
Montana drivers can expect to pay a little less than the nationwide average for auto insurance.
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Car insurance in Montana costs less than the national average for both full and minimum coverage. With more than 150,446 miles of public roads, including those winding through Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park, Montana residents have plenty of places to drive. Learn more about how much you might pay for car insurance, plus how to lower your premium.
The average cost of auto insurance in Montana is $1,992 annually for full coverage. This is around 17 percent less than the national average cost of full coverage ($2,399). Minimum coverage in Montana costs $528 on average, cheaper than the national average of $635.
If you’re one of the approximately 800,000 residents with a driver’s license, we’ll show you the averages for various demographics and situations, plus give you tips on discounts and state-specific insurance information.
While Montana is the eighth-least-populous state, it still has plenty of cities amidst its wide-open spaces in Big Sky Country. Here’s a look at the average cost of full coverage car insurance in five Montana cities.
City | Average annual rate for car insurance |
---|---|
Billings | $1,630 |
Great Falls | $1,570 |
Bozeman | $1,546 |
Helena | $1,467 |
Missoula | $1,499 |
Montana teens pay some of the highest premiums in the country, with the average teenager paying $5,659 annually for car insurance. The good news is this drops significantly for drivers in their 20s and older. Remember to take advantage of discounts for young drivers to save.
Age | Average annual rate for car insurance |
---|---|
16 | $6,619 |
17 | $6,634 |
18 | $6,375 |
19 | $4,300 |
20 | $3,709 |
25 | $2,787 |
Adults | $1,992 |
Seniors | $1,772 |
More coverage translates into higher premiums, but it’s usually wise to buy more than the state minimum for auto insurance.
Coverage level | Average annual rate for car insurance |
---|---|
Full | $1,992 |
Minimum | $528 |
Keeping a clean driving record means lower premiums. Montana allows drivers to take defensive driving courses to receive a discount on their auto insurance.1
Driving record | Average annual rate for car insurance |
---|---|
At-fault accident | $2,780 |
DUI conviction | $3,266 |
Speeding ticket | $2,350 |
Because all carriers have different ways of determining rates, the cost of auto insurance can widely vary by insurance company. USAA, on average, provides Montana residents with the lowest cost for insurance.
Company | Full coverage average | Minimum coverage average |
---|---|---|
USAA | $1,084 | $218 |
State Farm | $1,139 | $245 |
Progressive | $1,890 | $609 |
GEICO | $1,957 | $426 |
Farmers | $3,130 | $856 |
Allstate | $2,650 | $899 |
Montana residents with good or excellent credit will pay less for auto insurance.
Credit score | Average annual rate for car insurance |
---|---|
Excellent | $1,874 |
Good | $2,236 |
Fair | $2,562 |
Poor | $3,967 |
You can improve your credit score by paying your bills on time and keeping your credit card balances low.
If you’re interested in the cheapest auto insurance in Montana, check out these companies for your specific demographic.
Demographic | Cheapest Insurance Company | Annual rate |
---|---|---|
Minimum coverage | USAA | $218 |
Full coverage | USAA | $1,084 |
Poor credit | USAA | $2,030 |
Speeding ticket | State Farm | $1,207 |
Accident | State Farm | $1,333 |
DUI | State Farm | $1,679 |
Teens | USAA | $3,353 |
USAA and State Farm are two of our top picks for auto insurance in Montana.
Most auto insurance companies have multiple ways you can save on premiums. Here are some of the most popular ones:
Montana residents are required to have bodily injury liability and property damage liability:
Montana does allow motorists to self-insure instead of buying a policy.3 To do so, the driver must file a $55,000 deposit with the state treasurer for a certificate of deposit for their proof of financial responsibility.
With around 9 percent of Montana drivers uninsured, you should consider adding underinsured/uninsured coverage to your policy.
Montana is an at-fault state, meaning whoever caused the accident is responsible for paying all the damages. It also has modified comparative negligence laws, determining payments in personal injury claims. For example, if you’re hurt in an accident, you may receive compensation from the other party only if you were less than 50 percent at fault for the incident. If you are determined to be 55 percent or more responsible for the crash, you cannot get any payments from the other driver.
In Montana, you must file an SR-22 if you meet one of the following criteria:
You typically would have to file an SR-22 for three years. After you file your SR-22 form, your license can be reinstated.
On average, Montana drivers can expect to pay slightly less than the national average for both full and minimum coverage. Teens and drivers with a poor credit score can expect some of the highest rates in the state, with policies averaging at $5,659 and $3,233, respectively. Helena and Missoula have some of the cheapest average rates in the state, Billings has some of the most expensive.
We analyzed average auto insurance premiums in Montana for full and minimum coverage. We also analyzed the average auto insurance cost for different driver profiles, including good drivers, those with DUIs, accidents, low credit, and teenagers. Full coverage averages use the following limits:
Montana law mandates you have proof of auto insurance in your vehicle at all times. You must show this proof to any law enforcement officer who asks for it. If caught driving without car insurance, you face a misdemeanor. For a first offense, you could be fined between $250 and $500 or face up to 10 days in jail.
No. Montana does not require drivers to have personal injury protection (PIP) coverage on their car insurance policy. PIP covers any medical expenses or lost wages because of an auto accident.
No. Montana law does not require you to file a police report to put in an insurance claim on an auto accident. However, you must report a car accident if anyone involved is injured or killed or there is $1,000 or more in property damage.
Diminished value means the loss in market value when a vehicle is wrecked and then repaired. A person should not pay the same for a repaired car with an accident history as they would for a vehicle without accidents.
Auto Insurance. Troy Downing CSI. (2024).
https://csimt.gov/your-insurance/auto/
Driving courses certified for the 55+ auto insurance discount as per MCA 33-16-222. Montana Department of Transportation. (2021, Nov 29).
https://csimt.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/55-Certified-Courses-2021-1.pdf
INTRODUCTION TO MOTOR VEHICLE LIABILITY INSURANCE LAWS. Montana Legislative Services. (2009, Sep).
https://leg.mt.gov/content/Committees/Interim/2009_2010/Revenue_and_Transportation/Meeting_Documents/Sept%2017&18%202009/MVLIBACKGROUND_09SEPT.pdf