So what do YOU know about Bristol West Insurance?
If you took time to read Bristol West Insurance reviews – you might be quickly put off!
…but guess what?
This company has a few surprising advantages!
The truth is, insurance companies aren’t a one size fits all deal! Nope.
What’s bad for one person might be the perfect fit for another. That’s why understanding how a company suits YOUR needs is essential! So let’s see what Bristol West Insurance has to offer right now!
Wow Chris this is GREAT! I don't know much about Bristol West Insurance. Can you fill me in?
Absolutely!...and you might be surprised by some of my insights!
Before I get too deep into this Bristol West Insurance review, let’s take a look at the background of Bristol West Insurance Company.
When compared to many of their competitors, this is a pretty small operation.
This insurer was founded in 1973 in Florida and...
...they might as well be called Bristol West Auto Insurance, because that's what they sell. In 2007, they were bought by Farmers Insurance Group, which means they're backed by one of the biggest insurance companies in the U.S..
Jackpot, right?
Well, not necessarily. Although they do have solid support from a large and reputable company like Farmers, they still fall short in several categories.
That’s what we’re here for…
...to do all that boring research for you so you can make the best financial choices for your family!
Hey who doesn't want to save a little leg work?
Well! You've piqued my interest. Can you tell me some more about their products?
....I sure can! But they are LIMITED.
One of my favorite parts of a review is exploring products.
…but guess what?
There’s not too much to see here.
As we’ve already established, I think of this company as Bristol West Auto Insurance because they only offer car insurance. Which means they don’t sell nearly as many products as a lot of their competitors.
The truth is, Bristol West’s auto insurance policies are PRETTY basic. Policies come equipped with comprehensive, collision, and liability coverage.
Not doing it for you?
Then you may want to check out some of the additional coverage options to supplement your Bristol West Car Insurance policy such as:
Towing & Rental Reimbursement Coverage
Covers the costs of getting towed and/or renting a car while your auto is being repaired.
Medical Payments
If you're injured in an accident (God forbid), Bristol West Insurance will foot the bills if you add this feature.
Underinsured or Uninsured Motorist: Bodily Injury & Property Damage
This provision covers the cost of property or injury if the culprit is lacking in the insurance department.
Customizing Equipment Coverage
CEP covers any custom parts that you're permanently adding to your vehicle.
***Insurance products vary depending on state. You can click here to see what Bristol West Insurance products are available in your area.
HEY! Wait a second - you said there were some surprising benefits...
YEP! ...and there are, hang in there partner!
So, what does this company have going for them? Let’s take a sneak peak:
Quick Pros:
- Acquired by Farmer’s Insurance Group
- Received an ‘A’ rating from A.M. Best
- You can report a claim anytime 24/7
- Low down payments
Bristol West Insurance Company is Backed by Farmers Insurance
I'm SURE you've heard of Farmers Insurance Group. Well this gives Bristol West Insurance a LOT more credibility and STABILITY! Who doesn't like a household name? Which leads us to Farmers Insurance financial rating...
Bristol West Insurance/State Farm Has a GOOD Financial Rating
OLDWICK, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–A.M. Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) of “a” of the members of Farmers Insurance Group (Farmers) and Farmers Reinsurance Company (Woodland Hills, CA). A.M. Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Members of Farmers Insurance Group, BusinessWire.com
Bristol West Insurance policyholders should be happy to hear that the company has an ‘A’ rating!
Although these ratings go as high as an A++ — an A rating is still considered excellent. Since the Bristol West Insurance Group is backed by a titan such as Farmer’s Insurance, you can trust them to keep their head above water.
There may be several downsides to Bristol West, but their financial strength is certainly one of their most redeeming qualities.
So why is this so important?
The financial strength of a company is calculated based on several factors, including liquidity, profitability, and solvency.
A company that tests well financially, is a company that has a firm foundation.
It looks like Bristol West Insurance is here to stay!
You Can File a Claim 24/7 on the Bristol West Insurance Site!
This is a great feature - in theory.
Now… whether or not your Bristol West Insurance claim will go as smoothly as the site makes it sound is another story which I will get into a bit later.
Low Down Payments
Fluid cash an issue? Not to worry, Bristol West Insurance offers a variety of policy terms to suit your needs. Pay your premiums in full or select a low down payment installment plan.
Wow! Sounds good...where do I sign up?
Whoa! This is NOT the whole story - let's review the cons right now!
As with anything there are cons. Let’s check out some reasons why you might want to pause before you purchase a Bristol West Insurance policy.
Quick Cons:
- Review sites report poor customer support
- Policies can only be purchased from Bristol West Insurance Agents
- A quote isn’t easy to obtain
- …which makes it tough to figure out how their premiums compare price-wise
As much as a I hate to do this to Bristol West Insurance - here goes.....
Don't Underestimate the Importance of Customer Support
First off, their customer support could use some serious improvement!
While customer support is one of the more common complaints for every insurance company, Bristol West Insurance seems to have achieved new heights when it comes to client complaints!
Check out some of the online reviews for this company. Sadly there are a LOT of frustrated policyholders that took the time to vent:
It's not pretty - in fact the reviews from their website give Bristol West a measly 1.3 stars out of 5!
Yikes.
However, it’s important to remember that personal experiences with an insurance company vary greatly.
You really need to think about what compels people to leave reviews.
If everything is going smoothly, a policyholder is less likely to leave a review. I mean, why should they? The insurance company is doing exactly what they should be doing.
…on the other hand, policyholders that have a disastrous experience with a company may feel the need to tell the world about how they were mistreated.
To be fair, Bristol West Insurance also has some good reviews. Check out this glowing recommendation:
See? It’s not all bad news!
So where is Bristol West Insurance going wrong?
It seems like a lot of people just can’t get ahold of anyone at Bristol West Insurance…
…and when they do, policyholders complain that the company takes their sweet time to resolve issues.
There are also some nightmarish stories online about poorly handled Bristol West Insurance claims. Sigh.
Other common complaints include:
- Unexpected fees and increased rates
- Rude employees
Check out some more Bristol West Insurance reviews like the one above if you want to see the experiences that real people have had with this company!
Bristol West Insurance Products Can Only Be Bought From Their Agents & Brokers
Is that right?
You don’t get the benefit of dealing with an independent agent that will compare a Bristol West Insurance offering to competing companies.
…as you know I’m not a fan of using captive agents. They have one goal in mind and that’s selling their company’s policies – whether they work best for YOU or not.
Captive insurance agents are trained on their family of products making them experts in their company policies. They do not have to learn different products and rules of multiple insurance carriers. What is a Captive Insurance Agent, TheBalance.com
To top it off, unlike many of their competitors, Bristol West Insurance does not offer online insurance quotes from their website.
So if you’re just looking for a quick estimate, you’re out of luck.
Yeah… a bit disappointing, I know.
Instead, you’ll need to get into direct contact with a local agent in order to get a personalized quote.
Unfortunately, this makes it far more time-consuming to compare Bristol West Insurance rates with other companies.
You’re also required to hand over a lot of personal information to get an idea of what your premiums will be.
Personally, I’m not thrilled about dishing out too much online or over the phone…
…but maybe that’s just me.
Difficult to Compare the Cost of Bristol West Insurance Premiums
...which naturally segues into the next issue.
Because Bristol West Insurance doesn't offer online insurance quotes from their website, it's far more time-consuming to compare their rates with other companies.
For me, comparison shopping is one of the most important aspects of getting the best policy for your PERSONAL needs. So this is a big red flag for me.
It's TOUGH to make a decision without the cold, hard numbers...
It sure is...
So How Can You Compare the Cost of Bristol West Insurance Premiums?
If you want to take a shot at comparing auto insurance prices, you can use this website. But again, you’ll need to plug in quite a bit of information before your ‘quick’ quote can be accessed.
On the bright-side, the Bristol West Insurance website advertises low down payment options to ensure that their policies are viable for a wider-range of people.
That being said…
Comparing insurance quotes is rule Numero Uno before you buy ANY kind of insurance!
While it’s unfortunate that not all quotes are quick and easy to come by, performing your due diligence will save you some serious cash!
Bristol Life Insurance Company: The Bottom Line
If you’re reading this Bristol West Insurance Review – I bet you want me to tell if they’ll work for you.
Well, you’ll rarely hear me tell clients NOT to go with an insurance company, and Bristol West Insurance is no exception.
Why?
Because there will always be areas where an insurer would be a good solution for a particular client’s individual circumstances.
My best advice?
DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Which means employing the assistance of an independent insurance agent that can get you the most accurate information about the companies you’re considering.
If you get attached to the idea of using one insurance company and work with a captive agent, chances are you are going to pay for it.
You can save some SERIOUS cash by nailing down the right company for your individual needs.
On the bright side, Bristol Life Insurance Company:
- Specializes in providing personalized auto insurance
- Policies come equipped with collision, comprehensive, and liability coverage (with the option for other add-ons)
- Has an A rating
- Offers low down payment options for people who are strapped for cash
But they also have some cons such as:
- Poor customer support
- The claims department needs improvement
- You have to work with a captive agent to get both quotes and policies
- …which means it’s tougher to comparison shop
My final word? While Bristol West Insurance doesn’t necessarily rank high on my list of insurance companies, they might be a financially stable option for people who want an auto insurance policy but aren’t exactly swimming in dough at the moment.
If you’ve read this far… kudos to you. You’re absolutely doing the right thing by researching companies, rather than getting a policy willy-nilly.
Keep it up!
Thank you for the information. I also was a little hesitant about signing up for auto insurance through Bristol West after reading the reviews. I also was in the auto industry for several years and also a consumer. Come claim time, that is when you hear about the standard of care the insurance company offers. Some folks want to be paid for their sentimental feelings they have for their 15 year old car. Unfortunately the insurance company is not going to do that. Most people feel there car is that much nicer, is cleaner, looks newer. It is still a 15 year old car. Automobiles are a bad investment they loose value the minute you drive off the lot. Then you hear of rate increases. Most likely something was forgotten about usually a ticket, the company finds it and adjust the rate accordingly. There is a reason why this happens. Or the customer that doesn’t tell you about the 17 year old male that lives in the house and drives the car regularly. Doesn’t want to pay the premium but wants coverage when the young person gets into a accident. I think it is great to be able to talk and go through a agent. That way they can take care of what you need. They can request changes, help with claims. A lot of folKS complain about the time spent on phone. Get your agent to do it,that is why they are the agent. Make them call and get answers. Problem solved. It seems to be the good ole fashion common sense. Do right, be honest and fourth right, the insurance company will do the same.
Brea, We appreciate your comments. Thank you.