Guide to Car Insurance in Idaho

• $25,000 of bodily injury coverage per person
• $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident
• $15,000 of property damage liability
• $25,000 of uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person
• $50,000 of uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident²

While Idaho’s minimum auto insurance requirements are relatively low, minimum insurance coverage may not be enough for many drivers. For those who are leasing their vehicles, leasing companies require at least $100,000 in bodily injury protection per person and $300,000 in bodily injury protection per accident. These requirements are contractual, and most leasing companies uphold them.

Also, drivers with many assets should consider higher coverage. Those with higher assets are more likely to have victims sue them. Higher coverage limits mitigate this risk. Someone with a lot to lose may want to have coverage limits as high as $250,000 bodily injury per person, $500,000 bodily injury per accident, and $500,000 in property damage per occurrence in order to receive better protection.

Those with newer cars may also want to have full coverage. Full coverage consists of comprehensive coverage, collision coverage, and medical payments coverage. Adding these coverages will add to the total premium that you pay but also protect you, your passengers, and your car in various circumstances, particularly in accidents you cause.

Comprehensive coverage pays to repair your car in scenarios where you didn’t strike another object. Examples of comprehensive coverage claims include damage from hail, theft, or a tree branch falling on your vehicle.

Collision coverage, on the other hand, covers the repairs to your car in an at-fault accident. Both of these coverages have deductibles that you can customize. Medical payments coverage pays for the medical bills of those injured in your car in an at-fault accident.

Drivers can select other coverages too. Rental car coverage allows a driver to get reimbursed for a rental car while their car is in the shop under a covered claim. Drivers can also select emergency roadside assistance, which will help them if their car breaks down on the side of the road. Assistance includes towing, battery jumping, and changing a flat tire.

In 2024, the average annual cost of full coverage car insurance in Idaho is $1,187. That’s 38 percent less than the national average. The average annual cost of minimum coverage in Idaho is $538, which is 1.65 percent less than the national average.

We researched the best auto insurance in Idaho to get a sense of what Idaho residents really pay, since many factors affect car insurance rates. We found that Idaho residents may pay as little as $1,033 and as high as $1,227 annually for full coverage. For minimum coverage, we’ve seen annual rates range from $319 to $961.

Car insurance rates in Idaho are influenced by several factors, including your location, age, the number of miles you drive each year, and your driving history, which includes tickets and accidents. For more detailed information, take a look at our guide for how a speeding ticket impacts your insurance in Idaho. Older drivers with clean driving records will have the cheapest car insurance, especially compared to teen drivers and drivers with a DUI. Also, if you get the minimum amount of insurance required in Idaho, you’ll pay less for liability insurance and beyond.

These are some of your options for car insurance in Idaho:

• Allstate
• Auto-Owners
• American Family
• American National
• Direct
• Farm Bureau
• Farmers
• GEICO
• Liberty Mutual
• MAPFRE
• Nationwide
• Oregon Mutual
• Progressive
• Safe Auto
• State Farm
• Travelers
• USAA

Compare car insurance quotes to find the cheapest insurance carrier in your area. Make sure to compare quotes with the same coverage options to make sure they are valid comparisons. Also, take customer satisfaction ratings into account along with pricing.

There are some ways to save money on auto insurance rates. Here’s how to get the lowest rates in Idaho:

1. Check on discounts. Ask the insurance agents what discounts you are eligible for. You can usually stack multiple discounts for the most savings.
2. Raise your deductible. You can increase your financial responsibility in an accident by raising your deductible, which will lower your premium.
3. Reduce coverage. While not ideal for those who need more protection, reducing or eliminating optional coverage will lower your premium as well.

If you are in a car accident or a police officer stops you while driving, you must provide proof of insurance, either as a paper document or electronically. For the first offense, you will face a $75 fine, license suspension, and reinstatement fee. Subsequent offenses within five years are considered misdemeanors and punishable by a fine of up to $1000 and 6 months in jail.³

We’ve compiled the most important Idaho driving laws that you need to know and follow.

Fault State

Idaho is an at-fault state, which means that the party responsible for the accident (or their insurer) will pay for the accident’s losses, including property damage and bodily injury. Since Idaho is a modified comparative state, financial responsibility falls to the party 50 percent or more at fault for the accident (unless both parties are equally responsible). In other words, the responsible party pays the bills.

Uninsured Motorist Coverage

Idaho requires drivers to have uninsured motorist coverage. It’s estimated that 6 percent of drivers in Idaho are uninsured, which is significantly lower than the national average of 14 percent. This low percentage places Idaho third in the nation for the lowest estimated percentage of uninsured motorists by state.⁴

Nevertheless, the risk of getting into an accident with an uninsured driver still exists, and Idaho law mitigates this risk by requiring $25,000 in bodily injury coverage per person and $50,000 in bodily injury coverage per accident. Uninsured or underinsured coverage will also apply in the case of a hit-and-run in Idaho. However, if you have multiple cars with uninsured motorist coverage, it’s important to note that Idaho law prohibits stacking coverage, which means you can’t combine coverage limits from multiple vehicles to increase your overall protection.

DUI Laws

Idaho has some of the strictest DUI laws in the United States. It is illegal to drive with a BAC of .08 or higher. For commercial drivers, the legal limit is even lower, with a BAC of .04 or higher prohibited. For drivers under 21, a BAC of .02 or higher is considered illegal. Idaho can also prove a DUI through a legal approach called the “impairment theory,” in which case a driver can be charged with driving under the influence, if they are impaired by alcohol, drugs, or any other intoxicating substance, regardless of their specific BAC. In Idaho, you can be charged with a DUI if you refuse a breath test. Additionally, in Idaho, a DUI stays on your record for life.

The breakdown of charges, fines, and penalties for DUI’s in Idaho are listed below:

Seat Belt Laws

State laws require passengers to wear seat belts in Idaho. Driving without a seat belt is a secondary offense, meaning a police officer can’t stop you exclusively for a seat belt violation; you’d need to be committing another violation for that.⁶

The seat belt violation penalty is $10 for any adult.⁷ For minors not properly restrained in car seats, the penalty is $79.

Distracted Driving Laws in Idaho

Like most states, Idaho has distracted driving laws that ban all drivers from using handheld devices, which includes texting while driving. Citations for a first offense are $75. Citations for a second offense within a three-year period are $150, and citations for a third offense are $300.⁸

Teen Driving Laws

Idaho has a graduated driver’s license (GDL) program with specific stages and restrictions for drivers under 18. The program is divided into three stages. In the learner stage, drivers must be at least 14-and-a-half years old and complete a 6-month holding period. During this period, they must complete 50 hours of supervised driving, including 10 hours at night. In the intermediate stage, drivers must be at least 15 years old and are restricted from driving between 10 p.m. and 5 am. Additionally, drivers under 16 may not have more than one passenger under 17, unless they are related by blood, adoption, or marriage. Finally, in the full privilege stage, drivers can drive at night, and passenger restrictions are lifted after six months or when they turn 17.

Drivers under 16 are only permitted to drive during daytime hours unless accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old and seated in the front passenger seat.

Statute of Limitations

Idaho has a different statute of limitations for claims, depending on whether the claim is for property damage or bodily injury. Claimants must file property damage claims within three years from the accident date and injury claims within two years. If they miss this deadline, their claims will be denied.

Cancellation and Non-Renewal Notification Laws

Insurance carriers can cancel your policy for specific reasons. While there are no restrictions for cancellations within the first 60 days of your policy’s effective date, after this period, carriers can cancel it only for reasons such as fraud, failure to pay premiums, or license suspensions/revocations. Carriers can also choose to not renew your policy at the end of its term due to a high number of claims or bad driving record.

Even though an insurance carrier can cancel or decline to renew your policy, it has to give you enough time to get other insurance. If a carrier cancels your policy for nonpayment, it has to give you 10 days’ notice prior to the expiration date. All other midterm cancellations must include 20 days’ notice, while non-renewals require 30 days’ notice.

Self-Insurance

In Idaho, drivers who own 25 or more vehicles registered and titled within the state, and who have a high net worth, have the option to meet their financial responsibility requirements by self-insuring. If you are interested in applying for self-insurance, you will need to provide the following items:

1.  Application for Certificate of Self-Insurance (ITD Form 3218)
2. Electronic list of your vehicles, including the year, make, model, license plate number, and VIN of each.
3. Proof of ability to pay for bodily injury and property damage liability in the form of a statement signed by a certified public accountant, attesting to the fact that the self-insurer’s net worth is not less than $500,000.
4. Issue fee of $70 to the state of Idaho.
5. Completed and signed W-9 form (https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw9.pdf).

You can contact:

Idaho Transportation Department
Driver Services Section
P.O. Box 34
Boise, ID 83731-0034
(208) 334-8736⁹

Car Inspection Requirements

As of July 1, 2023, Idaho no longer requires periodic car safety inspections or emissions testing on all registered vehicles statewide. Certain counties, however, do mandate testing. Ada and Canyon counties in the Boise metropolitan area require emissions testing every two years.¹⁰

In counties where emissions testing is required, the cost for the test typically ranges between $14 to $20, depending on the station. The testing center will give you an emissions certificate upon completion. The mechanic will then file this certificate with the Idaho Department of Transportation so that you can proceed with registration.

SR-22s

An SR-22 is a document that proves you have the minimum insurance for your vehicle. The Idaho Department of Transportation requires SR-22s in these circumstances:

• If you failed to provide proof of insurance
• If you received a DUI or refused to submit to a breathalyzer test
• If you received an unsatisfied judgment or left the scene of an accident that resulted in death or injury

Defensive Driving

In Idaho, you can take a defensive driving course to reduce the points on your record. Defensive driving courses teach drivers how to avoid hazards and risks on the road, making them safer drivers. The state may remove up to three points from your record with the satisfactory completion of a defensive driving course.

Serious Injury and Monetary Thresholds

There are no serious injury or monetary thresholds to sue for damages in Idaho. A victim of an accident can sue for any amount, regardless of their losses or injuries.

Accident Reporting Requirements

You must file a report with the police if you’re in an accident that results in any injuries or property damages exceeding $1,500, or death. If you don’t file a report immediately, you could face a fine and license suspension.

Price Discrimination

Idaho allows insurance companies to use credit scores and gender to determine insurance rates. Your credit score leads to an insurance score, which gives insurance carriers an idea of the probability of your filing a claim. Statistically, people with lower credit scores are more likely to file claims, so they often pay higher insurance premiums. Likewise, men pay more for auto insurance in Idaho because, statistically, men are involved in more accidents than women.

When Is a Car Declared a Total Loss?

In Idaho, a car is considered a total loss if the cost to repair the vehicle plus the salvage value equals or exceeds the vehicle’s actual cash value (ACV) before the accident, or it is unsafe to drive. If your insurance company declares your vehicle a total loss, they will typically provide an offer for the vehicle’s actual cash value. They will also report the vehicle as a total loss to the Idaho Transportation Department, and the vehicle will need to be registered with a salvage title.

We’ve gathered all the contact information for you to register your car, renew your registration, or get a copy of your title in Idaho.

Idaho Department of Transportation (IDT)

At the IDT, you can perform tasks such as registering your car, getting your license, and getting a copy of your car title. You can contact your local IDT online, over the phone, or by mail. Here is the information for the main office:

• Website: https://itd.idaho.gov/
• Phone number: 208-334-8000
• Street address:
  • 11331 W. Chinden Blvd.
  • Boise, ID 83707-1129
• Mailing address:
  • P.O. Box 7129
  • Boise, ID 83707

Here’s how to register your car in Idaho:

1. Visit a local IDT office (https://itd.idaho.gov/dmv-maps/), or complete the online application at https://itd.idaho.gov/itddmv/.
2. Have your driver’s license or identification card and your Social Security number available.
3. Pay the fee. Fees vary by vehicle year, make, and model, ranging from $45 to $220 for most passenger vehicles.

Follow these steps if you need to renew a registration:

1. Gather the following information:
   • Vehicle license plate number
   • Last six digits or characters of your car’s VIN
   • Credit/debit card number or PayPal account information
   • Your physical address in Idaho
2. Visit a location with your renewal notice, or visit the online portal at https://itd.idaho.gov/itddmv/.
3. Pay the fee. There is a $1.50 charge for e-checks, a 3 percent credit card processing fee, and a convenience fee of $1.50.

To get a copy of your title, you must mail the application or visit an IDT office in person. Here are the instructions if you choose the snail mail route:

1. Obtain the application form at https://itd.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/3367.pdf and fill it out.
2. Write a check payable to the state of Idaho for $14 (the rush fee is $26).
3. Mail the completed application and check to this address:
   • Processing Center
   • P.O. Box 140019
   • Garden City, ID 83714

Idaho Insurance Commissioner Contact Information

• Website: http://www.doi.idaho.gov/
• Phone: (208) 334-4250
• Mailing address:
  • 700 W. State St.
  • 3rd Floor
  • Boise, ID 83720-0043

In 2024, car repairs in Idaho cost about 8 percent less than the national average.¹¹ The average total car repair cost in Idaho is $389.05, which breaks down to $143.84 for labor and $245.21 for parts.¹²

Idaho is below the national average for auto thefts and fatalities.

Motor Vehicle Theft

Idaho is one of the safest states in the United States when it comes to motor vehicle theft. In 2022, with an annual rate of 91 vehicle thefts per 100,000 Idahoans, Idaho ranked second among states with the lowest auto theft rates. You can find vehicle thefts by city below:

• Pocatello — 133 motor vehicle thefts per 100,000 residents
• Lewiston — 128 motor vehicle thefts per 100,000 residents
• Idaho Falls — 120 motor vehicle thefts per 100,000 residents
• Boise — 89 motor vehicle thefts per 100,000 residents
• Coeur d’Alene — 86 motor vehicle thefts per 100,000 residents
• Twin Falls — 107 motor vehicle thefts per 100,000 residents¹³

Motor Vehicle Fatalities

According to early estimates from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Minnesota’s motor vehicle fatality rate for the first quarter of 2024 is projected to decrease by 24.4 percent compared to the previous year. The estimated fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in Minnesota is expected to decrease to 0.71 in 2024, down from 0.95 in 2023.¹⁴

Idaho residents enjoy a favorable cost of living, which is reflected in their lower-than-average annual car insurance premiums. Drivers in Idaho pay on average $1,187 for full coverage and $538 for minimum coverage.Higher limits will give you more protection in an at-fault accident, covering more of the costs you will be responsible for.