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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, Metlife offers less expensive premiums than Bristol West
• Bristol West tends to be a much more affordable option for drivers with a DUI
• Metlife has cheaper rates for drivers who have a speeding ticket on their driving record

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

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

You might have narrowed it down to Bristol West or Metlife as your top options, but between the two, which carrier has less expensive premiums for auto insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Metlife is around $72 a month more affordable than Bristol West.

Even so, that doesn't mean Metlife will necessarily be cheaper than Bristol West for every single driver. Insurance companies use a ton of complex algorithms to determine prices, so depending on how clean your driving record is or how old you are (among several other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both Bristol West and Metlife by multiple different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

Bristol West vs. Metlife: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Bristol West and Metlife compete against each other in five states, with Bristol West offering more affordable rates to the average driver in all of them. Michigan has the most noticable difference, where Metlife prices are $417 less expensive than car insurance premiums at Bristol West.

But there's more to calculating insurance prices than just the state you live in. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- generally pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. Typically, that's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of over 20% less per month by choosing Bristol West over Metlife.

That being said, with both carriers, you'll see your rates reduce significantly by the time you turn 25. Metlife offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Bristol West's average prices drop almost 55% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age usually enjoy some of the cheapest car insurance rates you'll ever see. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which normally reduces their chances of collisions and other infractions that can raise premiums.

So, which company offers the best rates to retired drivers? Metlife gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older nearly 45% cheaper than the national average for Bristol West.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married couples tend to get slightly more affordable auto insurance prices than those who are single. That's typically because married policyholders tend to own and insure more than one vehicle, which can often earn you a discount.

For single policyholders, the difference in average premiums between these two companies is not very significant, with Metlife prices coming in at about 7% less than Bristol West's. But for married drivers, the advantage is clear - Metlife offers the most affordable average rates.

Bristol West or Metlife: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get into accidents and get speeding tickets, they have a decreased chance of filing a claim with insurance. So, women tend to get cheaper rates than men.

Surprisingly, with Bristol West, women generallypay around 0% more a month than men, and almost 10% less with Metlife when compared to their male counterparts.

When it comes to the lowest prices for each gender, Metlife comes out as the most affordable option for both genders. On average, women save about $86 per month and men save about $57 with Metlife compared to the average Bristol West policyholder.

Bristol West vs. Metlife: 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 auto 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 (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which normally refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages alongside what you get with a liability policy).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Metlife has the edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $215. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Metlife again has the edge, with policies averaging around $466 a month to Bristol West's $544.

Is Bristol West or Metlife 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.

It's no secret secret that at-fault accidents and speeding tickets lead to higher premiums, but which carrier -- Bristol West or Metlife -- has the cheapest rates for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Bristol West for their car insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up about 23% after getting a speeding ticket. Metlife policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 21%.

However, Metlife has cheaper prices for drivers in both categories. With MetLife, drivers with a clean record can save about $119 per month and drivers with a ticket can save around $160 a month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Bristol West drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their premiums increase by just under $150, while those who have insurance through Metlife will see about a $150 increase.

At the end of the day, Metlife offers the most affordable prices for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average rates coming in at $368 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. Metlife drivers usually see a 55% climb in their insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while Bristol West will normally increase prices by around 13%.

How does Credit Score Impact Bristol West and Metlife Rates?

Did you know many car insurance carriers take your credit score into account when determining premiums? This isn't true for everyone (Massachusetts, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an insurance factor) but it does affect quite a few policyholders out there.

Auto insurance companies argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, drivers with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

So, which company offers the cheapest rates for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Bristol West or Metlife 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 substantial impact on your monthly prices? That's because the more milage you put on your car, the more likely you are to be in an accident and file an insurance claim.

Metlife tends to be the less expensive option for both remote workers and those taking short commutes. Metlife average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in more than $70 more affordable than Bristol West. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay over $70 less with Metlife over Bristol West.

Bristol West or Metlife: 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 big impact as well. Typically, drivers who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural policyholders since there are a lot more vehicles on the roads where they live.

Metlife tends to offer the cheapest premiums for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to pay about $299 a month with Metlife and $309 with Bristol West. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay around $333 with Metlife compared to Bristol West's $386 monthly. In urban areas, Metlife's average prices are about $389 while Bristol West offers rates around $539.

Bristol West vs. Metlife Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new 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 taking advantage of as many auto 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 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 Metlife so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Metlife knocks Bristol West out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 36 different discounts to Bristol West's 36.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Metlife also offers discounts for AAA, academic, agency transfer, and more.

On the other hand, Bristol West has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like advance quote discounts, continuous insurance discounts, minor child discounts, and more.

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

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your insurance premiums. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, at the end of the day, which insurance company is the best one for you and your specific profile and needs?

Metlife might be best for you if....

• You want to save money on your car insurance after a collision.
• Your credit score is high.
• You drive often but have a short commute.

Bristol West might be best for you if...

• Your driving record includes a DUI charge.
• You want to save money while purchasing auto insurance for a teenager.

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

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on auto insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of companies, not just Bristol West and Metlife. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of top car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Bristol West vs. Metlife FAQs

Is Bristol West or Metlife cheaper?

Metlife is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $340 per month with Metlife and $412 for Bristol West. That being said, that doesn't mean Metlife will be the lowest carrier for every driver, since there are many different factors (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Bristol West or Metlife?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither company is "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile. For example, Metlife is cheaper for drivers with excellent credit, while Bristol West offers less expensive prices for drivers with a recent DUI.

Why do Bristol West and Metlife offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers use many different variables when calculating the premiums they charge. Factors such as gender, where you live, your driving record, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Bristol West and Metlife calculate prices using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different companies.

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

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Bristol West or Metlife 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.