If your home is where the mountain ranges are in the Treasure State, aka Montana, you’ll need good car insurance to take you from the Great Plains Badlands to Glacier Mountain Park to see Rising Wolf Mountain.
Even if you aren’t trekking the mountains, you’ll still need a good car insurance policy to protect you and your vehicle from whatever life throws at you.
So if you’re looking into your car insurance options in Montana, have a read and find the best policy for your unique needs.
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If you’re driving across Montana 64, you wouldn’t want to get pulled over and ticketed and penalized for not meeting the state’s car insurance minimums. Why? Like most other states, Montana legally requires all drivers to have car insurance, whether that means liability (minimums) or more robust coverage like comprehensive.
These are Montana’s car insurance minimums:
However, affordable liability car insurance may entice drivers to save a couple of bucks a month on premiums. But is it worth having cheaper rates if you get into a mid-to-large-scale accident and have to pay out of pocket for damages? For example, if you’re involved in a multi-car accident, you only have $20,000 to pay for vehicular damage—not including fixing your car if you only have liability. Not to mention medical expenses, you only have $50,000 per accident, which won’t go very far. In this scenario, you’re at financial risk if you drive with only liability car insurance.
Every driver has different wants and needs; some want vehicle damage coverage, while others want all the bells and whistles with comprehensive hence why insurers offer various car insurance options.
These are the most common car insurance options in Montana:
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The good news for Montana drivers is car insurance is cheaper across the board, from liability to comprehensive coverage. The average cost for car insurance in Montana per year for full coverage is around $1,900, while liability in Montana is between $300-$400 annually. Both these averages come in less than the national average.
However, these rates depend on your personal profile, zip code, and car insurance policy.
An interesting fact about Montana car insurance rates is they may be below the national average, but compared to neighboring states, like Wyoming or Idaho, they’re more expensive. There are two reasons why Montana residents pay more than their neighbors: one, Montana experiences more severe weather events, like flooding, and the last is the high ratio of car accident-related fatalities—for every 100,000 people, 19.6 will pass away in a Montana traffic fatality.
If you’re driving to Glacier National Park for some sightseeing and get pulled over, you don’t want to get caught driving without car insurance in Montana. If it’s discovered by the officer that you don’t meet Montana state minimums, you can expect to get ticketed and penalized.
Oh, did we mention you also face jail time? Yup, in Montana it is considered a misdemeanour if you’re caught driving with inadequate car insurance, which means possible jail time depending on the nature of your offense.
Here’s what you can expect if you’re busted for driving without liability car insurance in Montana.
| Penalty Type | 1st Offense | 2nd Offense | 3rd Offense | 4th+ Offense |
| Fine | $250-$500 | $350 | $500 | $500 |
| Imprisonment | Up to 10 days in jail, or jail + fine | Up to 10 days in jail + fine | Up to 6 months in jail, or jail + fine | |
| Registration Suspension | N/A | 90 Days | 18 Days | Until proof of insurance is processed |
| Driver’s License Suspension | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| SR-22 | Carry SR-22 for 3 years | |||
| Insurance Rates | A misdemeanour and car insurance lapse leads to a steep increase in insurance rates | |||
When a cop in Montana pulls you over, you can display proof of insurance via your insurance card, or the cop will look up your insurance information on the Montana Insurance Verification System (MTIVS). If it is discovered you do not have adequate coverage, you’ll face fines, jail time, or license suspensions.
Thus, you want to drive with at least liability coverage to avoid possible imprisonment.
If you want some leniency for driving without car insurance in Montana from the courts, you have two options:
Finally, to legally drive after you’ve been convicted of driving without car insurance, you’ll need to obtain an SR-22 form. You can apply for an SR-22 after you’ve paid your fine, served your suspension time, paid a $100 license reinstatement fee, and obtained valid car insurance. An SR-22 is a certificate your insurance company files for you, so the Motor Vehicles Financial Responsibility Division can monitor your mandatory 3-year insurance compliance.
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If you live among the winding roads and mountain views of the majestic state of Montana, you’ll want quality car insurance to protect you along the way. Although liability insurance is temptingly affordable, it isn’t in your best interest to have only liability as it protects other drivers, not you. The coverage limits are also so low that there is no guarantee you won’t be left paying out of pocket if you get into a mid-to-large scale accident. Not to mention, Montana encounters many severe weather events, which could damage your vehicle, so having collision coverage will protect you from paying for vehicular repairs.
Before you start shopping for car insurance quotes in Montana, browse your coverage options—you can check out coverage options here—to identify what your ideal car insurance policy looks like. Once you know what car insurance policy you want, it’s time to start shopping around for quotes! If you’re ready to start quote shopping, grab a free quote with ConsumerCoverage here!
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