Bristol West®: The Beginning It all started in Florida in 1973. Bristol West began as a private passenger automobile insurance carrier for Florida residents and kept expanding its reach to more customers in more states. Bristol West insurance policies are now available to customers through agents and brokers in 43 states across the country. Member of the Farmers Insurance Group of Companies® Bristol West is a member of the Farmers Insurance Group of Companies, one of the largest property and casualty insurer groups in the United States. Farmers Insurance proudly serves more than 10 million households with over 19 million individual policies nationally, through the efforts of more than 48,000 exclusive and independent agents and approximately 20,000 employees.