Cheapest Car Insurance in Idaho

Car insurance in Idaho costs $33 per month, on average, or $394 per year. The average cost of car insurance in Idaho is 45% lower than the national average auto insurance premium, and Idaho ranks 6 out of 50 for the most affordable car insurance rates in the U.S.

Average Cost of Car Insurance in Idaho by Category 

• Clean driving record: $416 per year
• After an at-fault accident: $573 per year
• Driver with poor credit: $654 per year
• Teen driver: $1,687 per year
• After a DUI: $652 per year

There are several factors that affect how much you'll pay for car insurance in Idaho, including your driving record, age, location, the amount of coverage that you purchase, and the insurance company you buy it from. On average, the cheapest insurance companies in Idaho are American National, USAA, and Geico. But every insurer has their own way of calculating premiums, so it's a good idea to get quotes from at least three different companies to make sure you find the best deal.

Finally, it's worth noting that car insurance premiums in Idaho are low, compared to the cost of coverage in neighboring states like Washington and Oregon. You can find more details in the table below. 

Cost of Car Insurance in Idaho vs. Neighboring States

Drivers in Idaho can find cheap car insurance with “no deposit” or “no down payment,” but all that really means is you only have to pay the first month's premium to get coverage. You cannot get car insurance in Idaho without paying something upfront. But you can minimize the cost of coverage in Idaho, which ranks 6 for the cheapest car insurance rates in the country. The average monthly premium in Idaho is about $97 for full coverage and around $33 for state minimum coverage. Drivers in Idaho should expect to pay about that much in advance each month to keep their car insurance policy active.

The biggest drawback of paying for auto insurance monthly is that it's almost always more expensive than paying in full for six or 12 months of coverage upfront. Some Idaho insurance companies charge slightly more for month-to-month premiums, and there can also be payment processing fees. Most car insurance companies also discount rates for customers who pay in advance.

You can still find cheap car insurance options if you can't afford a big deposit, though. The best no-down-payment car insurance keeps rates low and only requires the first month's payment to start your policy.

Hailey has the least expensive auto insurance premiums in Idaho, with an average of $355 per year. By comparison, the average cost of car insurance in Idaho overall is $394 per year.

Cheapest Cities for Car Insurance in Idaho 

1. Hailey: $355 per year
2. Mountain Home: $360 per year
3. Moscow: $367per year
4. Preston: $368 per year

Some cities in Idaho have cheaper car insurance premiums than others because insurance companies take a driver's ZIP code into account when calculating their premium, alongside other factors. For example, drivers who live in dense urban areas typically pay more for coverage than drivers in rural areas because they're more likely to get into an accident. And if an area has a particularly high theft rate, car insurance may be more expensive due to the risk of vehicles being stolen.

To learn more, check out WalletHub's guide to the cheapest car insurance in Idaho. 

You can get car insurance discounts in Idaho based on how you drive, the car you own, and your relationship with your insurance company. In Idaho, car insurance companies are allowed to consider factors like employment, residential, and marital status when setting premiums. That means there are also discounts available for being married, owning a home, or being affiliated with certain employers or educational institutions.

Almost anyone can get a discount on car insurance in Idaho because most insurance companies make it easy to qualify for a variety of savings. Idaho insurers typically offer discounts that fall into one of three categories—policy discounts, driver discounts, and vehicle discounts.

Policy discounts typically reward customer behavior that is desirable to the insurance company. For example, most Idaho drivers can save by registering for paperless billing or getting both home and auto policies from the same company. Driver discounts are available to Idaho residents who are lower-risk to insure, like those with clean driving records. And vehicle discounts help drivers save if their car has certain safety features or anti-theft systems.

Car Insurance Discounts in Idaho

Remember, discounts vary among different insurance companies, so it's always best to contact the provider directly to determine which discounts you qualify for.

The cheapest SR-22 insurance company in Idaho is American National, with annual premiums costing an average of $210. Since drivers with an SR-22 are considered high-risk, they usually pay above-average rates for coverage, sometimes more than twice as much as a standard policy. The average rate increase in Idaho is 9%. 

Cheapest SR-22 Insurance Companies in Idaho

If these premiums all seem incredibly high, remember that the increase is only temporary. In Idaho, you are only required to have an SR-22 on file for 3 years, and if you practice safe driving habits in the meantime, you should see your premiums begin to go down. 

Tips for Getting Cheap SR-22 Insurance in Idaho

• Figure out how much insurance you really need by looking at the minimum requirements for Idaho.
• Consider a non-owner SR-22 certificate if you need to be able to drive but do not own a vehicle.
• Continue to compare insurance rates annually to make sure your insurer is still offering you the best price.

It is possible that you will not be able to find a company that is willing to insure you. If that happens, you may be able to apply for car insurance through your state, since many states provide programs to match high-risk drivers with partnering insurers. However, this should be used as a last resort because the premiums will likely be very expensive. 

To learn more, check out WalletHub's guide to SR-22 insurance.

High-risk auto insurance in Idaho will not be cheap, as premiums for high-risk policies in the state average $1,087 per year. That's about 48% more than the average cost of car insurance in Idaho overall. Nevertheless, high-risk drivers in Idaho should still be able to find suitable car insurance options after comparison shopping.

Drivers defined as high-risk typically have a history of serious driving violations and face higher rates because they are statistically more likely to cost insurers more than the average driver. For this reason, many insurance companies won't even sell coverage to high-risk drivers. However, other insurers specialize in high-risk coverage, so drivers with a checkered record have options.

The best high-risk auto insurance companies in Idaho are Geico, State Farm, American Family because they are financially strong and have few customer complaints. Deficiencies in either area could be a sign you'll have a hard time getting payouts if you need to file a claim. Some of the most common complaints about car insurance companies concern denials, low settlements, and delays in processing claims. These companies also tend to be among the most affordable in Idaho for high-risk drivers, but you should always shop around to compare rates.

Pro Tip: Look for an insurer with at least an “A” grade for financial stability and a complaint score close to or below the national median of 1.

How much more high-risk drivers pay for auto insurance in Idaho depends on why they are classified as high-risk. Your combination of risk factors determines how much more you'll pay for high-risk auto insurance in Idaho. Car insurance companies decide if you are a high-risk driver based heavily on driving factors like accidents, speeding tickets, reckless driving, racing, and DUI/DWI.

For example, Idaho drivers with two accidents in their claims history see their rates jump by an average of 86%. If you're convicted of a DUI, you'll see an increase of about 43%. And if you're caught going more than 20 MPH over the speed limit, expect your rates to go up by about 17%, on average.

Non-driving factors like your age, location, insurance history, credit score, and vehicle can also affect how much more high-risk auto insurance costs in Idaho. If you get caught driving without insurance, the coverage lapse alone could raise your premium by about 1%. If you have no credit, you can expect to pay about 57% more than drivers with excellent scores.

In other words, your individual combination of risk factors determines how much more you specifically will pay for high-risk auto insurance in Idaho.

• Comparison shop. The best way to get affordable car insurance is to compare rates from at least three insurance companies. In Idaho, the most expensive policies are around $1,581, and the least expensive cost about $694. That means drivers could save as much as $887 simply by comparing quotes. At a minimum, check rates three and five years after a traffic violation to get a lower rate when it falls off your record.
• Avoid filing claims. Claims can dramatically increase your premium. In Idaho, the average collision claim raised rates $279. Before filing a claim, calculate whether the cost of the damage exceeds your deductible plus future premium surcharges.
• Have a practical car or go car-free. Some vehicles are more expensive to insure than others. Your car's make, model, year, safety features, and price tag all impact how much you'll pay. Consider a practical vehicle that's more affordable to insure if you're already high-risk. If the premium is still more than you can afford, you could switch to non-owner car insurance or go car-free for a while.
• Drive safely. The easiest way to avoid traffic violations is to obey traffic laws and drive safely. You can't undo the past, but you can make good choices now. Focus on keeping a clean driving record and consider a driver safety course to potentially lower your premiums right away.

If you've been denied coverage from traditional insurers, look into Idaho's assigned risk program. With assigned risk insurance, drivers who cannot get accepted normally are assigned to insurance companies that collectively pool together to take the risk of insuring them. It's a last resort, and you'll have to prove that you've tried and failed to get insurance multiple times to qualify.

In the end, the need for high-risk car insurance is a temporary situation. Serious violations like DUIs are on your record for 10 years in Idaho, but most violations fall off your record within three to five years. No matter how long it takes, your high-risk status will eventually change with time if you can prove you're a safe and responsible driver again.

The best car insurance in Idaho for drivers with a DUI is from American National, State Farm and Safeco. Getting a DUI in Idaho will raise insurance premiums by an average of $241 per year, but drivers can minimize the cost of post-DUI car insurance by comparing quotes from the cheapest companies.

Best DUI Insurance in Idaho

• American National: $241 per year
• State Farm: $320 per year
• Safeco: $378 per year
• Progressive: $399 per year
• Sentry: $528 per year

Insurance for drivers with a DUI is expensive because the violation indicates that you are more likely to file a claim than the average driver. In Idaho, a DUI will only affect your rate for about 3-5 years, so the higher rates won't last forever. 

Car insurance in Idaho is actually not very expensive compared to the national average, thanks to mostly rural areas and a very few uninsured drivers on the roads. In Idaho, you can expect to pay approximately $1,158 per year for full coverage car insurance or $394 per year for minimum coverage. Car insurance in Idaho is less expensive than the national average, which is around $2,000 annually for full coverage and about $700 per year for minimum coverage.

The cost of car insurance is steadily increasing, too, both in Idaho and nationwide. As the cost of providing insurance goes up, the premiums insurers charge also rise. All insured drivers share the increasing cost of insurance. That is why your rates tend to go up every time your policy is renewed, regardless of whether any individual factors—like your driving record or location—have changed.

There are several unique reasons why car insurance goes up every year in Idaho, too, even if your details remain the same.

Top Reasons Car Insurance Is Expensive in Idaho

• People in Idaho are driving more. As a result, the number of accidents, claims, and payouts is rising, too. For example, there were approximately 201 fatal crashes in 2019 in Idaho, versus 198 fatal crashes in 2015.

• Auto repairs are getting more expensive. Vehicles today cost more to repair due to the added technology and features. For example, a National Association of Insurance Commissioners study found that the average cost of vehicle repairs was around 8% higher in 2018 than it was in 2014.
• People in Idaho drive uninsured. As the cost of car insurance continues to rise, more drivers take the risk of driving without car insurance. In 2019, 13% of drivers lacked even minimum liability insurance in Idaho. The cost of uninsured drivers is passed on to consumers through higher premiums.
• Healthcare in Idaho is getting more expensive. Car insurance companies are hit hardest when paying out claims involving medical bills, and it's not getting any cheaper. Healthcare spending increases by an average of 4% every year in Idaho.
• Idaho is experiencing more severe weather. In Idaho, weather events like wilfires, droughts, and floods are becoming increasingly common. These weather events cause insurers to pay out a higher number of claims, which tend to be more expensive and less predictable. As a result, they have to raise rates to keep pace.

However, there could be other issues elevating your rates.

If your driving record is clean and your rates are still high, your car insurance might be expensive because of your: 

Age. Drivers under 25 and older than 65 pay more for auto coverage because they are statistically more likely to be involved in serious and fatal accidents. In Idaho, 16-year-old drivers pay an average of $2,138, 25-year-old drivers pay an average of $497, and people over 65 pay an average of $401.

Location and driving patterns. Population-dense cities have higher premiums than rural areas because city living usually means more accidents, more property crime, and more frequent claims. In Idaho, the most expensive locations for insurance are Caldwell, Nampa, and Kuna. You can also expect rates to change based on your driving patterns—long commutes or regular driving in high-risk areas can cost you.  

Financial responsibility. In Idaho, drivers with no credit pay 59% more on their premiums than drivers with excellent credit. You can also demonstrate financial responsibility by maintaining minimum car insurance with no gaps in coverage. Letting your coverage lapse could result in a higher rate when you get your next policy.

Claims history. Numerous recent claims can drive up your premiums. That's one reason why it sometimes makes sense to pay out of pocket rather than file a claim, especially if a claim won't get you much more than your deductible.  

How to Get Cheaper Car Insurance in Idaho

Multiple factors affect the cost of car insurance. Some things you can't control, but you do have a say in most of the contributing factors. Driving safely, obeying traffic laws, and keeping a clean driving record are the best ways to keep your insurance costs down.

Other than that, the best way to lower your car insurance costs is to compare rates from at least three insurance companies. Ideally, you should check your rates every 6-12 months, when you renew your policy. But at a minimum, be sure to check your record and shop for rates every three to five years, since you may be able to get a lower rate if a traffic violation falls off your record.

In Idaho, the most expensive policies cost roughly $701, and the least expensive coverage costs around $149, when all driver profile information is the same. That means you could save as much as $552 simply by shopping around. Be sure to confirm you're getting all the discounts you're eligible for, too.

In Idaho, drivers need $25,000 of bodily injury liability insurance per person, up to $50,000 per accident, and $15,000 of property damage liability insurance. Idaho does not require uninsured motorist protection, which replaces the liability coverage an at-fault driver should've had and pays for your costs up to your policy limits. Coverage like MedPay or personal injury protection pays for medical expenses for you and your passengers, and MedPay is optional in Idaho. PIP is not available.

Here's How Much Car Insurance Drivers Need in Idaho:

If you lease or finance your car, you may be required to carry coverage types that are not mandatory under Idaho law. Lenders usually require comprehensive and collision insurance. Collision insurance covers repairs to your car when you hit another car or object. If the damage to your vehicle was caused by something other than a collision—like a natural disaster, vandalism, falling objects, or animals—it is most likely covered by comprehensive insurance. You might also have to get gap insurance, which covers the difference between what you owe on your loan and what the vehicle is worth at the time of a total loss.

Even if you're not required to carry these optional coverage types, you may still need them. You can learn more about when to drop optional coverage and the penalties for driving without insurance in Idaho to make sure you're paying for the coverage you need.

The cheapest states for car insurance are Iowa, Vermont and Nebraska, according to WalletHub's Cheap Car Insurance Study. They are the cheapest states for auto insurance in large part because they have low population density and relatively few uninsured motorists. In contrast, New York, Florida and New Jersey are the most expensive states for car insurance.

Population and uninsured motorists are the two main reasons for variations in policy costs from state to state. After all, fewer people means fewer drivers on the road, which means fewer accidents. And a low percentage of uninsured motorists means that more of the people on the road are responsible drivers. It also means insurance companies face fewer claims from their own customers who've been hit by uninsured motorists. Both a low population and low numbers of uninsured motorists keep claims and premiums down.

10 Cheapest States for Car Insurance:

1. Iowa
2. Vermont
3. Nebraska
4. Wyoming
5. South Dakota
6. Montana
7. New Hampshire
8. West Virginia
9. North Dakota
10. Maine

In addition to the population and number of uninsured drivers, other factors that affect car insurance costs include state laws, crime rates, and special weather hazards. State laws govern how much insurance coverage drivers are required to carry, and no-fault laws impact insurers' risks. Crime rates mainly impact comprehensive coverage, which covers losses due to theft or violence. Weather hazards - like hurricanes, hail or snowstorms - cause more breakdowns and accidents.