Bristol West is a car insurance company that offers high-risk drivers coverage while also providing some of the benefits of a traditional insurance company.
Bristol West, a Farmers Insurance subsidiary, specializes in coverage for drivers who may be unable to obtain quotations elsewhere, such as those with a history of traffic offenses or at-fault accidents.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Excellent customer satisfaction rating | No unique coverages |
| Helpful customer support features |
Bristol West's coverages aren't enough to set it apart from the competition, but they make it an appealing choice for those with bad credit or who can't get a fair rate from a traditional insurer.
The company provides all basic auto insurance coverages, such as liability, collision, comprehensive, and medical payments. It also offers a few features that specialty insurance providers don't necessarily offer, such as gap coverage and rental reimbursement.
Bristol West sits in an odd middle ground between the benefits and savings offered by traditional, full-featured insurance firms and the lenient coverage options offered by high-risk insurance companies. However, their rates for ordinary drivers were on the high side, so you'll probably want to search elsewhere if you have a spotless driving record.
A driver with a clean record received a quote for minimum coverage of $1788 per year and complete coverage of $4461 per year from Bristol West, significantly higher than the average price we discovered among top insurance companies.
Customers with clean driving records and those with a recent speeding ticket or at-fault crash found that auto insurance costs at Bristol West were consistently higher than top competitors.
| Driver Profile | Bristol West Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| Clean Record | $4461 |
| At-Fault Accident | $6141 |
| Speeding Ticket | $5787 |
Aside from your driving record, where you live can impact your insurance rates. Because each state has its regulations for vehicle insurance and what is necessary for basic coverage, your location—from your state to your ZIP code—matters.
The good news is that Bristol West is available in most states because it is a part of the more prominent Farmers Insurance family. Way.com will help you find other options if Bristol West isn't accessible in your state.
| State | Bristol West Average Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $2844 |
| Arizona | $2268 |
| Arkansas | $3024 |
| California | $2772 |
| Colorado | $2196 |
| Connecticut | $4860 |
| Florida | $3276 |
| Georgia | $3780 |
| Idaho | $2160 |
| Illinois | $2232 |
| Indiana | $1656 |
| Iowa | $2196 |
| Kansas | $2448 |
| Kentucky | $3384 |
| Louisiana | $5868 |
| Maine | $2052 |
| Maryland | $5544 |
| Massachusetts | $3744 |
| Michigan | $4212 |
| Minnesota | $2880 |
| Mississippi | $2412 |
| Missouri | $3708 |
| Montana | $3144 |
| Nebraska | $2448 |
| Nevada | $4536 |
| New Hampshire | $2016 |
| New Jersey | $4860 |
| New Mexico | $2232 |
| New York | $4068 |
| North Dakota | $2736 |
| Ohio | $2448 |
| Oklahoma | $2412 |
| Oregon | $2376 |
| Pennsylvania | $2268 |
| South Carolina | $3744 |
| South Dakota | $2520 |
| Tennessee | $2484 |
| Texas | $2700 |
| Utah | $2808 |
| Virginia | $2268 |
| Washington | $3024 |
| Wisconsin | $2124 |
| Wyoming | $1476 |
Bristol West offers discounts and benefits than a standard high-risk insurance carrier, so drivers may find benefits they aren't eligible for elsewhere. However, individuals with a clean driving record will most likely spend less with another car insurance company because its prices are higher.
Discounts and forgiving coverage make Bristol West enticing to drivers with a poor driving record.
The discounts available to potential consumers at Bristol West are approximately average, and Bristol West doesn't specify how much money you'll save for each reduction. Foregoing paper statements, paying in full for your coverage, and having no recent accidents are three options that are very likely to cut your rate.
Customers have expressed dissatisfaction with uneven billing and rates and a difficult-to-use website. The most common complaints from customers were claim delays and overall claims dissatisfaction.
Bristol West has a solid financial foundation. AM Best has given Bristol West an A rating, meaning that it has "outstanding" financial strength and is very likely to be able to pay off its claims.
Bristol West is rated as an average insurer by Way.com. Bristol West has an above-average score for financial stability and discounts and an excellent customer satisfaction rating.
Overall, we found Bristol West to offer mainstream insurance company bonuses and benefits and specialized insurers' readiness to take higher-risk drivers.
Bristol West is operated by Farmers Insurance and Zurich Insurance Group, a large insurance conglomerate that lends its financial expertise to the smaller subsidiary. This strong rating is partly because Bristol West is operated by Farmers Insurance and Zurich Insurance Group, a large insurance conglomerate that lends its financial expertise to the smaller subsidiary.
Farmers Insurance's Bristol West is a lesser subsidiary of the more prominent Farmers Insurance. This implies Bristol West has a more robust financial foundation than you might expect for a firm of its size, and it may be able to pay claims more quickly as a result.
At the same time, Bristol West functions similarly to a small agent-based firm: customers can acquire in-person and online policies through an insurance agent. This means you'll only have to deal with one person, whether looking for insurance, changing, renewing, or canceling your policy. In theory, your insurance agent should get to know you, and your insurance needs to deliver the best service possible.
In some states, Bristol West allows you to purchase insurance online. However, we found the procedure inconclusive, as the UI is occasionally problematic and does not always allow you to select coverage options. Furthermore, clients in some states will be required to call the insurer to acquire insurance.
Claims can be filed by phone, online, or through the company's mobile app. You can use the Bristol West mobile app to view and pay your bill and contact your agent. It can also save a digital duplicate of your insurance card to your mobile wallet, a novel function for a niche insurer.
The auto insurance rates published in this guide are based on the results of research completed by Way.com’s data team. Using a mix of public and internal data, we analyzed millions of rate averages across U.S. ZIP codes.
Quotes are typically based on a full coverage policy average unless otherwise noted within the content.
These rates were publicly sourced from insurer filings and should be used for comparative purposes only — your own quotes will differ. Given this, it’s important to go through our insurance steps form to find how much you can save with way.com
Bristol West is rated as an average insurer by Way.com. Bristol West has an above-average score for financial stability and discounts and an excellent customer satisfaction rating.
In most cases, Bristol West will consider a reinstatement without a lapse for customers who have let their coverage lapse. After any termination, you have ten days to reactivate your account. The time to reinstate with a lapse has been extended to 30 days by Bristol West.
If you are looking to cancel Bristol West call the following number: 1-888-888-0080.
If you are looking to contact Bristol West call the following number: 1-888-888-0080.
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