Cheapest Auto Insurance in Columbia, Missouri (2025)

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, Progressive, and State Farm, though others may better suit your needs.

The average monthly cost of auto insurance in Columbia is $93 for liability-only coverage and $172 for full coverage. The costs are generally a little cheaper than the state averages of $92 and $177, respectively.

Your car insurance costs will vary depending on your situation, deductible, coverage levels, and the number of vehicles on your policy. Always compare quotes before buying a policy.

3 of the cheapest 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

Best insurer for rideshare coverage: State Farm

Best insurer for bundling: Travelers

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.

• Select a safe vehicle. Operating a vehicle with high safety scores and important safety features could help reduce your car insurance costs.

• 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.

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. A liability-only policy can make sense if you drive an older, less-expensive vehicle that's paid for.

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. Liability-only policies in Columbia, Missouri, cost an average of $93 per month.

Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Columbia

Though more expensive than liability-only policies, 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.

Full-coverage policies in Columbia, Missouri, cost an average of $172 per month.

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

Drivers should also consider getting the following optional coverages:

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 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.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket: USAA

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 liability rates for drivers with speeding tickets.

The average cost of car insurance for Columbia drivers with a speeding ticket is $113 per month for minimum coverage and $209 for full coverage.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident: USAA

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 offering minimum coverage for drivers with accidents on their records.

The average cost of car insurance for Columbia drivers with an at-fault accident on record is $121 per month for minimum coverage.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI: USAA

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 older than 21 and 0.02 for drivers younger than 21.

Here are the cheapest liability-only quotes for Columbia, Missouri drivers with DUIs. The average cost of car insurance for Columbia drivers with a DUI on record is $150 per month for liability only and $277 for full coverage.

Cheapest car insurance for seniors: USAA

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 average cost of car insurance for Columbia seniors is $145 per month for liability only and $145 for full coverage.

Cheapest car insurance for teens: USAA

Buying car insurance for teenagers is typically more expensive than purchasing insurance for adults. Teenage drivers lack driving experience and have a higher incidence of accidents, so insurance companies consider them riskier. The average cost of car insurance for teen drivers in Columbia is $322 per month for full coverage and $174 for liability only.

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.

Columbia car insurance quotes by credit tier

Missouri is one of the many states where insurance companies can incorporate your credit history 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 if you want to qualify for cheaper car insurance rates.

Is car insurance more expensive in Columbia?

The national average cost of car insurance is $184 per month for full coverage and $104 for liability-only policies. Columbia's average car insurance rates are lower, at $172 and $93, respectively. The city’s averages are also lower than the Missouri state averages.

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.