Cheapest SR-22 Car Insurance in Montana: 2026 Rates and Requirements


Key Takeaways
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State Farm is the cheapest SR-22 insurer in Montana at $36 per month for minimum coverage.

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Montana drivers with a DUI pay an average of $69 per month for state minimum SR-22 coverage.

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Montana requires SR-22 filings for three years, and any coverage lapse resets the entire period.

Cheapest SR-22 Insurance in Montana

Montana has the lowest SR-22 minimum coverage rate in this entire series. State Farm's $36 per month sits $13 below Montana's $49 clean-record average. SR-22 drivers who choose State Farm pay 27% less than a standard driver on average in the state. Kemper is the second-cheapest at $85 per month, a $49 monthly gap. State Farm ranks first in the main provider table and across every city and violation category in this analysis.

For drivers seeking only the state minimum liability coverage, State Farm's $36 monthly rate is the clear recommendation. Drivers with a financed vehicle needing full coverage car insurance in Montana will find State Farm also leads at $106 per month. Drivers with poor credit should review car insurance for drivers with bad credit to compare their options.

State Farm$36$10655%
Kemper$85$18415%
Geico$86$30323%
Allstate$101$2005%
Farmers$110$26218%

Cheapest SR-22 by Violation in Montana

State Farm is the cheapest SR-22 provider across all violation categories in Montana, with its lowest rate of $33 per month for minimum coverage for multiple speeding tickets or a racing violation. The most expensive category is young drivers with a suspension at $43 per month, a $10 difference from the lowest-rate categories. Those with a DUI can review car insurance after a DUI to understand their full range of options.

Drivers With Multiple Speeding TicketsState Farm$33$10045%
Drivers With Racing ViolationState Farm$33$10058%
Drivers With Other ViolationsState Farm$35$12034%
Senior Drivers With a SuspensionState Farm$38$10254%
Drivers With Hit-And-Run AccidentState Farm$40$11153%
Most Drivers Needing a SR-22State Farm$40$11250%
Young Drivers With a SuspensionState Farm$43$12053%

Cheapest SR-22 Insurance in Montana by City

Sunburst has the cheapest SR-22 minimum coverage in Montana at $29 per month, while Billings is the most expensive city at $49 per month, a $20 difference per month. State Farm leads as the cheapest company across all four Montana cities in our data, including Bozeman where it comes in at $43 per month. Drivers looking to reduce costs further should review cheapest car insurance in Montana for additional savings strategies.

SunburstState Farm$29$10353%
ZurichState Farm$31$10552%
BozemanState Farm$43$11243%
BillingsState Farm$49$11946%

Best SR-22 Insurance Companies in Montana

State Farm ranks first among SR-22 insurers in Montana for affordability, making it the right choice for drivers who need the lowest possible rate to reinstate their license and maintain continuous coverage during their SR-22 period. Montana's rural road network means many drivers travel long distances, and State Farm's broad statewide agent network gives SR-22 drivers easy access to in-person support when managing their filing.

Progressive ranks second and performs best in customer experience, making it a good fit for SR-22 drivers who prioritize responsive claims service and digital policy management over the lowest rate. Drivers comparing their options can also review the best car insurance in Montana and best car insurance companies to see how SR-22 providers stack up against the broader market.

State Farm4.853.264.91
Progressive4.414.044.855
Allstate4.133.824.244.71
Farmers4.073.6754.57
Nationwide3.993.64.094.74
State Farm
Top Pick for Cheapest SR-22 Rates in Montana

State Farm

State Farm offers the cheapest SR-22 minimum coverage in Montana at $36 per month, well below Montana's clean-record average of $49 per month, and its perfect affordability score points to consistent savings across every city and violation type in MoneyGeek's analysis. State Farm's NAIC complaint ratio is 0.63, well below the national median of 1.00, indicating fewer customer complaints than expected for its size. SR-22 certificates are submitted to the Montana Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) within 24 to 48 hours, and local agents across Montana are consistently praised for walking drivers through the reinstatement process. The company holds an AM Best A++ (Superior) financial strength rating.

Progressive
Top Pick for SR-22 Customer Experience in Montana

Progressive

Progressive offers SR-22 minimum coverage in Montana starting at $100 per month for a 40-year-old male driver with a serious violation, and its top customer experience score reflects the highest service ratings among SR-22 insurers in the state. Progressive's NAIC complaint ratio is 0.72, below the national median of 1.00, indicating above-average customer satisfaction relative to its market share. Our research found Progressive's digital filing tools are consistently cited by Montana SR-22 drivers as making policy management and payment tracking straightforward without requiring an agent visit. Progressive holds an AM Best A+ (Superior) financial strength rating.

How Much Is SR-22 Insurance in Montana?

Montana drivers with a DUI pay an average of $69 per month for state minimum SR-22 coverage, compared to $49 per month for a clean-record driver, a 41% increase. Other violations carry lower rates, so reviewing the average cost of car insurance in Montana or using the car insurance calculator Montana can help estimate your rate.

Data filtered by:
State Minimum Liability Only
At Fault Accident ($1000-$1999 Prop Dmg)State Minimum Liability Only$69$827No Data
Speeding 11-15 MPH over limitState Minimum Liability Only$56$675No Data
DUI - BAC >= .08State Minimum Liability Only$69$831No Data
Texting While DrivingState Minimum Liability Only$59$712No Data
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SR-22 FILING FEE IN MONTANA

Montana insurers charge a one-time filing fee of $15 to $25 to submit your SR-22 to the Montana Motor Vehicle Division (MVD). This fee is separate from your insurance premium and from the MVD reinstatement fee, which varies by violation type.

Montana SR-22 Insurance Requirements

An SR-22 is a certificate of financial responsibility, not an insurance policy itself, that your insurer files with the Montana Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) to verify you carry the state's required minimum liability coverage. Montana requires drivers to maintain SR-22 status for three years following a qualifying violation. Unlike some states, Montana does not use an FR-44 form, which carries higher liability requirements.

If your coverage lapses at any point during the SR-22 period, your insurer must notify the MVD immediately, which triggers an automatic license suspension. To reinstate your license after a lapse, you must pay a $50 reinstatement fee to the MVD and restart the three-year SR-22 clock from the beginning. Review the Montana Motor Vehicle Division website to better understand these requirements.

Montana Minimum Liability Limits

Montana law requires all drivers, including those with an SR-22, to carry at least the following minimum liability coverage limits.

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    $25,000 Bodily Injury Per Person

    Covers up to $25,000 for injuries to a single person in an accident you cause. This limit applies per person, not per accident.

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    $50,000 Bodily Injury Per Accident

    Provides up to $50,000 total for all injuries in a single accident you are responsible for, regardless of how many people are hurt.

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    $20,000 Property Damage

    Covers up to $20,000 for damage you cause to another person's vehicle or property. Montana's $20,000 property damage minimum is below the national average of $25,000, so SR-22 drivers with assets to protect may want higher limits.

SR-22 Filing Types in Montana

Montana recognizes two types of SR-22 certificates depending on whether you own the vehicle you are insuring.

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    Owners Certificate

    Filed for drivers who own the vehicle they are insuring. This is the standard SR-22 type and is attached to your auto insurance policy covering your specific vehicle.

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    Operators Certificate

    Non-owner SR-22, for drivers who do not own a vehicle. Filed with the Montana Motor Vehicle Division (MVD). You can learn more by exploring non-owner SR-22 insurance and non-owner car insurance.

SR-22 Fees, Lapse Rules and Filing Process

Montana's $50 reinstatement fee sits in the middle of the range in this series, but State Farm's SR-22 rates are the lowest, making Montana one of the most affordable states overall for SR-22 drivers.

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    SR-22 Filing Fee

    Montana insurers charge a one-time fee of $15 to $25 at policy inception to file your SR-22. This is separate from your premium and from the $50 MVD reinstatement fee.

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    Coverage Lapse Consequences

    Any lapse in coverage triggers immediate license suspension with no grace period. The three-year SR-22 clock restarts from scratch. You must also pay the $50 reinstatement fee before your license can be reinstated.

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    Filing Process

    Your insurer files the SR-22 electronically with the Montana Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) within 24 to 48 hours. The MVD confirms receipt within three to five business days.

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WHAT TO DO IF INSURERS DENY YOU COVERAGE

If two or more standard market insurers have denied you coverage, you may qualify for the Montana Automobile Insurance Plan (MTAIP), the state's coverage of last resort. MTAIP provides state minimum liability coverage (25/50/20). Apply through any licensed Montana insurance agent. Rates are higher than voluntary market rates. Drivers trying to reduce costs can review our guide on how to get low-income car insurance.

SR-22 Insurance in Montana: Bottom Line

State Farm is the cheapest SR-22 insurer in Montana at $36 per month for minimum coverage, making it the most accessible option for drivers focused on meeting the legal requirement at the lowest possible cost. For those with a financed vehicle or a preference for more responsive claims support, Progressive earns a perfect customer experience score and is better suited for SR-22 holders who need reliable service throughout a multi-year filing period.

Before your SR-22 period ends, confirm with the Montana Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) that your filing has been removed from your record to avoid any administrative delays. Once your SR-22 requirement expires, compare cheapest car insurance in Montana to find a standard-market rate without the SR-22 surcharge.

Frequently Asked Questions About SR-22 Insurance in Montana

Who needs SR-22 insurance in Montana?

What is the average cost of SR-22 insurance for a DUI in Montana?

How long do you need SR-22 insurance in Montana?

Does Montana use credit scores when pricing car insurance?

How much does the SR-22 filing fee cost in Montana?

What should I do if Montana insurers deny me SR-22 coverage?

MoneyGeek analyzed SR-22 insurance rates from Quadrant Information Services across Montana cities and violation types. SR-22 rates reflect coverage for drivers with suspended licenses or serious violations including DUIs, speeding convictions and at-fault accidents.

About Mark Fitzpatrick


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Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut, is MoneyGeek's resident insurance expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for almost a decade, first with LendingTree and now with MoneyGeek, conducting original research on hundreds of insurance companies and millions of insurance rates for insurance shoppers. 

He writes about economics and insurance on MoneyGeek, breaking down complex topics so people can have confidence in their purchase. Like all MoneyGeek analysts, Mark collects and analyzes independent cost and consumer experience data on insurance companies to provide objective recommendations in our content that are independent of any of MoneyGeek's insurance company partnerships. 

His insights on products ranging from car, home and renters insurance to health and life insurance have been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR, among others. 

Mark holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He started his career working in financial risk management at State Street before transitioning to the analysis of the personal insurance market. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!