UNITED STATES
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, DC 20549
                                --------------

                                   Form 8-K

                                CURRENT REPORT
                    PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                        SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                                 ------------


        Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): May 12, 2004



                          BRISTOL WEST HOLDINGS, INC.
              (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)



          Delaware                   001-31984                   13-3994449
(State or Other Jurisdiction        (Commission               (I.R.S. Employer
      of Incorporation)             File Number)             Identification No.)

                              5701 Stirling Road
                             Davie, Florida 33314
                   (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

      Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (954) 316-5200


                                Not Applicable
         (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)





Item 7.   Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits

          (c)  Exhibits

               99.1 Press Release, dated May 12, 2004.

Item 12.  Results of Operations and Financial Condition

          On May 12, 2004, Bristol West Holdings, Inc. issued a press release
announcing results for the first quarter of 2004. A copy of the press release
is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1. The information in Exhibit 99.1 is being
furnished pursuant to Item 12 of Form 8-K.




                                  SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                     BRISTOL WEST HOLDINGS, INC.


                                     By:     /s/ Craig E. Eisensacher
                                             ---------------------------
                                     Name:   Craig E. Eisenacher
                                     Title:  Senior Vice President -
                                               Corporate Finance

Date:  May 13, 2004



                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS


Exhibit Number              Exhibit
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99.1                        Press Release, dated May 12, 2004