How Much Is Car Insurance in Montana? (2023)

Car insurance companies charge premiums based on your driving profile, considering factors like coverage level, driving history and credit score.

Insurer and age can also significantly impact your rates. For example, Montana's average full coverage rates can vary from $437 yearly (from Progressive) to $1,559 yearly (from Kemper). Compare these rates to the state average of $934 annually. Factoring in age, drivers under 30 pay an annual average of $1,106.

Based on MoneyGeek’s research, the average cost of car insurance in Montana is approximately $934 per year. Various factors play a role in determining your premiums, but your driving record can make a significant impact.

Drivers with speeding tickets pay an average of $1,114 yearly for full coverage, while drivers at fault for an accident pay $1,422. A DUI results in a pricey average annual rate of $1,588. It’s worth noting that costs for a liability-only policy tend to be much cheaper.

Montana car insurance rates cost an annual average of $934, relatively close to the national average of $1,054 yearly.

Montana’s lower population density leads to fewer accidents and a moderate car theft rate, leading to fewer claim filings. These metrics contribute to average car insurance rates compared to the rest of the country.

Your costs may differ due to your unique driving profile. Your age and driving record are significant factors that may contribute to more expensive rates.

Your actual rates will likely differ from average costs in Montana since rates can vary greatly depending on the company you choose. State Farm offers the cheapest car insurance in Montana at $168 per year for a minimum coverage policy ($636 per year for full coverage). Meanwhile, Kemper offers the most expensive premiums at $564 annually ($1,559 annually for full coverage).

Drivers on a budget may opt for cheap liability-only policies over full coverage policies. However, you can find affordable full coverage insurance by shopping around.

In Montana, car insurance expenses vary between $295 for the minimum liability-only policy and $1,131 for full coverage with increased liability limits. Costs for a state’s minimum coverage policy are usually less expensive but offer less protection to policyholders.

Raising your limits and opting for comprehensive and collision insurance will increase your annual rates by several hundred dollars. However, you can reduce the premium of a full coverage policy by selecting a higher deductible.

The minimum coverage required in Montana features the lowest liability limits and is the cheapest policy available in the state. These policies cover bodily injury and property damage liability but do not offer comprehensive or collision insurance.

Drivers can choose higher liability limits, often shortened to 50/100/50 or 100/300/100. A policy with a 50/100/50 will have the following liability limit coverage:

• $50,000 in bodily injury liability insurance per person
• $100,000 in bodily injury liability insurance per accident
• $50,000 in property damage liability insurance per accident

Insurance companies typically provide liability limits up to 300/500/300. Remember that liability insurance only covers harm or medical costs to third parties. To safeguard against damages to yourself or your car, you should acquire comprehensive and collision insurance for full coverage protection.

Age is one factor that significantly impacts car insurance rates in Montana. Car insurance costs for new drivers are typically higher due to their inexperience behind the wheel. Below is a comparison of full coverage rates in Montana by age group:

• 22–29: $1,106 per year
• 30–59: $934 per year
• 60+: $861 per year

Drivers in their 20s see higher insurance rates than drivers between 30 and 59. Costs tend to start decreasing as drivers age past 60.

Teens in Montana are likely to pay hundreds more on car insurance than other age groups. Full coverage car insurance for a 16-year-old driver on a family plan costs an average of $2,895 annually. The same driver will pay three times as much at around $6,102 per year if the driver opts for an individual policy.

As a driver ages and accrues more experience on the road, car insurance rates become more affordable. For example, a 19-year-old teen driver on a family plan pays an average of $2,213 annually. Rates become much more affordable for 22-year-olds, who pay $1,714 annually on average. We recommend comparing quotes to find the cheapest auto insurance in Montana for teens.

It’s worth noting that Montana prohibits car insurance companies from using gender as a factor when determining car insurance rates, so male and female teen drivers should pay similar rates.

This discrepancy is due to new cars being more valuable, more expensive to repair and more frequently stolen. In Montana, new car owners pay around $1,413 annually, while drivers with older vehicles pay about $961 yearly.

Actual cash value (ACV) refers to the current value of your vehicle at the time of claim. Insurance companies pay your comprehensive and collision claims based on the ACV of your vehicle. Due to depreciation, newer cars typically have a higher ACV than older cars.

You should consider full coverage insurance if you’re a Montana driver with a new vehicle. These policies will ensure you are covered against damages to your car and not just against liability for damages to others.

Insurers examine different factors to determine a driver’s risk level. Drivers with no history of traffic violations or accidents spend less than drivers with a poor history. On average, Montana drivers will pay the following rates for full coverage insurance based on their record:

• Clean record: $934 per year
• Speeding ticket: $1,114 per year
• At-fault Accident: $1,422 per year
• DUI: $1,588 per year

The more severe your violations, the higher your premiums will be. Drivers with a DUI pay higher premiums than those with a speeding ticket. While finding affordable insurance can be challenging, you can still find cheap car insurance for drivers with poor records in Montana by shopping and comparing quotes from different providers.

Your credit score is another factor that considerably affects the cost of your car insurance. Drivers with poor credit scores in Montana pay around $1,379 per year. However, rates can be as cheap as $750 annually if you keep an excellent score. The average rates for Montana drivers based on their credit score are as follows:

• Excellent: $750 per year
• Good: $887 per year
• Fair: $1,022 per year
• Below fair: $1,178 per year
• Poor: $1,379 per year

Different providers may consider credit scores to varying degrees. That’s why exploring your options is crucial to finding the most affordable auto insurers in Montana for drivers with poor credit.

Where you live is an important factor when calculating car insurance rates. Areas with more traffic and higher population density tend to have more accidents and insurance claims, resulting in higher rates to offset the increased risk. For example, Billings is more expensive than the rest of the state. Drivers in Billings pay an annual average rate of $992 for full coverage car insurance compared to the state average of $934.

The frequency of severe weather events, the number of uninsured or underinsured drivers and the prevalence of auto theft can also affect rates.

Researching car insurance rates can be confusing since costs may depend on many variables. MoneyGeek answers your most frequently asked questions to help you learn more about car insurance costs in Montana.