Columbia, Missouri, is a vibrant college town with a relatively low cost of living. If you live there or are considering moving there, you have many options for finding low-cost car insurance. Some of the cheapest insurers are USAA, State Farm, and Allstate, though others may better suit your needs.

The average monthly cost of auto insurance in Columbia is $246 for full-coverage car insurance and $144 for liability-only car insurance. Your car insurance costs will vary depending on your situation, deductible, coverage levels, and how many vehicles are on your policy. Always compare quotes before buying a policy.

Quick Facts

Drivers in Columbia pay more than the national average monthly insurance rate of $139.
Missouri insurers can use your credit score when setting your auto insurance rate.
Drivers in Columbia must be able to present proof of insurance when asked.

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Best car insurance companies in Columbia

The best car insurance company for you will depend on your insurance needs and driving history, among various other factors.

USAA is a great choice for military members, veterans, and their families. State Farm is well-suited for many drivers, especially drivers looking for specialty coverage like rideshare insurance. Travelers is great for drivers looking to bundle their auto policies with other policies, like pet and home insurance.

Best insurer for full coverage: USAA

full coverage USAA

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IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-five scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.	4.3
JD Power J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.	880
Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.	$25/mo
Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible.	$46/mo

Overview

USAA is a well-known and respected insurance company that’s been in business for more than 100 years. It has an A.M. Best financial strength rating of A++ (Superior) and is available in all 50 states. USAA has competitive prices for both liability-only and full-coverage car insurance in Missouri.

Pros and cons

Pros

A.M. Best financial strength rating of A++ (Superior) and very high customer satisfaction scores
Some of the lowest car insurance prices in Missouri

Cons

Only available to military members and their families
Limited phone support

Reviews

The representative was very helpful and caring. I felt valued.

Tawana - January 17, 2023

Verified

I have been a member for 14 years. They have always delivered excellent customer care anytime I needed to reach out to them for any reason, whether it was to resolve an issue or assist me with an application for one of the many services and products they offer.

Christina - January 17, 2023

Verified

Exceptional customer service

Anthony - January 15, 2023

Verified

Read our USAA review

Best insurer for rideshare coverage: State Farm

Rideshare CoverageState Farm

Compare personalized, real-time quotes

IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-five scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.	4.4
JD Power J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.	842
Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.	$30/mo
Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible.	$54/mo

Overview

Also very well-known and respected, State Farm has an A++ financial strength rating from A.M. Best and offers low car insurance rates in Missouri. State Farm has an innovative app that allows you to turn on rideshare coverage when you’re working as a driver or making deliveries. This is helpful for college towns like Columbia, where many students might want to pick up a side gig.

Pros and cons

Pros

A.M. Best financial strength rating of A++ (Superior)
App makes getting rideshare coverage easy

Cons

Low ratings from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot
Not as many discounts as competitors

Reviews

Friendly; knowledgeable; cares for customer needs

Phyllis - February 1, 2023

Verified

Premiums jump every six months

Kenneth - January 31, 2023

Verified

They are great; prompt, polite, very educated

Angela - January 31, 2023

Verified

Read our State Farm review

Best insurer for bundling: Travelers

BundlingTravelers

Compare personalized, real-time quotes

IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-five scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.	4.3
JD Power J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.	829
Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.	$74/mo
Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible.	$117/mo

Overview

Travelers Insurance has been in business for more than 165 years, with offices in the United States, Canada, and the U.K. Travelers is unique because it has many insurance offerings, including pet insurance, making it an ideal company for people who want to bundle insurance.

Pros and cons

Pros

A.M. Best financial strength rating of A++ (Superior)
Many different insurance offerings for bundling

Cons

More expensive than other competitors on this list
Low ratings from Trustpilot

Reviews

Helped me when I needed them

Ian - January 19, 2023

Verified

They have always stuck with me through thick and thin.

Luther - January 13, 2023

Verified

We’ve had them for more than 15 years; bundled but need a policy for our car in Florida

John - January 8, 2023

Verified

Read our Travelers review

Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Columbia

Liability-only car insurance only covers a third party’s property and injuries in the case of an accident. It won’t cover your own property damage or medical needs.^[1]

Drivers who want to save on monthly car insurance costs would be a good fit for liability-only insurance, as long as they understand the risks of being underinsured in case of an accident. Generally, however, insurance professionals recommend carrying more than your state’s minimum required amount of liability insurance to protect yourself financially if you cause an accident.

The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Monday, September 18 at 12:00 PM PDT.

Insurance Company	Average Monthly Quote
USAA	25
State Farm	30
Allstate	40
GEICO	45
Safeco	48
American Family	51
Progressive	62
Clearcover	63
State Auto	66
Shelter	67
Liberty Mutual	72
Auto-Owners	74
Travelers	74
Dairyland	76
GAINSCO	78
Midvale Home & Auto	79
Direct Auto	82
AssuranceAmerica	91
The General	92
Bristol West	111
Foremost	129

Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Columbia

Full-coverage car insurance includes liability coverage and also pays for your own medical needs and property damages through collision and comprehensive coverage. It’s a good fit if you can’t or don’t want to pay for your own expenses out of pocket in case of an accident, which you’d have to do if you only had liability car insurance. And if you lease or finance your vehicle, your leasing company or lender will require you to carry full coverage.

The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Monday, September 18 at 12:00 PM PDT.

Insurance Company	Average Monthly Quote
USAA	46
State Farm	54
Allstate	74
GEICO	81
American Family	92
Clearcover	109
Safeco	110
Nationwide	111
Progressive	115
Travelers	117
Shelter	122
Auto-Owners	134
Midvale Home & Auto	144
Direct Auto	145
Liberty Mutual	162
AssuranceAmerica	172
State Auto	174
Dairyland	180
GAINSCO	181
Foremost	187
The General	219
Bristol West	298

Estimate your insurance costs

State

Age

Credit Score

Are you insured

Your estimated deal

*Estimate based on a market average of rates provided to other users like you.

Select discounts that apply to you

I’m a good driver

Save 35%

I’m a homeowner

Save 5%

I’m married

Save 24%

I have multiple cars

Save 39%

Car insurance requirements in Missouri

Missouri law states that all vehicles, whether parked or driven, must have insurance. Drivers also must be able to present their insurance information when a police officer requests it. Like many states, Missouri has specific minimum requirements for car insurance. Drivers will likely need more than the minimum to be fully covered in case of an accident, however.

Here are the minimum coverage requirements in Missouri:^[2]

Coverage	Minimum Requirements
Bodily injury liability	$25,000 per person $50,000 per accident
Property damage liability	$25,000 per accident

Drivers should also consider getting the following optional coverages:

Collision coverage

Collision coverage will pay to repair or replace your vehicle if you cause an accident or collide with another object.

Comprehensive coverage

Comprehensive coverage pays to repair or replace your car if it’s damaged because of something other than an accident, such as theft, weather, flood, or vandalism.

Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage

This coverage protects you if you’re hit by an uninsured or underinsured motorist who doesn’t have enough or any coverage to pay for damages.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident

If you have a clean driving record, it’s likely you’ll qualify for some of the best car insurance rates. However, if you have a driving incident on your driving record, you’ll typically have to pay more because insurance companies consider you a riskier driver.

Some examples of driving incidents include getting speeding tickets, driving under the influence, or being in at-fault accidents.

In Missouri, drivers with a DUI pay substantially more on average than those with a clean driving record. They also pay more per month on average than those with speeding tickets and at-fault accidents on their records.

Shop for Car Insurance in Columbia, MO

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Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket

In Missouri, getting a speeding ticket while driving typically means an increase in auto premiums. Insurance companies consider you a riskier driver and, thus, more of a liability. So, it costs more for them to insure you. Here are the companies with the lowest average monthly rates for drivers with speeding tickets.

The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Monday, September 18 at 12:00 PM PDT.

Insurance Company	Average Quote: Full Coverage	Average Quote: Liability Only
USAA	65	35
State Farm	76	42
Allstate	104	56
GEICO	114	63
American Family	130	72
Clearcover	154	89
Safeco	155	68
Progressive	162	87
Travelers	165	104
Shelter	172	94
Auto-Owners	189	104
Midvale Home & Auto	203	111
Direct Auto	204	116
Liberty Mutual	228	101
AssuranceAmerica	242	128
State Auto	245	93
Dairyland	254	107
GAINSCO	255	110
Foremost	263	182
The General	309	130
Bristol West	420	156

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident

If you have an at-fault accident while driving in Missouri, your car insurance premiums will likely go up. Here are the cheapest car insurance companies for drivers with accidents on their records.

The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Monday, September 18 at 12:00 PM PDT.

Insurance Company	Average Quote: Full Coverage	Average Quote: Liability Only
USAA	69	37
State Farm	81	45
Allstate	111	60
GEICO	121	67
American Family	138	76
Clearcover	163	94
Safeco	164	72
Progressive	172	93
Travelers	175	111
Shelter	182	100
Auto-Owners	200	111
Midvale Home & Auto	215	118
Direct Auto	217	123
Liberty Mutual	242	108
AssuranceAmerica	257	136
State Auto	260	99
Dairyland	269	114
GAINSCO	271	117
Foremost	280	193
The General	327	138
Bristol West	446	166

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI

A DUI is a serious offense. Drivers can get a DUI for driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, recreational drugs, or prescription drugs.

Each state has different legal blood alcohol level (BAC) limits. Missouri uses the term “DWI,” meaning driving while intoxicated/impaired. In Missouri, the BAC limit is 0.08 for drivers over age 21 and 0.02 for drivers under age 21.

Here are the cheapest companies in Columbia, Missouri, for drivers with DUIs.

The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Monday, September 18 at 12:00 PM PDT.

Insurance Company	Average Quote: Full Coverage	Average Quote: Liability Only
USAA	78	42
State Farm	92	51
Allstate	125	68
GEICO	137	76
American Family	156	86
Clearcover	185	107
Safeco	186	81
Progressive	195	105
Travelers	198	125
Shelter	207	114
Auto-Owners	227	125
Midvale Home & Auto	244	134
Direct Auto	246	139
Liberty Mutual	275	122
AssuranceAmerica	292	154
State Auto	295	112
Dairyland	305	129
GAINSCO	307	132
Foremost	317	219
The General	371	156
Bristol West	505	188

Cheapest car insurance for seniors

Older adults typically have lower car insurance rates because they’re considered experienced drivers. However, rates can go up after drivers reach age 70. Drivers 70 and older have a higher likelihood of death in a crash than drivers age 35 to 54, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Here are the companies with the best auto insurance quotes in Columbia for senior drivers.

The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Monday, September 18 at 12:00 PM PDT.

Insurance Company	Average Quote: Full Coverage	Average Quote: Liability Only
USAA	20	11
State Farm	24	13
Allstate	33	18
GEICO	36	20
American Family	41	23
Clearcover	48	28
Safeco	49	21
Progressive	51	27
Travelers	52	33
Shelter	54	30
Auto-Owners	59	33
Direct Auto	64	36
Midvale Home & Auto	64	35
Liberty Mutual	72	32
AssuranceAmerica	76	40
State Auto	77	29
Dairyland	80	34
GAINSCO	80	35
Foremost	83	57
The General	97	41
Bristol West	132	49

Cheapest car insurance for teens

Buying car insurance for teenagers is typically more expensive than purchasing insurance for adults. Teenage drivers lack driving experience, so insurance companies consider them riskier.

You can usually reduce the cost of a teenager’s driver’s insurance by keeping them on the family insurance policy, purchasing them a safe car, teaching them good driving habits, and utilizing discounts, like a good student discount.

The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Monday, September 18 at 12:00 PM PDT.

Insurance Company	Average Quote: Full Coverage	Average Quote: Liability Only
USAA	88	48
State Farm	103	57
Allstate	142	77
GEICO	155	86
American Family	176	98
Clearcover	209	121
Safeco	210	92
Progressive	220	119
Travelers	224	142
Shelter	233	128
Auto-Owners	256	142
Midvale Home & Auto	276	151
Direct Auto	277	157
Liberty Mutual	310	138
AssuranceAmerica	329	174
State Auto	333	126
Dairyland	344	145
GAINSCO	346	149
Foremost	358	247
The General	419	176
Bristol West	570	212

How to get the cheapest car insurance in Columbia

If you want to get the cheapest car insurance in Columbia, Missouri, here are a few tips:^[3]

Compare prices. Numerous car insurance companies serve Columbia. When shopping for insurance, get quotes from three to five car insurance companies to ensure you get the best rate for your circumstances.
Bundle your insurance policies. If you already have home or renters insurance, ask your insurance company for quotes to add on car insurance. Many insurance companies will discount your car insurance when you purchase more than one type of insurance from them.
Raise your deductible. If you want a lower car insurance rate, a straightforward way to get it is by raising your deductible — the amount you’re responsible for paying after an incident or accident before your insurance kicks in. Of course, make sure you have the amount of your deductible in savings, just in case.

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Columbia car insurance quotes by credit tier

Missouri is one of the many states where insurance companies can incorporate your credit score when calculating insurance rates. Insurify data shows drivers with excellent credit pay around $2,000 less per year than drivers with poor credit.

If you want to increase your credit score, you have a few ways to do so. Your payment history — whether or not you pay your bills on time — makes up the largest portion of your credit score (35%). The next largest portion of your score is amounts owed (30%). That reflects the amount of debt you have in relation to the amount of credit you have.^[4]

Making payments on time and reducing your debt load are two ways to improve your credit score if you want to qualify for cheaper car insurance rates.

Rates by Credit Tier

Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Is car insurance more expensive in Columbia?

In the United States, car insurance costs $139 per month, on average, while the average cost of car insurance in Columbia is $195 per month. While Columbia car insurance is more expensive than the national average, it’s cheaper than the average rate in Missouri of $228 per month.

Car insurance rates vary by location, crime, and personal facts about drivers, such as age and driving history. If you move to another city in Missouri, your insurance rates may increase or decrease.

More cities in Missouri

Several other cities in Missouri have comparable car insurance rates to Columbia. Here is a list of other cities and how their average monthly car insurance rates compare to those in Columbia, Missouri.

City	Average Monthly Quote	Compared to Columbia
Florissant	$388	58%
Independence	$261	6%
Jefferson City	$249	-1%
Kansas City	$341	39%
Lee’s Summit	$270	10%
Saint Charles	$282	15%
St. Louis	$398	62%
Springfield	$243	-1%

Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Columbia car insurance FAQs

Finding the best car insurance can be challenging. Below, you’ll find answers to some commonly asked questions about how to find the best auto insurance in Columbia.

How much is car insurance in Columbia, Missouri?
Car insurance in Columbia costs $195 per month on average. Drivers in the state pay $246 per month for full-coverage insurance and $144 per month for liability coverage. Your unique premium will depend on your insurer, driving record, age, credit history, vehicle type, chosen coverage level, and more.
What are the best car insurance companies in Columbia, Missouri?
With an Insurify Quality (IQ) Score of 4.4 out of 5 and an A.M. Best financial strength rating of A++ (Superior), State Farm is the best car insurance company in Columbia. Of the insurers Insurify has rate data for, other top Columbia choices include USAA and Allstate.
What are the penalties for driving without insurance in Missouri?
Driving without insurance in Missouri is illegal. If you’re caught driving without at least the minimum amount of required coverage, you could receive four points on your driving record, lose your license for up to a year, and pay up to $400 in reinstatement fees.^[5]
Should you purchase medical payments coverage in Missouri?
It depends. Medical payments cover your medical costs up to your policy limits. It typically covers you and any passengers in your car, regardless of who was at fault in an accident. While it may increase your premium costs, it can be worth it if you want to fully protect yourself and your passengers.

Methodology

Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 90 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 50+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.

Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).

Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:

Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
No additional coverage

Full-coverage premium averages correspond to the same bodily injury and property damage limits in addition to:

Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible

Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.

More cities in Missouri

Popular cities

Sources

Insurance Information Institute. "Auto Insurance Basics." Accessed July 27, 2023
Missouri Department of Revenue. "Insurance Information." Accessed July 27, 2023
Insurance Information Institute. "How to save money on car insurance." Accessed July 27, 2023
Experian. "What Is a Good Credit Score?." Accessed July 27, 2023
Missouri Department of Revenue. "Missouri Driver Responsibilities and Penalties." Accessed July 27, 2023

Catherine Collins

Catherine Collins is a freelance financial writer and author based in Detroit. She's the co-founder of MillennialHomeowner.com and MomsGotMoney.com, and author of the book Mom’s Got Money: A millennial mom’s guide to managing money like a boss. She has written for US News, Huffington Post, Money, Business Insider, Investopedia, Entrepreneur, Go Banking Rates, and many other publications. She currently resides in Detroit, Michigan with her boy-girl twins and a rescue dog named Julep.

Learn More

Edited byDanny SmithHome and Pet Insurance Editor

Danny SmithHome and Pet Insurance Editor

P&C license candidate in Massachusetts
4+ years in content creation and marketing

As Insurify’s home and pet insurance editor, Danny also specializes in auto insurance. His goal is to help consumers navigate the complex world of insurance buying.

Read Editorial Guidelines

View Full Bio

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Table of contents

Table of contentsCompare quotes

Find Car Insurance in Columbia

Best car insurance companies in Columbia

Best insurer for full coverage: USAA

full coverage USAA

Best insurer for rideshare coverage: State Farm

Rideshare CoverageState Farm

Best insurer for bundling: Travelers

BundlingTravelers

Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Columbia

Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Columbia

Estimate your insurance costs

Select discounts that apply to you

Age

Credit Score

Are you insured

Your estimated deal

Select discounts that apply to you

Car insurance requirements in Missouri

Collision coverage

Comprehensive coverage

Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident

Shop for Car Insurance in Columbia, MO

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI

Cheapest car insurance for seniors

Cheapest car insurance for teens

How to get the cheapest car insurance in Columbia

Find Cheap Car Insurance in Columbia

Columbia car insurance quotes by credit tier

Rates by Credit Tier

Is car insurance more expensive in Columbia?

More cities in Missouri

Cheap Auto Insurance in Missouri (2023)

Columbia car insurance FAQs

Methodology

Related articles

More cities in Missouri

Popular cities

Sources

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