Auto insurance costs an average of $1,037 per year in Columbia, which is cheaper than the state average. State Farm has an average rate of $721, making it the cheapest option in the city. MoneyGeek collected rates to determine the cheapest by coverage level and driving history and ranked the best companies that balance cost and quality in Columbia.
bestauto insuranceColumbia2021The Cheapest and Best Car Insurance in Columbia
The Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in Columbia
The most affordable car insurance companies in Columbia for a full coverage policy are:
- USAA: $495 per year (only available to military members, veterans and their families)
- State Farm: $721 per year
For many drivers in Columbia, affordability is one of the most important factors when looking for the best car insurance. AAA has the most expensive average rate in the city at $1,336 a 169.9% higher than USAA and 85.3% more expensive than State Farm.
The prices used for this study are for a 40-year-old male driver with a full coverage policy, which includes liability insurance and comprehensive as well as collision insurance.
Scroll for more
- CompanyAmountper year
- 1.$495
- 2.$721
- 3.Allied$745
- 4.$809
- 5.$821
Average Cost of Car Insurance in Columbia
Columbia$1,037
Missouri$1,305
U.S.$1,424
The average cost of car insurance in Columbia is $1,037 per year. That is cheaper than the average auto insurance costs on both the state and national levels.
In comparison, the state annual average is 20.5% higher at $1,305 per year. Columbia drivers also typically pay 27.2% less than the national average of $1,424.
The Best Car Insurance Companies in Columbia
We ranked the best companies for drivers in Columbia, who value a balance of affordability and quality service. These companies are:
- Auto-Owners Insurance (MoneyGeek score of 97.5 out of 100)
- GEICO (MoneyGeek score of 92.5 out of 100)
USAA has the highest score in the city, however, was not listed as best overall because it is only available to military members, veterans and their families.
MoneyGeek used a scoring system that includes J.D. Power’s user satisfaction, affordability and financial stability scores.
1
USAA
Score:100
2
Auto-Owners Insurance Co
Score:98
3
GEICO
Score:93
4
Allstate
Score:85
5
Auto Club of Southern California Insurance Group
Score:85
6
Travelers
Score:85
7
Progressive
Score:85
8
State Farm
Score:80
9
American Family
Score:78
10
Safeco
Score:78
11
Liberty Mutual
Score:78
12
Farmers
Score:75
13
Nationwide
Score:75
14
Farm Bureau Ins of MI
Score:73
Personalized Quotes to Get You the Cheapest Car Insurance in Columbia
Compare car insurance quotes regularly to find the most accurate policy. Insurers determine car insurance prices based on individual factors like your age, ZIP code, car make and model, your gender and your credit score. Get personalized quotes as your circumstances change to see if you qualify for discounts, rebates, or other savings.
Shopping around for car insurance in Columbia could save you $316, which is enough to buy:
105Cups of Coffee
24Months of Your Favorite Streaming Service
Cheapest Car Insurance in Columbia by Coverage Amount
In Columbia and elsewhere, how much coverage you choose will be one of the biggest factors affecting your annual premium. The average cost of a policy only meeting state minimums is $532. Meanwhile, a full coverage policy costs $1,037 on average. That is a difference of $505.
Missouri Minimum Liability Requirements
- ItemDescription
- Bodily Injury and Property Damage$25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident and $25,000 for property damage. A more protective level is 100/300/100.
- Uninsured Motorist$25,000 per person and $50,000 per incident. The minimum coverage may not be enough if you're in a serious accident.
A state minimum liability-only policy is the cheapest car insurance in the city. State Farm, which has an average rate of $332 per year, is the cheapest most widely available option.
For drivers looking for more protection, getting a 50/100/50 liability-only or full coverage policy is better. A full coverage policy allows you to get as much as $50,000 for bodily injuries per person, $100,000 for bodily injuries per accident and $50,000 for property damage. Liability-only covers only the other driver’s costs, while full coverage includes your expenses if you caused the accident. In Allstate, the difference between liability-only and full coverage is only $250 per year.
If you want a more comprehensive policy, choose 100/300/100 full coverage. The cheapest widely available company for this coverage is State Farm, which has an average rate of $721.
Average Car Insurance Premiums: Liability-Only vs. Full Coverage
Liability Only
- CompanyState Minimumper year50 / 100 / 50per year
- 1.$198$220
- 2.$332$382
- 3.Allied$431$444
- 4.$488$521
- 5.$521$541
Full Coverage
- Company50 / 100 / 50per year100 / 300 / 100per year
- 1.$463$495
- 2.$660$721
- 3.Allied$719$745
- 4.$771$809
- 5.$821$821
Cheapest Car Insurance in Columbia if You Have Driving Violations
Keeping your driving history clean will also help maintain cheap car insurance in Columbia. A moving violation, such as speeding tickets, a DUI, or an at-fault accident, can increase the cost of your auto insurance.
For example, a State Farm policy costs an average of $721 for drivers with no violations. If you have a speeding ticket or DUI, your car insurance in Columbia will cost an average of $781 or $60 more. An at-fault accident will result in a $120 increase or an average rate of $841.
- CompanySpeeding Ticketper yearAt-Fault Accidentper yearDUIper year
- 1.$584$667$834
- 2.$781$841$781
- 3.$826$826$826
- 4.$906$953$1,027
- 5.Allied$849$1,169$1,256
Average Cost of Car Insurance by Postal Code
Auto insurance in Missouri is also determined by where you live. That is because of the differences in car theft incidents, accident statistics and the number of uninsured drivers in the area.
Car insurance in Columbia also varies depending on your ZIP code. The cheapest neighborhood in the city is 65203, which has an average rate of $1,026 per year. Meanwhile, the most expensive neighborhood is ZIP code 65202. The average rate in this neighborhood is $1,047 or $21 more than 65203.
- Zip CodeState Minimumper year
- 65203$1,026
- 65202$1,047
Insurance Providers That Serve Columbia
Factors That Impact Insurance Costs in Columbia
In addition to individual driver needs and history, location-specific factors like the percentage of uninsured motorists and the rate of car thefts also contribute to car insurance rates in Columbia. How Columbia ranks compared to the 300 most populous cities in the United States can have a significant impact on premium costs.
Methodology and Assumptions
MoneyGeek’s average premium rates for Columbia are based on 100/300/100 comprehensive collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible for a 40-year-old male driver. The average driver profiled drives a 2010 Toyota Camry LE and has no tickets or accidents on their record. Additional premiums are added based on coverage type, location and driving record. Learn more about MoneyGeek’s data and methodology here.
About the Author
sources
- Kaiser Family Foundation. "2019 Employer Health Benefits Survey." Accessed January 16, 2020.