Bristol West vs. South Carolina Farm Bureau: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, South Carolina Farm Bureau offers significantly cheaper rates than Bristol West
• Bristol West offers more discounts than South Carolina Farm Bureau Insurance
• South Carolina Farm Bureau offers more affordable average prices for policyholders who have a short commute

Bristol West vs. South Carolina Farm Bureau: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering substantial discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Bristol West or South Carolina Farm Bureau for your next policy, but between the two, which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, South Carolina Farm Bureau has average rates that are about 75% per month less expensive than those from Bristol West.

But that doesn't mean South Carolina Farm Bureau will necessarily be cheaper than Bristol West for every driver. Car insurance companies use a variety of complex algorithms to calculate rates, so depending on how good your credit score is or how clean your driving record is (among lots of other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

So, if you want to find out which of Bristol West or South Carolina Farm Bureau is really the best for you, keep reading to see average premiums for each company broken down by a range of different rate factors.

Bristol West or South Carolina Farm Bureau: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Bristol West and South Carolina Farm Bureau only compete against each other in South Carolina, where South Carolina Farm Bureau offers the cheaper average rates. For South Carolina residents, South Carolina Farm Bureau offers insurance for $111 a month on average. Bristol West's average prices come out to be over 70% more expensive, at $255 per month.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance bill than just where you call home. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance premiums of any other group of drivers out there on the road. Generally, that's because young, inexperienced 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 prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have South Carolina Farm Bureau for their car insurance pay more than $500 less than those who use Bristol West.

However, with both carriers, you'll see your premiums lower significantly once you turn 25. For example, average rates for Bristol West policyholders decrease nearly $450 and South Carolina Farm Bureau's premiums drop over $100 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Bristol West and South Carolina Farm Bureau? South Carolina Farm Bureau gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at around $75 monthly compared to Bristol West's $364.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

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

When it comes to relationship status, South Carolina Farm Bureau is the clear winner for those who are single, with premiums about $336 a month less expensive than Bristol West, on average. The advantage for married couples with South Carolina Farm Bureau is also obvious, where drivers save around $250 per month.

Bristol West vs. South Carolina Farm Bureau: Average Rates by Gender

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

Surprisingly, men typically pay about 0% less a month than women with Bristol West, and around 5% with South Carolina Farm Bureau.

When it comes to the cheapest rates for each gender, South Carolina Farm Bureau comes out on top for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $297 per month and women save about $304 with South Carolina Farm Bureau compared to the average Bristol West policyholder.

Bristol West or South Carolina Farm Bureau: 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 pretty complicated. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different coverages and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy.

That being said, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which normally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to what you get with liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, South Carolina Farm Bureau typically offers significantly more affordable premiums of $78 compared to Bristol West's $279. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, South Carolina Farm Bureau again has the edge, with policies around $400 a month cheaper than Bristol West, on average.

Is Bristol West or South Carolina Farm Bureau Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their car insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

You'll probably end up paying more with tickets and at-fault accidents on your record, but which of these two companies offers the most affordable prices to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Bristol West policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $100 per month if they get a ticket, while South Carolina Farm Bureau usually raises prices about $12 a month, on average.

Even so, South Carolina Farm Bureau is generally the more affordable option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent speeding ticket. Drivers with a clean record can save around $244 per month and drivers with a ticket can save about $332 a month with South Carolina Farm Bureau Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will increase premiums pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Bristol West increasing by just under $150. South Carolina Farm Bureau has a less extreme increase, but you can still expect to pay $30 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, drivers who use South Carolina Farm Bureau end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly rates averaging $125 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. For example, Bristol West increases average premiums by over $50 per month -- that's just under a 15% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, South Carolina Farm Bureau tends to be the much less expensive option with average premiums of $116 per month compared to $390 from Bristol West.

How does Credit Score Impact Bristol West and South Carolina Farm Bureau Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can be used as one of the factors to determine your monthly auto insurance rates. This isn't always the case (Massachusetts, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it might come into play for several drivers.

The reasoning insurance companies use is that policyholders with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so normally, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with more affordable prices.

So, which carrier offers the cheapest rates for drivers with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, you'll usually find a better deal with South Carolina Farm Bureau. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save nearly 80% compared to Bristol West, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $286 or 75% cheaper each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

South Carolina Farm Bureau typically offers lower prices than Bristol West when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $303 a month less with South Carolina Farm Bureau compared to Bristol West, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of around $392 monthly.

Is Bristol West or South Carolina Farm Bureau Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a pretty big impact on how much auto insurance carriers will charge for coverage. That's because the more miles you drive, the more likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much South Carolina Farm Bureau charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for Bristol West, with policyholders who drive the least paying about $3 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, South Carolina Farm Bureau is the less expensive option for drivers in both categories.

Bristol West vs. South Carolina Farm Bureau: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can have a big impact on your monthly car insurance cost. Usually, 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.

South Carolina Farm Bureau boasts the lowest average rates for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

In urban areas, South Carolina Farm Bureau Insurance's average prices are around 79% less than Bristol West. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about 73% less with South Carolina Farm Bureau compared to Bristol West. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save around 63% with South Carolina Farm Bureau compared to Bristol West.

Bristol West vs. South Carolina Farm Bureau Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? The best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many car insurance discounts as you can.

The challenging part is finding all of the discounts you're eligible for, since it can feel sometimes like every company has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

Below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Bristol West and South Carolina Farm Bureau offer their customers so that you can find the one that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Bristol West knocks South Carolina Farm Bureau out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 18 different discounts to South Carolina Farm Bureau's five.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Bristol West also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, and more that South Carolina Farm Bureau does not.

On the flip side, South Carolina Farm Bureau has a couple unique discounts of its own -- discounts for getting driver training and discounts for being a good student.

Final Thoughts: Is Bristol West or South Carolina Farm Bureau Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the variables insurance carriers look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which company is the best company for you and your specific profile and needs?

South Carolina Farm Bureau might be best for you if....

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You drive often but have a short commute.

Bristol West might be best for you if...

• You're looking for the carrier with the most discounts.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Bristol West and South Carolina Farm Bureau. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your auto insurance.

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

Bristol West vs. South Carolina Farm Bureau FAQs

Is Bristol West or South Carolina Farm Bureau cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, South Carolina Farm Bureau is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $111 per month compared to $412 for Bristol West. But South Carolina Farm Bureau won't necessarily be the cheapest company for each driver, since there are a bunch of different factors that are considered when it comes to your auto insurance payment.

Who is better, Bristol West or South Carolina Farm Bureau?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for every driver -- it all depends on what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do Bristol West and South Carolina Farm Bureau offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at a lot of different variables when calculating the premiums they charge drivers. Factors such as gender, your driving record, where you live, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Bristol West and South Carolina Farm Bureau calculate rates using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from many different companies.

How do I know if Bristol West or South Carolina Farm Bureau is right for me?

The only way to find the car insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of 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 free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Bristol West or South Carolina Farm Bureau 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.