Cheapest car insurance in Montana in 2024

Finding cheap car insurance in Montana is a matter of knowing what to look for and what you need. The cheapest car insurance in Montana will be different for every driver based on a variety of factors. Using data from Quadrant Information Services, Bankrate analysis found that, on average, USAA and State Farm offer the cheapest average Montana car insurance rates across a range of driver profiles. It's always best to compare rates and find the option that is best for you, but keep in mind the average cost for Montana car insurance is $2,319 per year for full coverage, while drivers pay an average of just $379 annually for minimum coverage.

Key takeaways

• Cheapest company for minimum coverage: USAA
• Cheapest company for full coverage: USAA
• Cheapest company for drivers with prior incidents: State Farm
• Cheapest company for young drivers: USAA

Montana drivers are required to carry liability insurance on their vehicle. It’s worth noting that liability-only coverage only covers your responsibility to other drivers or pedestrians. You would have to cover any damages to your own vehicle if you are deemed at fault. USAA offers the cheapest minimum coverage for Montana drivers according to our research.

Minimum coverage requirements for Montana drivers

Like most states, Montana drivers must at least meet minimum insurance requirements to drive legally. These requirements are for liability insurance and auto insurance coverage must include at least:

• $25,000 per person for bodily injury
• $50,000 per accident for bodily injury
• $20,000 per accident for property damage

On average, minimum coverage in Montana costs $379 per year. Although minimum coverage is usually cheaper than full coverage, it does not provide physical damage coverage for your car. If you cause an accident, hit an animal or have your car stolen, minimum coverage will not cover the incident. You may also be held personally liable for injuries or property damage you cause that exceeds your coverage limits, which may make buying higher liability limits worth the extra cost.

Full coverage generally refers to car insurance that includes liability plus collision and comprehensive coverage. Unlike minimum coverage, this type of insurance will cover your own property damage and injuries. Full coverage policies often have you covered when the other driver is uninsured or you’re at fault but have serious damage to your own vehicle. In Montana, some of the cheapest companies with full coverage car insurance include USAA, State Farm and Progressive.

Tickets and other driving violations can have an impact on your car insurance costs. Insurers are likely to increase rates for drivers who are caught speeding or otherwise at fault for risky driving. Your insurance company will typically discover any new violations on your driving report when they pull your record to renew your policy. Progressive insurance remains relatively affordable for drivers who have a prior incident on their record.

• Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a ticket: USAA
• Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident: USAA
• Cheapest car insurance for high-risk drivers: State Farm

Cheapest insurance companies for drivers in Montana with a speeding ticket: USAA

Getting a speeding ticket may increase your rates, as carriers usually see speeding as an indication of unsafe driving practices. However, different companies weigh speeding ticket convictions differently, so shopping around may help you secure cheap rates after a ticket. The following carriers offer some of the lowest average premiums for drivers with a single speeding ticket conviction.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers in Montana with an at-fault accident: USAA

If you've recently been in a car accident, you may find that your insurance rates are higher when your policy renews. Accident claims can be expensive for car insurance companies, so they usually change higher rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their record.

Cheapest rates in Montana for high-risk drivers: State Farm

A high-risk driver is someone with a serious infraction on their driving record. Although high-risk driving classifications may vary by carrier, a DUI conviction is typically seen as one of the most severe high-risk infractions. Some carriers may not offer coverage for a high-risk driver. We used a single DUI conviction as the basis for our high-risk rate comparison, but other high-risk incidents may include multiple speeding tickets or driving without insurance.

Young drivers are often considered high risk and will pay a higher car insurance rate until they turn 25. You can often find cheap car insurance for young adults by seeking out discounts.

• Cheapest car insurance for insuring a teen driver: USAA
• Cheapest car insurance for teens with a ticket: USAA
• Cheapest car insurance for teens with an at-fault accident: USAA
• Cheapest car insurance for young drivers with a DUI: Progressive

Cheapest Montana car insurance for insuring a teen driver: USAA

Teen drivers are among the most expensive age groups to insure. Their lack of experience behind the wheel makes them more likely to be involved in accidents, so insurers typically charge higher car insurance rates to account for this added risk. If your teenage driver gets into an accident or receives a ticket, premium prices can skyrocket even higher. Look for teen discounts, including student discounts, to mitigate the cost of a young driver.

Cheapest Montana car insurance for teens with a ticket: USAA

A speeding ticket or other driving violation can increase your teen’s premium for a few years, depending on the insurer. State Farm, USAA and Progressive have some of the cheapest rates for young drivers who have received a ticket. Most insurers will institute the increased rate at the time of the next policy renewal.

Cheapest Montana car insurance for teens with an at-fault accident: USAA

Insurers may consider whether your teen was responsible for their accident when calculating any possible rate increase.  If your teen is at fault for damages, USAA and State Farm offer some of the most affordable premiums for high-risk drivers with an accident on their record.

Cheapest Montana car insurance for young drivers with a DUI: Progressive

In Montana, drivers under the age of 21 can get a DUI if their blood alcohol level (BAC) is above 0.02. DUIs get reported to the insurance company and can result in a significant premium increase, especially if the driver has other incidents on their record. Although young Montana drivers can expect steep rates after a DUI due to the severity, starting the quote process with Progressive may result in a more forgiving premium compared to other carriers.

Most car insurance companies offer specific discounts that may help you save on your premium. Discount type and eligibility vary by carrier, but stacking auto insurance discounts may earn you significant savings. Some common discounts you may see as you shop include:

• Young driver discounts: Teens and young drivers may get discounts for having good grades, enrolling in a defensive driving course or leaving a vehicle at home while away at college.
• Safe driver discounts: Many carriers reward drivers for avoiding tickets or going a set period of time without filing a claim.
• Bundling discounts: Bundling discounts for car insurance involve combining multiple insurance policies, such as auto and homeowners insurance, with the same provider to receive a reduced premium.
• Billing discounts: Billing discounts offer discounted premiums when you opt for convenient payment methods such as autopay or paying the full premium upfront.
• Other discounts: Other discounts you may see include hybrid and electric car discounts, safety features discounts, and usage-based discounts.

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze April 2024 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region. Quoted rates are based on a single, 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 coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2022 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually.

These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.

Incidents: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the following incidents applied: clean record (base), at-fault accident, single speeding ticket and single DUI conviction.

Teens: Rates were determined by adding a 16-year-old teen to a 40-year-old married parent’s policy. The rates displayed reflect the total cost of a driver this age added to their parents’ policy. 

Age: Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the ages 18 and 21 applied. Drivers are renters on their own policy. Age is not a contributing rating factor in Hawaii and Massachusetts due to state regulations.