bestauto insuranceColumbia2022Compare the Cheapest Car Insurance Quotes in Columbia
On average, car insurance in Columbia costs $1,144 per year, 0.4% more than the state average. GEICO is the cheapest widely available car insurance carrier, at roughly $856 per month. MoneyGeek analyzed car insurance costs by driving history and coverage amount. We also evaluated insurers that balance quality and affordable coverage that suits your profile in Columbia.
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Last Updated: 5/16/2022
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In Columbia, GEICO offers the most affordable policies, on average, for drivers seeking full-coverage or state-minimum insurance, along with policies for drivers with a speeding ticket on their records.
For military families, USAA offers the cheapest coverage, on average. MoneyGeek rated Auto-Owners Insurance Group as the best overall company in the city for its affordability and service quality.
bestauto insuranceColumbia2022The Cheapest and Best Car Insurance in Columbia
Cheapest Overall - GEICO
Cheapest State Minimum - USAA
Cheapest With a Driving Violation - State Farm
Best Overall - Auto-Owners Insurance Co
The Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in Columbia
MoneyGeek researched options for drivers seeking the most affordable full-coverage policies in Columbia. On average, the cheapest providers are:
- GEICO: $856 per year
- State Farm: $1,038 per year
Drivers who have a military background, along with their families, qualify for coverage from USAA. This provider is the cheapest company in Columbia, with an average cost of $852 per year.
GEICO offers the cheapest car insurance in Columbia for all other drivers, on average, with policies approximately 73% less expensive than comparable coverage from Progressive — the most expensive company in the city. Full-coverage policies include comprehensive and collision insurance, with costs determined by the amount of liability insurance you select.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Columbia
Full Coverage 100/300/100
- Company100/300/100per year
- 1.$852
- 2.$856
- 3.$1,038
- 4.$1,065
- 5.$1,134
For this guide, MoneyGeek collected average rates for a 40-year-old male driver in Columbia purchasing a full-coverage policy, in accordance with our methodology.
While full coverage costs more than state-minimum insurance, a full-coverage policy can certainly be more valuable. These policies include comprehensive and collision insurance to protect you against accident-related costs.
- Comprehensive Coverage: If your vehicle is damaged in any incident, including theft or fire, this coverage covers the cost of vehicle repairs or replacement.
- Collision Coverage: This insurance helps pay for the repairs or replacement of your following a collision with another car or object.
If you have an older car, consider a minimum-coverage policy. Full coverage for an old vehicle may cost more than the value of the car itself.
Compare Car Insurance Rates in Columbia
Ensure you're getting the best rate for your car insurance. Compare quotes from the top insurance companies.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Columbia for Minimum Coverage
Drivers who are looking for the cheapest auto insurance options in Columbia can benefit from minimum-coverage policies. MoneyGeek found that the following companies offer the most affordable state-minimum policies, on average:
- GEICO: $462 per year
- State Farm: $551 per year
If you have a military background, you may qualify for state-minimum coverage offered by USAA. This provider, the cheapest company in the city, features an average annual cost of $438.
In Columbia, GEICO offers the most affordable minimum coverage policies, at an average of $328 less than the policies offered by Progressive — the most expensive company in the city.
While a minimum-coverage policy costs less, it does not include comprehensive and collision insurance and also has low levels of liability coverage. With state-minimum coverage, you risk being underinsured following an accident.
The following table offers insight into how different levels of liability coverage affect rates.
Cheapest Minimum Liability Car Insurance in Columbia
State Minimum
- CompanyState Minimumper year
- 1.$438
- 2.$462
- 3.$551
- 4.$568
- 5.$690
In South Carolina, all drivers are required by law to have an auto insurance policy with at least 25/50/25 in liability limits and uninsured motorist coverage. A policy that meets state minimums is the cheapest available auto insurance option in the city.
While a minimum-coverage policy will help you save money on insurance costs, you would have to cover more costs yourself following an accident. For example, if in case of an accident where the other party’s medical bills cost $70,000, the insurance company will only cover up to $25,000, leaving you to pay the remaining $45,000 out of pocket.
South Carolina 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.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Columbia if You Have Driving Violations
Having driving violations like a speeding ticket, at-fault accident or DUI on your record will likely significantly raise your car insurance costs. MoneyGeek researched the cheapest car insurance companies based on the following violations:
- Cheapest After a DUI: State Farm, $1,118 per year
- Cheapest After an At-Fault Accident: State Farm, $1,237 per year
- Cheapest After a Speeding Ticket: GEICO, $856 per year
If you have a poor driving record, you can find cheaper rates by improving your record over time. Make sure to shop around and compare rates from different companies to find the best deal.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Columbia With a Violation
Speeding Ticket
- CompanySpeeding Ticketper year
- 1.$856
- 2.$1,044
- 3.$1,118
- 4.$1,430
- 5.$1,470
Average Cost of Car Insurance in Columbia
Columbia$1,144
SC$1,139
U.S.$1,424
The average cost of car insurance in Columbia is $1,144 per year. That’s 0.4% higher than the state average of $1,139 per year and 19.7% less than the national annual average of $1,424.
Personalized Quotes to Get You the Cheapest Car Insurance in Columbia
In Columbia, you may need to compare auto insurance rates from multiple insurers frequently if you want to get the cheapest coverage, discounts and other special offers. Car insurance rates in Columbia vary depending on the driver’s age, marital status, driving experience, ZIP Code and credit score, among other factors. Depending on how you rank across these factors, you may pay more or less for your car insurance coverage.
Compare Car Insurance Rates in Columbia
Ensure you're getting the best rate for your car insurance. Compare quotes from the top insurance companies.
The Best Car Insurance Companies in Columbia
For Columbia drivers seeking high-quality, affordable car insurance, MoneyGeek found that the best insurers in the city are:
- Auto-Owners Insurance Co: MoneyGeek score of 90 out of 100
- GEICO: MoneyGeek score of 85 out of 100
USAA received the highest score, at 95 out of 100. However, we did not include the company in our rankings, since its policies are exclusive to current and former military members, along with their families.
To obtain these scores, MoneyGeek analyzed various factors, including affordability, customer satisfaction and financial stability.
1
USAA
Score:95
2
Auto-Owners Insurance Co
Score:90
3
GEICO
Score:85
4
State Farm
Score:82.5
5
Nationwide
Score:80
6
Travelers
Score:80
7
MetLife
Score:80
8
Safeco
Score:77.5
9
Progressive
Score:77.5
10
Allstate
Score:75
11
Liberty Mutual
Score:75
12
National General
Score:72.5
Average Cost of Car Insurance by Postal Code
Car insurance rates in Columbia vary across different ZIP codes. Neighborhoods, where accidents, theft and similar incidents are common, may have higher rates than others.
MoneyGeek analyzed average rates between three ZIP codes and found that 29223 has an average cost of $1,133 per year, while 29229 and 20210 have $1,134 and $1,164, respectively. That is a difference of $31 between the cheapest and most expensive neighborhoods.
- Zip CodeState Minimumper year
- 29223$1,133
- 29229$1,134
- 29210$1,164
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 fatal accidents 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.
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