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

Quick Facts

• In general, State National offers significantly less expensive rates than Bristol West
• Bristol West may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than State National
• State National offers more affordable prices for single people who will be the only person on the insurance policy

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

So, you're considering switching to a new insurance policy. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering huge savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Bristol West or State National, but between the two, which one has more affordable rates for auto insurance?

As you can see, Bristol West has average rates that are around 60% a month more expensive than those from State National when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

But State National may not be the lowest or best option for every single driver out there. Auto insurance carriers use a variety of complex algorithms to determine premiums, so depending on how old you are or how good your credit score is (among an array 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 State National is really the best for you, keep reading to see average rates for each company broken down by many different rate factors.

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

Bristol West and State National only compete against each other in California, where State National offers the cheaper average prices. State National drivers tend to pay about $30 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Bristol West for their insurance.

But there's more to auto insurance than just your home state. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how insurance companies calculate your premiums. Continue reading to learn more about how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive car insurance prices of any other group of drivers. It's 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. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have State National for their auto insurance pay over 60% less than those who use Bristol West.

Even so, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower rates by the time you turn 25. For example, average prices for Bristol West policyholders reduce about $450 and State National's rates lower around $150 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 cheapest premiums you'll ever find.

So, which carrier offers the best rates to retired drivers? State National gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $246 cheaper than the national average for Bristol West.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance prices tend to be more affordable for married policyholders than they are for those who are single. That's because policies for married drivers usually cover multiple vehicles, which quite a few companies will give you a discount for.

For single drivers, the difference in average premiums between these two carriers is significant, with State National rates coming in at about a third of Bristol West's. The advantage is also clear for married couples - State National offers the most affordable average prices.

Bristol West or State National: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know men typically pay more for car insurance than women? This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get pulled over for speeding or get into a collision, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher rates.

Surprisingly, with Bristol West, women generallypay around 0% more a month than men; men and women get the same monthly prices with State National.

When it comes to the cheapest premiums for each gender, State National comes out on top for both men and women, with average rates 61% less for men and 61% cheaper for women.

Bristol West vs. State National: 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.

Auto insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are a range of different coverages that account for a variety of different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- in addition to liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, State National has the significant edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $79. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, State National again has the edge, with policies averaging about $240 per month to Bristol West's $544.

Is Bristol West or State National 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 collisions and speeding tickets lead to higher prices, but which company -- Bristol West or State National -- has the lowest premiums for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Bristol West for their car insurance can normally expect their monthly bill to go up around 23% after getting a speeding ticket. State National policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of about 28%.

That being said, State National is usually the less expensive option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket -- their rates are around 70% more affordable for drivers with clean records and 68% less expensive for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their insurance through Bristol West can expect to see around an $140 -- or about 29% -- rise in their auto insurance prices. Drivers who use State National for their insurance will see a monthly bill around $40 (or 28%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their auto insurance carrier.

At the end of the day, the cheaper rates come from State National, with average premiums coming in at $142 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 collision or speeding ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. For example, State National increases average rates by $150 a month -- that's nearly a 60% increase.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable prices, State National tends to be more affordable for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $252 to Bristol West's $390.

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

Did you know many insurance companies take your credit score into account when determining rates? This isn't true for everyone (Hawaii, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an auto insurance factor) but it does affect several drivers out there.

Car insurance carriers 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.

Looking specifically at Bristol West and State National, which carrier has the best premiums for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

You'll often be rewarded if you have fantastic credit. Jumping from a "good" credit score to an "excellent" one will generally save Bristol West customers around 10%. State National, on the other hand, doesn't have data available for credit scores, which means they most likely don't use credit to calculate your prices.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Having bad credit can cost you with Bristol West. If your credit score is in the "poor" range, at Bristol West, you may pay about 25% more per month compared to those with "fair" scores (and even more compared to drivers with good or excellent scores). On the other hand, because State National doesn't have data available for credit scores, they could have better rates for drivers with bad credit over Bristol West.

Is Bristol West or State National Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a considerable impact on your monthly auto insurance bill. Normally, the more milage you put on your car, the more you can expect to pay for car insurance.

For both remote workers and those taking short commutes, State National tends to be the cheaper option. Bristol West's average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in more than $250 more expensive than State National. Those who drive 12,000 miles each year can expect to pay nearly $250 more with Bristol West over State National.

Bristol West or State National: 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 auto insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a big impact as well. Typically, those who live in rural areas will pay less than drivers in urban areas since there are a lot fewer vehicles on the roads where they live.

State National boasts the cheapest average prices for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, State National's average premiums are around $366 less than Bristol West. People who live in suburban areas pay about $223 less with State National compared to Bristol West. Those in rural areas can expect to save around $166 with State National compared to Bristol West.

Bristol West vs. State National Discounts

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

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

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

Bristol West blows State National away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering eight more discounts than State National.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Bristol West also offers discounts for ABS, advance quote, continuous insurance, and more.

On the other hand, State National has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like auto-pilot discounts, good student discounts, group discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Bristol West or State National Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your auto insurance rates. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which insurance carrier is the best company for you and your specific driver profile?

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

• You will be the only person on the car insurance policy.
• You live in a rural area.
• You drive fewer than 12,000 miles annually.

Bristol West might be best for you if...

• You have less-than-stellar credit.
• Your credit score is high.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Bristol West and State National. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your 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 carriers, not just Bristol West and State National. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Bristol West vs. State National FAQs

Is Bristol West or State National cheaper?

State National is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $159 a month with State National and $412 for Bristol West. However, that doesn't mean State National will be the most affordable company for every driver, since there are lots of different variables that come into play when it comes to your auto insurance cost.

Who is better, Bristol West or State National?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither carrier is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique car insurance profile. For example, Bristol West is cheaper for drivers with excellent credit, while State National offers more affordable rates for drivers with a recent DUI.

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

Auto insurance companies use lots of different factors when calculating the premiums they charge. Things like age, your driving record, where your home is, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Bristol West and State National calculate rates using 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 carriers.

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

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