8+ years writing for major outlets, including MarketWatch and Business Insider
Master’s in Education
Taylor Mlam-Samuel is a personal finance writer and credentialed educator. When she’s not helping readers better save and spend money, she can be found teaching.
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Licensed auto and home insurance agent
3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.
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Updated November 20, 2024
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Table of contents
The average cost of insurance in Montana is nearly the same as the national average of $154. Montana is the third least densely populated state in the country, which may explain the state’s affordable insurance rates. However, coverage costs can vary depending on your city, age, credit history, gender, and driving record.
Here’s what you should know about Montana car insurance, including how much you can expect to pay.
The average cost of minimum-coverage car insurance in Montana is $79 per month, and the average cost of full-coverage car insurance is $162.
Bozeman drivers earn some of the cheapest average rates in Montana.
Montana is an at-fault state, which means the driver who causes the accident must cover the other party’s resulting medical expenses and vehicle repairs.[1]
What’s the average cost of car insurance in Montana?
Drivers in Montana pay an average of $79 per month for liability-only insurance and $162 for full-coverage insurance. The average costs for car insurance premiums are similar to the national average rates of $104 per month for liability coverage and $204 for full coverage.
Because a number of factors can influence your car insurance costs, including which company you buy coverage from, it’s important to compare multiple quotes before finalizing your insurance policy.
Here are the cheapest car insurance companies for drivers in Montana.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Average Quote: Liability Only ▲▼ | Average Quote: Full Coverage ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
State Farm | $44 | $103 |
USAA | $48 | $110 |
Midvale Home & Auto | $49 | $123 |
Safeco | $52 | $115 |
Progressive | $56 | $129 |
Farmers | $81 | $182 |
GEICO | $85 | $198 |
Allstate | $89 | $204 |
Bristol West | $90 | $220 |
The General | $98 | $198 |
Foremost | $103 | $201 |
Average Montana car insurance rates by city
Your location affects how much you pay for car insurance coverage, even within the same state. For example, drivers in large cities tend to pay more than drivers in rural areas. Montana doesn’t have many big urban centers. Billings, the state’s largest city, has a population of around 120,000 people.[2] Car insurance rates across the state are fairly similar.
The average costs of liability-only car insurance in Billings, Great Falls, Helena, and Missoula only differ by a few dollars. But drivers in Bozeman can expect to pay nearly $20 less each month than other drivers in the state.
Here’s how much you can expect to pay for car insurance in the following Montana cities.
City ▲▼ | Average Quote: Liability Only ▲▼ | Average Quote: Full Coverage ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
Billings | $98 | $221 |
Bozeman | $83 | $182 |
Great Falls | $102 | $186 |
Helena | $96 | $205 |
Missoula | $98 | $199 |
Average Montana car insurance rates by age
Age is another factor that affects how much you pay for car insurance. Young drivers — especially teenagers — pay the highest premiums due to unsafe driving habits and a lack of experience.
Auto insurance rates decrease for drivers as they get older, with drivers earning the lowest rates around retirement age. Senior drivers older than 70 may face slight rate increases as insurers account for aging-related risk factors.[3]
Here are the average car insurance quotes in Montana for each age group.
Rates by Age
How gender affects car insurance rates in Montana
Women tend to have fewer car accidents and high-risk traffic violations than men. As a result, women usually pay lower rates for car insurance. The price difference between men and women in Montana is small but noticeable, especially when considering gender alongside age.
For example, young men pose a much higher driving risk than young women, so male teenagers face higher average rates. The cost difference for men and women decreases with age.
Here are the average quotes for men and women by age in Montana.
Age ▲▼ | Male ▲▼ | Female ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
16 | $401 | $328 |
35 | $192 | $173 |
50 | $147 | $141 |
How your driving record affects car insurance rates in Montana
Your driving record is a history of your vehicle violations. If you’ve had an at-fault accident, speeding ticket, DUI, or other moving violation, it will appear on your record. Insurers review your driving record to determine risk.
Incidents on your record indicate that you have a higher likelihood of filing claims in the future, which costs insurance companies money. As a result, insurers charge you more in anticipation of future costs. On average, Montana drivers with an incident on their record pay $156 per month for car insurance.
Here are the average car insurance quotes for Montana residents by driving record.
Driver Record ▲▼ | Average Quote: Liability Only ▲▼ | Average Quote: Full Coverage ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
Clean record | $79 | $162 |
With accident | $120 | $245 |
With speeding ticket | $112 | $229 |
With DUI | $135 | $278 |
Average Montana car insurance rates by marital status
Married drivers may have additional savings and usually pay less for car insurance than their single peers. Car insurance companies may view married couples as having more financial stability. And married drivers can benefit from multi-vehicle and bundling discounts, which can decrease their car insurance costs.
Compared to the rate for married drivers, the average annual rate for single drivers in Montana is nearly $50 more for liability coverage and almost $120 more for a full-coverage policy.
Here are the average quotes in Montana based on marital status.
Marital Status ▲▼ | Average Quote: Liability Only ▲▼ | Average Quote: Full Coverage ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
Married | $91 | $188 |
Single | $95 | $196 |
Average Montana car insurance rates by credit tier
Car insurance companies in Montana can use credit-based insurance scores to determine risk. Drivers with good or excellent credit pose less risk to insure and, as a result, have cheaper rates. Insurers may view people with poor credit as riskier to insure and charge them higher rates accordingly.[4]
Here’s how car insurance prices in Montana differ by credit tier and coverage level.
Credit Tier ▲▼ | Average Quote: Liability Only ▲▼ | Average Quote: Full Coverage ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
Excellent | $84 | $173 |
Good | $93 | $192 |
Fair | $102 | $211 |
Poor | $149 | $307 |
Montana car insurance FAQs
As you shop for car insurance from the best insurance companies in Montana, it’s a good idea to understand the amount of coverage you need. The following information can help you navigate the process of buying car insurance.
What is the average cost of car insurance in Montana?
The overall average cost of car insurance in Montana is $121 per month. Montana drivers pay $79 per month for liability coverage and $162 for full-coverage insurance, on average. How much you pay for insurance will depend on your credit history, driving record, type of vehicle, age, chosen coverage, ZIP code, and more.
What is the cheapest car insurance in Montana?
State Farm is one of the cheapest car insurance companies in the U.S., and it offers the cheapest average car insurance rates in Montana. Drivers with State Farm pay an average of $44 per month for liability and $103 for full coverage. USAA offers the second-lowest rates, at $48 per month for liability and $123 for full coverage. Compare quotes from multiple insurers to find the best deal.
Do you need uninsured motorist coverage in Montana?
Montana drivers don’t need uninsured motorist coverage. You can add it to your policy, but the state doesn’t require it. However, you must meet the minimum requirements of bodily injury and property damage liability insurance.[5]
What are the best auto insurance companies in Montana?
The best auto insurance company for you will depend on your coverage needs, budget, and driving record. State Farm and USAA are top auto insurers nationwide and typically offer the most competitive rates for Montana residents. Both companies have high Insurify Quality (IQ) Scores and ample coverage options.
What are the car insurance requirements in Montana?
Drivers in Montana must have liability insurance. The auto policy must include at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in bodily injury liability and $20,000 per accident for property damage liability coverage.
Drivers may choose to purchase additional policies, including collision coverage and comprehensive insurance, both of which cover damage to your vehicle from various sources.
Methodology
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 90 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 50+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.
Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).
Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:
- Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
- Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
- No additional coverage
- Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
- Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible
Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.
Sources
- NOLO. "Montana Car Insurance Requirements."
- United States Census Bureau. "QuickFacts Billings city, Montana."
- Insurance Information Institute. "What determines the price of an auto insurance policy?."
- Montana Code Annotated 2021. "Use of Credit Information."
- Motor Vehicle Liability Policy Minimum Limits — Other Requirements. "Montana Code Annotated 2021."
Taylor Milam-Samuel is a writer and credentialed educator who is fascinated by how people earn, save, and spend their money. When she's not researching financial terms and conditions, she can be found in the classroom teaching.
Licensed auto and home insurance agent
3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.
Featured in