score75Bristol West Auto Insurance Review: Quotes and Service (2024)
Updated: August 20, 2024
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
score754/5
discounts
3.5/5
complaints
5/5
satisfaction
4/5
stability
2.7/5
affordability
pros
Offers rental car and/or travel reimbursement, roadside assistance and rideshare insurance
Excellent customer satisfaction rating and strong financial stability
Helpful customer support features, like online bill pay, claims filing and flexible payment options
cons
Limited discounts available
No unique coverages
Verdict
Bristol West holds a strong reputation among customers, as reflected in MoneyGeek’s rating of five out of five for customer satisfaction. For customer complaints, though, Bristol West has an average score.
To learn more about Bristol West and other auto insurance providers, we recommend that you read MoneyGeek’s resources on the cheapest car insurance companies and the best car insurance companies. You can also use our auto insurance company comparison toolto help you compare insurers and decide which company is right for you.
How Does Bristol West Rank for Customer Service?
Customers seem to have more complaints about Bristol West than they do for the average insurer, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). But the company is on solid ground when it comes to being able to pay out for claims. Still, doing business with Bristol West may not be in your best interest if you value solid customer service.
Customer Satisfaction Rating
Bristol West is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau, and thus does not have its own rating. The BBB does give Farmers Insurance Group, Bristol West’s parent company, an A+ rating. But when you look at the customer ratings, Farmers Insurance Group scores below one-and-a-half stars out of five.
Customer Complaint Ratio
The NAIC rate insurance providers according to the number of complaints they receive each year. On average, the customer complaint ratio is 1.00, with lower figures receiving fewer complaints and vice versa. Bristol West scored a 3.81 on this scale.
Discounts Offered by Bristol West That Can Help You Save
Using discounts may result in lower premiums. Bristol West offers some of the most common discounts available on the market, such as paperless, safe driving and bundling discounts. You can also get a discount for setting up automatic payments, which is not common among insurers.
Unfortunately, there are no discounts through Bristol West for paying in full, good student or multiple car although many of its competitors offer them.
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Does Bristol West Offer Broad or Unique Coverage?
Just like all other auto insurance companies, Bristol West offers liability insurance, comprehensive, collision insurance and property damage coverage. Bristol West also offers common add-on coverages like emergency roadside assistance and rental car and/or travel reimbursement. Rideshare insurance is also available through Bristol West.
Unfortunately, Bristol West does not offer any unique coverage add-ons like other companies, such as mechanical breakdown insurance or custom parts.
What Online Auto Insurance Tools Does Bristol West Offer?
Bristol West Insurance's offerings are fairly limited. However, when it comes to technology, they provide a decent amount of modern conveniences.
- Type of FeatureDescription
- Online ClaimsYou can opt to file a claim online, rather than calling the claims number, and follow its progress through the site.
- Mobile AppGet reminders about your upcoming bills with text alerts.
Financial Strength
AM Best provides ratings for insurance companies based on their financial strength as well as their ability to meet its obligations to policyholders. Based on Bristol West Insurance's A financial strength rating, they are viewed as stable. Be aware that the rating is not a warranty.
How to Make a Car Insurance Claim With Bristol West
If you need to make a claim for your auto insurance policy, you can call Bristol West Insurance's dedicated, toll-free phone number: 1-800-274-7865.
Contact Bristol West Car Insurance
Methodology and Assumptions
To evaluate and review auto insurance companies, MoneyGeek carefully weighs factors such as price, financial strength, policy features, customer satisfaction, service and other leading indicators. MoneyGeek also references publicly available data from industry leaders such as J.D. Power, AM Best, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and the Better Business Bureau. Learn more about MoneyGeek’s review methodology here.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick is a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer and MoneyGeek's Head of Insurance. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research and creating personalized content for every kind of buyer. He has been quoted in several insurance-related publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick earned a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his knowledge of economics and insurance to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.
sources
- Better Business Bureau. "Farmers Insurance." Accessed April 6, 2023.
- NAIC. "Bristol W Ins Co National Complaint Index Report." Accessed May 25, 2023.
- A.M. Best. "Company and Rating Search." Accessed March 12, 2020.