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

Quick Facts

• In general, Meemic offers significantly more affordable prices than Bristol West
• Bristol West may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Meemic Insurance Company
• Meemic offers less expensive average premiums for drivers who have a speeding ticket on their driving record

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

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering hefty savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to Bristol West or Meemic as your top options, but which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Bristol West has average rates that are around 30% a month more expensive than those from Meemic.

However, that doesn't mean Meemic will necessarily be cheaper than Bristol West for each driver. Car insurance carriers use tons of complex algorithms to determine rates, so depending on how good your credit score is or how clean your driving record is (among a wide array of other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

Wanting to know if Bristol West or Meemic is really the right carrier 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. Meemic: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Bristol West and Meemic only compete against each other in Michigan, where Meemic offers the cheaper average premiums. Meemic drivers tend to pay about $369 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Bristol West for their auto insurance.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your insurance bill than just where you call home. Continue reading to learn more about how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive car insurance prices of any other group of drivers. Usually, that's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of almost 50% less a month by choosing Meemic over Bristol West.

That being said, with both companies, you'll see your rates drop significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Bristol West policyholders decrease nearly 55% and Meemic's prices reduce almost 40% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age generally enjoy some of the most affordable car insurance rates you'll ever find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which typically lowers their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise premiums.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Bristol West and Meemic? Meemic gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $85 more affordable than the national average for Bristol West.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Those who are single tend to get offered slightly more expensive auto insurance premiums than married drivers. This usually boils down to married couples having multiple vehicles on their policy -- something quite a few car insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

For single policyholders, the difference in average rates between these two companies is significant, with Meemic prices coming in at a third less than Bristol West's. The advantage for married policyholders with Meemic is also obvious, where drivers save nearly 25% per month.

Bristol West or Meemic: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into accidents and file an insurance claim. That means when it comes to auto insurance men will normally end up paying a little more.

Surprisingly, with Bristol West, men usuallypay about $1 a month less than women; women and men get the same monthly premiums with Meemic.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Meemic comes out as the cheapest option for both genders, with average rates 32% less for men and 32% cheaper for women.

Bristol West vs. Meemic: 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 insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different coverages and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

The two most common 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 a collision) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, alongside liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Meemic has the significant edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $201. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Meemic again has the edge, with policies averaging around $361 per month to Bristol West's $544.

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

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their car insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

It's no secret secret that speeding tickets and at-fault collisions lead to higher premiums, but which carrier -- Bristol West or Meemic -- has the lowest prices 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 typically expect their monthly bill to go up about 23% after getting a speeding ticket. Meemic policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 36%.

Even so, Meemic tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket, offering rates that are $163 and $163 cheaper, respectively, compared to Bristol West.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their insurance through Bristol West can expect to see about an $140 -- or around 29% -- rise in their car insurance premiums. Drivers who use Meemic for their insurance will see a monthly bill about $74 (or 30%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their auto insurance company.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Meemic end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average prices coming in at $250 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 collision or speeding ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. Meemic drivers usually see a 58% raise in their auto insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Bristol West will normally climb prices by around 13%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable rates, Bristol West tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $390 to Meemic's $421.

How does Credit Score Impact Bristol West and Meemic Rates?

Often times, your credit score can come into play when carriers calculate your monthly bill. This isn't true for everyone (for example, Michigan and Massachusetts are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it might 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 decreases the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad credit.

So, which carrier offers the best premiums for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Michigan is one of a handful of states that does not allow auto insurance carriers from using credit scores to determine rates. And since Meemic is only available in Michigan, there is no data available on how credit score impacts premiums because it's not a factor at all. This may be a good thing, since Bristol West and other companies tend to increase 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 a below average credit score and live in Michigan, the good news is it won't cost you extra when it comes to 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 Meemic 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. Generally, the more milage you put on your vehicle each year, the more you can expect to pay for auto insurance.

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

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

Where you live can play a big role in how much you pay for insurance. Normally, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for car insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

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

Those in rural areas can expect to save about $61 with Meemic compared to Bristol West. People who live in suburban areas pay around $113 less with Meemic compared to Bristol West. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Meemic Insurance Company's average rates are about $217 less than Bristol West.

Bristol West vs. Meemic 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. That's where insurance discounts comes into play.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be hard to find all the ones you qualify for 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 broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Bristol West and Meemic so that you can find the one that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Bristol West blows Meemic away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 10 more discounts than Meemic.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Bristol West also offers discounts for ABS, advance quote, continuous insurance, and more.

On the other hand, Meemic has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like employee discounts, good student discounts, and group discounts.

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

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the factors car insurance carriers look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which company is the best company for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Meemic might be best for you if....

• You've received a ticket for speeding recently and don't want to see your premiums increase.
• You want the most robust protection via a "full coverage" policy.
• You don't spend much time in your car.

Bristol West might be best for you if...

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Bristol West and Meemic and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your auto insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple companies, not just Bristol West and Meemic. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Bristol West vs. Meemic FAQs

Is Bristol West or Meemic cheaper?

Meemic is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $281 a month with Meemic and $412 for Bristol West. But that doesn't mean Meemic will be the lowest carrier for everyone, since there are several different variables that come into play when it comes to your auto insurance payment.

Who is better, Bristol West or Meemic?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". One company is not necessarily "better" for each policyholder -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile. For example, Meemic is less expensive for drivers with excellent credit, while Bristol West offers more affordable premiums for drivers with a recent DUI.

Why do Bristol West and Meemic offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers use a lot of different factors when determining the prices they charge. Things such as age, your driving record, where your home is, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Bristol West and Meemic calculate premiums using different variables, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different companies.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several carriers 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 quotes from dozens of your local top insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest premium. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Bristol West or Meemic 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.