Columbia vs. Missouri Farm Bureau: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, Missouri Farm Bureau offers significantly less expensive premiums than Columbia
• Columbia may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Missouri Farm Bureau Insurance
• Missouri Farm Bureau offers more affordable average prices for policyholders who drive fewer than 12,000 miles annually

Columbia or Missouri Farm Bureau: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering a new insurance policy? You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering hefty savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Columbia or Missouri Farm Bureau, but which one will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Columbia is quite a bit more expensive than Missouri Farm Bureau, with premiums averaging $150 a month compared to just $111 with Missouri Farm Bureau.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean Missouri Farm Bureau will be the less expensive option for every single driver. After all, auto insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to every driver depending on rating factors like your driving record, your age, where you call home, or even your credit score (among other things), so rates will differ quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Columbia or Missouri Farm Bureau is really the best for you, keep reading to see average prices for each company broken down by a bunch of different rate factors.

Columbia vs. Missouri Farm Bureau: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Columbia and Missouri Farm Bureau only compete against each other in Missouri, where Missouri Farm Bureau offers the cheaper average rates. Missouri Farm Bureau drivers tend to pay about $47 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Columbia for their insurance.

That being said, there are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance cost than just your home state. Continue reading to see how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- normally pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. The reason is that teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in a car insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

However, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high car insurance prices. As you can see above, teens who use Missouri Farm Bureau save almost 25% a month compared to those who use Columbia.

Even so, both carriers will reduce premiums by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average prices for Columbia policyholders lower around $200 and Missouri Farm Bureau's premiums drop about $150 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll generally enjoy the cheapest insurance rates out there. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly prices for auto insurance.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Columbia and Missouri Farm Bureau? Missouri Farm Bureau gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older over 25% cheaper than the national average for Columbia.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Single policyholders tend to get offered slightly more expensive insurance rates than married drivers. This usually boils down to married policyholders having several vehicles on their policy -- something several car insurance companies will reward with discounts.

For single drivers, the difference in average prices between these two carriers is significant, with Missouri Farm Bureau premiums coming in at a quarter less than Columbia's. The advantage for married couples with Missouri Farm Bureau is also obvious, where drivers save more than 25% per month.

Columbia or Missouri Farm Bureau: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents, which means they'll typically end up paying more for auto insurance than women.

On average, men see prices over $10 a month higher with Columbia, but with Missouri Farm Bureau, the difference is closer to $17 per month.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Missouri Farm Bureau comes out as the most affordable option for both genders. On average, women save about $42 a month and men save around $37 with Missouri Farm Bureau compared to the average Columbia policyholder.

Columbia vs. Missouri Farm Bureau: 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.

For most people, insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are lots of different coverages that account for many different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

But most policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Missouri Farm Bureau has the edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $51. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Missouri Farm Bureau again has the edge, with policies averaging about $170 per month to Columbia's $232.

Is Columbia or Missouri Farm Bureau Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no secret -- drivers with good records end up getting the best deals on their car 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 at-fault collisions and speeding tickets on your record, but which of these two companies offers the lowest premiums to drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Columbia for their auto insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up around 12% after getting a speeding ticket. Missouri Farm Bureau policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of about 5%.

That being said, Missouri Farm Bureau has more affordable rates for drivers in both categories, offering prices that are 7% and 14% less expensive, respectively, compared to Columbia Insurance Group.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Columbia drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their premiums climb by just under $40, while those who have insurance through Missouri Farm Bureau will see around a $10 increase.

At the end of the day, Missouri Farm Bureau offers the most affordable prices for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average rates coming in at $109 compared to Columbia Insurance Group's $142.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple ticket or even an accident. On average, Columbia will climb your premiums about 56% after a DUI, while Missouri Farm Bureau's average prices increase by nearly 30%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable rates, Missouri Farm Bureau tends to be cheaper for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at around $134 to Columbia's $236.

How does Credit Score Impact Columbia and Missouri Farm Bureau Rates?

Often times, your credit score can come into play when carriers determine your monthly bill. This isn't true for everyone (Hawaii, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an auto insurance factor) but it will come into play for many policyholders.

Insurance companies argue that someone with good credit is more likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them less risky to insure. Because of that, drivers with good credit will often be rewarded with more affordable premiums.

Looking specifically at Columbia and Missouri Farm Bureau, which carrier has the cheapest prices for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, Missouri Farm Bureau will normally reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Missouri Farm Bureau comes in more than 36.96 less expensive. Drivers with "good" credit scores generally save about 32% with Missouri Farm Bureau compared to average rates from Columbia.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Missouri Farm Bureau typically offers lower premiums than Columbia when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 27% a month less with Missouri Farm Bureau compared to Columbia, and those with "poor" scores usually save an average of about 13% monthly.

Is Columbia or Missouri Farm Bureau Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a sizable impact on your monthly rates. That's because the more milage you put on your vehicle each year, the more likely you are to be in a collision and file an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Columbia or Missouri Farm Bureau report increasing premiums for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Even so, Missouri Farm Bureau comes out as the lowest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car yearly, with average prices of $111 per month for both.

Columbia or Missouri Farm Bureau: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can have a big impact on your monthly car insurance bill. Typically, if you live in an urban area with more cars on the road, you'll pay a little more for auto insurance, while the opposite is true for people in rural areas.

Missouri Farm Bureau tends to offer the cheapest rates for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Missouri Farm Bureau Insurance's average prices are around 22% less than Columbia Insurance Group. People who live in suburban areas pay about 28% less with Missouri Farm Bureau compared to Columbia. Those in rural areas can expect to save around 30% with Missouri Farm Bureau compared to Columbia.

Columbia vs. Missouri Farm Bureau Discounts

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

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be challenging to find all the ones you're eligible for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Columbia and Missouri Farm Bureau offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

Overall, Columbia has the advantage when it comes to total number of discounts. Missouri Farm Bureau offers a grand total of seven discounts, while Columbia has 11.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Columbia also offers discounts for ABS, anti-theft, defensive driver, and more.

On the other hand, Missouri Farm Bureau has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like hybrid vehicle discounts, multi-car discounts, occupation discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Columbia or Missouri Farm Bureau Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average rates for many of the factors auto insurance companies look at, and walked through the different discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which company is the right one for you and your specific profile and needs?

Missouri Farm Bureau might be best for you if....

• You have an at-fault accident on your record.
• You live in an suburban area.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's insurance policy.

Columbia might be best for you if...

• You care about discounts (Columbia offers the most).

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Columbia and Missouri Farm Bureau and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to 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 a handful of carriers, not just Columbia and Missouri Farm Bureau. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Columbia vs. Missouri Farm Bureau FAQs

Is Columbia or Missouri Farm Bureau cheaper?

Missouri Farm Bureau is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $111 a month with Missouri Farm Bureau and $150 for Columbia. Even so, that doesn't mean Missouri Farm Bureau will be the lowest carrier for each policyholder, since there are a variety of different variables that come into play when it comes to your car insurance payment.

Who is better, Columbia or Missouri Farm Bureau?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". One company is not "better" for every policyholder -- it all depends on what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do Columbia and Missouri Farm Bureau offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies use lots of different factors when determining the premiums they charge. Variables such as age, where you park your vehicle, your driving record, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Columbia and Missouri Farm Bureau use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different carriers.

How do I know if Columbia or Missouri Farm Bureau is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance carriers for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Columbia or Missouri Farm Bureau 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.