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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Nationwide offers significantly less expensive rates than Bristol West
• Nationwide has more affordable prices for drivers who have received a ticket within the last few years
• Nationwide offers more discounts than Bristol West

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

You might have narrowed it down to Bristol West or Nationwide as potential options, but which one will offer you cheaper premiums?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Nationwide has average rates that are about 60% per month more affordable than those from Bristol West.

But that doesn't necessarily mean Nationwide will be the less expensive option for each driver. Auto insurance carriers use tons of complex algorithms to calculate prices, so depending on where you live or how clean your driving record is (among a range of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

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

Bristol West or Nationwide: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Bristol West and Nationwide only compete against each other in two states, with Bristol West offering cheaper rates to the average driver in all of them. South Carolina has the most noticable difference, where Nationwide premiums are over 70% less expensive than insurance prices at Bristol West.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your car insurance payment than just where you call home. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- typically pay a lot for insurance compared to older drivers. That's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

Even so, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. As you can see above, teens who use Nationwide save more than $400 a month compared to those who use Bristol West.

However, with both companies, you'll see your premiums reduce significantly by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average rates for Bristol West policyholders drop nearly 55% and Nationwide's premiums lower over 60% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age normally enjoy some of the cheapest car insurance prices you'll ever find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which generally reduces their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase rates.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Bristol West and Nationwide? Nationwide gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older more than 65% more affordable than the national average for Bristol West.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single policyholders tend to get offered slightly more expensive auto insurance rates than married policyholders. That's usually because married couples tend to own and insure more than one car, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Nationwide is the clear winner for those who are single, with premiums around $266 per month cheaper than Bristol West, on average. The advantage for married drivers with Nationwide is also obvious, where drivers save over 60% a month.

Bristol West vs. Nationwide: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know men normally pay more for insurance than women? This is because women are less likely to get tickets and get into collisions, which decreases the chances of an insurance claim.

Surprisingly, women generally pay about 0% more per month than men with Bristol West, and around 7% less with Nationwide.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Nationwide offers the most affordable average prices for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $235 a month and women save about $248 with Nationwide compared to the average Bristol West policyholder.

Bristol West or Nationwide: 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 pretty complicated. There are so many different limits and terms that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

That being said, most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- alongside liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Nationwide usually offers significantly more affordable rates of $112 compared to Bristol West's $279. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Nationwide again has the edge, with policies around $300 per month less expensive than Bristol West, on average.

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

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from auto insurance carriers offering great premiums 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 tickets and collisions on your record, but which of these two companies offers the cheapest rates to drivers with spotty 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 Nationwide typically raises rates about $24 per month, on average.

Even so, Nationwide tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record -- their rates are around 63% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 66% more affordable for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Bristol West drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their prices rise by just under 30%, while those who have insurance through Nationwide will see around a 30% increase.

Overall, drivers who use Nationwide end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly premiums averaging $178 compared to Bristol West's $479.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge, you can expect some pretty significant increases in your monthly car insurance bill -- usually a lot more than an accident or ticket. On average, Nationwide will climb your prices about 46% after a DUI, while Bristol West's average premiums increase by just under 15%.

How does Credit Score Impact Bristol West and Nationwide Rates?

Often times, your credit score can be used as one of the factors to determine your monthly insurance rates. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it does affect several policyholders out there.

Car insurance companies 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.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Bristol West or Nationwide 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 insurance carriers will charge for coverage. Generally, those who drive less will end up with cheaper prices since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision and causing an insurance claim.

For both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles every year, as well as those who average twice that figure, Nationwide tends to be the less expensive option. Nationwide's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in around 59% cheaper than Bristol West. Those who drive 12,000 miles annually can expect to pay about 59% less with Nationwide over Bristol West.

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

Where you call home can play a substantial role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Normally, policyholders who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural drivers because of the number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

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

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Nationwide offers premiums around $199 a month compared to Bristol West's $539. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay about $159 a month for Nationwide and $386 for Bristol West. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the most affordable rates from both companies, with average monthly prices coming in at $151 and $309 for Nationwide and Bristol West respectively.

Bristol West vs. Nationwide Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible. That's where auto insurance discounts comes into play.

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

In the section below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Bristol West and Nationwide offer their customers so that you can see which carrier can save you the most money each month.

Overall, Nationwide has the advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Bristol West offers a grand total of 18 discounts, while Nationwide has 22.

Both carriers offer quite a few of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, distant student discounts, EFT discounts, and multi-policy discounts -- but Nationwide also offers agency transfer discounts, driver training discounts, employee discounts, and more that Bristol West does not.

On the flip side, Bristol West has a couple unique discounts of its own -- ABS discounts, continuous insurance discounts, minor child discounts, and more.

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

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your car insurance premiums. We've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers, too. But, at the end of the day, is Bristol West or Nationwide the best company for you and your specific driver profile?

Nationwide might be best for you if....

• You want to save money on your auto insurance after an accident.
• Your neighborhood is in a city.
• You don't spend much time in your car.

Bristol West might be best for you if...

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

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Bristol West and Nationwide 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 car insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of companies, not just Bristol West and Nationwide. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Bristol West vs. Nationwide FAQs

Is Bristol West or Nationwide cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Nationwide is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $170 per month compared to $412 for Bristol West. But Nationwide won't necessarily be the lowest company for each driver, since there are many different factors (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Bristol West or Nationwide?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". No single carrier is necessarily "better" for every driver -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile.

Why do Bristol West and Nationwide offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers take a look at a lot of different variables when calculating the rates they charge drivers. Factors like your driving record, gender, where you park your car, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Bristol West and Nationwide calculate prices differently, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different companies.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier 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 make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Bristol West or Nationwide 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.