The state of Montana only requires drivers to carry minimum liability insurance, although drivers may choose to have a higher level of coverage based on their financial concerns or if they are required to do so by a lender. The average cost of car insurance in Montana for minimum coverage is $342 per year. However, it is important to note that minimum liability coverage does not provide you with any reimbursement for your vehicle repairs or loss if you are at-fault in an accident.
If the cost of replacing your car is more than you can afford, full car insurance will provide a greater degree of financial protection. According to 2021 quoted premiums, average car insurance rates in Montana for full coverage car insurance is $1,737 per year.
How much is car insurance in Montana?
Montana car insurance rates are comparatively low, relative to the national average of $1,674 for full coverage and $565 for minimum insurance. You may be able to save further on Montana auto insurance rates if you understand the factors that affect the cost of car insurance.
Some of the most significant factors that determine “how much is car insurance in Montana per month” include your age, carrier, type of vehicle, your elected amount of coverage, your driving record and ZIP code.
Montana car insurance rates by company
To find the cheapest car insurance for coverage that fits your needs, compare how car insurance rates in Montana can vary based on the insurance company you are considering. Among the providers you are considering, request online quotes to find which offers the best coverage, rates, discounts, support or other factors that you value in a provider. You may find that switching carriers could save you considerably.
| Car insurance company | Average annual premium for minimum coverage | Average annual premium for full coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Alfa | $656 | $2,389 |
| Allstate | $715 | $2,607 |
| MetLife | $557 | $2,305 |
| Progressive | $519 | $1,591 |
| Safe Auto | $573 | $2,284 |
| Safeway | $549 | $2,191 |
| Shelter | $665 | $1,939 |
| Southern Farm Bureau | $368 | $1,333 |
| State Farm | $337 | $1,318 |
| USAA | $301 | $1,109 |
Note that USAA is the cheapest carrier on the list based on quoted premiums, but it is only available to veterans, military personnel and family. The cheapest providers for you may not be included in this list, or may have rates that vary from the 2021 averages indicated here.
Montana car insurance rates by city
Car insurance rates in Montana can change significantly over a few miles of distance compared to the state average, as indicated in the table below. Annual premiums for the top 20 most-populated cities are as follows:
| City | Average annual premium for full coverage | % difference from state average annual premium |
|---|---|---|
| Billings | $1,644 | -5% |
| Missoula | $1,466 | -16% |
| Great Falls | $1,582 | -9% |
| Bozeman | $1,606 | -8% |
| Kalispell | $1,753 | 1% |
| Helena | $1,510 | -13% |
| Butte | $1,652 | -5% |
| Belgrade | $1,607 | -7% |
| Columbia Falls | $1,754 | 1% |
| Hamilton | $1,580 | -9% |
| Whitefish | $1,748 | 1% |
| Miles City | $1,852 | 7% |
| Livingston | $1,632 | -6% |
| Havre | $1,912 | 10% |
| Laurel | $1,626 | -6% |
| Lewistown | $1,871 | 8% |
| Stevensville | $1,603 | -8% |
| Anaconda-Deer Lodge County | $1,607 | -7% |
| Helena Valley West Central | $1,508 | -13% |
| Evergreen | $1,753 | 1% |
Montana car insurance rates by age
Younger drivers will usually face higher rates regardless of driving record, due to lack of years of experience and correlating higher risk. Fortunately, Montana auto insurance rates drop significantly after each birthday, leveling out when drivers reach the age of about 30. In the meantime, taking advantage of good student or youth discounts could help lower the following Montana car insurance rates grouped by age:
| Age | Average annual premium in Montana |
|---|---|
| Age 16* | $2,298 |
| Age 18 | $5,461 |
| Age 20 | $4,240 |
| Age 25 | $2,094 |
| Age 30 | $1,923 |
| Age 40 | $1,851 |
| Age 50 | $1,709 |
| Age 60 | $1,673 |
| Age 70 | $1,800 |
*16-year-old cost when added to their parents’ policy
Montana car insurance rates by driving record
A clean driving record is effectively the best way to see the lowest rates, in most cases. Avoiding tickets and accidents not only keeps your vehicle insurance premiums lower, but also saves you the cost of the violation itself. Until recently, the state of Montana had no speed limit. But if caught speeding now, Montana drivers may now expect to pay upwards of $70 for a ticket. In addition, car insurance increased an average of 19% for Montana drivers with a speeding ticket on their driving record, based on 2021 quoted premiums. Other incidents affected rates even more.
| Driving incident | Average annual full coverage premium in Montana | % increase of average annual premium |
|---|---|---|
| Speeding ticket | $2,061 | 19% |
| Accident | $2,367 | 36% |
| DUI | $2,915 | 68% |
How to save on car insurance in Montana
While Montana car insurance rates are lower than other states, you can typically find extra savings in a few ways.
- Driving school: Points from moving violations remain on your record for three years in Montana, potentially affecting your car insurance rates for that period of time or longer. The state does not automatically allow you to attend traffic school in exchange for a points reduction. But you could attend court for the ticket and request traffic school authorization from the judge.
- Shop around for car insurance: As shown in the table above, the same level of car insurance in Montana could vary in price over $1,000 by providers. Getting multiple car insurance quotes to compare is vital to finding the lowest premiums. Fortunately, nearly every carrier has a short, easy online quoting tool available to help you round up the information you need in just a few minutes.
- Look for discounts: Car insurance companies offer a few discounts to policyholders that could potentially help you save on coverage. These range from college and youth discounts to low-mileage or safety equipment discounts. For younger drivers facing higher rates, this can be particularly helpful if they qualify for the discounts.
- Raise your deductible: If you are a safe driver with no traffic accidents or claims, you could consider raising your deductible since you are less likely to face an accident or claim. Although raising your deductible could save you money on your premium, experts recommend you only do so if you are able to afford the higher amount in the event of a claim.
Frequently asked questions
What company has the cheapest car insurance in Montana?
Based on 2021 quoted premiums from Quadrant Information Services, USAA, State Farm and Southern Farm Bureau rank as the cheapest car insurance companies in the state. However, many factors could affect your premiums and these providers may not be the cheapest for you. To find the lowest rates, get quotes from several providers to compare.
What is the average cost of car insurance in Montana per month?
The average cost of car insurance in Montana for minimum coverage is $342 per year and $1,737 a year for full coverage. That amounts to roughly $28.50 or $144.75 per month on average, based on the level of coverage you buy.
Why is full car insurance more expensive than minimum coverage?
Full coverage car insurance is more expensive than minimum coverage because it adds two additional types of insurance protections to your vehicle policy. Full coverage adds comprehensive and collision insurance, both which add reimbursement and replacement for damages caused to your car from losses such as weather, fire, theft and crashes.
Methodology
Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze 2021 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quoted rates are based on a 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, good credit and the following full coverage limits:
- $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $50,000 property damage liability per accident
- $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
- $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
- $500 collision deductible
- $500 comprehensive deductible
To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverages that meet each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2019 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually.
Age: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the ages 18-60 (base: 40 years) applied.
Incident: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the following incidents applied: clean record (base), at-fault accident, single speeding ticket, single DUI conviction and lapse in coverage.
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