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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, Columbia offers significantly less expensive prices than Dairyland
• Columbia tends to be a much cheaper option for policyholders whose driving record contains an at-fault collision
• Columbia has more affordable premiums for drivers with a DUI

Columbia or Dairyland: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering large savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Columbia or Dairyland as your top options, but which one will offer you less expensive prices?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Columbia is quite a bit cheaper than Dairyland, with rates averaging $150 a month compared to $256 with Dairyland.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean Columbia will be the more affordable option for every driver. Insurance companies vary their premiums depending on things like where you live, how clean your driving record is, how good your credit score is, how old you are, and tons of other factors. So, at the end of the day, prices from every carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

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

Columbia vs. Dairyland: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Columbia and Dairyland only compete against each other in one states, with Columbia offering cheaper rates to the average driver in all of them. Arkansas has the most noticable difference, where Columbia prices are $48 less expensive than auto insurance rates at Dairyland.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your car insurance bill than just where you live. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive insurance premiums of any other group of drivers. That's because teen 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 car insurance prices. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Columbia for their auto insurance pay 40% less than those who use Dairyland.

Even so, both carriers will decrease rates by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average premiums for Columbia policyholders lower around $200 and Dairyland's rates drop almost $300 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the most affordable premiums you'll ever find.

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Columbia and Dairyland? Columbia gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older over 45% cheaper than the national average for Dairyland.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married policyholders tend to get slightly more affordable car insurance premiums than single policyholders. This usually boils down to married drivers having multiple vehicles on their policy -- something lots of auto insurance companies will reward with discounts.

For single drivers, the difference in average prices between these two carriers is significant, with Columbia premiums coming in at about 40% less than Dairyland's. The advantage is also clear for married couples - Columbia offers the lowest average prices.

Columbia or Dairyland: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into collisions and get speeding tickets, which means they'll usually end up paying more for car insurance than women.

Men normally pay around $10 per month more than women with Columbia, and about $10 with Dairyland.

Looking at overall affordability, Columbia comes out on top for both men and women, with average rates 40% less for men and 43% cheaper for women.

Columbia vs. Dairyland: 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.

It's no secret that auto insurance can be pretty complicated. There are so many different terms and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- alongside liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, Columbia has the significant edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $68. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Columbia again has the edge, with policies averaging around $232 a month to Dairyland's $370.

Is Columbia or Dairyland Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their insurance. But that's not to say you can't save money if you don't have the best driving record, either.

You'll probably end up paying more with collisions and speeding tickets on your record, but which of these two companies offers the most affordable rates to drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Columbia for their car insurance can typically expect their monthly bill to go up about 12% after getting a speeding ticket. Dairyland policyholders can expect a bit more drastic of an increase of around 15%.

But Columbia has less expensive premiums for drivers in both categories. With Columbia Insurance Group, drivers with a clean record can save about $121 per month and drivers with a ticket can save around $147 a month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their auto insurance through Columbia can expect to see about an $38 -- or around 27% -- rise in their insurance rates. Drivers who use Dairyland for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill about $72 (or 24%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their insurance carrier.

At the end of the day, Columbia offers the cheapest prices for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with average premiums coming in at $142 compared to Dairyland's $297.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge, you can expect some pretty significant increases in your monthly car insurance bill -- generally a lot more than a collision or speeding ticket. On average, Columbia will climb your rates around 56% after a DUI, while Dairyland's average prices increase by 5%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable premiums, Columbia tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $236 to Dairyland's $236.

How does Credit Score Impact Columbia and Dairyland Rates?

Did you know many insurance carriers take into account your credit score when determining rates? This isn't true for everyone (Hawaii, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an insurance factor) but it will come into play for several drivers.

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

Looking specifically at Columbia and Dairyland, which carrier has the best prices for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, Columbia will usually reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Columbia comes in nearly 37.56 more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores typically save around 42% with Columbia compared to average premiums from Dairyland.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Columbia typically offers lower prices than Dairyland when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 43% per month less with Columbia compared to Dairyland, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of around 42% monthly.

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

How much you drive can have a big impact on your monthly rates. That's because the more milage you drive, the more likely you are to be in an accident and file an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Columbia or Dairyland report increasing premiums for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Columbia comes out as the lowest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car annually, with average prices of $150 a month for both.

Columbia or Dairyland: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can have a large impact on your monthly auto insurance payment. Generally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas since there are a lot more vehicles on the road where they live, which increases the chances of an accident.

Columbia tends to offer the lowest prices for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save about 36% with Columbia compared to Dairyland. People who live in suburban areas pay around 39% less with Columbia compared to Dairyland. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Columbia Insurance Group's average rates are about 46% less than Dairyland.

Columbia vs. Dairyland Discounts

You want to save as much money as you can, right? The best way to do that is by utilizing as many car insurance discounts as possible.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be challenging to find all the ones you're eligible for or to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Columbia and Dairyland so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Both carriers offer excellent discounts like anti-theft discounts, discounts for being a good student, and passive restraint discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Columbia or Dairyland Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the variables insurance companies look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each company offers. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, which carrier is the best company for you and your specific profile and needs?

Columbia might be best for you if....

• You don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault accidents on your record.
• Your credit score is high.
• You want to save money while purchasing auto insurance for a teenager.

Dairyland might be best for you if...

• You have a more unique driver profile than those we mentioned above.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Columbia and Dairyland. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your car insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from several carriers, not just Columbia and Dairyland. 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 auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Columbia vs. Dairyland FAQs

Is Columbia or Dairyland cheaper?

Columbia is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $150 per month with Columbia and $256 for Dairyland. However, that doesn't mean Columbia will be the cheapest company for every driver, since there are a range of different factors (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Columbia or Dairyland?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither carrier is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique car insurance profile.

Why do Columbia and Dairyland offer me different rates?

Insurance companies use a lot of different variables when calculating the rates they charge. Things such as where you live, age, where you park your car, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Columbia and Dairyland calculate premiums differently, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Columbia or Dairyland at all, but another you hadn't even thought of!

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.