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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Bristol West offers more affordable premiums than Michigan
• Bristol West offers cheaper average prices for drivers who have a speeding ticket on their driving record
• Michigan has less expensive rates for policyholders whose driving record contains an at-fault collision

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

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering big savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed it down to Bristol West or Michigan for your next policy, but between the two, which one has more affordable premiums for auto insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Bristol West has average rates that are around 14% a month less expensive than those from Michigan.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean Bristol West will be the cheaper option for every driver. Car insurance carriers use a variety of complex algorithms to determine prices, so depending on how clean your driving record is or how old you are (among multiple other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

Wanting to know if Bristol West or Michigan is really the right carrier for you? Keep on reading to see how average rates can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

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

Bristol West and Michigan only compete against each other in Michigan, where Michigan offers the cheaper average prices. Michigan drivers tend to pay about $170 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Bristol West for their insurance.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance cost than just the state you live in. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- usually pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. That's normally because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. As you can see above, teens who use Bristol West save over 40% a month compared to those who use Michigan.

That being said, both companies will drop prices by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average rates for Bristol West policyholders reduce about $450 and Michigan's premiums lower around $500 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to car insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the lowest prices you'll ever see.

When looking at Bristol West and Michigan specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Michigan gets the edge here, with average rates coming in at about $326 monthly compared to Bristol West's $364.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that auto insurance prices are generally more affordable for married couples than they are for single drivers? That's typically because married policyholders tend to own and insure more than one vehicle, which can often earn you a discount.

For those who are single, the difference in average premiums between these two carriers is significant, with Bristol West rates coming in at a quarter less than Michigan's. It's not quite so glaring for married drivers, where drivers who use Bristol West save around $6 per month.

Bristol West or Michigan: Average Rates by Gender

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

Surprisingly, with Bristol West, women typicallypay about 0% more a month than men; women and men get the same monthly prices with Michigan.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Bristol West comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $68 per month and men save around $69 with Bristol West compared to the average Michigan policyholder.

Bristol West vs. Michigan: 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 car insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are many different coverages that account for a range of different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which normally refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages alongside liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Bristol West has the edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $279. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Bristol West again has the edge, with policies averaging about $544 a month to Michigan's $649.

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

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

You'll probably end up paying more with speeding tickets and accidents on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the most affordable prices to 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 usually expect their monthly bill to go up around 23% after getting a speeding ticket. Michigan policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 42%.

If you have gotten a ticket, Bristol West tends to offer the best rates at around 10% less expensive, while Michigan has the edge for drivers with a clean record.

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% -- rise in their insurance premiums. Drivers who use Michigan for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill about $150 (or 35%) more expensive after reporting a collision to their car insurance company.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Michigan end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average rates coming in at $431 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 accident or speeding ticket when it comes to your insurance bill. Michigan drivers usually see a 61% raise in their car insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Bristol West will generally increase premiums by around 13%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable prices, Bristol West tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $390 to Michigan's $723.

How does Credit Score Impact Bristol West and Michigan Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can be used as one of the variables to calculate your monthly auto insurance premiums. This isn't true for everyone (for example, Massachusetts and Michigan are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it might come into play for lots of drivers.

Car insurance companies argue that someone with good credit is more likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them less risky to insure. Because of that, policyholders with good credit will often be rewarded with less expensive rates.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Michigan is one of a few states that restricts insurance carriers from using credit scores to determine rates. And since Michigan is only available in Michigan, there is no data available on how credit score impacts prices because it's not a factor at all. This may be a good thing, since Bristol West and other companies tend to raise rates 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 bad credit and live in Michigan, the good news is it won't cost you extra when it comes to auto 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 Michigan 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 insurance carriers will charge for coverage? Usually, those who drive less will end up with more affordable premiums since there's less of a chance of causing an accident and filing an insurance claim.

Bristol West tends to be the cheaper option for both remote workers and those taking short commutes. Michigan's average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in nearly 10% more expensive than Bristol West. Those who drive 12,000 miles every year can expect to pay just under 20% more with Michigan over Bristol West.

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

Where you park your car can have a pretty big impact on your monthly auto insurance payment. Typically, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for car insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

Looking at these companies side-by-side, Bristol West boasts the cheapest average prices in rural and suburban areas, while Michigan wins in urban areas.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Michigan Insurance Company's average premiums are around 9% less than Bristol West. People who live in suburban areas pay about 21% less with Bristol West compared to Michigan. Those in rural areas can expect to save around 33% with Bristol West compared to Michigan.

Bristol West vs. Michigan 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, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many car insurance discounts as possible.

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be difficult to find all the ones you can take advantage of.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Bristol West and Michigan offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Overall, Bristol West comes out ahead with 18 discounts to Michigan's 17.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, and paid in full discounts. Bristol West also offers discounts for continuous insurance, distant student, EFT, and more.

On the other hand, Michigan has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like COVID-19 relief discount, family car discounts, family discounts, and more.

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

You've seen the role certain factors have on your insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, is Bristol West or Michigan the right fit for you?

Bristol West might be best for you if....

• You've received a ticket for speeding recently and don't want to see your rates rise.
• You're looking for the carrier with the most discounts.
• You drive often but have a short commute.

Michigan might be best for you if...

• You have an at-fault collision on your record.
• You live in an urban area.
• You're of retirement age and want to take advantage of lower prices.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Bristol West and Michigan. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your car insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of companies, not just Bristol West and Michigan. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Bristol West vs. Michigan FAQs

Is Bristol West or Michigan cheaper?

Bristol West is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $412 per month with Bristol West and $480 for Michigan. However, that doesn't mean Bristol West will be the most affordable company for each policyholder, since there are multiple different variables that come into play when it comes to your car insurance bill.

Who is better, Bristol West or Michigan?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like. For example, Michigan is more affordable for drivers with excellent credit, while Bristol West offers cheaper prices for drivers with a recent DUI.

Why do Bristol West and Michigan offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers use several different factors when determining the rates they charge. Things like age, where you call home, gender, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Bristol West and Michigan use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different companies.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple carriers 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 ZIP code and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable premium. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Bristol West or Michigan 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.