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

Quick Facts

• In general, Columbia offers cheaper prices than GEICO
• Columbia offers more affordable average premiums for residents of suburban areas
• GEICO offers more discounts than Columbia Insurance Group

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

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering big discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

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

As you can see, Columbia has average rates that are about 19% per month cheaper than those from GEICO when looking at the national average rates for insurance.

That being said, that doesn't mean Columbia will necessarily be more affordable than GEICO for every driver. After all, auto insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your driving record, your credit score, your age, or even where you call home (among other things), so rates will vary quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Columbia or GEICO is really the best for you, keep reading to see average prices for each carrier broken down by a range of different rate factors.

Columbia or GEICO: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

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

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your insurance bill than just where you call home. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance premiums of any other group of drivers out there on the road. That's usually because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high rates, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Columbia for their car insurance pay $45 less than those who use GEICO.

But both carriers will offer you dramatically lower premiums once you turn 25. GEICO offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Columbia still has the cheapest prices at $145 per month.

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 rates out there.

So, which company offers the best prices to retired drivers? Columbia gets the edge here, with average premiums coming in at around $109 monthly compared to GEICO's $148.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance prices tend to be less expensive for married drivers than they are for single drivers. This usually boils down to married couples having multiple cars on their policy -- something lots of car insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Columbia is the clear winner for single policyholders, with rates about $31 a month more affordable than GEICO, on average. The advantage for married policyholders with Columbia is also obvious, where drivers save nearly $40 per month.

Columbia vs. GEICO: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get into accidents and get tickets, they run a larger risk of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, men tend to get higher rates than women.

On average, women see premiums almost 10% a month less with Columbia, and around 4% less with GEICO when compared to their male counterparts.

When it comes to the lowest rates for each gender, Columbia comes out on top for both men and women, with average premiums $33 less for men and $37 cheaper for women.

Columbia or GEICO: 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.

Insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are multiple different coverages that account for a variety of different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, alongside what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Columbia normally offers significantly less expensive prices of $68 compared to GEICO's $101. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Columbia again has the edge, with policies about $35 per month cheaper than GEICO, on average.

Is Columbia or GEICO Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

You'll probably end up paying more with tickets and at-fault accidents on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the cheapest rates to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Columbia policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $14 a month if they get a ticket, while GEICO typically raises premiums around $35 per month, on average.

However, Columbia is generally the more affordable option for both drivers who have a recent speeding ticket and those with clean records -- their rates are around 10% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 21% less expensive for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their car insurance through Columbia can expect to see about an $38 -- or around 27% -- increase in their auto insurance prices. Drivers who use GEICO for their insurance will see a monthly bill about $85 (or 43%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their car insurance carrier.

Overall, the more affordable rates come from Columbia, with monthly premiums averaging $142 compared to GEICO's $200.

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 insurance bill -- normally a lot more than a collision or ticket. GEICO drivers usually see a 58% increase in their auto insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Columbia will usually climb prices by around 56%.

How does Credit Score Impact Columbia and GEICO Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can come into play when companies calculate your monthly bill. Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it might come into play for quite a few drivers.

Insurance companies argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time every month, which increases the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

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

Did you know that the amount of time you spend in your car have a sizable impact on your monthly car insurance cost? That's because the more miles you drive, the more 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 rates for GEICO, with drivers who put 6,000 miles on their car annually paying about $8 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, Columbia is the cheaper option for drivers in both categories.

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

Where you call home can have a big impact on your monthly auto insurance payment. Generally, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for car insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Columbia typically comes out as the lowest option for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the most affordable prices from both companies, but Columbia comes out on top with average premiums around $129 a month. Columbia also has less expensive average rates for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $42 and $33 a month respective difference when compared to GEICO drivers in similar areas.

Columbia vs. GEICO 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 taking advantage of as many 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're eligible for or to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

Below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Columbia and GEICO offer their customers so that you can see which company can save you the most money each month.

GEICO blows Columbia away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 28 different discounts to Columbia's 11.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but GEICO also offers commercial drivers license discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, deployed driver discounts, and more that Columbia does not.

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

Final Thoughts: Is Columbia or GEICO Best for You?

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

Columbia might be best for you if....

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

GEICO might be best for you if...

• You value the experience that comes with a large national car insurance carrier.
• You're looking for discounts -- GEICO has the most.

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

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from several carriers, not just Columbia and GEICO. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Columbia vs. GEICO FAQs

Is Columbia or GEICO cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Columbia is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $150 per month compared to $185 for GEICO. Even so, Columbia won't necessarily be the cheapest company for everyone, since there are several different variables that come into play when it comes to your auto insurance bill.

Who is better, Columbia or GEICO?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". One carrier is not "better" for every driver -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile. For example, Columbia offers cheaper rates for drivers with a recent DUI, while GEICO is less expensive for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do Columbia and GEICO offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at many different factors when calculating the prices they charge policyholders. Variables such as your driving record, gender, age, where your home is, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Columbia and GEICO use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see 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 GEICO 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, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Columbia or GEICO 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.