Depending on your driver profile, the best provider for your needs may vary. For instance, MoneyGeek found that State Farm is cheapest overall and suited for those with violations, while Shelter is cheapest for service quality. Meanwhile, GEICO is the cheapest for teens and families. Lastly, USAA is the most cost-effective option for those in the military.
Cheapest and Best Car Insurance in Columbia, MO








Cheapest Minimum Liability Car Insurance in Columbia
The following are the two cheapest insurers for a minimum coverage auto insurance policy in Columbia:
- State Farm: $341 per year
- Nationwide: $400 per year
In addition to being the cheapest car insurer for minimum coverage in Columbia, State Farm is also the cheapest in the state of Missouri at $394 per year as of October 2022. The most expensive company for minimum coverage is Kemper, with policies that cost around $770 per year.
MoneyGeek also researched the cheapest car insurance in Missouri if you’re looking for other options.
A minimum coverage policy includes bodily injury, personal property damage and uninsured motorist protection coverages based on Missouri law:
- $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $25,000 property damage liability per accident
- $25,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person
- $50,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident
The cost of damage to the other motorist in an accident is covered by liability insurance. For instance, if you get into an accident and have a bodily injury liability of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident, your insurance provider will pay for each person's medical expenses up to $25,000, for a total of $50,000 per event. You’ll be responsible for any additional costs.
Cheapest Full Coverage Car Insurance in Columbia
The following businesses in Columbia offer the cheapest full coverage auto insurance policies:
- State Farm: $798 per year
- Nationwide: $820 per year
Nationwide is the cheapest provider for full coverage in the state of Missouri, so the cheapest provider for you will vary based on your location. With plans costing about $2,180 per year as of October 2022, Kemper offers the most expensive full coverage policies in Columbia. If you're looking for more options, MoneyGeek also looked into the cheapest full coverage auto insurance in Missouri.
A full coverage policy adds comprehensive and collision coverage to a liability-only insurance policy.
- Collision insurance: Covers the cost of damage to your car after an accident, such as a collision with another vehicle.
- Comprehensive Insurance: Covers the cost of damage to your car caused by something other than an accident, like vandalism or theft.
For drivers with newer vehicles, full coverage can help safeguard your investment. However, if your vehicle is older, it might not be worthwhile to spend hundreds of dollars every year for the additional coverage.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Columbia After a Driving Offense
These are the cheapest full coverage auto insurance providers in Columbia if you have a driving violation on your record:
- Speeding ticket: State Farm ($862 per year)
- At-fault accident: State Farm ($927 per year)
- DUI: State Farm ($862 per year)
With Kemper, you'll probably see the highest annual rates at $3,087 after an accident or $2,557 after speeding. After a DUI, GEICO charges the highest rate at $2,490 annually. Be aware that driving records can have a big impact on rates. Even the cheapest company's rates for a poor record won't be cheap compared to rates for safe driving.
Be prepared for insurance rates to increase in line with the severity of your driving infraction. For instance, drivers in Columbia who have a DUI typically pay at least $452 more for auto insurance than those who have a clean record. However, it is still possible to find cheap auto insurance with a bad driving record.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Columbia for Teens and Their Families
The following insurance companies offer the most affordable full coverage premiums for families with 16-year-old teen drivers:
- GEICO: $1,146 per year for female teens and $1,213 per year for male teens
- Nationwide: $1,593 per year for female teens and $1,731 per year for male teens
With the highest rates, Kemper charges an average of $6,279 per year to insure a 16-year-old female teen and $7,716 annually to insure a 16-year-old male teen in Columbia. Male teens tend to be charged more than female teens since the former are statistically more likely to file insurance claims, but this cost discrepancy levels out in early adulthood.
Adding a teen driver to a family policy can help cut costs on auto insurance because rates are much higher for teens when policies are purchased individually. In Columbia, Missouri, a male teen would spend $3,902 to purchase an individual policy rather than joining a parent’s policy. Finding cheap auto insurance for teenagers can help families save money.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Columbia for Military Drivers
The following insurance providers in Columbia offer the cheapest full coverage auto insurance policies for veterans and their families:
- USAA: $536 per year
- State Farm: $798 per year
If you're looking for minimum auto insurance coverage, USAA offers the lowest rates at $188 per year, while State Farm comes in second at $341 per year. MoneyGeek also found the most affordable auto insurance premiums for military drivers.
How to Compare Cheap Columbia Car Insurance Quotes Online
While it’s important to obtain quotes from multiple providers, it can take up to 15 minutes to get a single quote since most require a lot of personal information. Fortunately, MoneyGeek’s vehicle insurance calculator can provide quick online estimates for multiple providers. Simply input your age, vehicle details, driving history and preferred level of coverage below.
Auto Insurance Calculator
See how the Average Annual Auto Insurance Rates vary with the options chosen.
Average Annual Auto Insurance Rates
Click the section of the wheel in your price range to see options.
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Click an insurer below to visit their review page or continue to your personalized quote.
Best Car Insurance in Columbia: Summary
Finding the right insurance for your needs depends on your priorities such as service, cost and coverage. The following are some of the best car insurance companies in Missouri for different driver preferences:
- Best overall: American Family (MoneyGeek score of 78 out of 100)
- Best for service: Shelter (MoneyGeek score 68 out of 100)
- Best cheap: State Farm (MoneyGeek score 76 out of 100)
American Family is also the best insurer statewide. For each category, we weighted different factors (affordability, service quality, etc.) based on their relevance. Because of this, MoneyGeek scores may vary depending on the specific metric being evaluated.
With a MoneyGeek score of 85 out of 100, USAA auto insurance is another low-cost option for military drivers and their families.
Best Overall Car Insurance in Columbia
MoneyGeek compared pricing coverage options and other factors and found the best auto insurers in Columbia:
- American Family: MoneyGeek score of 78 out of 100 ($913 per year)
- State Farm: MoneyGeek score of 76 out of 100 ($798 per year)
Of the ten providers we ranked, American Family has the third-cheapest rates and offers the most amount of coverage options.
If you're in the military, a USAA auto insurance plan can be a good option. It received a high MoneyGeek score of 85 out of 100 partially due to its low annual premium of $536.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?

pros
Has the third-cheapest rates of the ten providers we evaluated
Offers the most amount of coverage options
Offers auto death indemnity and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) coverage
cons
Has a relatively low claims management rating
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
American Family offers a broad range of coverage options and is one of the most affordable insurers for drivers in Columbia. Unlike many other insurers, it provides coverage for accidental death and dismemberment in the case of a collision, regardless of who is at fault.
If you prefer authentic factory parts, American Family also offers optional original equipment manufacturer (OEM) coverage. The OEM add-on coverage option guarantees that your vehicle will be serviced or repaired using only OEM parts and materials. OEM insurance can give you better peace of mind since original parts were specifically designed to fit the specific model of your car.
Other common coverage options that American Family offers include emergency road service coverage, rental car and/or travel reimbursement coverage — which can help pay for a rental vehicle while your car is being repaired — and gap insurance coverage.
Best Car Insurance in Columbia for Customer Service
We found that the following two auto insurers are the best for customer service, irrespective of cost, in Columbia/;
- Shelter: MoneyGeek score of 68 out of 100 ($1,565 per year)
- American Family: MoneyGeek score of 63 out of 100 ($913 per year)
Out of the ten companies we evaluated, Shelter has the best customer satisfaction and claims management ratings. However, it is also the second-most expensive insurer overall.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?

pros
Has the highest customer satisfaction rating out of the ten insurers we evaluated
Has the highest claims management rating
Offers optional accidental death coverage and includes new car replacement and roadside assistance coverage
cons
Offers a relatively average amount of coverage options
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Drivers that prioritize customer service over cost should choose Shelter. The insurer received the highest scores for customer satisfaction and claims management. Its policies also include key coverages like roadside assistance and new car replacement.
In terms of add-on options, Shelter offers an accidental death benefit that provides compensation if you or your spouse die in a car accident. Other drivers and family members can be added to the policy for a small fee. In addition, optional disability income coverage can provide a weekly benefit for up to a year if you become disabled.
Shelter's auto insurance policies are unique in that they include both new car replacement and roadside assistance coverage, with the latter covering costs up to $100 per incident. If your new automobile is totaled, Shelter's new car replacement service will provide you with a new vehicle of the same year, make and model.
Best Cheap Car Insurance Companies in Columbia
In order to find the most cost-effective options for Missouri residents looking for minimum coverage auto insurance, we evaluated rates and customer satisfaction among insurers in Columbia:
- State Farm: MoneyGeek score of 78 out of 100 ($341 per year)
- Nationwide: MoneyGeek score of 71 out of 100 ($400 per year)
Minimum coverage insurance policies are typically less expensive than full coverage policies, but they provide much less protection in the event of an accident. For instance, you won't be reimbursed for any damage to your own vehicle after an accident.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?

pros
Has the cheapest rates at $341 per year
Offers discounts for safe driving, bundling and safety equipment
Has a relatively high customer satisfaction score and offers basic coverages
cons
Does not offer a paperless discount
Has a poor claims management rating
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
State Farm has a reputation for good customer service and offers an average number of optional coverages for most drivers. It also offers several opportunities for drivers to save, including discounts for safe driving, installing car safety equipment and bundling policies.
You can also save up to 30% on premiums through the insurer’s Drive Safe & Save™ program, with a guaranteed discount for simply signing up. Lastly, if you haven't had any accidents or traffic tickets for at least three years, you also may be eligible for a discount.
Discounted rates are available from State Farm if you insure multiple vehicles or policies with them. State Farm also offers a discount of up to 40% on medical coverage for cars manufactured in 1993 or before that are equipped with a factory-installed airbag or other passive restraint device, which isn’t typically offered by other providers.
Average Cost of Car Insurance in Columbia
According to our research, the typical cost of full coverage insurance in Columbia is $1,146 per year. This is $242 less than the average cost of auto insurance in Missouri of $1,388 and $123 lower than the national average cost of car insurance at $1,265 as of October 2022.
These rates are for a full coverage policy with medical payments coverage of $100,000 per injured person, bodily injury liability coverage of $300,000 per accident and property damage coverage of $100,000.
The price of insurance can vary widely from one area to the next due to factors like accident and car theft rates as well as population density.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
