Columbia, MD Car Insurance

Residents of Columbia pay around $101 monthly for their car insurance coverage. To learn more about policy rates and coverage in the Columbia area, continue reading our guide below.
Map of cities where drivers can find cheaper car insurance
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Compared to their surrounding area, how do rates in Columbia stack up? What about against the rest of Maryland? What should residents of Columbia expect to pay for their car insurance? Find the average cost breakdowns and determining factors in the charts and writeups below:

How much is car insurance in Columbia?

Area Average Monthly Car Insurance Premium
Columbia$101
MD$122
United States$81

Compared to the rest of the Maryland, coverage in Columbia is about $21 a month cheaper.

On the flip side, Columbia residents should prepare to pay higher rates for coverage than the rest of the country. The cost of insuring a vehicle in Columbia is about $20 more expensive than the average rate for the rest of the U.S.

While these are the average monthly costs for auto insurance coverage in Columbia, you could end up paying something different. There are numerous factors taken into consideration by insurance companies when deciding the rate you'll pay for coverage. Your bill each month is calculated off of your age, gender, vehicle make and model, driving record, and even your credit score depending on the circumstances.

We've broken down average rates for Columbia to help you understand what your policy's monthly premium will cost. And if you're not certain that you're paying the lowest option, simply enter your ZIP Code below and find out in just minutes!


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Average Car Insurance Rates by Age

Age Range Average Premium
Under 18Not Enough Data
18-24$140
25-34$100
35-44$105
45-54Not Enough Data
55-64$61
65+$60

Generally speaking, the older you are, the more experience you have driving, right? That experience can turn into some real savings when it comes to auto insurance rates. In this case, 18-24-year-olds pay twice as much as someone who is at retirement age.

For every 10 years, you can expect to see a drop in your monthly premium. You may see your rates creep back up a bit once you hit retirement age in Columbia.

Average Car Insurance Rates by Gender

Gender Average
Male$107
Female$93

Car insurance rates for female drivers are usually cheaper than those for male drivers. This is true in Columbia, where male drivers pay about $14 more per month. As you can see in the chart above, car insurance for women in the area typically costs around $93 each month, while men pay $107 on average.

Average Auto Insurance Rates by Driving Record

Infractions Average Monthly Premium
1 Accident$116
Multiple Accidents$170
1 Ticket$137
Multiple Tickets$158

Your rates can change quite drastically depending on your driving record. Drivers with clean records can expect to pay a lot less than those with accidents or violations. Drivers in Columbia with a single accident on their record will usually see rates around $116 a month. Similarly, drivers with one ticket will typically pay around $137 on average.

Wherever you live, accidents, tickets, and other driving infractions can cost you some serious cash. So, if you're looking for cheap car insurance, drive carefully and keep a clean record.

Average Insurance Rates by Vehicle

Vehicle Age Average Monthly Premium
Less Than 1 Year$93
2-3 Years$118
4-5 Years$116
6-7 Years$121
8-10 Years$91
11-14 Years$98
15 Years or Older$89

If you look at the first table above, the cheapest vehicles to insure in Columbia are by and large trucks and vans, at $63 per month.

SUV drivers will see rates of about $95 to insure their vehicle, while car owners usually pay around $105 a month.

Your rates can also vary depending on the age of your vehicle. Newer vehicles are generally going to be the most expensive to insure. However, once your car is about 5 years old, you may start to see your monthly premium decrease. In Columbia, vehicles six-to-seven years old are the most expensive to insure.

Average Car Insurance Rates by Relationship Status

Relationship Average Monthly Premium
Single (never married)$108
Married$82
Divorced$62
Widowed$54

On average, people who are married will pay slightly less to insure their car. This occurs because insurance companies commonly offer special discounts to policyholders with multiple vehicles that are on the same policy.

On a national scale, single drivers typically pay more than married couples do for auto insurance. Columbia is no exception, with the difference totaling to around $26 a month.

Average Car Insurance Rates by Housing Situation

Housing Status Average Monthly Premium
Own$86
Rent$110
Live with parents$122

One other element taken into consideration is your living situation. Renters can expect to pay around $24 a month more than those who own their own home in Columbia. Those who live with their parents, however, can expect to pay a lot more.

That being said, many companies will offer you a discount if you bundle your homeowners or rental insurance policy with your auto insurance.

Car Insurance Companies in Columbia, MD

Since average rates are constantly changing, it's a smart move to research the local trends in your area before picking an insurance policy.

Rates in Columbia have been mixed recently. They decreased in 2017, rose in 2019, and declined again in 2021, before finishing at $97 in 2022.

How does Columbia compare to neighboring areas?

Why are car insurance rates in Columbia different from other areas?

When considering how much to charge for a monthly rate, car insurance companies will consider a number of factors. Where you live will also have a significant impact on your personal policy. This may include things like:

  • Prevalence of crime
  • Off-street parking accessibility
  • Community regulations
  • Number of drivers
  • Road Safety (frequency of local car accidents)

A decent level of familiarity with these factors can be helpful when you're ready to purchase of a new policy or thinking about making a move. Get started with a guide like this to get familiar with the average rates of your area.

How can I find the cheapest car insurance in Columbia?

While understanding what the average costs are for drivers like you can be helpful as you get an idea of what you might end up paying, the only way to know exactly what your rate will be is by requesting a quote from car insurance companies.

Fortunately, Compare.com does all of that work for you. Simply enter your ZIP below, answer a few questions about your driving profile, and you'll be comparing the cheapest quotes from the many car insurance companies providing auto coverage in Columbia.


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Columbia Insurance FAQs

What factors affect car insurance quotes in Columbia?

Car insurance companies calculate quotes based on a wide array of factors. These include things you can't control like your gender and age but also factors like your driving record, credit score, address and marital status, as well as your vehicle's year and make and model.

Why is the cost of car insurance in Columbia different from other neighboring cities?

Auto insurance companies consider regional factors, such as local laws, parking situations, and crime rates into account when calculating the monthly rate for coverage. Since these can all vary from city to city the rates you may see can differ from neighboring areas.

Which car insurance company will offer me the cheapest rate in Columbia?

There isn't one company that can guarantee the cheapest rate to everybody, since the rates they charge for coverage are calculated based off of factors that can vary from person to person, such as vehicle make and model, driving record, and number of drivers on the policy. By using sites like Compare.com to compare multiple quotes simultaneously, you can rest assured that you're getting the best price available.

Do I need to change my insurance if I move to Columbia?

Whenever you move to a new area, or experience any other major life event such as getting married or finding a new job, it's always a good idea to re-evaluate your current insurance policy. Certain companies may offer larger discounts in certain cities, so it's a smart idea to use services like Compare.com to compare quotes from dozens of companies side-by-side.

Do I need to wait for my policy to expire to switch to a different car insurance company?

No, you can switch companies at any point, no matter how much time is left on your current policy. If you're thinking about moving to Columbia or are wondering if you're paying the best rate for your current area, take 10 minutes and visit Compare.com to find out for sure.

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