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

Quick Facts

• In general, Columbia offers cheaper rates than Progressive
• Columbia offers less expensive average premiums for residents of rural areas
• Progressive tends to be a much more affordable option for drivers with a DUI charge on their record

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

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering huge 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 Progressive for your next policy, but which one will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Progressive is about $30 more per month than Columbia.

But that doesn't mean Columbia will necessarily be less expensive than Progressive for every single driver. Insurance carriers vary their rates depending on things like how good your credit score is, where you live, how clean your driving record is, how old you are, and a ton of other factors, so prices will vary quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if Columbia or Progressive 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.

Columbia or Progressive: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Columbia and Progressive only compete against each other in two states, with Columbia offering cheaper prices to the average driver in all of them. Missouri has the most noticable difference, where Progressive premiums are over 15% more affordable than auto insurance prices at Columbia.

But there's more to car insurance than just your home state. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how insurance companies calculate your rates. Continue reading to learn more about how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- normally pay a lot for car insurance compared to older drivers. It's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in a car insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

That being said, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance premiums. As you can see above, teens who use Columbia save nearly $150 a month compared to those who use Progressive.

However, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower prices by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average rates for Columbia policyholders decrease more than 55% and Progressive's premiums reduce almost 70% 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 rates you'll ever find.

When looking at Columbia and Progressive specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Columbia gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at around $109 a month compared to Progressive's $131.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

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

When it comes to relationship status, Columbia is the clear winner for single drivers, with prices about $44 per month cheaper than Progressive, on average. But for married policyholders, that advantage is much less clear - Columbia has the edge when it comes to average rates.

Columbia vs. Progressive: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know women usually pay less for car insurance than men? This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher premiums.

On average, men see prices nearly 10% a month higher with Columbia, and around 3% with Progressive.

Looking at overall affordability, Columbia comes out on top for both men and women, with average rates 15% less for men and 19% cheaper for women.

Columbia or Progressive: 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 so many different coverages and limits that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

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

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Columbia generally offers significantly more affordable premiums of $68 compared to Progressive's $111. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Columbia again has the edge, with policies about $20 per month cheaper than Progressive, on average.

Is Columbia or Progressive 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 premiums to go up an average of $14 a month if they get a ticket, while Progressive typically raises prices around $31 per month, on average.

Even so, Columbia is usually the more affordable option for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record, offering premiums that are 30% and 34% less expensive, respectively, compared to Progressive.

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 rates. Drivers who use Progressive for their car insurance will see a monthly bill about $65 (or 30%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their insurance carrier.

Overall, the more affordable prices come from Columbia, with monthly rates averaging $142 compared to Progressive's $214.

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 a collision. For example, Columbia increases average premiums by just under $150 a month -- that's over a 55% increase.

How does Credit Score Impact Columbia and Progressive Rates?

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

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 at Columbia and Progressive 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 Progressive Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

The amount of time you spend behind the wheel of your car plays a big role in your monthly auto insurance cost. Typically, the more miles you put on your vehicle, the more you can expect to pay for insurance.

In this case, neither Columbia or Progressive report increasing prices for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Still, 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 rates of $150 per month for both.

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

Where you call home can have a big impact on your monthly car insurance bill. Normally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas because there are a lot more vehicles on the road in those areas, which increases the chances of an accident.

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

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the lowest premiums from both carriers, but Columbia comes out on top with average rates around $129 per month. Columbia also has cheaper average premiums for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $38 and $27 a month respective difference when compared to Progressive policyholders in similar areas.

Columbia vs. Progressive 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 insurance discounts as you can.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem challenging to find all the of the ones you can take advantage of.

Below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Columbia and Progressive offer their customers so that you can find the company that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Progressive blows Columbia away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 34 different discounts to Columbia's 11.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like ABS discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, education discounts, and multi-policy discounts. Progressive also offers advance quote discounts, advanced safety feature discounts, agency transfer discounts, and more that Columbia does not.

On the flip side, Columbia has a couple unique discounts of its own -- discounts for getting driver training and employee discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Columbia or Progressive Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your car insurance rates. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, which carrier is the right carrier for you and your specific driver profile?

Columbia might be best for you if....

• You've received a ticket for speeding recently and don't want to see your prices increase.
• Your home is in a busy urban area.
• You and your spouse are buying auto insurance together.

Progressive might be best for you if...

• You are considering moving to another state -- undefined only offers policies to residents.
• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You're looking for the company with the most discounts.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Columbia and Progressive and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your car insurance.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on insurance -- comparing quotes from multiple companies, not just Columbia and Progressive. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Columbia vs. Progressive FAQs

Is Columbia or Progressive cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Columbia is the less expensive of the two companies, offering average rates of $150 per month compared to $180 for Progressive. But Columbia won't necessarily be the most affordable carrier for every driver, since there are a variety of different factors (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Columbia or Progressive?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". No single company is "better" for each driver -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile.

Why do Columbia and Progressive offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers take a look at quite a few different variables when determining the prices they charge drivers. Factors like where your home is, age, gender, where you live, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Columbia and Progressive calculate premiums differently, so each one will most likely offer different prices. The only real way to see which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different companies.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Columbia or Progressive 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.