Cheapest and Best Car Insurance in Meridian, ID (July 2024)

In Meridian, Idaho, the right car insurance can vary per coverage and driver profile. For full and minimum coverage, American National P&C offers the lowest rates. Families with teens will find Auto-Owners most economical.

When customer service is prioritized, Auto-Owners also stands out as the best overall, offering the best mix of price and service. Choosing the right insurer for you depends on your personal coverage needs and preferences.

American National P&C offers the cheapest minimum coverage car insurance in Meridian. Find the cheapest car insurance options to save on your premiums.

• American National P&C: $204 per year
• State Farm: $250 per year

Dairyland has the most expensive policy for minimum coverage in Meridian, at $977 annually. This $773 difference underlines the importance of comparing rates for car insurance because it could lead to significant savings.

State Minimum Liability Requirements

For all cities in Idaho, from Boise to Meridian, state law prescribes the baseline for compulsory car insurance coverage. Here's a snapshot of what you're expected to have:

• $20,000 bodily injury per person
  
• $50,000 bodily injury per accident
  
• $15,000 property damage liability per accident
  

Imagine you're involved in an incident where you're at fault, and the bodily injury liability to one person is $25,000. Your minimum coverage would pay up to $20,000 — leaving you to cover the remaining $5,000 personally. The same principle applies to multiple injuries per accident, with the policy covering up to $50,000, no matter the higher actual costs.

American National P&C offers the cheapest full coverage car insurance in Meridian, a must for drivers looking for significant savings. Here's how the top two providers stack up:

• American National P&C: $465 per year
• State Farm: $522 per year

Dairyland has the priciest policy at $1,972 annually, showing a difference of $1,507 when compared to American National P&C. This gap underscores the importance of shopping around. Full coverage car insurance typically costs more than minimum coverage because it provides broader protection.

Do You Need Full Coverage in Idaho?

A full coverage policy in Meridian includes coverage for damage to your own vehicle in the form of comprehensive and collision coverages. It usually also includes increased liability limits.

• Collision Insurance: This provides coverage for your vehicle in the event of a collision, whether with another vehicle or or a stationary object like a tree or light pole. It also covers rollover accidents and pothole damage.

• Comprehensive Insurance: This coverage insures your vehicle against various types of damage not caused by collisions, including theft, vandalism, fires, natural disasters and being struck by an animal like a deer.

If you have a new vehicle, it's wise to opt for full coverage insurance for more robust financial protection. If you're leasing or have a car loan, you are typically required to carry full coverage insurance.

On the other hand, owners of older vehicles may find that the extra cost — which can amount to several hundred dollars more per year — is not justified by the value of the vehicle. When deciding how much car insurance coverage you need, consider your ideal balance: more extensive coverage comes with higher premiums, but getting less coverage means you may pay more out of pocket if you need to file a claim.

American National P&C is the most affordable option in Meridian for drivers needing a full coverage policy after certain infractions. The following providers offer the lowest rates for each individual offense:

• Speeding ticket: American National P&C ($571 per year)
• At-fault accident: State Farm ($638 per year)
• DUI: American National P&C ($754 per year)

The most expensive rates for these offenses are consistently with Dairyland. The variance in annual premiums underscores how the type of violation can significantly influence car insurance rates — for example, the cheapest rate after a speeding ticket with American National P&C is $571, while the rate after a DUI with the same company escalates to $754.

In Meridian and comparable cities, insurance rates typically escalate with the severity of a driving violation due to the increased risk drivers pose to insurers. To illustrate, drivers with a DUI offense in Merican face an average annual premium of $1,797, compared with those with a speeding ticket who pay around $1,269.

People with driving offenses should diligently compare insurance rates because this can lead to significant savings and ensure they find the most cost-effective coverage for their situation.

State Farm offers the most affordable full coverage car insurance for male and female teen drivers in Meridian.

• State Farm: $1,072 per year for female teens and $1,360 per year for male teens
• Auto-Owners: $1,440 per year for female teens and $1,476 per year for male teens

These rates are especially pertinent for a household including two parents and a teen driver. Travelers has the most expensive policy for male teens at $2,289 annually. The rate difference demonstrates the importance of shopping around for families with young drivers, who typically face higher insurance premiums due to their increased risk profile.

In Meridian, as well as in other cities across the nation, young drivers face steep costs for car insurance. On average, a teen purchasing their own policy will encounter an annual premium of $3,938, compared with just $1,624 when added to a family's plan. Insurers justify this significant discrepancy through statistics showing increased risk among young, inexperienced drivers.

Moreover, obtaining individual coverage can be challenging for teens due to stringent approval criteria focusing on age and driving history, making a joint family policy both more accessible and cost-effective for insuring young motorists.

USAA offers the cheapest car insurance for military backgrounds in Meridian.

• USAA: $454 per year
• American National P&C: $465 per year

**USAA**has services specially tailored for the needs of active duty military members, making it a valuable option for military personnel and their families.

In Meridian, comparing car insurance rates is a key strategy for cost savings. However, the process is often cumbersome, potentially requiring over an hour to examine rates from three or more companies.

MoneyGeek's car insurance calculator can help you streamline this process. By inputting details like age, driving history, credit score and preferred coverage, you can instantly receive rate estimates.

Choosing the best auto insurance hinges on prioritizing service quality, cost, coverage and other factors. MoneyGeek's analysis, utilizing distinct scoring criteria for service, affordability and overall excellence, has identified Auto-Owners as Meridian's premier provider across the board:

• Best overall: Auto-Owners (MoneyGeek score 81 out of 100)
• Best for service: Auto-Owners (MoneyGeek score 78 out of 100)
• Best cheap: Auto-Owners (MoneyGeek score 84 out of 100)

Auto-Owners emerges as Meridian's best for overall value, service quality and affordability. Its victory in all categories showcases its ability to offer balanced, cost-effective and premium service.

Auto-Owners is the best option in Meridian for drivers seeking the best car insurance.

• Auto-Owners: MoneyGeek score of 81 out of 100 ($662 per year)
• American Family: MoneyGeek score of 81 out of 100 ($612 per year)

Auto-Owners stands out in Meridian with a top MoneyGeek score, reflecting its high marks in customer satisfaction and claims handling, essential factors for a full coverage policy. Its reputation for providing excellent service and competitive pricing ensures customers get quality coverage without compromising value.

Auto-Owners is the best option in Meridian for car insurance when prioritizing customer service. This ranking is based on general satisfaction, claims handling and coverages, without considering the rates.

• Auto-Owners: MoneyGeek score of 78 out of 100 ($662 per year)
• American Family: MoneyGeek score of 77 out of 100 ($612 per year)

Auto-Owners distinguishes itself as the leading insurance provider not just through its overall score but also by earning the highest claims satisfaction score among competitors. This is indicative of the company's commitment to efficient and effective customer service during the critical post-accident phase, ensuring clients are well taken care of when it matters the most.

Auto-Owners is the best option in Meridian if you’re seeking affordable car insurance without compromising on quality. The scoring reflects a balance of cost-effectiveness, along with customer satisfaction and claims handling.

• Auto-Owners: MoneyGeek score of 84 out of 100 ($324 per year)
• American Family: MoneyGeek score of 80 out of 100 ($351 per year)

Auto-Owners distinguishes itself with the highest MoneyGeek score in affordable car insurance offerings for a minimum coverage policy. The combination of a strong affordability score, excellent customer satisfaction and top-notch claims handling propels it to the top.

In Meridian, Idaho, the average cost of car insurance is $822, according to MoneyGeek's analysis. When compared with the overall state average of $827, Meridian’s insurance costs are slightly less. The state average is substantially lower than the national average, with Idaho’s average insurance premium being $954 less than the national average of $1,781.

Car insurance premiums are influenced by a multitude of factors, with location being a significant element. Regions are assessed based on risk exposure, which includes traffic density, likelihood of theft or vandalism, and the frequency of accidents.

Meridian holds the title for the cheapest car insurance at $656, while Boise is at the opposite end as the most expensive city premium at $670. These figures highlight the importance of location in determining insurance costs, and suggest that in areas beyond city limits with less traffic density, insurance rates could potentially be even lower.