Idaho Car Insurance Laws (2026)

Idaho drivers must carry the state’s required auto insurance coverage, including bodily injury and property damage liability coverage, and the Idaho Department of Motor Vehicles regularly conducts spot checks.^[1]

Idaho is an at-fault state, which means at-fault drivers are liable for damage and injuries they cause. The insurance company names the at-fault driver or assigns a percentage of fault to each responsible driver after an accident.^[2] You can recover some damages from the at-fault driver if your comparative fault is less than the other driver’s.^[3]

Auto insurance requirements in Idaho

Idaho drivers must maintain minimum coverage of 25/50/15 for every registered vehicle. Here are the Idaho car insurance requirements:^[4]

• Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. This coverage helps pay for costs if you cause injury or death to someone else.

• Property damage liability: $15,000 per accident. This helps cover the costs of damage you cause to someone else’s property.

Idaho auto insurers must also offer uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, typically at the same limits as your liability coverage, to all drivers. You can reject UM/UIM coverage, but you must do so in writing.

You must maintain continuous liability coverage and keep proof of insurance with you in the vehicle, showing it when necessary.^[5] Digital proof (such as an image on your cell phone) is acceptable.

Idaho’s 25/50/15 minimum liability limits are roughly in line with neighboring states. Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Wyoming each have 25/50/20 limits, and Washington’s are slightly lower, at 25/50/10. Utah’s minimum requirements are slightly higher, at 30/65/25.

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Is state-minimum car insurance in Idaho enough coverage?

Idaho’s state-minimum car insurance is almost never enough to fully protect you financially after an accident. The average cost of a bodily injury liability insurance claim in the U.S. is $28,278, according to the Insurance Information Institute. If you have only Idaho’s minimum coverage, you’d be responsible for paying more than $3,000 out of pocket. Experts recommend standard limits of 100/300/100 for much greater protection.

Driving in Idaho also leaves you vulnerable to other risks. For example, animals in the roadway caused 23% of single-car crashes in the state in 2025.^[6] If your auto insurance policy doesn’t include comprehensive coverage, you’ll have to pay to repair or replace your vehicle out of pocket after striking an animal.

A full-coverage policy costs more than minimum coverage, but it may be worth it to avoid being on the hook for damage to your vehicle. The average cost of car insurance in Idaho is $64 per month for liability coverage and $107 for full coverage.

Idaho drivers should consider purchasing a full-coverage policy with the following optional coverages for better protection:

• 

  Comprehensive coverage

  After you pay your deductible, this coverage can cover repair or replacement costs if someone steals your vehicle or if something other than a collision damages it, such as an animal strike, a fire, or a winter storm.

• 

  Collision coverage

  Collision insurance helps you pay to repair or replace your vehicle after a car accident, regardless of fault.

• 

  Medical payments coverage (MedPay)

  This can help cover medical expenses and lost wages for you and your passengers after an accident.

Penalties for driving without insurance in Idaho

The first time the DMV finds that you’re driving without insurance in Idaho, it’s an infraction punishable by a $75 fine. You’ll also need to provide proof of financial responsibility for one year afterward through an SR-22 form, which your insurer can file on your behalf.^[7]

If your coverage lapses two or more times within five years, you’ll receive a misdemeanor that carries a fine of up to $1,000, six months in jail, or both. You’ll need to provide proof of financial responsibility for three years afterward.

Below, you can see what penalties you’ll face for a first or subsequent violation in Idaho.

Offense	Classification	Penalty	SR-22 Requirement
First	Infraction	$75 fine	1 year
Second or more within 5 years	Misdemeanor	Up to $1,000 fine, up to 6 months jail, or both	3 years

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How Idaho’s Drive Insured program verifies coverage

The Idaho DMV uses an online insurance-verification system to check that all registered vehicles have current insurance coverage. The system sends queries to insurance companies, and the DMV then matches the information it receives against its record of registered vehicles. If the DMV spots any uninsured vehicles, it sends a notice.

If two months pass and a vehicle owner still doesn’t have insurance, the DMV sends a warning letter. The owner then has 60 days to provide proof of insurance before having their registration suspended.^[8]

Sometimes, the verification system might accidentally flag an insured vehicle. If that happens, you can use the state’s self-reporting tool to report your insurance.^[9]

Previously, if you let your coverage lapse between registration renewals, the state might not find out unless law enforcement pulled you over or if you had an accident. But Idaho state law now requires insurers to report coverage data to the state at least every week. The DMV will detect coverage lapses quickly.

Idaho insurance laws FAQs