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

Quick Facts

• In general, State Farm offers significantly less expensive rates than Bristol West
• State Farm offers more affordable premiums for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit
• State Farm offers more discounts than Bristol West

Bristol West vs. State Farm: 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 your search down to Bristol West or State Farm as potential options, but which company will save you the most?

As you can see, Bristol West is quite a bit more expensive than State Farm, with rates averaging $412 per month compared to just $158 with State Farm when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

Even so, that doesn't mean State Farm will necessarily be more affordable than Bristol West for every driver. After all, car insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your credit score, where you call home, your driving record, or even your age (among other things), so prices will vary quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Bristol West or State Farm is really the best for you, keep reading to see average rates for each carrier broken down by several different rate factors.

Bristol West or State Farm: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Bristol West and State Farm compete against each other in six states, with Bristol West offering cheaper premiums to the average driver in all of them. Nevada has the most noticable difference, where State Farm prices are over 70% more affordable than insurance rates at Bristol West.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance bill than just the state you live in. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

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

However, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have State Farm for their insurance pay nearly $450 less than those who use Bristol West.

That being said, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower premiums once you turn 25. For example, average prices for Bristol West policyholders reduce almost $450 and State Farm's rates lower more than $200 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age generally enjoy some of the cheapest auto insurance prices you can find. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which typically decreases their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase premiums.

So, which company offers the best rates to retired drivers? State Farm gets the edge here, with average premiums coming in at about $111 per month compared to Bristol West's $364.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married drivers tend to get slightly cheaper car insurance prices than single drivers. This usually boils down to married couples having more than one car on their policy -- something a lot of insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, State Farm is the clear winner for single policyholders, with rates around $284 a month less expensive than Bristol West, on average. The advantage for married policyholders with State Farm is also obvious, where drivers save about $200 per month.

Bristol West vs. State Farm: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but car insurance is generally more expensive for men than for women. This is because men are more likely to get into collisions and get speeding tickets, which raises the chances of an insurance claim.

Surprisingly, men normally pay around 0% less a month than women with Bristol West, while with State Farm, the difference is closer to 7% per month.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, State Farm comes out as the most affordable option for both genders. On average, male drivers save about $247 a month and women save about $260 with State Farm compared to the average Bristol West policyholder.

Bristol West or State Farm: 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.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, State Farm typically offers significantly cheaper prices of $99 compared to Bristol West's $279. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, State Farm again has the edge, with policies around $350 per month more affordable than Bristol West, on average.

Is Bristol West or State Farm Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their 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 at-fault collisions and tickets on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the lowest premiums 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 a month if they get a ticket, while State Farm usually raises premiums about $21 per month, on average.

But State Farm has less expensive prices for drivers in both categories, offering premiums that are 60% and 65% cheaper, 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 State Farm will see around a $30 increase.

Overall, the more affordable prices come from State Farm, with monthly rates averaging $163 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 -- normally a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. For example, Bristol West increases average prices by over $50 a month -- that's just under a 15% increase.

How does Credit Score Impact Bristol West and State Farm Rates?

In many cases, your credit score can come into play when companies calculate your monthly bill. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it will come into play for many policyholders.

Auto insurance companies argue that those with good credit scores are more likely to pay their bills on time every month, which lowers the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad credit.

So, which company offers the most affordable premiums for drivers 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 State Farm 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 your monthly prices. That's because the fewer miles you put on your car each year, the less likely you are to get into a collision and cause an insurance claim.

State Farm tends to be the less expensive option for both drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicles annually, as well as those who average twice that figure. Bristol West's average rates for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in about 63% more expensive than State Farm. Those who drive 12,000 miles each year can expect to pay around 60% more with Bristol West over State Farm.

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

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

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, State Farm typically comes out as the cheapest option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, State Farm offers premiums about $185 monthly compared to Bristol West's $539. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay around $161 per month for State Farm and $386 for Bristol West. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the lowest prices from both companies, with average monthly rates coming in at $127 and $309 for State Farm and Bristol West respectively.

Bristol West vs. State Farm Discounts

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

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 carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

Below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Bristol West and State Farm so that you can find the one that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Overall, State Farm comes out ahead with 23 discounts to Bristol West's 18.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like ABS discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good driver, and multi-policy discounts. State Farm also offers annual mileage discounts, drive safe & save discounts, driver training discounts, and more that Bristol West does not.

On the flip side, Bristol West has a couple unique discounts of its own -- advance quote discounts, continuous insurance discounts, EFT discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Bristol West or State Farm 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, which company is the best carrier for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

State Farm might be best for you if....

• You haven't received any speeding tickets or been in an accident in the last few years.
• You want basic auto insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's car insurance policy.

Bristol West might be best for you if...

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

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Bristol West and State Farm. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about 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 multiple companies, not just Bristol West and State Farm. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple quotes from some of the best insurance carriers in your area, all for free.

Bristol West vs. State Farm FAQs

Is Bristol West or State Farm cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, State Farm is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $158 a month compared to $412 for Bristol West. However, State Farm won't necessarily be the most affordable carrier for every policyholder, since there are a bunch of different variables that are considered when it comes to your car insurance payment.

Who is better, Bristol West or State Farm?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". One company is not "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do Bristol West and State Farm offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at lots of different factors when calculating the prices they charge drivers. Variables such as your driving record, age, where you park your vehicle, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Bristol West and State Farm calculate premiums using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different companies.

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

The only way to find the car insurance company 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 auto insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest premium. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Bristol West or State Farm 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.