Bristol West gives a 10- to 30-day grace period for submitting a late payment. They cancel your policy if you fail to send a payment before the grace period expires.

Bristol West is a smaller insurance company owned by the large parent companies,

Farmers Insurance

and Zurich Insurance Group. You probably enjoy the more personalized attention you get from Bristol, backed by the financial expertise and security of the more prominent insurance companies.

Take advantage of Bristol West’s customer service and reach out to them if you think you’ll be late in making a payment. If you miss a payment and go beyond the grace period, Bristol West might terminate your policy, which can cost you when you reinstate your insurance.

In this handy guide,

Jerry

, the trustworthy insurance comparison app, will answer all your questions about Bristol West’s grace periods. We’ll also cover how to make payments and get your policy reinstated. We’ll even throw in tips for finding cheaper

car insurance

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Does Bristol West give you a grace period after your auto insurance expires?

Bristol West offers a grace period in most cases for missed payments. Though the grace period and eligibility differ between states, you’ll have between 10 and 30 days after your missed due date to make a payment and reinstate your insurance policy.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, Bristol West only gave 10 days, but they extended this period to 30 in 2020. It doesn’t hurt to contact your Bristol West representative to ask if they’re still honoring the 30-day grace period.

If for some reason you can’t pay your premium, Bristol West (and every car insurance company) is required to give you notice before canceling your policy. The notice they send will tell you the last date for your late payment (in other words, when the grace period ends).

We know making a payment when it’s overdue is stressful, but do anything to make it before the grace period ends. Sure, you might be charged a small late fee (check your policy fine print for the exact amount), but that penalty fee is lower than what you’d pay if you were in a car accident without insurance coverage.

If worse comes to worst and you can’t make the payment before the grace period is up, Bristol West will cancel your insurance, so you no longer have car insurance coverage. Since insurance is legally required in 48 states, you could likely face harsh financial penalties for

driving without insurance

. Plus, you could get your license suspended.

What are the benefits of a grace period?

A grace period is simply a short period where you can avoid a lapse in coverage while you get your payment together. If you go beyond the grace period and your coverage lapses, your

insurance rates could go up

by as much as 8%—and that’s just with a one-month lapse!

MORE:

What is full-coverage car insurance?

Bristol West continuous insurance discount

If you need more motivation to prevent a lapse in coverage, consider the discount you might miss out on. If you’ve had insurance without any lapses, Bristol West offers a continuous insurance coverage discount, and you’ll lose that if you miss even just one payment! Note that there might be an exception if you’re an active-duty military member and your coverage lapsed because of overseas deployment.

How long is a typical grace period for car insurance?

Grace periods vary between insurance providers—some don’t even offer a grace period! The ones that do typically give a time frame of around 10 days, so Bristol West’s grace period is average for the industry.

MORE:

What does actual cash value coverage mean on insurance?

Consequences of a car insurance lapse

Now, for the not-so-fun part—the consequences of letting your insurance lapse. Remember that these penalties might be slightly different depending on your state, whether or not you own or finance the car, and how quickly you can get back on a policy. Here are some potential consequences:

Fines: These aren’t cheap. States typically charge uninsured drivers a fine of $500 to $1,000 if it’s the first offense. Repeat offenders could be looking at up to $5,000 in fines!

License suspension: There are only a few states where your license won’t be suspended for driving without insurance (

California

Iowa

, and

Washington

, in case you’re wondering).

Higher car insurance rates: When you miss a payment and coverage lapses, you become a “high-risk driver,” according to auto insurance companies, and they’ll charge higher rates.

Vehicle repossession: If there’s a lapse in coverage and you don’t own your car outright, the insurance company gives your lender the right to repossess the vehicle.

What to do if your Bristol West car insurance lapses

Act fast to get your car insurance reinstated. Call Bristol West right away at 1-800-888-0080. You can speak to a customer representative Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time. You can still submit a payment over the phone if it's after hours.

Talk with a Bristol West representative and clarify that you want to get your coverage back. If they aren’t willing to work with you, it’s time to shop for a new car insurance policy. You could get another one through Bristol West or try the

Jerry

app to find the best car insurance for you.

After you choose a new policy or get coverage reinstated, inform your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) so they can update your insurance information. Check that your new policy meets the state’s minimum insurance requirements.

MORE:

What is an insurance broker? Should I use one?

How to avoid a coverage lapse

Always read your policy’s due date and make a payment before then. Bristol West gives you several options for making a payment, including:

Online

Over the phone (via an automated system or live representative)

By mail

Through MoneyGram or Western Union

If you’re worried you’ll forget to make a payment, make automatic payments through their Direct Debit Program. You can use your checking account, savings account, debit card, or major credit card to submit payment.

Bristol West will honor the processing date for determining when you make online payments, phone payments, MoneyGram, or Western Union payments. It takes up to 48 hours for the payment to appear on your policy.

If you mail your payment, Bristol West uses the postmark date as the payment date. Your payment isn't considered late if you stick the payment in the mail before or on the due date.

Another simple way to avoid policy cancelation is shopping for cheaper insurance with

Jerry

. Download the free app, and Jerry gathers personalized quotes in just 45 seconds. Look for lower rates with the coverage you need!

MORE: Car warranty versus car insurance: what’s the difference?

Bristol West insurance grace period for new cars

Bristol West doesn’t make it clear if they always offer a grace period to drivers who have just bought a new car, but Farmer’s Insurance, their parent company, does. Typically, coverage for the new car starts when you take possession, and you’ve got up to 30 days to notify the insurance company that you’re adding a vehicle.

MORE:

Car insurance scams to watch out for

How to find the best Bristol West car insurance quotes

You might be happy with the coverage you get from Bristol West, or you might be ready to shop around for a better deal. It’s easier than you think to find a great policy that you can easily afford—just use

Jerry

On average, Jerry users save over $800 on

car insurance

! And to keep you with a low premium every year, we’ll automatically find you sending new quotes when it’s time to renew your policy. You’ll get the coverage you need at the price you want.