But Main Street America is generally the more affordable option for drivers both with a ticket and with a clean record, offering prices that are 48% and 46% cheaper, respectively, compared to Bristol West.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will raise premiums pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault collision with Bristol West climbing by around 29%. Main Street America has a less extreme climb, but you can still expect to pay nearly 20% more than you were prior to your first accident.

At the end of the day, the less expensive prices come from Main Street America, with average premiums coming in at $215 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, Main Street America will raise your rates about 38% after a DUI, while Bristol West's average prices rise by just under 15%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable rates, Main Street America tends to be more affordable for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $283 to Bristol West's $390.

How does Credit Score Impact Bristol West and Main Street America Rates?

Often times, your credit score can come into play when companies determine your monthly bill. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as an auto insurance factor, but it will come into play for many drivers.

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.

So, which company offers the lowest premiums for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, Main Street America will usually reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Main Street America comes in nearly 68.13 cheaper. Drivers with "good" credit scores normally save about 64% with Main Street America compared to average prices from Bristol West.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Main Street America typically offers lower premiums than Bristol West when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 57% per month less with Main Street America compared to Bristol West, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of about 13% monthly.

Is Bristol West or Main Street America 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 your monthly rates. That's because the fewer miles you drive, the less likely you are to be in an accident and file an insurance claim.

For both remote workers and those taking short commutes, Main Street America tends to be the less expensive option. Main Street America's average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in around 45% more affordable than Bristol West. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay about 45% less with Main Street America over Bristol West.

Bristol West or Main Street America: 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 pretty big impact as well. Typically, 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 decreases the chances of an accident.

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

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Main Street America's average rates are around $264 a month compared to Bristol West's $539. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay a monthly price of about $230 with Main Street America compared to $386 with Bristol West. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay around $188 a month with Main Street America compared to Bristol West's $309.

Bristol West vs. Main Street America Discounts

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

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be hard 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.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Bristol West and Main Street America so that you can find the one that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Both companies offer excellent discounts like anti-theft discounts, distant student discounts, EFT discounts, and multi-policy discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Bristol West or Main Street America Best for You?

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

Main Street America might be best for you if....

• You have received a ticket within the last few years.
• You're looking for the best premiums on liability only coverage.
• You live in a rural area.

Bristol West might be best for you if...

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

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Bristol West and Main Street America. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your car insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from several carriers, not just Bristol West and Main Street America. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple quotes from some of the best insurance companies in your area, all for free.

Bristol West vs. Main Street America FAQs

Is Bristol West or Main Street America cheaper?

Main Street America is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $227 per month with Main Street America and $412 for Bristol West. However, that doesn't mean Main Street America will be the most affordable carrier for each driver, since there are several different factors (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Bristol West or Main Street America?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". No one company is "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do Bristol West and Main Street America offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies use a lot of different variables when determining the prices they charge. Factors like gender, your driving record, where you call home, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Bristol West and Main Street America calculate premiums differently, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different carriers.

How do I know if Bristol West or Main Street America is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance company 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 area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable premium. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Bristol West or Main Street America 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.