Car Insurance Requirements in Idaho (2024)

Most states impose minimum requirements for auto insurance, but the specifics of what coverage drivers need to buy vary depending on location. Not having the right amount of insurance can lead to serious penalties, so you need to know what protections to buy in the state where you live and register your vehicles.

Here’s what you need to know about Idaho car insurance requirements, the cost of coverage in Idaho, and what happens if you don’t have the proper coverage.

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Idaho car insurance requirements

Idaho’s minimum car insurance requirements are very similar to many other states. Drivers need to have insurance to cover the other party’s damages and losses. Specifically, drivers must carry $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in bodily injury liability and $15,000 per accident in property damage liability.

Auto insurers must also offer uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, although Idaho drivers have the option to reject these protections. This coverage pays for your losses if someone else doesn’t have the insurance coverage needed to pay for the damage they cause you.^[1]

Here are the details of the required types of auto insurance in Idaho.

Bodily injury liability

Idaho requires $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in bodily injury liability coverage.

If you cause physical harm to others in a car accident, this coverage can pay for the victim’s medical bills. It can also pay for other expenses, like funeral costs, loss of income, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. Finally, it can pay for the legal bills you incur if someone sues you following an accident.

Because the minimum policy limits are low, many drivers benefit from buying more than the minimum coverage.

Property damage liability

Idaho requires $15,000 per accident in property damage liability coverage. If you damage someone’s property in an accident, property damage liability coverage pays for the property owner’s losses. Again, the minimum coverage limit is relatively low, and you may wish to buy an insurance policy with a higher maximum payout — although doing so is optional.

Do you need more than state-minimum coverage in Idaho?

Idaho only requires you to buy insurance that protects against the losses and damage you cause to others. Unless you buy full-coverage insurance — which includes collision and comprehensive coverages — you won’t have protection for your own vehicle damage.

The average monthly cost of a liability-only policy in Idaho is $69, while the average monthly cost of a full-coverage policy is $141. Full-coverage insurance is more expensive than liability coverage because it provides additional protection.

For most drivers, it’s a good idea to buy full-coverage insurance because paying out of pocket for car repair or replacement after a loss is expensive. If you finance your vehicle or have an auto loan, your lender will likely require you to purchase full-coverage insurance. Experts generally recommend purchasing more coverage than the minimum.

However, if you have an older, paid-off vehicle that isn’t worth much, it may not make sense to pay extra for more protection. The amount the insurer would pay out for an older, low-value vehicle may not cover the premium associated with buying a full-coverage policy.

The cost of liability-only car insurance in Idaho

The average cost of liability-only car insurance in Idaho is $69 per month. Remember, this insurance only provides coverage for the harm you cause to others. You need more coverage for your own losses in a crash or non-collision event, such as hail damage or theft.

Safeco has the cheapest liability coverage in Idaho, with an average rate of $50 per month. The table below shows how much you could expect to pay for liability coverage on average from different insurers in Idaho.

The cost of full-coverage car insurance in Idaho

The average cost of full-coverage car insurance in Idaho is $141 per month. This adds collision and comprehensive coverages to your policy. Full-coverage insurance will pay for your vehicle losses following a crash or non-collision incident.

Safeco offers the cheapest full-coverage car insurance policy in Idaho. Check out the table below to see the average premiums in Idaho for a full-coverage policy.

Penalties for driving without proof of insurance in Idaho

Idaho drivers without proof of insurance can face severe penalties, including the following consequences outlined in the Idaho code:

• Suspension of a driver’s license until you can provide proof of insurance

• A $75 fine for a first offense

• Misdemeanor charges for a second and subsequent offense within five years of the first

• Up to six months in county jail and a fine of up to $1,000 for a second or subsequent offense within five years of the first^[3]

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Optional car insurance coverages to consider

Vehicle owners in the state of Idaho may want to purchase other types of optional insurance beyond the requirements. Common optional coverages to consider include the following:

• 

  Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage

  Idaho insurers must offer drivers uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, though drivers can choose to reject them. These coverages pay for your medical bills and repairs resulting from an accident caused by another driver who doesn’t have sufficient insurance to cover them.

• 

  Comprehensive coverage

  Comprehensive coverage pays for losses not from a crash, such as vandalism, hail, or fire damage.

• 

  Collision coverage

  Collision coverage pays for losses resulting from a crash with an object or another vehicle, regardless of fault.

• 

  Medical payments coverage

  Medical payments coverage can pay for medical expenses for you or your passengers that occur due to injuries sustained in a crash, regardless of fault.

• 

  Gap coverage

  Insurers only pay out the fair market value of a vehicle when it’s a total loss or if someone steals it. The fair market value may be less than your outstanding loan balance. Gap insurance pays the difference.

Idaho car insurance requirements FAQs