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

Quick Facts

• In general, Mendakota offers significantly cheaper premiums than Bristol West
• Bristol West offers more discounts than Mendakota Insurance Company
• Mendakota tends to be a much more affordable option for drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record

Bristol West vs. Mendakota: 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 large discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Bristol West or Mendakota as your top options, but between the two, which one will offer you less expensive rates?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Mendakota is quite a bit cheaper than Bristol West, with prices averaging $244 per month compared to $412 with Bristol West.

However, that doesn't mean Mendakota will necessarily be more affordable than Bristol West for each driver. After all, car insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your driving record, where you call home, your age, or even your credit score (among other things). So, at the end of the day, premiums from every company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

Bristol West or Mendakota: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Bristol West and Mendakota only compete against each other in Nevada, where Mendakota offers the cheaper average prices. For Nevada residents, Mendakota offers insurance for $244 monthly on average. Bristol West's average premiums come out to be over 70% more expensive, at $567 a month.

But there's more to calculating auto insurance rates than just where you call home. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- typically pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. The reason is that young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high insurance premiums. As you can see above, teens who use Mendakota save nearly $350 a month compared to those who use Bristol West.

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

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age generally enjoy some of the lowest auto insurance premiums out there. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which usually lowers their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase rates.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Bristol West and Mendakota? Mendakota gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at about $187 per month compared to Bristol West's $364.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance premiums tend to be more expensive for single policyholders than they are for married policyholders. That's because policies for married couples normally cover more than one car, which a lot of carriers will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Mendakota is the clear winner for those who are single, with prices around $196 per month cheaper than Bristol West, on average. The advantage for married drivers with Mendakota is also obvious, where drivers save nearly $150 a month.

Bristol West vs. Mendakota: 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, men normally pay about $1 per month less than women with Bristol West, and around $18 more with Mendakota.

Looking at overall affordability, Mendakota offers the cheapest average premiums for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $158 a month and women save about $177 with Mendakota compared to the average Bristol West policyholder.

Bristol West or Mendakota: 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 auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different terms 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 property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which usually refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to what you get with liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Mendakota typically offers significantly less expensive rates of $172 compared to Bristol West's $279. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Mendakota again has the edge, with policies around $250 per month more affordable than Bristol West, on average.

Is Bristol West or Mendakota 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.

It's no secret secret that tickets and accidents lead to higher prices, but which company -- Bristol West or Mendakota -- has the most affordable premiums for drivers with less-than-perfect 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 Mendakota usually raises rates about $19 per month, on average.

Even so, Mendakota tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket, offering prices that are $118 and $199 less expensive, respectively, compared to Bristol West.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Bristol West drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their rates climb by just under $150, while those who have insurance through Mendakota will see around a $50 increase.

Overall, Mendakota offers the lowest premiums for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with monthly prices averaging $273 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 ticket or even an accident. For example, Bristol West increases average premiums by over $50 a month -- that's just under a 15% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, Mendakota tends to be the much cheaper option with average prices of $241 monthly compared to $390 from Bristol West.

How does Credit Score Impact Bristol West and Mendakota Rates?

Did you know that many car insurance companies take your credit score into account when calculating premiums? This isn't always the case (Michigan, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it will come into play for several policyholders.

Insurance carriers 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 at Bristol West and Mendakota specifically, which carrier has the best rates 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 Mendakota. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save nearly 30% compared to Bristol West, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $136 or 36% less expensive every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Mendakota typically offers lower prices than Bristol West when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $169 per month less with Mendakota compared to Bristol West, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of about $312 a month.

Is Bristol West or Mendakota 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 your monthly premiums? Typically, the more miles 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 Mendakota charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for Bristol West, with policyholders who drive the least paying around $3 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, Mendakota is the cheaper option for drivers in both categories.

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

Where you live can have a pretty big impact on your monthly car insurance bill. Generally, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

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

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Mendakota offers prices about $418 per month compared to Bristol West's $539. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay around $176 a month for Mendakota and $386 for Bristol West. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the cheapest premiums from both companies, with average monthly rates coming in at $138 and $309 for Mendakota and Bristol West respectively.

Bristol West vs. Mendakota Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new car 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 auto insurance discounts as you can.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be hard to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you qualify for.

In the section below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Bristol West and Mendakota so that you can see which company can save you the most money each month.

Bristol West knocks Mendakota out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 13 more discounts than Mendakota.

Both carriers offer quite a few of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company, and passive restraint discounts -- but Bristol West also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, and more that Mendakota does not.

Mendakota's discounts come through just a few categories, including Defensive Driver, Homeowner, Multi-Car, and more.

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

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your insurance and the different discounts companies offer. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which insurance carrier is the right one for you and your specific profile and needs?

Mendakota might be best for you if....

• You have received a ticket within the last few years.
• Your home is in a busy urban area.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's auto insurance policy.

Bristol West might be best for you if...

• 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 Mendakota and that you can now make a more informed 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 insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple carriers, not just Bristol West and Mendakota. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply 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. Mendakota FAQs

Is Bristol West or Mendakota cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Mendakota is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $244 per month compared to $412 for Bristol West. That being said, Mendakota won't necessarily be the most affordable company for every policyholder, since there are multiple different variables (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Bristol West or Mendakota?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique insurance profile.

Why do Bristol West and Mendakota offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies take a look at lots of different factors when determining the premiums they charge policyholders. Things like where you call home, where your home is, gender, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Bristol West and Mendakota calculate rates using different variables, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the insurance carrier 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 free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest price. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Bristol West or Mendakota 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.