Allstate vs. Columbia: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, Columbia offers significantly less expensive prices than Allstate
• Allstate offers more affordable average premiums for drivers with a DUI charge on their record
• Columbia has cheaper prices for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit

Allstate vs. Columbia: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering hefty discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Allstate or Columbia for your next policy, but which one will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Columbia has average rates that are about 25% per month more affordable than those from Allstate.

Even so, that doesn't mean Columbia will necessarily be cheaper than Allstate for every driver. After all, car insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your driving record, where you call home, your credit score, or even your age (among other things). So, at the end of the day, premiums from every company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if Allstate or Columbia is really the right carrier for you? Keep on reading to see how average rates can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Allstate or Columbia: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Allstate and Columbia only compete against each other in two states, with Columbia offering less expensive prices to the average driver in all of them. Missouri has the most noticable difference, where Columbia premiums are over 60% cheaper than auto insurance rates at Allstate.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your insurance bill than just where you call home. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- usually pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. That's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

However, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high insurance premiums. As you can see above, teens who use Columbia save more than $100 a month compared to those who use Allstate. It's worth noting that Allstate offers car insurance in 47 different states compared to Columbia's two, which can skew the average rates a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

But with both companies, you'll see your prices reduce significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average rates for Allstate policyholders decrease nearly 65% and Columbia's prices lower over 55% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll typically enjoy the lowest auto insurance premiums you'll ever see. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly prices for insurance.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Allstate and Columbia? Columbia gets the edge here, with average premiums coming in at around $109 a month compared to Allstate's $152.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance rates are normally more expensive for single drivers than they are for married drivers? This usually boils down to married policyholders having multiple cars on their policy -- something many auto insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Columbia is the clear winner for single policyholders, with prices about $54 per month less expensive than Allstate, on average. The advantage is also clear for married couples - Columbia offers the cheapest average premiums.

Allstate vs. Columbia: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get into collisions and get speeding tickets, they have an increased chance of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, men tend to get higher rates than women.

Women generally pay almost $10 a month less than men with Allstate, and more than $10 with Columbia.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Columbia comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $50 per month and men save around $47 with Columbia compared to the average Allstate policyholder.

Allstate or Columbia: Compare State Minimum vs. Full Coverage Rates

*State minimum value indicates liability-only policies at each state's minimum bodily injury and property damage (BI/PD) limits

**Full coverage indicates state minimum BI/PD limits with collision and comprehensive coverages added to policy.

Car insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are so many different coverages and terms that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which covers the other party's property damage and injuries if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Columbia typically offers significantly more affordable rates of $68 compared to Allstate's $108. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Columbia again has the edge, with policies about $55 a month less expensive than Allstate, on average.

Is Allstate or Columbia Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

Tickets and accidents will most likely raise your prices, but is Allstate or Columbia cheaper for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Allstate policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $27 per month if they get a ticket, while Columbia generally raises rates around $14 a month, on average.

That being said, Columbia is normally the more affordable option for drivers both with clean records and with a speeding ticket, offering premiums that are 33% and 36% cheaper, respectively, compared to Allstate.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Allstate drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their prices increase by just under $75, while those who have insurance through Columbia will see about a $40 increase.

Overall, the less expensive premiums come from Columbia, with monthly prices averaging $142 compared to Allstate's $229.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single accident or ticket when it comes to your auto insurance bill. On average, Columbia will increase your rates around 56% after a DUI, while Allstate's average premiums climb by over 30%.

Allstate has the overall lowest prices for drivers with a DUI on their records at $227 monthly, but it's worth noting that Allstate's average rates come from 47 states compared to just two for Columbia, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Allstate and Columbia Rates?

Did you know that many insurance companies take your credit score into account when calculating rates? Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it will come into play for several policyholders.

Auto insurance companies argue that those with good credit scores are more likely to pay their bills on time each month, which decreases the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad credit.

Looking at Allstate and Columbia specifically, which company has the best prices for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Columbia. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save 5% compared to Allstate, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $31 or 18% more affordable every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Columbia typically offers lower rates than Allstate when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $56 per month less with Columbia compared to Allstate, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of about $101 per month.

Is Allstate or Columbia Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a pretty big impact on how much car insurance carriers will charge for coverage. That's because the fewer miles you drive, the less likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Columbia charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for Allstate, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their vehicle annually paying around $3 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles every year. Still, Columbia is the cheaper option for drivers in both categories.

Allstate vs. Columbia: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

We've already mentioned how your home state can play a role in how much you pay for insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a considerable impact as well. Normally, drivers who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban policyholders because there are a lot fewer cars on the road in those areas, which reduces the chances of an accident.

Columbia boasts the most affordable average rates for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Columbia offers premiums about $169 monthly compared to Allstate's $222. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay around $152 a month for Columbia and $199 for Allstate. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the cheapest rates from both companies, with average monthly prices coming in at $129 and $174 for Columbia and Allstate respectively.

Allstate vs. Columbia Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new auto insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and the best way to do that is by utilizing as many car insurance discounts as you can.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be hard to find all the ones you can take advantage of or to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

In the section below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Allstate and Columbia offer their customers so that you can see which carrier can save you the most money each month.

Allstate knocks Columbia out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 29 more discounts than Columbia.

Both carriers offer several of the same discounts -- like ABS discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for getting driver training, and multi-policy discounts -- but Allstate also offers advance quote discounts, agency transfer discounts, alert driving discounts, and more that Columbia does not.

On the flip side, Columbia has a couple unique discounts of its own -- education discounts and employee discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Allstate or Columbia Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your auto insurance premiums. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which insurance company is the best one for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Columbia might be best for you if....

• You're single and purchasing car insurance by yourself.
• You want basic insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your car insurance.

Allstate might be best for you if...

• You value the experience that comes with a large national insurance carrier.
• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Allstate and Columbia. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your auto insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of companies, not just Allstate and Columbia. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Allstate vs. Columbia FAQs

Is Allstate or Columbia cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Columbia is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $150 per month compared to $199 for Allstate. Even so, Columbia won't necessarily be the most affordable company for everyone, since there are lots of different variables that come into play when it comes to your auto insurance cost.

Who is better, Allstate or Columbia?

Sadly, the answer truly is "it depends.". Neither carrier is necessarily "better" for each driver -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile. For example, Allstate offers more affordable premiums for drivers with a recent DUI, while Columbia is cheaper for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do Allstate and Columbia offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at quite a few different factors when determining the rates they charge policyholders. Variables like age, gender, where you live, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Allstate and Columbia calculate prices using different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a variety of different companies.

How do I know if Allstate or Columbia is right for me?

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Allstate or Columbia at all!

Methodology

All of the data referenced in this article has been gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. We analyzed more than 2.5 million rows of carrier-reported data to calculate the average rates referenced above. All rates are based on an insurance profile of a single-vehicle policy for a driver that owns a 2016 Honda Accord. For more information on how we calculate rates, please reference our data methodology.