Best car insurance in Columbus, GA (2024)

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Gianetta PalmerContributing WriterGianetta Palmer is a contributing writer at Policygenius, where she covers life insurance, home insurance, and auto insurance. Her writing has also appeared in TIME, Readers Digest, Healthline, and elsewhere.&Rachael BrennanSenior Editor & Licensed Auto Insurance ExpertRachael Brennan is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. Her work has also been featured in MoneyGeek, Clearsurance, Adweek, Boston Globe, The Ladders, and AutoInsurance.com.

Edited by

Anna SwartzAnna SwartzSenior Managing EditorAnna Swartz is a senior managing editor who specializes in home, auto, renters, and disability insurance at Policygenius. Previously, she was a senior staff writer at Mic and a writer at The Dodo. Her work has also appeared in Salon, HuffPost, MSN, AOL, and Heeb.
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Maria FilindrasMaria FilindrasFinancial AdvisorMaria Filindras is a financial advisor, a licensed Life & Health insurance agent in California, and a member of the Financial Review Council at Policygenius.

Updated|2 min read

Expert reviewedExpert reviewedThis article has been reviewed by a member of ourFinancial Review Council to ensure all sources, statistics, and claims meet the highest standard for accurate and unbiased advice.Learn more about oureditorial review process.

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The average cost for full coverage car insurance in Columbus is $1,645 per year, which is more expensive than Georgia’s state average of $1,625. However, insurance rates are different for everyone, and factors like your age, location, and the car you drive all go into calculating your specific rates. 

Ready to shop car insurance?

Policygenius can help you compare quotes from top companies so you can choose the coverage that works best for you. The cheapest company for one driver won’t be the best rate for another, which is why it’s so important to compare options.

Key takeaways

  • Auto-Owners Insurance has the lowest average rates in Columbus for full coverage car insurance at $1,116 per year.

  • The cheapest ZIP code for car insurance in Columbus is 31820.

  • Drivers in Georgia must have at least $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident in bodily injury liability and $25,000 in property damage liability.

Methodology & why you can trust our rates

Policygenius has analyzed car insurance rates provided by Quadrant Information Services for every ZIP code in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C. For full coverage policies, the following coverage limits were used:

  • Bodily injury liability: $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident

  • Property damage liability: $50,000

  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist: $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident

  • Comprehensive: $500 deductible

  • Collision: $500 deductible

In some cases, additional coverages were added where required by state or insurer.

Rates for overall average rate, rates by ZIP code, and cheapest companies determined using averages for single drivers ages 30, 35, and 45. Our sample vehicle was a 2017 Toyota Camry LE driven 10,000 miles/year.

Rates for driving violations and “Poor” credit determined using average rates for a single male 30-year-old driver with a credit score under 578.

Some carriers may be represented by affiliates or subsidiaries. Rates provided are a sample of costs. Your actual quotes may differ.

Cheapest car insurance companies in Columbus, GA

No two people are alike, and that is why no one pays the same exact rates for their car insurance. Insurance companies use the same information to set rates, but how companies use personal data varies by company. That’s why it’s so important to shop around and get quotes from multiple companies before you buy a policy.

Company

Average cost

JD Power Rating

Auto-Owners Insurance

$93/month

865

USAA

$94/month

890

Central Insurance

$103/month

--

COUNTRY Financial

$109/month

--

GEICO

$117/month

874

Cheapest car insurance rates by ZIP code in Columbus, GA

Your ZIP code is one of the biggest factors insurance companies use to set car insurance rates. Local factors like the number of stolen vehicles, accidents, and tickets handed out in your neighborhood help determine your risk of filing a claim. Below are the cheapest average rates by ZIP code in Columbus.

ZIP code

Average cost

31820

$1,624

31901

$1,643

31909

$1,643

31907

$1,646

31903

$1,651

31906

$1,651

31904

$1,656

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Choosing the right car insurance company in Columbus, GA

What’s important to you when considering insurance for your family — are you looking for excellent customer service and don’t mind paying more for it, or do you want the most affordable coverage you can find? Do you prefer a company with perks like accident forgiveness?

Policygenius can help you see quotes from top companies and find insurance that’s tailored to your needs. Answer a few questions and you’ll get fast access to your options.

Car insurance rates for drivers with driving violations in Columbus, GA

Too many points on your driving history can signify to insurance companies that you’re a risky driver and are more likely to be involved in an accident. Some violations, like a DUI, have a more serious impact on your car insurance prices than others.

Violation

Auto-Owners Insurance

USAA

Central Insurance

COUNTRY Financial

GEICO

At-fault accident

$1,483

$1,697

$1,951

$1,826

$2,190

Suspended license

$2,088

$2,255

$2,729

$2,235

$2,663

Open container

$1,106

$1,748

$2,729

$1,891

$1,442

Expired registration

$1,106

$1,474

$1,594

$1,891

$1,442

Driving without lights

$1,106

$1,474

$1,684

$1,891

$1,442

Running a red light

$1,106

$1,474

$1,684

$1,891

$1,442

Following too closely

$1,106

$1,474

$1,684

$1,891

$1,442

Hit and run

$2,088

$2,503

$2,729

$2,235

$4,282

Not-at-fault accident

$1,106

$1,195

$1,323

$1,441

$1,280

Passing a school bus

$1,224

$1,748

$1,684

$1,891

$2,663

Reckless driving

$2,088

$1,748

$2,729

$2,235

$2,663

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Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI in Columbus, GA

Company

Rates for drivers with DUIs

Auto-Owners Insurance

$2,088

COUNTRY Financial

$2,235

USAA

$2,378

Central Insurance

$2,729

GEICO

$4,282

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket in Columbus, GA

Company

Rates for drivers with speeding tickets

Auto-Owners Insurance

$1,420

USAA

$1,474

Central Insurance

$1,684

COUNTRY Financial

$1,891

GEICO

$2,663

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with bad credit in Columbus, GA

If you’ve had trouble paying your bills on time or have filed for bankruptcy, your insurance rates could be more than double compared to someone with a high credit score. To lower your rates, work to improve your credit rating by paying your bills on time, paying down debts and establishing new lines of credit.

Company

Rates for drivers with bad credit

GEICO

$1,721

Nationwide

$2,047

COUNTRY Financial

$2,058

USAA

$2,153

Allstate

$2,293

Ready to shop car insurance?

Buying car insurance in Columbus, GA

Georgia state law says that in order to drive on public roads, drivers must have the following minimum liability insurance requirements:

  • Bodily Injury Liability Coverage per person: $25,000

  • Bodily Injury Liability Coverage per accident: $50,000 

  • Property Damage Liability Coverage: $25,000

  • Motor vehicle owners and lessees are required by law to maintain continuous Georgia liability insurance coverage on vehicles with active registrations.

Georgia is a fault state when it comes to car accidents. That means that after an accident, the insurance company of the at-fault driver is responsible for covering everyone’s damage or medical bills. That’s why it’s so important to have high liability limits — otherwise you could have to pay out of pocket for expensive repairs or hospital bills after a crash.

How to get cheap car insurance in Columbus, GA

Car insurance is expensive, but many companies offer discounts. Here are some of the most common:

  • Safe-driver discount: For drivers with no accident claims during a specified period or who take a defensive driving course.

  • Military discount: A discount for active-duty service members and their families

  • Bundling discount: For getting multiple policies, like home and auto or auto and motorcycle, with the same insurer 

  • Low mileage discount: For drivers who travel fewer than 7,500 miles yearly

If these discounts don’t apply to you, shopping around for car insurance is still a great way to save money.

Frequently asked questions

What is minimum insurance coverage in Georgia?

Georgia state law requires drivers to have a minimum of 25/50/25 in liability car insurance. Full coverage isn't required by law, but drivers who have a lease or loan may be required by their contract to have both comprehensive and collision insurance.

Is car insurance in Georgia expensive?

Car insurance rates in Georgia are slightly higher than the national average, but drivers can still save money on car insurance by comparing quotes from multiple companies.

Is Georgia an at-fault state?

Georgia is an a-fault state, which means that the driver who is responsible for an accident is financially responsible for all bodily injury and property damage costs caused by that accident. If you are at fault for an accident and don't have enough liability insurance, you will be required to pay the additional costs out of pocket.

How much is car insurance per month in Georgia?

The average cost of car insurance in Georgia is $135 per month, or $1,625 per year.

Authors

Gianetta Palmer is a contributing writer at Policygenius, where she covers life insurance, home insurance, and auto insurance. Her writing has also appeared in TIME, Readers Digest, Healthline, and elsewhere.

Rachael Brennan is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. Her work has also been featured in MoneyGeek, Clearsurance, Adweek, Boston Globe, The Ladders, and AutoInsurance.com.

Editor

Anna Swartz is a senior managing editor who specializes in home, auto, renters, and disability insurance at Policygenius. Previously, she was a senior staff writer at Mic and a writer at The Dodo. Her work has also appeared in Salon, HuffPost, MSN, AOL, and Heeb.

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