Idaho Auto Insurance (2024)

Idaho auto insurance costs around $81 monthly for full coverage. However, you should compare rates from the best auto insurance companies to find a cheap Idaho insurance policy for your budget. Even high-risk drivers with DUIs, at-fault accidents, or other infractions could find cheap auto insurance in Idaho by shopping around and utilizing our tips to find savings.

Continue reading to learn more about auto insurance in Idaho, including the cheapest Idaho auto insurance companies and high-risk insurance laws. Then, enter your ZIP code into our free quote comparison tool above to find an affordable Idaho auto insurance policy.

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Finding Cheap Auto Insurance in Idaho

Understanding how auto insurance rates vary based on driving record, coverage amount, and individual profile is critical to finding the cheapest car insurance provider in Idaho.

We’ve covered the cheapest companies in Idaho for many driver types — from young drivers to drivers with a DUI on their record — to offer a starting point for companies you should get car insurance quotes from.

Cheapest Idaho Auto Insurance Companies for Minimum Coverage

Idaho requires minimum liability auto insurance, so all drivers must carry it to drive legally. It’s important to see which auto insurers have cheap liability car insurance in Idaho, so your starting rates are more affordable. Lower rates will also allow you more funds to purchase additional coverage.

Idaho’s average minimum liability insurance rates are $23 monthly, though this average varies by company. Look at the table below to see which Idaho insurance companies have the cheapest average rates for minimum liability insurance.

Liability Auto Insurance Average Rates From Top Providers

State Farm and Geico have the cheapest rates on average for minimum liability insurance, costing less than the state average. On the other hand, Allstate costs much more than the cheapest companies, with an average monthly rate over the state’s insurance average.  Our Allstate auto insurance review shows some of the other pros and cons of getting coverage with this company.

It’s best to get quotes from the cheapest companies on our list to see which is cheapest for you, rather than wasting time getting quotes from the most expensive companies in Idaho.

Cheapest Idaho Auto Insurance Companies for Full Coverage

Drivers looking for full coverage insurance will pay more than if they just purchased minimum liability insurance, but they can still find affordable rates by comparing companies. In addition, the higher price tag on full coverage is often worth it, as it protects drivers better financially after an accident than just minimum liability insurance.

The Idaho state average for full coverage insurance is $81 monthly. Below, you can see how insurance companies’ average rates compare to the Idaho state average.

Full Coverage Auto Insurance Rates From Top Providers

State Farm has some of the cheapest average rates for full coverage insurance in Idaho. Its average rates are about half that of the most expensive companies on our list, such as Allstate. Therefore, whether you’re getting a minimum liability policy or full coverage, State Farm is a good choice for most drivers looking to save on their rates. You can look to compare State Farm vs. Allstate auto insurance to find out more about picking between the two companies.

Cheapest Idaho Auto Insurance Companies for Young Drivers

If you’re a younger driver, you’ll pay more than older drivers for car insurance, regardless of where you live. Even if you don’t have an accident or traffic ticket on your record, insurers charge you more, as younger drivers are statistically more likely to file claims due to their driving inexperience.

So if you’re purchasing your own car insurance policy as a young driver in Idaho, compare companies to find the insurance company offering the cheapest rates.

Full Coverage Auto Insurance Monthly Rates for Teen Drivers

Young drivers should avoid companies like Allstate and Farmers, whose average rates are at least twice that of the cheapest auto insurance companies for younger drivers. Instead, young drivers should look into companies like Geico or State Farm for insurance policies.

Another economical option for young drivers is to join an existing auto insurance policy, like their parents, since rates are significantly cheaper. If offered by their insurer, parents can also apply for a student away discount if the young driver is at least 100 miles away from home and didn’t take a car. There are also discounts for good students with at least a B+ average.

Cheapest Idaho Auto Insurance Companies for Bad Credit

Bad credit can impact how much you pay for car insurance. While this may seem strange, a bad credit score indicates that a driver is more likely to miss car insurance payments. Missed payments lead to serious issues like getting dropped by an insurance company and driving without insurance, which is illegal.

However, it can be hard for drivers to fix their credit scores when their auto insurance company charges them hundreds of dollars more for their credit scores.

Searching for the best auto insurance companies for bad credit will help drivers keep their rates low and get their credit scores back on track. Look below at the average rates for bad credit scores at major Idaho insurance companies.

Full Coverage Auto Insurance Monthly Rates by Credit Score

Geico, State Farm, and Travelers are all good companies to get quotes from if you have a bad credit score. However, drivers with bad credit should stay away from companies like Allstate and Progressive, where rates are extremely high for drivers with bad credit scores.

Cheapest Idaho Auto Insurance Companies for Speeding Tickets

You may have noticed higher auto insurance rates if you recently got a traffic ticket. Traffic tickets for moving violations like speeding put drivers in the high-risk category. After all, these behaviors are more likely to result in crashes, so insurers charge higher rates for drivers with traffic tickets.

Below, you can see how your auto insurance rates will change at different companies in Idaho for a traffic ticket.

Full Coverage Auto Insurance Monthly Rates: One Ticket vs. Clean Record

State Farm, Travelers, and Liberty Mutual are good choices if you’re looking for cheaper rates after a traffic ticket. Companies like Geico and Allstate tend to be more expensive, so if you have multiple traffic tickets on your record, it’s best to stay away from these companies. It’s important to learn about the answer to how long does a speeding ticket affects your car insurance so you don’t spend too much.

Cheapest Idaho Auto Insurance Companies for At-Fault Accidents

Like with traffic tickets, insurers consider drivers with at-fault accidents higher risk, so they generally see higher rates to offset the risk of insuring a high-risk driver. Below, you can see how rates change from company to company for drivers with at-fault accidents.

Full Coverage Auto Insurance Monthly Rates: One Accident vs. Clean Record

An at-fault accident can raise your insurance rates by a few hundred dollars a year. However, with companies like State Farm, Geico, and Travelers, you can lower the amount your rates increase after you have an at-fault accident.

You should also look into the best accident forgiveness auto insurance companies. Your first at-fault accident at the company gets forgiven with accident forgiveness, meaning your insurance rates won’t go up. Since rates tend to increase for a few years, these programs can save you a lot.

To qualify, you may have to stay accident-free for a few years at the same company, or you may have to pay a fee to join your insurance company’s program. Either way, these programs merit consideration, especially if you have a high likelihood of getting into a crash in your area.

Cheapest Idaho Auto Insurance Companies for DUIs

We’ve reviewed several factors impacting your auto insurance rates in Idaho, like bad credit scores or at-fault accidents. However, one of the worst offenses a driver can have on their driving record is a DUI, as they usually raise rates the most at auto insurance companies.

If you have a DUI conviction, it’s important to shop around and see if you can get a better rate at a different company. You can also look to move to one of the best states for affordable DUI auto insurance. Below, you can see the average rates at different companies for DUI offenders in Idaho.

Full Coverage Auto Insurance Monthly Rates by Driving Record

As you can see from the average rates above, DUIs can significantly raise your insurance rates, regardless of the company. However, some cheaper options for DUI drivers include State Farm and Farmers.

You might have also noticed that Geico is one of the most expensive companies on the list above, a great example of how a company that’s normally cheaper can become one of the most expensive companies for certain drivers. So it’s important to get quotes based on your driving record and coverage needs.

Cheapest Idaho Auto Insurance Companies by City

Insurance companies consider your location when setting rates since each area comes with its own risks. Some of the location factors used to consider rates include: 

• Animals: For example, insurance companies will raise the cost of comprehensive insurance if an area has multiple deer.
• Crash rates and traffic: Areas with a high volume of traffic or claims filed may come with higher car insurance rates for collision and liability insurance.
• Crime: Insurance companies charge more for comprehensive insurance if an area has a lot of vandalism or car theft.
• Weather: Some areas may be more prone to fires, hail, icy weather, and other driving hazards, resulting in higher comprehensive insurance costs.

These factors vary by state but can also change as drivers move around Idaho. Idaho Falls and Boise, Idaho are some of the most expensive cities for car insurance, so compare companies carefully to find cheap auto insurance. Other expensive cities for auto insurance include Caldwell and Nampa.

Best Way to Save on Idaho Auto Insurance Rates

Naturally, the best way to find savings is to shop around and compare car insurance rates based on your coverage needs and driving record.

However, if you’ve shopped around and are still struggling to find cheap rates, there are some tips and tricks you can try to bring your rates down to a more reasonable level. Look below at other ways to save on car insurance:

• Apply for usage-based insurance. Drivers who travel less than 10,000 miles annually should consider switching to a non-traditional usage-based insurance policy. You pay a low daily rate and a per-mile rate for insurance coverage.
• Apply for discounts. You may have to apply for certain car insurance discounts to add them to your insurance policy, like a good student or student away discount.
• Buy a cheaper car to insure. Some cars are significantly cheaper to insure, like mass-produced cars or those with good safety ratings, making part repair and replacement easier and cheaper after an accident. Taking the time to compare auto insurance rates by make and model is always helpful for finding cheaper rates.
• Drop any non-vital coverages. To save money, drivers can drop add-on coverages, such as roadside assistance. They may also consider a liability-only insurance policy for older, depreciated vehicles.
• Raise your insurance deductible. Increasing one or more of your auto insurance deductibles will decrease your rates, as you agree to pay more towards your repairs after a car crash.

Following the tips above can help you shave money off your monthly payments. However, don’t increase your deductible beyond an amount you can’t afford to pay out of pocket. For example, if you raise your deductible to $2,000, your payout gets reduced by that amount. So if you have $10,000 in damages, insurance will only give you $8,000.

Idaho Auto Insurance and DUI Laws

Idaho auto insurance laws impact how much you pay for car insurance, but why? If Idaho requires drivers to carry a higher minimum amount of insurance, the base cost of Idaho insurance will be higher.

DUI laws can also impact insurance rates, depending on the severity of penalties and the high-risk insurance required. Read on to learn about required Idaho insurance coverages, DUI penalties, and more.

Idaho’s Required Auto Insurance Coverages

You must meet Idaho minimum auto insurance requirements to drive legally, including bodily injury liability, property damage liability, and underinsured/uninsured motorist insurance coverage.

We’ve explained each of these coverages and the limits required below.

Bodily Injury Liability Auto Insurance

Bodily injury liability insurance steps in if you cause an accident, paying the other party’s medical bills up to your policy limits. In Idaho, all drivers must purchase bodily injury liability with a limit of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.

Of course, you can purchase a higher limit than what Idaho requires, but these amounts are the minimum you must carry to drive legally.

Property Damage Liability Auto Insurance

Property damage liability insurance is similar to bodily injury liability insurance. However, instead of paying for medical bills, property damage liability pays for other parties’ property damage bills in an accident you caused.

In Idaho, all drivers must carry a limit of $15,000 in property damage liability insurance to drive legally in the state. You may also purchase more than this limit if you can afford to, as any property damage costs beyond $15,000 come out of your pocket.

Underinsured/Uninsured Motorist Auto Insurance

Insurers often sell underinsured and uninsured motorist coverages as a package deal, and drivers must carry both in Idaho, unless rejected in writing.

The best underinsured motorist coverage auto insurance companies help pay for medical bills and property damage if the driver who caused the accident doesn’t have enough insurance to pay them. Uninsured motorist coverage pays for medical bills and property damage if the driver who caused the accident has no insurance.

Idaho’s Optional Auto Insurance Coverages

Beyond the required coverages in Idaho, most auto insurance coverages are optional. Idaho doesn’t require other coverages, though lenders in Idaho may require drivers to carry comprehensive and collision insurance in their loan or lease contracts.

Beyond that, drivers can choose whether to carry the following auto insurance coverages:

• Collision auto insurance
• Comprehensive auto insurance
• Gap insurance
• Medical payments
• Modified car insurance
• New car insurance
• Personal injury protection insurance
• Roadside assistance

Your Idaho auto insurance company may not offer all these coverages, but they’re common ones across Idaho. The two coverages we recommend are collision and comprehensive, which comprise a full coverage policy alongside Idaho’s minimum required insurance.

These coverages offer valuable protection to drivers. Collision insurance pays for your car repairs if you crash into another vehicle or an object like a tree stump. Comprehensive auto insurance pays for your car repairs if you crash into an animal or your car gets damaged from falling objects, weather, vandalism, or theft.

If you crash your car🚘, will your insurance cover it? With only liability coverage, you're out of luck😟. With full coverage, you're set👍. https://t.co/27f1xf1ARb has a guide to help you decide if full coverage is right for you. Check it out here👉: https://t.co/ZzJApDghSE pic.twitter.com/TKIDrrTjhC

— AutoInsurance.org (@AutoInsurance) September 25, 2023

Searching for full coverage auto insurance quotes in Idaho will help you find an affordable rate for these optional coverages.

Idaho DUI Penalties

DUI convictions in Idaho come with various penalties ranging in severity. Drivers may face only a few of the penalties listed below, or they may face all of them:

• Fines and reinstatement fees
• Ignition interlock device (IID)
• Jail time
• License suspension
• SR-22 certificate
• Substance abuse evaluation
• Substance abuse treatment

DUI costs can quickly add up, as drivers must pay for IIDs, substance abuse evaluation and treatment, and other mandatory penalties. Since DUIs put drivers in the high-risk category, drivers must also pay increased auto insurance rates and apply for SR-22 certificates, which we cover in the next section.

Idaho SR-22 Auto Insurance Certificates

SR-22 certificates show drivers carry Idaho’s required auto insurance coverage. High-risk drivers often must get an SR-22 certificate to resume driving after a license suspension or serious driving infraction. Some common situations where drivers would need one include drivers caught driving without insurance, with a suspended license, or driving impaired.

Contact your insurance company if you need an SR-22 certificate, though you may get charged a filing fee. Also, your insurer may choose to drop you as a customer, but this is rare. Finding cheap SR-22 auto insurance doesn’t have to be so difficult if you know where to shop.

If you get dropped for being a high-risk driver or don’t have a car insurance company, you’ll need to let companies know you need an SR-22 certificate when applying. In addition, if you don’t own a car but need an SR-22 certificate, you’ll have to purchase non-owner car insurance to qualify for one.

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How to Buy Cheap Idaho Auto Insurance Coverage

Finding the cheapest car insurance in Idaho requires research and time. Still, drivers who put in the effort to compare Idaho car insurance companies and apply our savings tips may receive great savings on Idaho auto insurance policies. Read more about how to lower your auto insurance.

If you’re ready to shop around for Idaho auto insurance quotes, enter your ZIP code into our free quote comparison tool below to find the cheapest Idaho car insurance companies in your area based on your coverage needs.

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Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap auto insurance rates.

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