Cheapest Auto Insurance in Columbus, Nebraska (2024)

Columbus residents pay less for car insurance than Nebraskans in other cities — the overall average cost of car insurance in Columbus is $143. By comparison, the overall average for the state is $152.

Short commute times and small population size could contribute to the lower cost of car insurance in Columbus. Residents of Columbus spend an average of just 12 minutes driving to work each day, and the city has a population of just over 24,000.^[1]

Though car insurance in Columbus is cheaper than in some other Nebraska cities, it’s still a good idea to compare car insurance quotes from multiple insurers to find the best coverage for your situation.

3 of the cheapest car insurance companies in Columbus

The cheapest car insurance company may not always be your best option. Car insurance companies consider many factors when setting rates, such as your age, ZIP code, driving record, vehicle type, and even your credit history.

Your rate will be different from that of every other driver, so it’s crucial to compare quotes from multiple insurers to find the best fit.

Best insurer for cheap rates: American Family

Best insurer for discounts: Allstate

Best insurer for military members and veterans: USAA

How to get the cheapest car insurance in Columbus

These are some ways to get cheap auto insurance in Columbus:

• Compare quotes. Prices and coverage options can vary significantly by insurer. Requesting quotes from a few different insurers can help you find the right insurance policy for your needs and budget.

• Raise your deductible. Your deductible is the amount of a claim you must pay before insurance kicks in. For example, if your deductible is $500, raising it to $1,000 may lower your premium. Just make sure you can afford to pay your deductible amount out of pocket in the event of a claim.

• Practice safe driving habits. Drive safely by limiting distractions, adhering to speed limits, and giving yourself plenty of time to hit the brakes. Many insurance companies offer discounts to people who practice safe driving habits and maintain a clean driving record.

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Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Columbus: Auto-Owners

Nebraska law requires all drivers to carry liability-only car insurance. This coverage pays for the injuries and property damage of the other driver if you cause a car accident but not for your own injuries or vehicle repairs.

Liability-only insurance may make sense if an affordable monthly premium is your primary concern. Just know that only having liability insurance may result in higher out-of-pocket expenses in the event of an accident.

Columbus residents pay an average monthly rate of $74 for liability-only car insurance. Here are some of the best rates for liability coverage in Columbus.

Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Columbus: Auto-Owners

Full-coverage car insurance isn’t a specific type of insurance but instead refers to policies that include additional coverage beyond liability — typically, comprehensive and collision insurance. While liability insurance is mandatory in Nebraska, full coverage is optional.

Liability insurance helps protect the other driver if you’re in an accident. Full coverage protects you through collision and comprehensive insurance. Collision coverage pays for damages from collisions with other vehicles or objects, while comprehensive coverage protects against non-collision events like weather, theft, and vandalism.

Drivers who want the broadest protection and minimal out-of-pocket costs in the event of an incident should consider full-coverage car insurance. On average, full coverage costs Columbus drivers $212 per month. Below are some of the cheapest options for full-coverage auto insurance in Columbus.

Car insurance requirements in Nebraska

Nebraska is an at-fault state, meaning you’re financially responsible for car accidents you cause. Under Nebraska law, you must always have proof of financial responsibility in your vehicle. This can include proof of insurance that meets the state-minimum requirements or a $75,000 surety bond.^[2]

Here are the minimum-coverage requirements in the state of Nebraska:^[3]

If you want broader protection, consider purchasing additional coverages, such as:

• 

  Collision coverage

  Collision insurance helps pay to repair or replace your vehicle if it’s damaged in an accident or collision with an object like a tree or telephone pole.

• 

  Comprehensive coverage

  Comprehensive insurance covers damages to your vehicle from non-collision events, like theft, vandalism, and weather.

• 

  Medical payments coverage

  Medical payments helps cover medical care and funeral expenses for you and your passengers after a car accident.

• 

  Roadside assistance coverage

  Roadside assistance pays for roadside services, such as towing, fuel delivery, and tire changes.

• 

  Gap coverage

  If you total your car, gap insurance covers the difference between your car’s value and the amount you owe on your loan or lease.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident

Incidents such as at-fault accidents, speeding tickets, and other moving violations can increase your insurance premiums. Driving under the influence can result in hefty fines and jail time, in addition to higher insurance costs.

Your car insurance premium may rise after an incident because insurance companies consider your driving record when setting rates. Insurers consider drivers with incidents on their records as higher risk than drivers with clean records.

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Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket: Auto-Owners

If you’re caught exceeding the speed limit, you may receive a speeding ticket. Aside from the fine of the speeding ticket itself, you may also see a bump in your car insurance premium.

Insurers view speeding as risky, and rightfully so — speed has been a factor in approximately one-third of all motor vehicle fatalities for more than two decades, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).^[4]

Columbus drivers with a speeding ticket face an average monthly cost of $112 for liability-only coverage and $322 for full coverage. Here are some of the cheapest car insurance companies for drivers with speeding tickets in the city.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident: Auto-Owners

If you get into an at-fault accident, your rates will likely increase. Though some states have “no-fault” rules, Nebraska isn’t one of them. Nebraska is an at-fault state. In an at-fault state, if you cause an accident, you’re financially responsible for the losses of the other driver. Fortunately, the effects of at-fault accidents on your rates diminish over time.

In Columbus, policies for drivers with at-fault accidents average $112 per month for liability-only auto insurance and $322 for full coverage. Below are some of the lowest monthly rates for drivers with an at-fault accident in the city.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI: Auto-Owners

Driving under the influence (DUI) in Columbus can result in fines, license suspension, and even jail time in some cases. Penalties for a DUI in Nebraska depend on your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level and if you have prior DUI convictions within the last 15 years. First-time offenders face a $500 fine and between seven and 60 days in jail.^[5]

The average overall monthly cost of car insurance with a DUI on your license in Columbus is $132 for liability-only coverage and $322 for full coverage. Here are some of the lowest car insurance rates for drivers with a DUI in the city.

Cheapest car insurance for seniors: Auto-Owners

Age is an important factor for insurers when setting car insurance rates. Generally, rates decrease around age 35 and increase again at around age 70. One reason senior drivers pay higher rates is that they’re more likely to have health conditions that affect their driving capabilities, which presents increased risk to insurers.

Columbus drivers older than 60 pay an average of $51 per month for liability-only auto insurance and $145 for full coverage. Below are the average monthly car insurance rates for seniors in the city.

Cheapest car insurance for teens: Auto-Owners

Teen drivers pay higher-than-average car insurance rates due to their lack of driving experience. Additionally, statistics show teens are more likely to get into accidents than any other age group.^[6] Because teens present a greater insurance risk, companies raise rates accordingly.

On average, teen drivers in Columbus pay $133 per month for liability-only coverage and $382 for full coverage.

One way to minimize car insurance costs for your teen is to choose an insurer that offers discounts for young drivers, such as driver education and good student discounts. Teens can also keep rates relatively low by staying on their parents’ insurance policy.

Below are the average insurance rates for teens in the city.

Columbus car insurance quotes by credit tier

The state of Nebraska allows insurance companies to consider your credit history when setting car insurance rates.^[7] Insurers generally charge drivers with poor credit scores a higher premium than drivers with excellent or good credit scores.

Here are the average monthly quotes for each of the following credit tiers:

Is car insurance more expensive in Columbus?

The average price of full-coverage car insurance in Columbus is $212 per month, compared to the national average of $211 and the state average of $210. Auto insurance is typically cheaper in Columbus than in the cities of Bellevue, Lincoln, and Omaha.

Columbus has a small population of around 24,000 in comparison to Omaha, which has around 485,000 people. Columbus drivers have shorter commutes than Omaha drivers, with an average driving time of 12.1 minutes, compared to 19.3 minutes for Omaha drivers.^{[1] [8]} These factors likely contribute to Columbus’ lower auto insurance rates.

More cities in Nebraska

Here’s how other cities in Nebraska stack up to Columbus in terms of auto insurance rates.

Columbus car insurance FAQs