Find Auto Insurance in Columbus GA

Which Company Has the Lowest Cost of Car Insurance in Columbus?

Columbus, GA is a medium-sized city of 198,000 people, located at the Georgia-Alabama border. When the wider metro area is accounted for in the U.S. census, the population rises to over 300,000. This population is not only moderate in size but it’s rather young, with a median age of 35 for the total metro area and 33 for the city itself. While the moderate population helps insurance rates, the relative youthfulness of the citizenry tends to elevate premiums.

Another factor that negatively impacts premiums is auto theft rates. The Columbus area is in the top 100 worst areas for auto theft in the United States. In fact, the area is ranked #81 and has a per capita theft rate of 312, but only 954 total stolen cars in 2018. Thus, it’s advised that drivers account for theft statistics when purchasing automobile insurance.

On the other hand, the average commute time for the area’s estimated 120,000 employees is a respectable 21 minutes one way. A household with two cars and two workers thus logs approximately 7 hours per week driving to and from work. This number rises when other trips such as shopping, socializing, and recreation are included. While this number is lower than the average US city, which average 26 minutes for a one-way trek to work, it’s still significant and a major factor in how car insurance premiums are calculated.

Keep reading to learn more about insurance rates in Columbus, GA.

How Much Auto Insurance Coverage is Needed for Columbus Drivers?

Georgia’s motor vehicle laws require that every motorist carry a minimum level of insurance when on the road. The state sets the minimum level of bodily injury coverage at $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. Meanwhile, the minimum liability for property damage allowed by Georgia law is $25,000. These minimums can be met by any insurer’s liability policy coverage. Though drivers must meet the state’s minimum liability requirements, a liability policy is rather limited and still exposes a driver to risk, and sometimes debilitating inconvenience.

That is, when a driver is deemed at-fault in an accident and they only have liability coverage, neither their bodily damage nor their property is covered for treatment or repair. Even if a driver is not at-fault but they only have liability coverage, they must wait until the claim is settled by the at-fault driver’s insurance. However, with a collision or comprehensive policy, that driver can immediately begin the repair process and then their insurance can bill the at-fault driver’s company to settle the account.

Cheap Car Insurance in Columbus by Insurer

The following chart details the cheapest car insurance companies in Georgia. Columbus drivers should review this list but should be careful to research the companies. That is, though it’s terrific to pay low premiums, drivers should seek out companies that have high customer service ratings and which offer insurance packages that best meet their needs.

Use our pro guide to find the best cheap car insurance quotes.

Low Cost Auto Insurance for Bad Credit in Columbus

Georgia, like other states, allows insurance companies to elevate premiums for drivers who have a poor credit score. This factor is independent of their driving record and can dramatically impact premiums. In fact, a driver with poor credit can pay more than $1,000 in extra fees than their neighbor who had excellent credit. Even if that neighbor has a DWI, the poor-credit driver will pay as much as $800 more in insurance premiums.

Are you looking for cheap insurance with bad credit? Check out this guide.

Full Coverage Vs. Liability Coverage

What is Liability-Only?

Liability insurance covers the possible cost of damage you cause to others while driving. This could mean the cost of medical care for those injured in an accident or repair costs of the damage you have caused to other vehicles.

With liability insurance, there are 3 key numbers: injury coverage per person, coverage for total injury per accident, and property damage coverage per accident. Each state has different requirements for car insurance minimums. In a policy that has coverage for 15/30/25 means $15,000 per injured person, with a maximum of $30,000 for all the people who are injured in an accident, and $25,000 in coverage for property damage.

What Full Coverage Covers

While liability insurance covers other people and vehicles in an accident where you were the one considered at fault, full coverage insurance can also cover you and your vehicle as well. Full coverage includes two different types of coverage combined into one insurance plan; comprehensive insurance and collision.

Comprehensive coverage is for the damage of other vehicles that are outside of driving situations such as weather damage, fire, or theft.

Collision coverage is basically to pay for damage that you caused while driving such as an accident with another vehicle, hitting an object, or driving off the road.

The difference between collision and comprehensive is, if a tree were to fall on your car and damage it, comprehensive insurance would cover it, however, if you were driving and hit a tree causing damage to your car, then it would be covered by collision.

What are the Major Differences Between Full Coverage and Liability?

The difference between full and liability coverage is quite dramatic. With liability, insurers gamble that they will only have to pay for one car in an accident. With a comprehensive or full coverage policy, insurance companies know that they are taking on more liability exposure and so their rates reflect the increased risk. In the case of a comprehensive policy, they might even have to cover claims for damages that don’t arise from a traffic incident.

Macon

South Fulton

How to Lower Your Insurance Rates Policy

There are many car insurance discounts and ways to save on your policy in Columbus:

This guide can help you find the best discounts on auto insurance.

These are the Common Reasons for Insurance Rates in Columbus GA

There are many factors that affect your insurance rates, number one being your driving record and whether or not you have had previous accidents where you were at fault. Other things that can affect the amount you will have to pay for auto insurance are:

Use this guide to find low cost rates with accidents from the top insurance companies.

Check Out Car Insurance Companies in Columbus and Reviews

• AAA
• Allstate
• American Family
• Amica
• Costco

• Dairyland
• Esurance
• Farmers
• Geico
• Infinity

• Liberty Mutual
• Metromile
• Nationwide
• Progressive
• State Farm

• The General
• Titan
• Travelers
• USAA