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Nonstandard insurance that works in a pinch, including for rideshare drivers
Some drivers find it difficult to get insured. Bristol West may be the answer if your driving, insurance, or credit history impacts your ability to purchase an auto insurance policy. A member of Farmers Insurance Group, Bristol West specializes in private passenger and nonstandard auto insurance. Its premiums are much higher than average, but that’s not uncommon for high-risk drivers. See if Bristol West covers your circumstances—and how much it will cost you.
We named Bristol West the best rideshare coverage for high risk drivers. In addition, we’ve reviewed the best auto insurance companies for high-risk drivers and the best auto insurance for teens (who are often considered higher risk).
Nonstandard insurance for high-risk drivers, including drivers with low credit, no insurance history, DUIs, or traffic violations
Text alerts
Works with insurance agents/brokers
Rideshare coverage
High premiums even for minimum coverage
No coverage in Alaska, Hawaii, North Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, DC, or West Virginia
Here’s the deal: Bristol West will not be the cheapest quote you get. However, if your circumstances prevent you from purchasing a standard auto insurance policy, then cost may not be the most important factor to consider. Bristol West offers nonstandard insurance for high-risk drivers, which includes the following classification categories:
If none of the above high-risk circumstances apply to you, I suggest looking elsewhere for insurance coverage. Bristol West’s premiums are just too high without extenuating circumstances. For a minimum coverage (liability only) policy, you should expect to pay $1,770 and for full coverage, Bristol West runs you an average of $4,453. Compared to the national average, Bristol West’s minimum coverage is 224 percent higher and its full coverage is 131 percent higher. Now, the main advantage of Bristol West is its willingness to cover drivers in less-than-ideal circumstances. Here’s what you should expect to pay:
Company | Average annual premium for full coverage | Average annual premium for minimum coverage |
---|---|---|
Bristol West | $4,453 | $1,770 |
National Average | $1,924 | $547 |
AAA | $2,211 | $894 |
Allstate | $2,639 | $597 |
American Family | $1,785 | $713 |
Erie | $1,495 | $483 |
Farmers | $2,320 | $634 |
GAINSCO | $2,221 | $800 |
GEICO | $1,572 | $413 |
The General | $3,069 | $1,606 |
Kemper Auto | $2,258 | $963 |
Nationwide | $1,805 | $613 |
Progressive | $1,891 | $481 |
State Farm | $1,697 | $482 |
Here’s a full guide to Bristol West car insurance prices.
Bristol West does not offer as many discounts on auto insurance as larger, more mainstream providers; however, here are four ways to save with discounts from Bristol West:
Payment plans don’t necessarily save you money, but can help you budget. You can opt to pay your premium in installments and Bristol West will provide you a payment plan that includes additional installment fees. You can avoid paying those fees on future payments by paying your policy balance in full, or by making your installment payment at least one month in advance.
One offering I like is Bristol West’s text alert program. You can enroll to receive texts on your phone reminding you to make a payment or when you miss a payment (before your policy gets cancelled).
Here are the ways you can pay your Bristol West policy:
You may use a prepaid debit or credit card to pay your Bristol West premium provided it is a Visa, MasterCard, or American Express product.
Bristol West’s insurance offerings may not be standard, but its quote process is pretty typical. You can start a quote from Bristol West online by submitting your zip code.
You can also use Bristol West’s website to search for a local agent or broker. Either can help you obtain an insurance policy.
The main difference between an insurance agent vs. insurance broker is that agents work for the insurance carrier (Bristol West) while the broker works for the consumer (you).
Bristol West offers the following required and optional auto insurance coverages:
Unfortunately, Bristol West’s customer satisfaction data is less-than-satisfactory. The company’s NAIC score, which measures customer complaints via a market index, is 4.49. That means Bristol West receives over 4 times as many complaints as expected in the insurance market. When I filtered by personal passenger vehicle complaints, Bristol West earned 2.03 which is better, but still means it has twice as high a complaint index as expected in the overall insurance market.1
Bristol West did not appear on any of J.D. Power’s customer satisfaction reports, which to me is an indication of its market share and not necessarily its customer service ratings; however, a quick internet search led me to a number of negative reviews on websites like Reddit and Better Business Bureau.
Now for the positive news: one of the most important things to look for in an insurance company, especially high-risk drivers, is financial stability. Bristol West received a financial stability rating of A (excellent) from AM Best.2 That means you can rely on Bristol West to pay out claims.
Category | Plymouth Rock |
---|---|
NAIC Complaint Index | 4.03 (High) |
AM Best | A (Excellent) |
Like most providers, Bristol West allows you to file a claim online. The benefit is you can file a claim 24/7, instead of speaking to a representative during business hours only (although you can still call someone toll-free via 1-800-274-7865).
Unlike most carrier websites, Bristol West lets you make a payment, report a claim, and view your insurance ID without logging in. I think that’s a helpful feature, especially if you’re the type of person who forgets passwords or misplaces login information. You will, of course, need to provide identifying information…
To make a payment, you’ll need your account/policy number and zip code to start.
As discussed above, you can report a claim online or on the phone and check on the status of that claim online or via your claims representative.
To view your insurance ID card, provide your zip code and two of three pieces of identifying information requested: last name, date of birth, and policy number.
Another note about Bristol West’s website is that the information is not always where you think it should be. Often, I had to Google a specific question in order to find the answer on Bristol West’s website hidden in an FAQ.
On the app side, Bristol West receives 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store (Apple devices) and 3.7 out of 5 on the Google Play store (Android devices). This is a pretty big discrepancy, so I looked at the ratings and reviews on both platforms.
Apple users note affordable rates and good customer service in difficult situations. In January 2024, one user wrote: “the app is very easy to use and navigate….It doesn’t freeze up or crash. Making payments and getting proof of insurance is quick and easy.”
Android users are less-than-thrilled with the app’s performance—especially when it comes to making payments—which leads me to believe it works better and/or was developed first for iPhone users. Here’s what someone said in February 2024: “This app not only doesn’t update after a payment is made by credit/debit card, it randomly removes your debit/credit card information that was previously there for months.”
Here’s a rundown of what you can expect to be able to do on your mobile device:
App | Rating (out of 5) |
---|---|
Bristol West Insurance | iPhone — 4.7 stars
Android — 3.7 stars |
Yes, Bristol West offers policies for high-risk drivers and drivers with no credit or auto insurance coverage history.
Bristol West specializes in private passenger and non-standard insurance targeted at drivers in unique situations.
Bristol West does not appear to offer a grace period for payments; however, the company may consider a reinstatement without a lapse for customers who make a late payment.
Bristol West is a member of Farmers Insurance Group, which makes Bristol West and Farmers part of the same company, though they operate as separate brands.
I use a combination of proprietary data and market research to review insurance companies and determine which consumers may fit best with which types of policies and providers. Bristol West has a pretty specific set of customers, mainly those who are classified as “high-risk,” so I could not go through a full quote or claims process for you. That said, I was able to determine average prices through our internal data sets so you get an idea of what your premium might cost. Bristol West also offers a lot of information on their payment options which I think is helpful if your premium will be above average.
Here are the overall categories of research I analyzed:
Bristol W Ins Co National Complaint Index Report. National Association of Insurance Commissioners. (2024).
https://content.naic.org/cis_refined_results.htm
Bristol West Insurance Company. AM Best. (2023, Jun 23).
https://ratings.ambest.com/DisclosurePDF.aspx