Stephanie is a DC-based freelance writer specializing in personal finance. Her work covers insurance, loans, real estate investing, retirement, and more.
Chris SchaferDeputy Managing Editor, News and Marketing Content
15+ years in content creation
7+ years in business and financial services content
Chris is a seasoned writer/editor with past experience across myriad industries, including insurance, SAS, finance, Medicare, logistics, marketing/advertising, and many more.
Konstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.
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Bristol West is a non-standard insurance company serving drivers in 41 states. Acquired by Farmers Insurance in 2007, Bristol West exclusively offers auto insurance coverage geared toward drivers who have never held a policy, have bad credit, or even have a DUI or other serious moving violation on their driving record. Coverage is also available to rideshare drivers who use their vehicles on platforms like Uber or Lyft.
Here’s what else you need to know about coverage from Bristol West.
Quick Facts
Because Bristol West Insurance Company caters to high-risk drivers, average premiums may be higher than with competitor companies.
Bristol West is a member of the Farmers Insurance Group of Companies, giving you access to other policy options (and bundling discount opportunities).
Customer ratings for this company are low, while industry ratings are average or higher.
How Bristol West compares to other insurance companies
User Reviews
3.2
IQ Score
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
5.2 /10
Liability Only
Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.
$116/mo
Full Coverage
Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible.
$249/mo
3.2
A solid optionBased on 313 verified guest reviews and ratings
▲
Bristol West's score
▲▼
Industry average
▲▼
Coverage options
3
3.2
Customer service
3.2
3.6
Discounts
3
2.9
Policy transparency
3
3.1
Value
3
2.9
How drivers feel about Bristol West
Drivers appreciate the good rates and fast service but dislike the frequent price increases and difficulty in contacting customer support.
AI-generated from the text of verified reviews collected by Insurify
Best For
High-risk drivers
Drivers who've had a lapse in coverage
Rideshare coverage
How drivers feel about Bristol West
Drivers appreciate the good rates and fast service but dislike the frequent price increases and difficulty in contacting customer support.
AI-generated from the text of verified reviews collected by Insurify
Best For
High-risk drivers
Drivers who've had a lapse in coverage
Rideshare coverage
Reviews (153)
Kyle
January 14, 2025
Verified Review
Rating Bristol Insurance
I haven't encountered a single problem.
David
December 8, 2024
Verified Review
Trickster
At first, everything seemed fine. However, I was enrolled in autopay without my consent. They then wanted to charge me either $72 or $70 to remove it.
Phyllis
December 5, 2024
Verified Purchase
Love the company
So far, it's the best for not having insurance besides not having a car for the last two years, and it offers reasonable rates.
J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.
NR
NAIC Index
Average amount of customer complaints relative to competitors on a 0-5 scale. A lower score represents fewer complaints.
1.8
A.M. Best
A.M. Best analyzes an insurer’s financials, operating performance, business profile, and other factors to generate an opinion-based rating of a company’s financial and credit strength. Ratings range from A++ (exceptional) to D (poor).
A
Why we picked this company
Bristol West is considered a non-standard insurance company, as it provides coverage to high-risk drivers who might otherwise have a tough time finding an affordable policy. For this reason, premiums tend to be higher than you’d find with other insurance companies.
Additionally, Bristol West offers limited coverage options and only a few discounts, with little information online. It also doesn’t have nationwide coverage, like many major insurers, but it does sell policies in 41 states.
Pros
Provides coverage for difficult-to-insure drivers
Offers rideshare coverage as an extension of personal policy
Highly rated mobile app
Cons
Drivers with moving violations pay very high rates
Lower-than-average customer satisfaction
More-than-expected number of consumer complaints
Factor
▲▼
How Bristol West Compares
▲▼
Rates
Higher
Customer service
Worse than competitors
Discounts
Less than competitors
Availability
Similar to competitors
Financial strength
Similar to competitors
How Bristol West rates compare to competitors
Bristol West isn’t among the cheapest car insurance companies based on national averages, but it could still offer competitive rates in your area and for your unique needs. Amica and Direct Auto are two of Bristol West’s top competitors, and while its rates are comparable with Amica’s, Direct Auto’s rates are far more affordable.
Here’s how Bristol West’s national average full-coverage rate compares to the rates of several different companies.
Full-Coverage Rates by Insurance Company
Category
▲▼
Price
▲▼
Mercury
163
National General
175
Direct Auto
183
Bristol West
249
Amica
278
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
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Based on 3,806+ reviews
4.8/5
Average cost of Bristol West auto insurance
Bristol West offers car insurance for high-risk drivers and drivers who have trouble finding coverage elsewhere. As such, its rates are higher than those from many other insurers. But if you’re a high-risk driver who has struggled to find insurance coverage through other channels, Bristol West could be a good option for you.
Here, you can see how the average monthly liability quote from Bristol West compares to the national average for different driver groups.
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Bristol West car insurance cost by state
Various factors determine insurance premiums, including your age, driving history, the type of car you drive, and your location.[1] Each state also has its own requirements for minimum liability coverage, which can further affect costs.
Here’s a look at the states where Bristol West operates and how much you might pay for auto insurance coverage. You’ll see that average quotes from Bristol West tend to exceed state averages.
State
▲▼
Bristol West Average Quote
▲▼
State Average
▲▼
Alabama
$93
$59
Arizona
$124
$91
Arkansas
$144
$122
Colorado
$92
$97
Connecticut
$245
$230
Florida
$242
$154
Georgia
$216
$152
Idaho
$81
$69
Illinois
$99
$80
Indiana
$83
$72
Iowa
$55
$56
Kansas
$86
$80
Kentucky
$150
$146
Louisiana
$210
$126
Maine
$98
$85
Maryland
$250
$208
Michigan
$178
$170
Minnesota
$139
$104
Missouri
$123
$97
Montana
$84
$77
Nebraska
$115
$89
New Hampshire
$77
$61
New Mexico
$81
$68
North Dakota
$79
$82
Ohio
$90
$73
Oklahoma
$126
$84
Oregon
$125
$97
Pennsylvania
$124
$94
South Carolina
$232
$167
South Dakota
$70
$58
Tennessee
$129
$72
Utah
$132
$108
Virginia
$124
$104
Washington
$127
$76
Wisconsin
$71
$65
Wyoming
$78
$60
isclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile. Coverage isn’t currently available in Alaska, California, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, or Texas. Delaware, Hawaii, Rhode Island, Vermont, and West Virginia excluded due to lack of data.
Bristol West car insurance discounts
Most car insurance companies offer discounts that can reduce your total out-of-pocket cost of coverage. Depending on the insurer you choose, many different types of car insurance discounts are available.
Some of the discounts available from Bristol West include those for:
Paperless billing
Automatic payment enrollment
Good driving
Multi-policy bundling (this includes policies purchased through Farmers and Foremost Insurance)
How customers feel about Bristol West
It’s tricky to see where Bristol West falls in the industry as a whole, as its ratings don’t match up with many of its firsthand customer reviews.
For example, the company has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), though it’s not an accredited business.[2] But on BBB, Bristol West has more than 440 customer reviews with an average rating of 1.12 out of 5 stars.
Bristol West doesn’t have a strong presence on Trustpilot, with only 28 reviews live at the time of this publication. But from those 28 reviews, Bristol West holds a rating of 1.6 out of 5 stars.[3] Customers say that their dissatisfaction lies with unexpected premium increases, slow claims communication, and customer service concerns.
Bristol West customer reviews
Here’s a look at what some real Bristol West customers have to say about their experience with this insurance company.
Kyle - January 14, 2025
Verified
Rating Bristol Insurance
I haven't encountered a single problem.
David - December 8, 2024
Verified
Trickster
At first, everything seemed fine. However, I was enrolled in autopay without my consent. They then wanted to charge me either $72 or $70 to remove it.
Phyllis - December 5, 2024
Verified
Love the company
So far, it's the best for not having insurance besides not having a car for the last two years, and it offers reasonable rates.
Connie - December 4, 2024
Verified
Think Twice Before You Decide
There is no consistency. You get a different answer when you talk to the next person. Notes are not always put in the file, even though you ask. This has happened more than once.
…
Bristol West ratings
While subjective reviews from existing customers are important, you should also look at trusted industry ratings to truly compare companies. These standard ratings include those from companies like AM Best, J.D. Power, and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
Rating
▲▼
Score
▲▼
What This Means
▲▼
AM Best
A (Excellent)
Positive future projections and ability to pay claims
J.D. Power
NR
Not rated by J.D. Power
NAIC Complaint Index
2.03
Twice as many formal complaints as expected for the company’s size and market share
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Based on 3,806+ reviews
4.8/5
Bristol West car insurance coverage options
Where you live partly dictates your insurance coverage options, as each state has its own minimum required coverage. Bristol West’s products are limited, but the company offers a few standard coverage types:
Liability coverage
Liability insurance pays for someone else’s bodily injuries and property damage if you’re at fault for an accident.
Collision coverage
Collision insurance pays to repair or replace your vehicle if you’re involved in an accident, regardless of fault.
Comprehensive coverage
Comprehensive insurance can repair or replace your vehicle if it’s stolen, vandalized, or damaged by something other than a collision.
Other options for Bristol West customers
Bristol West Insurance Group only offers car insurance. If you’re looking for motorcycle insurance, homeowners insurance, renters insurance, life insurance, or other forms of coverage, you’ll need to shop around with other insurers.
Bristol West Casualty Insurance Company is a member of the Farmers Insurance Group of Companies, along with the following companies: Coastal National Insurance Company, Security National Insurance Company, and Foremost Insurance Company. Foremost Insurance, for example, offers coverage for boats, RVs, motorcycles, ATVs, homes, condos, and more. If you purchase one of these policies, you may qualify for a bundle discount through Bristol West.
Bristol West insurance FAQs
If you want to know more about Bristol West insurance coverage, check out the additional information below.
Is Bristol West legitimate?
Yes. Bristol West is a legitimate auto insurance company that was founded in Florida in 1973. Farmers Insurance acquired it in 2007, and it’s now part of the Farmers Insurance Group of Companies. Bristol West has an excellent AM Best rating and an A+ rating with the BBB, though it’s not accredited and has received more complaints than expected in recent years.
What is the average cost of Bristol West car insurance?
While individual premiums vary by location and other personal factors, Bristol West car insurance coverage costs an average of $116 per month for liability coverage and $249 for full coverage.
Is Bristol West good at paying claims?
Bristol West has an A (Excellent) financial strength rating through AM Best, speaking to its ability to pay claims. The company did receive twice as many formal complaints as expected in 2023, according to the NAIC, demonstrating that the claims process may be more complex and confusing for some customers.
How do you cancel your Bristol West insurance policy?
You can cancel your Bristol West policy by reaching out to your independent agent directly by phone, by email, or in person. You can also call Bristol West customer service at 1 (888) 888-0080 or fax a cancellation request form to 1 (888) 888-0070.
Is Bristol West for high-risk drivers?
Bristol West is considered a non-standard insurance company that serves higher-risk drivers in need of coverage. This means that you may be able to purchase a policy even if you’ve been convicted of a DUI or other moving violations, are uninsured, had a policy canceled or lapsed in the past, or have poor credit.
Methodology
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 90 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 50+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.
Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).
Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:
Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
No additional coverage
Full-coverage premium averages correspond to the same bodily injury and property damage limits in addition to:
Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible
Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.
Stephanie is a DC-based freelance writer and Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI). She primarily covers personal finance topics such as insurance, loans, real estate investing, and retirement. Her work can be found on CBS, FOX Business, MSN, Yahoo! Finance, Business Insider, and more. When she isn't helping people plan for their financial futures, she is traveling, hiking with her kids, or writing for her own website, TomorrowsDollar.com. She can be reached on X @stephcolestock.
Stephanie has been a contributor at Insurify since October 2022.
Edited byChris SchaferDeputy Managing Editor, News and Marketing Content
Chris SchaferDeputy Managing Editor, News and Marketing Content
15+ years in content creation
7+ years in business and financial services content
Chris is a seasoned writer/editor with past experience across myriad industries, including insurance, SAS, finance, Medicare, logistics, marketing/advertising, and many more.
Konstantin HalachevVP of Engineering & Data Science
7+ years experience in data analysis
Ph.D. in Computational Biology
Konstantin has led data teams across multiple industries, including insurance, travel, and biology. He’s led Insurify’s engineering team for more than three years.
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