Bristol West auto insurance

Overview

Bristol West is the nonstandard auto brand of the Farmers Insurance Group of Companies. It insures drivers that standard carriers tend to price highly or decline: people with tickets, accidents or a DUI, first-time buyers with little driving history, and drivers with poor or no credit. Bristol West sells personal auto insurance through agents and brokers in 43 states, using both exclusive Farmers agents and independent agents.

Bristol West does not report as a separate group. Its insurance companies — Bristol West Insurance Company, Bristol West Casualty Insurance Company and Bristol West Preferred Insurance Company, among others — are members of the Farmers Insurance Group, so their premiums are counted in Farmers Insurance Group, which ranked #6 among U.S. private passenger auto insurers by 2025 direct premiums written according to NAIC market share data. Farmers does not publish a separate premium figure for Bristol West.

The Farmers exchanges are reciprocal insurance exchanges managed by Farmers Group, Inc., which is owned by Switzerland's Zurich Insurance Group. Farmers Group bought Bristol West in 2007.

History

Bristol West began selling private passenger auto insurance to Florida residents in 1973 and later expanded to other states. The holding company, Bristol West Holdings, Inc., was organized in Delaware in February 1998 and was based in Davie, Florida, near Fort Lauderdale. Its initial public offering began on February 12, 2004, and its shares traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BRW. Partnerships affiliated with the private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. owned 39.7% of the stock shortly after the offering.

By the end of 2006, Bristol West sold only through independent agents and brokers — 9,141 producers in 12,391 locations — and had 1,154 employees. It was licensed in 38 states and Washington, D.C., focused on 22 of them, and its three largest markets were California (40.4% of premiums), Florida (17.9%) and Michigan (11.9%), according to its 2006 annual report.

On March 1, 2007, Farmers Group, Inc. agreed to buy Bristol West for $22.50 a share, about $712 million excluding assumed debt. The deal closed in early July 2007, and Bristol West became the nonstandard arm of Farmers. It is now sold by Farmers' own exclusive agents as well as independent agents.

When Farmers stopped renewing Farmers-branded auto, home and umbrella policies in Florida in July 2023, Bristol West policies were among those that continued. Bristol West has also begun offering commercial auto insurance in select states.

Auto insurance coverage

Bristol West sells the standard parts of an auto policy:

• Bodily injury and property damage liability, including liability-only policies where a state allows them.
• Collision and comprehensive.
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
• Medical payments, up to $10,000.
• Rental reimbursement of up to $50 a day for up to 30 days after a covered loss.
• Towing and roadside service.

For higher-risk drivers, it files SR-22 and FR-44 certificates of financial responsibility with the state. It also sells non-owner policies for people who drive but do not own a car. Other features include permissive user coverage for drivers you allow to use your car, $500 of physical damage coverage for a trailer, coverage that carries over to a rental car, and a rideshare option for Uber and Lyft drivers. Availability varies by state.

Discounts and programs

Bristol West's discount list is short compared with standard carriers. It lists discounts for:

• Enrolling in automatic payments.
• Paperless billing.
• Keeping a good driving record.
• Bundling with another Bristol West, Farmers or Foremost policy.

Bristol West does not advertise a telematics or usage-based program. Its emphasis is on affordability at the point of purchase: low down payments, monthly payment plans and a range of ways to pay, including online, by phone, by mail, by direct debit, through your agent, and in cash through Western Union or MoneyGram. Customers can manage policies, download documents and ID cards, pay bills and sign forms electronically through the website and app, and sign up for payment-reminder text alerts. Late payment can lead to a cancellation notice and a late fee, so automatic payments matter for nonstandard policies.

Claims

Bristol West customers can file a claim online at any hour, through the Bristol West app, or by phone at 800-274-7865, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern. Claim status can be checked by logging in online, and a "Find my claims representative" tool locates the adjuster assigned to a claim.

Roadside assistance is available 24/7 at the same number, though not in every state. If your policy includes towing and labor coverage, you can also use a provider of your choice and ask Bristol West to reimburse you up to your policy limit. Medical providers can check bill payment status through the Farmers claims system, a sign that claims are handled within Farmers' infrastructure. Claims correspondence goes to Bristol West Claims Service, PO Box 258806, Oklahoma City, OK 73125-8806.

Bristol West is not included in the J.D. Power U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study, which ranks the largest insurers.

Ratings and reputation

Financial strength. Bristol West's insurers share the Farmers Insurance Group rating. On September 3, 2026, AM Best affirmed the A (Excellent) financial strength rating of Bristol West Insurance Company, Bristol West Casualty Insurance Company and Bristol West Preferred Insurance Company, along with other Farmers group members, and revised the outlook on their issuer credit ratings to positive from stable. An A rating is solid but a notch below the A+ or A++ held by some large auto insurers; see AM Best financial strength ratings explained.

Customer satisfaction. In the J.D. Power 2026 U.S. Auto Insurance Study, Bristol West scored 571 in the Southwest region (Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah), last of 13 ranked brands and well below the regional average of 638. It was not ranked in other regions.

Who it suits

Bristol West suits drivers who need coverage despite violations, a DUI, a lapse, thin driving history or weak credit, especially those who want to buy through a local Farmers or independent agent and need an SR-22 or FR-44 filing handled for them. Low down payments, cash payment options and non-owner policies fit buyers on tight budgets. Drivers with clean records will usually find more discounts and better satisfaction scores with standard carriers, including Farmers itself.

• Strengths: Backed by the Farmers Insurance Group, rated A (Excellent) with a positive outlook as of September 2026; SR-22, FR-44, non-owner and rideshare options; sold in 43 states by both Farmers and independent agents; flexible payment methods, including cash.
• Weaknesses: Last of 13 brands in the Southwest in the J.D. Power 2026 study; short discount list and no telematics program; claims phone line open only on weekdays; no separate premium or complaint data published for the brand.

How to contact Bristol West