Best Cheap Car Insurance Quotes in Montana (2022)
Best Cheap Car Insurance Quotes in Montana (2022)
State Farm has the best cheap car insurance in Montana, at $260 per year and $22 per month for minimum liability quotes.
Find Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes in Montana
Best cheap insurance in Montana
To help drivers in Montana find the best cheap car insurance, our editorial team analyzed rates from top companies across each ZIP code in the state. Quotes for minimum coverage policies meet the Montana state minimum requirements of $25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person and $50,000 per accident, plus $20,000 in property damage coverage. Quotes for full-coverage insurance include collision and comprehensive protection in addition to higher liability limits than state minimums.
Additionally, we rated the best car insurance companies in Montana based on the cost of coverage for different drivers, customer service ratings, coverage availability and convenience.
Cheapest car insurance quotes in Montana: State Farm
State Farm has the cheapest minimum-coverage auto insurance quotes in Montana. With an annual rate of $260, it is $242 less than the state average.
The average cost of car insurance in Montana is $502 per year, or $42 per month, for minimum liability.
Find Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes in Montana
Military veterans, active-duty service members and their families can find even better rates at USAA. USAA's average annual rate is $69 less than State Farm's at $191 per year.
Company | Monthly rate | |
|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $22 |
| Progressive | $31 |
| Geico | $41 |
| Farmers | $68 |
| Allstate | $73 |
| USAA | $16 |
USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families.
Although cheap rates make minimum-coverage insurance an attractive choice, low liability limits and no comprehensive or collision coverage mean that you might wind up paying more in the long run if you cause an accident.
For this reason, we recommend purchasing a full coverage auto insurance policy rather than a minimum coverage policy.
Cheapest full coverage car insurance in Montana: State Farm
Montana drivers can find the most affordable full coverage insurance quotes with State Farm. At $978 a year, it's 45% cheaper than the state average, and $512 less than the next-cheapest option, Progressive.
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $82 |
| Progressive | $124 |
| Geico | $159 |
| Allstate | $201 |
| Farmers | $256 |
| USAA | $74 |
*USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families.
Full coverage policies pay for damage to your car caused by accidents and non-driving perils, like hail and vandalism.
In Montana, full coverage insurance is only $108 more per month than a minimum-coverage policy, and State Farm's policy is only $60 more per month.
Cheap car insurance for drivers with prior incidents
Insurance companies base your rates on several factors, including your driving history and credit score. Incidents in your driving history, such as citations for traffic violations or at-fault accidents, can cause your rates to rise.
State Farm has the cheapest full coverage car insurance rates for drivers with a speeding ticket, accident or DUI on their record. It is also the most affordable option for drivers with bad credit.
Cheapest car insurance after a speeding ticket: State Farm
Drivers in Montana with a recent speeding ticket can find the best rates at State Farm, where a full coverage policy costs $1,047 a year — 53% less than the state average.
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $87 |
| Progressive | $155 |
| Geico | $195 |
| Allstate | $225 |
| Farmers | $356 |
| USAA | $97 |
*USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families.
Insurers charge higher rates for drivers with speeding tickets because they’re more likely to be involved in accidents in the future. On average, Montana drivers can expect their insurance to go up by 24% after a single speeding ticket.
However, some insurers raise rates more than others. Drivers insured with State Farm only receive a 7% increase, while Farmers raises rates by 39%.
Cheapest car insurance quotes after an accident: State Farm
We found that State Farm also has the cheapest rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their record. On average, insurance quotes in Montana go up by 43% after an accident, but State Farm's rates only increased by 14% to $1,116 for a full coverage policy.
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $93 |
| Progressive | $192 |
| Geico | $259 |
| Allstate | $281 |
| Farmers | $360 |
| USAA | $98 |
*USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families.
Cheapest car insurance quotes after a DUI: State Farm
State Farm offers the most affordable full coverage insurance rates for Montana drivers with a DUI — $2,118 a year or $177 a month.
Driving under the influence is a serious offense, and car insurance companies tend to increase your rates significantly if you get a DUI. We found that the average cost of a full coverage policy after one DUI is $3,109 per year — a 74% increase.
State Farm's rates increased by 117%, however it is still $24 cheaper per year than the second-best option, Progressive. Farmers had the smallest rate increase at 35%, which was less than the increase after an at-fault accident with the company.
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $177 |
| Progressive | $178 |
| Allstate | $273 |
| Farmers | $346 |
| Geico | $436 |
| USAA | $144 |
*USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families.
Drivers convicted of a DUI are often required to get an SR-22 proof of insurance from their insurer, which may increase your rates even more.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with poor credit: State Farm
State Farm also has the best car insurance rates for Montana drivers with poor credit at typically $1,789 per year. Insurers consider your credit score when setting insurance prices because they've found a correlation between a driver's credit and how often they file claims. Drivers in Montana with poor credit pay 48% more on average than those with average credit scores.
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $149 |
| Progressive | $176 |
| Geico | $195 |
| Allstate | $295 |
| Farmers | $370 |
| USAA | $142 |
*USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families.
Cheapest car insurance for young drivers in Montana: State Farm
State Farm is the most affordable insurer in Montana for young drivers. It charges only $741 per year for minimum coverage, and $2,426 for full coverage. Both are at least 54% less than the state average.
Company | Liability only | Full coverage |
|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $62 | $202 |
| Progressive | $116 | $378 |
| Geico | $136 | $514 |
| Allstate | $225 | $631 |
| Farmers | $253 | $702 |
| USAA | $57 | $222 |
*USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families.
Insurers charge younger drivers more because they've found younger people get in more accidents and make more insurance claims. But not every insurer increases rates by the same amount. State Farm's minimum insurance policy costs 185% more for an 18-year-old driver than the same policy for a 30-year-old-driver, while Farmers charges 272% more.
The easiest, most effective way for most teen drivers to lower their car insurance rates is to share a policy with an older adult, such as a parent or sibling.
Cheapest car insurance for young drivers after a ticket: State Farm
State Farm has the cheapest rates for young drivers with a speeding ticket. At State Farm, you'll pay $823 for a year of minimum-coverage insurance, compared to $1,932 across all Montana insurers.
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $69 |
| Progressive | $122 |
| Geico | $143 |
| Allstate | $261 |
| Farmers | $306 |
| USAA | $66 |
*USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families.
Cheapest car insurance for young drivers after an accident: State Farm
The most affordable rates for young drivers who have been in an at-fault accident are with State Farm, where a minimum coverage policy costs $905 a year.
Car accidents typically result in higher car insurance quotes. On average, young drivers in Montana pay 20% more for car insurance than those with a clean record.
Company | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| State Farm | $75 |
| Progressive | $132 |
| Geico | $164 |
| Allstate | $274 |
| Farmers | $306 |
| USAA | $67 |
*USAA is only available to current and former military members and their families.
Many insurers offer discounts to young drivers for taking a driver safety course and maintaining a high GPA in high school or college.
Best car insurance companies in Montana
USAA is our pick for best auto insurance company in Montana based on its excellent rating from our editors, high J.D. Power customer satisfaction score and top financial stability marks.
Drivers who are not eligible for USAA should consider State Farm — the company also received a great rating from our editors, and its A++ financial rating from AM Best means it has a superior ability to pay out claims, even in difficult economic times.
Company |
Editor's rating
|
JD Power
|
AM Best
|
|---|---|---|---|
| State Farm | 844 | A++ | |
| Geico | 821 | A++ | |
| Farmers | 813 | A | |
| Allstate | 825 | A+ | |
| Progressive | 817 | A+ | |
| USAA | 884 | A++ |
Average car insurance cost in Montana by city
The cheapest car insurance in Montana can be found in Fort Harrison, where quotes are 8% cheaper than the average price statewide. Drivers in Wyola pay the highest rates in the state — 10% above average.
Where you live can affect the cost of your car insurance as much as your driving habits. However, insurance rates in Montana don't fluctuate significantly by city. There is only a $331 difference between the annual cost of full-coverage insurance in the most and least expensive locations.
City | Average monthly cost | Percent from average |
|---|---|---|
| Absarokee | $156 | 4% |
| Acton | $151 | 1% |
| Alberton | $147 | -2% |
| Alder | $146 | -3% |
| Alzada | $152 | 1% |
Montana insurance laws: Minimum coverage requirements
Montana requires drivers to purchase the following liability insurance coverage limits to operate a vehicle on public roads. The state doesn’t require uninsured motorist coverage but requires that insurance companies offer it as part of liability coverage. Drivers have the option of declining uninsured motorist coverage in writing.
Liability | Minimum coverage |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury (BI) | $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident |
| Property damage (PD) | $20,000 per accident |
While these limits represent the minimum amount of insurance coverage you can legally have, you should consider a more comprehensive policy, as damages above these limits could require you to pay out of pocket.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average cost of auto insurance in Montana?
The average cost of auto insurance in Montana is $42 per month, or $502 per year, for a minimum coverage policy. The average cost for a full coverage policy is $150 per month, or $1,800 per year.
How much is car insurance in Billings, MT?
A full coverage policy costs an average of $1,820 per year for a driver in Billings. In comparison, drivers in Bozeman pay $1,714 for full coverage insurance, and people living in Missoula have an average annual cost of $1,722.
What is the penalty for driving with no insurance in Montana?
Driving without auto insurance is a misdemeanor in Montana. The penalty for your first no-insurance citation is a fine between $250 to $500 or up to 10 days in jail. If you receive a second citation, your driver's license will be revoked for 90 days, you will get five points on your driving record and you'll pay a minimum fine of $350 or spend up to 10 days in jail. Any additional citations will result in a $500 fine or up to six months in jail, or both.
average cost of auto insurance in montana
Methodology
We collected thousands of quotes from ZIP codes across Montana for the state's largest insurers using a sample driver with the following profile:
- 30-year-old man
- Drives a 2015 Honda Civic EX
- Average credit
All quotes are based on a full coverage policy and clean driving record unless otherwise noted. Full coverage auto insurance quotes include the following limits:
Coverage | Limit |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident |
| Personal injury protection | $10,000 |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 per accident |
| Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury | $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident |
| Comprehensive and collision | $500 deductible |
For our minimum coverage policy, we quoted a policy with the minimum required limits in Montana.
For other rates analyses (credit score, accident history and marital status) the base policy listed above was alternated to reflect the new driver. Quotes for young drivers are based on a minimum coverage policy.
Rate data for this study was collected from Quadrant Information Services. These rates were publicly sourced from insurer filings and should be used for comparative purposes only — your own quotes will differ.
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author’s opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.