
Bristol West Car Insurance Pricing 2026
Since Bristol West is a high-risk insurer, its rates tend to be higher than average.
Get quotes from providers in your area
Questions? Call us: 844-966-4864

Bristol West offers flexible coverage options and a range of discounts for high-risk drivers. If you’re a high-risk driver struggling to find affordable insurance, this guide covers all you need to know about Bristol West’s auto insurance.
Car Insurance Rates for Bristol West Auto Insurance
Since Bristol West specializes in high-risk coverage, its rates tend to be higher than standard issuers. However, if you are a high-risk driver struggling to find affordable rates from standard providers, you may find Bristol West’s rates competitive. How much you pay depends on factors like your driving history, age, zip code, vehicle, and credit history.
Here are the average costs with Bristol West for various driver profiles and coverage levels:
| Profile | Bristol West avg. annual cost |
|---|---|
| Full coverage | $3,487 |
| Minimum coverage | $1,303 |
| After a speeding ticket | $4,322 |
| After an at-fault accident | $5,431 |
| DUI | $4,917 |
| Teens | $10,441 |
FYI:
Full coverage auto insurance costs more, but it offers greater financial protection in the event of an accident. Additionally, if you financed your vehicle, your lender usually requires full coverage.
Discounts With Bristol West
Bristol West offers four ways to save with discounts:
- Sign up for automatic payments
- Opt to go paperless
- Maintain a good driving record
- Buy multiple policies from Bristol West, Farmers, or Foremost Insurance.
Key Features
Coverage for High-Risk Drivers
Standard car insurance carriers may refuse to insure high-risk drivers, or price policies so exorbitantly these drivers are effectively disqualified from coverage.
Bristol West specializes in providing coverage for high-risk drivers. You might considered a high-risk driver if you have:
- Multiple traffic violations, such as speeding tickets.
- Conviction for a serious offense, such as a DUI.
- Poor credit score.
- Lapse in coverage.
- Newly licensed and have little driving experience.
NOTE:
Traffic incidents won’t stay on your record forever. Check your state’s laws to see how long traffic violations will remain on your driving history. Insurance companies tend to look three to five years back on your record when assessing your risk level.
Strong Financial Backing
As a subsidiary of Farmers Insurance Group of Companies, Bristol West has the backing of one of the largest property and casualty insurer groups in the U.S. Especially if you’re a high-risk driver or have poor or no credit history, having a personal insurer with strong financial backing will help you get your claim payouts quickly. Bristol West received an A rating from AM Best, indicating an “Excellent” claims-paying ability and credit quality.1
Customer satisfaction ratings are mixed, with Bristol West receiving more customer complaints than other car insurance companies.2
Mobile App
Bristol West offers a mobile app for iOS and Android, allowing you to easily access your account and add insurance ID cards to your phones’ wallets for quick access.
As a registered customer, you can access the following items via online and mobile app:
- Policy ID card
- Policy details
- Claim reporting and status
- Payment submission and status
- Personal account information
- Agent contact details
Text Alert Program
If you don’t want to use the mobile app, Bristol West offers a text alert program to send updates to your phone directly.
Sign up by logging into your online account and selecting Text Alert Preferences in your account settings. Bristol West can send reminders for missed and upcoming payments to up to three numbers. You can opt out at any time by sending STOP to 41637.
Where Does Bristol West Provide Coverage?
Bristol West’s core personal auto policies are available in 43 states. Its parent company, Farmers, uses multiple affiliated insurers that expand its overall footprint to about 47 states. Not all companies or products are available in every state.
Coverage is not available in these states:
- Alaska
- New York
- North Carolina
These states are covered via limited/specialty carriers, not the core Bristol West Insurance Company footprint:
- California (via Coast National)
- Nevada (via Coast National)
- Mississippi (via Coast National)
- Texas (via Security National)
Bristol West also offers commercial auto insurance in select states for small business owners with nine or fewer vehicles.
Cancellation Policy
The best way to cancel your policy is to get in contact with Bristol West directly. The company doesn’t offer online cancellations, but you can reach an agent anytime to cancel via mail or phone. If you cancel, you’ll receive a refund for the unused portion of your policy. Depending on your state, you may have to pay a cancellation fee.
Company Background
Bristol West has been offering private passenger coverage since 1973. It began as an automobile insurance carrier based in Florida. Over the decades, Bristol West has grown to be a premier provider of specialized auto coverage, with a focus on high-risk drivers. Farmers acquired Bristol West in 2007.1
Bristol West Contact Information
The simplest way to contact Bristol West is through your online account. You can access your account online or via its mobile app. Depending on your inquiry, you can also reach Bristol West by mail, phone, and fax.
To correspond via postal mail use the following contact information:
- For claims:
- Bristol West Claims Service
- P.O. Box 258806
- Oklahoma City, OK 73125-8806
- For general inquiries:
- Bristol West Insurance Group
- P.O. Box 248834
- Oklahoma City, OK 73124-8834
- For payments in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Texas:
- Bristol West Insurance Group
- P.O. Box 7142
- Pasadena, CA 91109-7142
- For payments in other states:
- Bristol West Insurance Group
- P.O. Box 371329
- Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7329
To correspond via phone, use the following numbers:
-
-
- For claims: 800-274-7865
- For payment and billing 24/7: 888-888-0080
- For customer service, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. (local time): 888-888-0080
- For fraud reporting: 888-662-6616
-
To correspond via fax for customer service, use the following number: 888-888-0070.4
Conclusion
Getting adequate insurance after an accident or speeding ticket can be a hassle if you don’t know where to look. If you’re looking for nonstandard insurers, Bristol West is a solid option that offers various discounts for high-risk drivers who may experience difficulties finding coverage elsewhere. However, for auto insurance, it’s always a good idea to shop around for the best fit for you. To learn more about Bristol West coverage, read our full Bristol West insurance review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Bristol West is owned by Farmers Insurance Group, one of the major insurance groups in America. The company has been insuring customers since 1973.
Bristol West’s premiums are more expensive because it specializes in non-standard insurance and provides coverage for high-risk drivers. On average, its full-coverage rates are about 48 percent higher than the national average.
Yes, Bristol West offers rideshare coverage. If you drive for a service like Lyft or Uber, Bristol West will cover you while you are waiting for and completing ride requests. This ensures continuous protection throughout your driving session. Most high-risk auto insurance companies do not offer rideshare coverage, making this a unique feature. Here’s what rideshare drivers need to know about auto insurance.
Yes, Bristol West can file an SR-22 on your behalf. An SR-22 proves that you have an active insurance policy that meets your state’s minimum coverage.
Yes, Bristol West’s reinstatement policy allows you to reinstate your insurance within 10 days of cancellation without a lapse, or within 30 days with a lapse. To reinstate, customers can call Bristol West at (888) 888-0080.
Citations
Rating Disclosure — AM Best (AMB # 12461). AM Best. (n.d.).
https://ratings.ambest.com/DisclosurePDF.aspx?AMBNum=12461
Bristol West Insurance Company (NAIC # 19658) Consumer Complaint Results. National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). (n.d.).
https://content.naic.org/cis_refined_results.htm?TABLEAU=CIS_COMPLAINTS&COCODE=19658&:refresh
List of Companies and State Licenses. Farmers Insurance. (n.d.).
https://www.farmers.com/companies/state/
Contact Us. Bristol West Insurance Group. (n.d.).
https://www.bristolwest.com/home/contact



