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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Wawanesa offers significantly cheaper prices than Bristol West
• Bristol West offers less expensive average rates for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit
• Wawanesa has more affordable prices for couples purchasing car insurance together

Bristol West vs. Wawanesa: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering large discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might have narrowed it down to Bristol West or Wawanesa as your top options, but between the two, which one has cheaper premiums for insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Wawanesa has average rates that are about 75% per month more affordable than those from Bristol West.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean Wawanesa will be the less expensive option for every single driver. Auto insurance carriers vary their rates depending on things like how clean your driving record is, where you live, how good your credit score is, how old you are, and all sorts of other factors, so premiums could differ drastically from person to person.

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

Bristol West or Wawanesa: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Bristol West and Wawanesa only compete against each other in California, where Wawanesa offers the cheaper average rates. For California residents, Wawanesa offers car insurance for $104 monthly on average. Bristol West's average prices come out to be over 70% more expensive, at $189 per month.

There's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance cost than just your home state. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers typically pay a lot more for insurance than any other group of drivers out there on the road. Normally, that's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

However, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance rates. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Wawanesa for their insurance pay more than $500 less than those who use Bristol West.

But both companies will reduce premiums by the time drivers turn 25. Wawanesa offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying a third less what 18-year-old drivers are charged. Bristol West's average prices decrease nearly 55% during that same period.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Bristol West and Wawanesa? Wawanesa gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older $277 more affordable than the national average for Bristol West.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that insurance rates are typically more expensive for single policyholders than they are for married drivers? That's because policies for married couples generally cover more than one car, which quite a few carriers will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Wawanesa is the clear winner for single drivers, with prices around $348 a month less expensive than Bristol West, on average. The advantage for married policyholders with Wawanesa is also obvious, where drivers save almost 75% per month.

Bristol West vs. Wawanesa: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get into collisions and get tickets, they have an increased chance of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, insurance companies will often charge men more than women.

Surprisingly, women normally pay about $1 a month more than men with Bristol West; men and women end up paying the same monthly rates with Wawanesa.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Wawanesa comes out as the cheapest option for both genders, with average premiums $307 less for men and $308 cheaper for women.

Bristol West or Wawanesa: 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.

For most people, auto insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different terms 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 (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Wawanesa usually offers significantly cheaper prices of $64 compared to Bristol West's $279. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Wawanesa again has the edge, with policies around $400 per month less expensive than Bristol West, on average.

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

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their auto 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 collisions on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the most affordable 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 Wawanesa generally raises premiums about $31 per month, on average.

Even so, Wawanesa is typically the more affordable option for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record -- their rates are around 78% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 76% 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 rates climb by just under $150, while those who have insurance through Wawanesa will see around a $40 increase.

Overall, Wawanesa offers the lowest prices for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly rates averaging $113 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 ticket or even an accident. Wawanesa drivers usually see a 41% increase in their insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while Bristol West will normally raise prices by about 13%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, Wawanesa tends to be the much less expensive option with average rates of $125 a month compared to $390 from Bristol West.

How does Credit Score Impact Bristol West and Wawanesa Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can come into play when companies calculate your monthly bill. This isn't always the case (Michigan, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it might come into play for several policyholders.

Car insurance carriers 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, drivers with good credit will often be rewarded with cheaper prices.

So, which company offers the best rates for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Usually, if you have fantastic credit, you can expect to be rewarded. Improving your "good" credit score to an "excellent" one will usually save Bristol West customers around 10%. Because Wawanesa, doesn't have data available for credit scores, they most likely don't use credit to calculate your prices.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have bad credit, it can cost you with Bristol West. As you can see, Bristol West customers with poor credit scores pay about 25% a month more than those with fair scores (and even more compared to drivers with good or excellent scores). On the other hand, Wawanesa doesn't have data available for credit scores, which means drivers with bad credit might find better rates with Wawanesa over Bristol West.

Is Bristol West or Wawanesa 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 companies will charge for coverage. Normally, those who drive fewer miles will end up with less expensive premiums 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 each year, as well as those who average twice that figure, Wawanesa offers cheaper rates than Bristol West. Wawanesa's average premiums for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in over 75% more affordable than Bristol West. Those who drive 12,000 miles yearly can expect to pay just under 75% less with Wawanesa over Bristol West.

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

Where you live can have a large impact on your monthly car insurance payment. Typically, drivers who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural policyholders due to the number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

Wawanesa tends to offer the lowest premiums for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Wawanesa offers prices around $114 monthly compared to Bristol West's $539. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay about $105 per month for Wawanesa and $386 for Bristol West. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the most affordable rates from both carriers, with average monthly prices coming in at $95 and $309 for Wawanesa and Bristol West respectively.

Bristol West vs. Wawanesa Discounts

Regardless of 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 possible. That's where insurance discounts comes into play.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem challenging to find all the of the ones you qualify for.

In the section below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Bristol West and Wawanesa so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Bristol West blows Wawanesa away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 16 more discounts than Wawanesa.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like discounts for being a good driver. Bristol West also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, anti-theft discounts, and more that Wawanesa does not.

On the flip side, Wawanesa has a unique discount of its own -- a mature driver discounts.

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

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the factors car insurance companies look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each company offers. But, at the end of the day, is Bristol West or Wawanesa the right fit for you?

Wawanesa might be best for you if....

• You're single and purchasing auto insurance by yourself.
• Your neighborhood is in a city.
• You drive fewer than 12,000 miles annually.

Bristol West might be best for you if...

• Your credit is below-average.
• You already have a great credit score.
• You care about discounts (Bristol West offers the most).

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Bristol West and Wawanesa. 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 sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of carriers, not just Bristol West and Wawanesa. 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 car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Bristol West vs. Wawanesa FAQs

Is Bristol West or Wawanesa cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Wawanesa is the less expensive of the two carriers, offering average rates of $104 a month compared to $412 for Bristol West. That being said, Wawanesa won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for every driver, since there are a variety of different variables (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Bristol West or Wawanesa?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". No one company is "better" for each driver -- it all comes down to what your unique insurance profile looks like. For example, Wawanesa offers cheaper premiums for drivers with a recent DUI, while Bristol West is more affordable for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do Bristol West and Wawanesa offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies take a look at a lot of different factors when calculating the prices they charge policyholders. Things such as where you call home, where you park your car, gender, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Bristol West and Wawanesa calculate rates using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different carriers.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several 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 information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Bristol West or Wawanesa 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.