Bristol West
- Can get an SR22 if you need one.
- Many payment options.
- Available in most states.
- More than the expected number of complaints about auto insurance to state regulators.
- Likely not the best option for drivers who aren’t high-risk.
NerdWallet's take on Bristol West auto insurance
Bristol West earned 3.8 stars out of 5 in our analysis. This company caters to drivers who can’t get coverage from other companies, but we believe there may be better options for high-risk drivers.
Best for: Drivers who need help getting an SR22 or need alternative payment options.
Not ideal for: Drivers who can get quotes from other companies.
Where Bristol West car insurance stands out
Coverage options. Bristol West offers rideshare coverage, rental reimbursement coverage, and even rental car coverage as options you can add to a policy.
Supports high-risk drivers. As a subsidiary of Farmers Insurance, Bristol West offers SR22s and FR44s to drivers with major violations. This is helpful because drivers that insurers consider “high-risk” may be rejected when they try to get insurance quotes.
Insurance companies use terms like “nonstandard” or "high-risk" to refer to drivers who usually pay more for insurance. You might be in this category if you have had multiple car accidents or speeding tickets, a lapse in coverage or a serious offense like a DUI.
Where Bristol West car insurance falls short
Expensive rates. We compared Bristol West’s prices to the average cost in several states, and Bristol West was frequently far more expensive than other options.
Complaint scores. Bristol West offers policies to drivers who may not have many options to pick from. But even with that in mind, Bristol West customers filed more than the expected number of complaints to state regulators, at least compared to similar-sized companies.
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How much does Bristol West car insurance cost?
Bristol West car insurance costs an average of $425 per month or $5,102 per year for a full coverage policy, according to our November 2025 analysis.
For minimum coverage, Bristol West car insurance costs an average of $118 per month or $1,410 per year for minimum coverage, according to our November 2025 analysis.
» MORE: Compare car insurance rates
Bristol West auto insurance rates by age
Comparing rates can highlight how much your age affects your car insurance prices. For example, the national average cost of insurance for a 20-year-old driver might be $390 per month, compared to the $186 a 40-year-old driver would pay per month, according to our November 2025 analysis. These changes can matter more for insurers like Bristol West, since they often cater to high-risk drivers who have fewer options.
Here are Bristol West's average car insurance rates for drivers of different ages:
Young drivers. The average cost of Bristol West car insurance for 20-year-old drivers is $8,246 per year, or $687 per month. That's much more than the average for this age group in states where we have rates data.
Adult drivers. The average cost of Bristol West car insurance for 40-year-old drivers is $5,085 per year, or $424 per month. That's much more than the average for this age group in states where we have rates data.
Senior drivers. The average cost of Bristol West car insurance for 60-year-old drivers is $4,796 per year, or $400 per month. That's much more than the average for this age group in states where we have rates data.
- More Bristol West auto rates by age
Age Company median rate National median rate 20 $8,246 $4,684 30 $5,310 $2,375 35 $5,102 $2,300 40 $5,085 $2,232 50 $4,774 $2,074 60 $4,796 $1,988 70 $4,859 $2,125
Bristol West auto insurance rates by driver profile
Below are Bristol West's average full coverage rates for 35-year-old drivers:
Poor credit. The average cost of Bristol West car insurance for drivers with poor credit is $8,071 per year, or $673 per month. That's much more than the average for this group in states where we have rates data. (California, Hawaii and Massachusetts don't allow insurers to use credit when determining car insurance rates.)
Speeding ticket. The average cost of Bristol West car insurance for a driver with a speeding ticket is $6,335 per year, or $528 per month. That's about the same as the average for this group in states where we have rates data.
At-fault crash. The average cost of Bristol West car insurance for a driver with an at-fault crash is $6,700 per year, or $558 per month. That's much more than the average for this group in states where we have rates data.
DUI. The average cost of Bristol West car insurance for a driver with a DUI is $6,296 per year, or $525 per month. That's much more than the average for this group in states where we have rates data.
Bristol West auto insurance discounts
Depending on your state, you may be able to save on auto insurance by:
Having an additional policy, such as a motorcycle or RV policy, from Foremost or Farmers Insurance.
Making automatic payments.
Avoiding accidents and traffic violations.
Getting policy documents electronically.
If you’re looking for the cheapest auto insurance rates possible, you may want to buy the minimum car insurance needed to drive in your state. Read our cheap car insurance article to see average minimum car insurance rates by company and state.
Bristol West car insurance coverage
Bristol West's full coverage car insurance includes the standard types of coverage offered by most insurers:
- Liability insurance
Liability car insurance pays for others’ injuries or property damage you cause in a car accident, up to your auto policy limits. There are two types:
Bodily injury liability covers others’ medical expenses after an accident where you are at fault.
Property damage liability covers the repair costs to other vehicles, fences, mailboxes or buildings from an accident.
Is it required? Yes. Every state, except for Virginia and remote parts of Alaska, requires drivers to have a minimum amount of liability car insurance in order to drive legally.
- Personal injury protection
Also known as "no-fault insurance," PIP covers your own injuries and medical expenses after a crash, regardless of who's at fault, up to your policy limits. Depending on your state, PIP could also help pay for:
Lost wages if you're unable to work due to your injuries from a car accident.
Services you can't perform because of an accident, such as house cleaning or child care.
Funeral costs if an injury from an accident leads to death.
A small death benefit as a cash payout.
Is it required? Personal injury protection is required in the following states: Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oregon and Utah.
- Medical payments coverage
Medical payments coverage, or MedPay, helps pay for your medical expenses or funeral costs after a car accident, no matter who's at fault, up to your policy limits. It also pays for medical bills if you or one of your family members is hit by a car while on foot, riding a bike or traveling as a passenger in someone else’s car.
Is it required? MedPay is required in Maine and New Hampshire, and can be purchased as an optional add-on in most other states. In a few states, MedPay can't be purchased because personal injury protection is required.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage pays out if you're in an accident where the at-fault driver has no liability car insurance, or not enough to cover your injuries or property damage. It can also be used to pay for your passengers’ and household family members’ injuries.
Is it required? Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is required in Washington, D.C., and the following states: Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
- Collision insurance
Collision insurance reimburses you to fix or replace your car if you crash into another car or object. It can also pay for hit-and-runs, rollovers and damage caused by uninsured or underinsured drivers.
Collision insurance becomes less useful the older your car is. That's because it reimburses you for repairs only up to the actual cash value of your car, minus your deductible.
Is it required? Collision insurance isn't mandatory in any state, but most lenders require it if you finance or lease your car. And when you buy collision insurance, you'll likely have to also get comprehensive insurance, which pays for damage to your car from non-traffic-related causes.
- Comprehensive insurance
Comprehensive insurance reimburses you to fix or replace your car after non-traffic-related causes, such as:
Weather events, like hail, floods or tornadoes.
Falling objects, such as tree limbs.
Fire or explosions.
Hitting an animal.
Car theft and broken windows.
Earthquakes.
Vandalism or civil disobedience, such as a riot.
Comprehensive insurance becomes less useful the older your car is. That's because it reimburses you for repairs only up to the actual cash value of your car, minus your deductible.
Is it required? Comprehensive insurance isn't mandatory in any state, but most lenders require it if you finance or lease your car. And when you buy comprehensive insurance, you'll likely have to also get collision insurance, which pays for damage to your car from traffic-related causes.
Optional coverage
Bristol West also offers some types of optional coverage, such as:
Permissive use coverage. If you allow someone else in your household to drive your car, they will be protected by your insurance even if they aren’t listed on your policy.
SR22 and FR44 availability. Many states require an SR22 form to prove you have car insurance after a DUI or other serious violation. (In Florida and Virginia, you may need an FR44 form to show you have enough coverage.) Bristol West will help you get the documentation you need so you’re able to have proof of insurance.
Rideshare coverage. If you drive for a service such as Uber or Lyft, Bristol West’s rideshare insurance covers you while you’re waiting for ride requests. Usually rideshare companies’ policies only cover you while you’re driving to pick up passengers or while they’re in your car.
Rental car coverage. By adding this to your policy, Bristol West will apply the coverage for your day-to-day vehicle to a rental car.
Rental reimbursement coverage. If your car is in the shop due to a covered loss, this Bristol West will pay up to $50 a day for 30 days to cover your rental car fees.
When shopping for car insurance, it's important to understand what coverage you want and what you’re required to buy. Most states require a minimum amount of car insurance to drive a vehicle, but if you can afford it, we recommend getting full coverage insurance.
Is Bristol West a good insurance company?
State regulators received more customer complaints than expected about Bristol West, compared to similar-sized insurers, according to data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. This is generally a good indicator that drivers are less than satisfied with the service and support they receive from an insurance company.
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More about Bristol West car insurance
Customer service: Call 888-888-0080.
Website: Bristol West’s website has few details about coverage options and discounts, but it does let you take action. You can get a quote, find an agent, see your insurance ID card, make a payment, and report or check on a claim directly from the homepage. There’s also an FAQ section that answers payment-related questions, including how to get text alerts when payments are due or overdue.
Mobile app: On Bristol West’s mobile app, you can pay premiums, view your ID card and see policy details. It’s compatible with Apple and Android devices.
Payment options: If you pay online, you can use a bank account, debit card or credit card at no extra cost. You can also set up automatic monthly payments or pay by phone, mail, Western Union or MoneyGram.
How we review auto insurance companies
Our editorial team considers these factors when reviewing auto insurance companies:
- Financial strength
We use AM Best ratings to confirm an insurer’s long-term financial stability and ability to pay claims. NerdWallet does not recommend companies with a rating lower than a B.
- Complaints
These ratings are based on complaints to state regulators relative to a company’s size, according to three years’ worth of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The best auto insurance companies have fewer than the expected number of complaints.
- Ease of use
This category looks at how easily consumers can interact with an insurer through its mobile app and website. This includes how much coverage information is offered online, whether a user can start and track a claim online and get a quote and mobile app scores based on the Apple and Google Play store ratings.
- Discounts
We look at the kind of discounts a company offers and the total number of discounts available.
Read our full auto insurance methodology.
We nerd out on car insurance
Our goal is to give you what you need to make smart decisions about your car insurance.
Here’s why you can trust NerdWallet:
We do our homework. We regularly evaluate and review many of the insurance companies we write about. And all of our content is fact-checked before publication. This means the star ratings you see on our reviews are accurate and up-to-date.
We analyze the data. We update our average car insurance rates every month. To do that, we analyze more than 500 million rates from across the country. These rates are provided by Quadrant Information Services.
We are unbiased. NerdWallet’s content is never influenced by our business partners and advertisers. Learn more about how we write in our editorial guidelines.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a car insurance quote from Bristol West?
How do I get a car insurance quote from Bristol West?
The quickest way to get a quote is online. Enter your ZIP code on Bristol West’s homepage, and then follow the prompts to provide details about your car and who will be driving it. If you need help, you can search for a local agent or broker, or call 888-888-0080.
Where does Bristol West sell auto policies?
Where does Bristol West sell auto policies?
Bristol West sells car insurance in all states except Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont and West Virginia. It doesn't sell policies in Washington, D.C. either.
How can I file a car insurance claim with Bristol West?
How can I file a car insurance claim with Bristol West?
You can file a claim online at any time, or by calling the claims department at 800-274-7865 on weekdays.
Methodology
Insurer complaints methodology
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2022-2024. To assess how insurers compare to one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period. NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance.
Auto insurance ratings methodology
NerdWallet’s auto insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including financial strength, consumer complaints and discounts. Our “ease of use” category looks at factors such as website transparency and how easy it is to file a claim. Using our editorial discretion, we also consider customer satisfaction surveys. These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines and full ratings methodology for auto insurance.
