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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Southern Farm Bureau offers significantly more affordable prices than Columbia
• Columbia offers more discounts than Southern Farm Bureau Insurance
• Southern Farm Bureau has cheaper rates for policyholders who live in suburban areas

Columbia vs. Southern Farm Bureau: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching your auto insurance. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering huge discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Columbia or Southern Farm Bureau as your top options, but which carrier will offer you less expensive premiums?

Looking at nationwide averages, Columbia has average rates that are about 30% per month more expensive than those from Southern Farm Bureau.

But that doesn't mean Southern Farm Bureau will necessarily be cheaper than Columbia for every single driver. Car insurance companies use all sorts of complex algorithms to calculate rates, so depending on how clean your driving record is or how old you are (among a multitude of other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both Columbia and Southern Farm Bureau by lots of different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Columbia or Southern Farm Bureau: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Columbia and Southern Farm Bureau only compete against each other in Arkansas, where Southern Farm Bureau offers the cheaper average rates. For Arkansas residents, Southern Farm Bureau offers auto insurance for $103 a month on average. Columbia's average prices come out to be over 30% more expensive, at $142 monthly.

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

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers generally pay a lot more for auto insurance than any group out there on the road. The reason is that young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

That being said, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of nearly $150 less a month by choosing Southern Farm Bureau over Columbia.

Even so, with both carriers, you'll see your premiums drop significantly once you turn 25. For example, average rates for Columbia policyholders reduce more than 55% and Southern Farm Bureau's prices lower around 50% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age usually enjoy some of the lowest car insurance rates you'll ever see. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which normally decreases their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase premiums.

When looking at Columbia and Southern Farm Bureau specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Southern Farm Bureau gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $33 more affordable than the national average for Columbia.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that insurance premiums are typically more expensive for those who are single than they are for married policyholders? That's generally because married drivers tend to own and insure multiple cars, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Southern Farm Bureau is the clear winner for single drivers, with prices about $57 per month less expensive than Columbia, on average. For married couples, the advantage is clear again - Southern Farm Bureau has the edge when it comes to average rates.

Columbia vs. Southern Farm Bureau: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding. That means when it comes to car insurance men will usually end up paying a little more.

Women normally pay over $10 a month less than men with Columbia, and around $6 less with Southern Farm Bureau.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Southern Farm Bureau comes out on top for both men and women, with average prices 32% less for men and 31% cheaper for women.

Columbia or Southern 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.

Auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are multiple different coverages that account for a range of different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

However, most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which typically refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages alongside what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Southern Farm Bureau usually offers more affordable rates of $54 compared to Columbia's $68. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Southern Farm Bureau again has the edge, with policies about $80 per month less expensive than Columbia, on average.

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

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from car insurance companies offering great premiums for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

It's no secret secret that collisions and tickets lead to higher rates, but which carrier -- Columbia or Southern Farm Bureau -- has the most affordable premiums for drivers with less-than-ideal driving 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 Southern Farm Bureau typically raises rates around $8 per month, on average.

But Southern Farm Bureau tends to offer the best prices for drivers both with a speeding ticket and with a clean record -- their rates are around 14% cheaper for drivers with clean records and 18% less expensive for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Columbia drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their premiums increase by over 25%, while those who have insurance through Southern Farm Bureau will see about a 25% increase.

Overall, the cheaper prices come from Southern Farm Bureau, with monthly premiums averaging $116 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. For example, Columbia increases average rates by just under $150 a month -- that's over a 55% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, Southern Farm Bureau tends to be the much more affordable option with average premiums of $108 per month compared to $236 from Columbia.

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

Did you know that many auto insurance carriers take into account your credit score when calculating rates? This isn't always the case (for example, Hawaii and Michigan are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for many policyholders.

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

Looking at Columbia and Southern Farm Bureau 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 a solid credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Southern Farm Bureau. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save just under 50% compared to Columbia, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $56 or 40% cheaper every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Southern Farm Bureau typically offers lower premiums than Columbia when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $41 per month less with Southern Farm Bureau compared to Columbia, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of around $26 monthly.

Is Columbia or Southern Farm Bureau 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 how much car insurance carriers will charge for coverage. Normally, the more miles you put on your vehicle each year, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

In this case, neither Columbia or Southern Farm Bureau report increasing prices for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Even so, Southern Farm Bureau comes out as the lowest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car each year, with average rates of $103 a month for both.

Columbia vs. Southern Farm Bureau: 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 auto insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a large impact as well. Usually, drivers who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural policyholders because of the number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Southern Farm Bureau normally comes out as the cheapest option for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the most affordable rates from both carriers, but Southern Farm Bureau comes out on top with average prices about $83 per month. Southern Farm Bureau also has more affordable average premiums for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $59 and $37 per month respective difference when compared to Columbia drivers in similar areas.

Columbia vs. Southern Farm Bureau Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new 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 auto insurance discounts as you can.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem difficult 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 Southern Farm Bureau offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Columbia blows Southern Farm Bureau away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 11 different discounts to Southern Farm Bureau's four.

Both companies offer many of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good student, and multi-policy discounts -- but Columbia also offers ABS discounts, anti-theft discounts, distant student discounts, and more that Southern Farm Bureau does not.

Southern Farm Bureau's discounts come through just a few categories, including Defensive Driver, Driver Training, Good Student, and more.

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

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your car insurance rates. We've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers, too. 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?

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

• You don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault accidents on your record.
• You already have a great credit score.
• You're buying insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

Columbia might be best for you if...

• You're looking for discounts -- Columbia has the most.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Columbia and Southern 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 sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple carriers, not just Columbia and Southern Farm Bureau. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple quotes from some of the best insurance companies in your area, all for free.

Columbia vs. Southern Farm Bureau FAQs

Is Columbia or Southern Farm Bureau cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, Southern Farm Bureau is the less expensive of the two carriers, offering average rates of $103 a month compared to $150 for Columbia. However, Southern Farm Bureau won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for every driver, since there are several different factors (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Columbia or Southern Farm Bureau?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". No one company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

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

Insurance companies take a look at a lot of different variables when determining the premiums they charge policyholders. Things such as gender, age, your driving record, where your home is, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Columbia and Southern Farm Bureau calculate rates 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 a bunch of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the car 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, 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 auto insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best premium. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Columbia or Southern Farm Bureau 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.