Cheapest Auto Insurance in Columbia, South Carolina (2025)

Columbia is the second-largest city in South Carolina, with a population of 139,698. Drivers in the state’s capital city pay $281 per month for full-coverage car insurance and $192 for liability-only policies, compared to the state averages of $242 for full coverage and $170 for liability only.

The city’s population and location in Richland County, the county with the third-highest crash rate in the state, are likely factors in its higher-than-average auto insurance costs.

Still, Columbia drivers can find affordable car insurance by comparing quotes from multiple insurers, driving safely, and choosing safe vehicles. Here’s what you need to know about finding cheap car insurance in Columbia.

3 of the cheapest car insurance companies in Columbia

When looking for cheap car insurance in Columbia, it’s important to remember that the right auto insurance company for you varies based on your unique needs as a driver and your financial situation. If you’re looking for affordable coverage, consider the following companies.

Cheapest insurer for drivers with an accident: USAA

Cheapest insurer for teen drivers: State Farm

Cheapest insurer for infrequent drivers: Hugo

How to get the cheapest car insurance in Columbia

When calculating car insurance rates, insurance companies consider elements such as your driving record, vehicle type, age, and credit score.

To help you find affordable car insurance coverage in Columbia, you should consider the following tactics for saving money:

• Choose a high deductible. Opt for higher deductibles, as this can lower your premium.

• Bundle your policies. You can qualify for multi-policy discounts by bundling your car insurance with other policies, such as homeowners or renters insurance.

• Drive a safe vehicle. Many insurers offer discounts for vehicles with safety features.

• Ask about discounts. Inquire about discounts for safety features in your car, such as anti-theft devices and airbags.

• Compare insurers. Shop around and compare quotes from multiple insurance companies to ensure you get the best rate.

Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Columbia: USAA

Liability-only car insurance provides coverage for any damages or injuries you cause others in an accident. It doesn’t provide coverage for your car. Rather, liability insurance includes bodily injury liability to cover medical expenses and legal costs for injuries to others, as well as property damage liability to cover repairs or replacement of damaged property.1

Liability insurance costs an average of $192 per month in Columbia.

The insurance companies that offer the cheapest liability-only car insurance policies for you depend on your driving history and other factors. The following table shows minimum coverage quotes from top insurers in Columbia.

Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Columbia: USAA

In addition to liability insurance, full-coverage insurance includes collision and comprehensive coverage. Collision coverage kicks in to cover repairs to your vehicle after a collision with another vehicle or object, while comprehensive coverage applies to damage from theft, vandalism, natural disaster, and other non-collision incidents.

Full coverage costs more than liability-only insurance but may be worth it if you drive an expensive vehicle. If you finance or lease your car, your lender or leasing company will require you to buy full coverage.

In Columbia, full-coverage car insurance averages $281 per month. Here are monthly quotes from some top insurers in Columbia.

Car insurance requirements in South Carolina

Like most states, South Carolina law requires drivers to carry a minimum amount of car insurance. Specifically, you must have bodily injury liability, property damage liability, and uninsured motorist coverage.2

Optional coverages in South Carolina include:

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident

Most driving incidents go on your driving record and can affect your auto insurance rates. These include speeding tickets, driving under the influence (DUI) charges, at-fault accidents, and other moving violations. The presence of these incidents on your record can indicate a greater likelihood of filing an insurance claim.4

For example, the average cost of full-coverage car insurance for Columbia drivers with clean records is $281 per month. But drivers with infractions on their records pay an average of $328 per month for the same coverage.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket: USAA

Though less significant than an accident or DUI, speeding tickets can cause your car insurance costs to increase. Insurance companies view speeding as a risky behavior that increases the likelihood of accidents, so they adjust premiums accordingly.

In Columbia, the average cost of car insurance with a speeding ticket is $334 per month for full coverage and $228 for liability-only policies. The following table shows the cheapest rates for drivers with speeding tickets.

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

At-fault accidents can lead to substantial increases in your car insurance costs. Insurance companies consider these accidents as an indication of higher risk, which results in elevated premiums.

Drivers with an at-fault accident in Columbia pay average car insurance costs of $354 per month for full coverage and $242 for liability only. Here are quotes from top insurers for Columbia drivers with at-fault accidents on their records.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI: USAA

Due to the severity of the offense, a DUI greatly affects car insurance costs. Insurance companies view DUIs as a significant red flag for bad driving behavior that can lead to filing future claims. If you have a DUI on your record, you can expect your insurance premiums to increase substantially.

In Columbia, car insurance for drivers with DUIs averages $352 per month for full coverage and $241 for liability only. Many companies in Columbia still provide affordable insurance for drivers with a DUI. Here are monthly quotes from some top insurance companies.

Cheapest car insurance for seniors: USAA

Car insurance rates typically decrease once drivers reach 25, thanks to more experience driving and reduced risky behavior. But insurance premiums tend to increase again slightly when drivers reach around age 70, partially due to potentially declining physical abilities and a heightened vulnerability to accidents.

Senior drivers in Columbia can still find affordable coverage. The average rate for full coverage for Columbia seniors is $244 per month, and liability-only policies average $167 per month, according to Insurify data. Here are average monthly quotes for senior drivers from some top insurance companies in Columbia.

Cheapest car insurance for teens: USAA

Car insurance rates for teenage drivers are typically much higher than premiums for adults due to the increased risk associated with inexperienced drivers.

In Columbia, car insurance rates for teen drivers average $563 per month for full coverage and $385 for liability only.

To obtain the cheapest car insurance as a teen, consider staying on your parents’ insurance policy, as it often offers more favorable rates. You can also opt for a car with good safety features to lower insurance costs.5 Lastly, you can qualify for a good student discount by maintaining good grades.

Columbia car insurance quotes by credit tier

In the state of South Carolina, car insurance companies can consider credit history when determining premiums. Having excellent or good credit scores can lead to lower rates, and poor credit scores generally result in higher rates.6

On average, South Carolina drivers with excellent credit pay $271 per month for coverage.

Is car insurance more expensive in Columbia?

Car insurance rates vary by location, and Columbia, South Carolina, drivers have higher car insurance rates than the state’s average costs.

The average cost of minimum coverage in Columbia is $192, while full coverage averages $281 per month. By comparison, the state averages are $170 and $242.

More cities in South Carolina

“In pricing insurance, insurance companies rate coverage by state, city, and even down to the ZIP code level in larger municipalities,” says Mark Friedlander, director of corporate communications at the Insurance Information Institute. “Specific location rating factors typically include weather hazards, accident frequency and severity, theft and vandalism rates, and the costs of repairs.”

The following table shows average monthly car insurance rates in other South Carolina cities.