Cheap Car Insurance in Montana for April 2024

State Farm offers the cheapest car insurance in Montana, with an average annual rate of $1,408 for full coverage.
Ben Moore
By Ben Moore 
Updated

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Auto insurance is an important purchase, but finding cheap car insurance in Montana isn’t always easy. The best way to find cheap car insurance is to compare rates from multiple insurers.

The cheapest car insurance company in Montana is State Farm at $1,408 per year on average, or $117 per month, according to the most recent NerdWallet analysis of full coverage car insurance rates in Montana. Meanwhile, the average cost of full coverage car insurance in Montana is $2,185 per year, or about $182 per month.

Minimum coverage in Montana is $415 per year on average, but we found you can likely get a cheaper policy. For example, State Farm offers the cheapest rates in Montana at $181 per year, on average, for minimum coverage car insurance for a 35-year-old driver with a clean driving record.

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How we chose the cheapest companies in Montana

NerdWallet’s editorial team analyzed car insurance rates from 9 auto insurers in Montana and listed the five cheapest options for drivers in several age brackets and with different histories, all driving a 2020 Toyota Camry L. For minimum coverage, we looked at rates that reflect the minimum requirements in Montana. For full coverage, we used the below coverage limits:

  • $100,000 bodily injury liability per person.

  • $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident.

  • $50,000 property damage liability per accident.

  • $100,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person.

  • $300,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident.

  • Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible.

  • Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible.

Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our writing and data analyses. You can trust the prices we show you because our data analysts take rigorous measures to eliminate outliers and inaccuracies in pricing data, which include rates from every locale in Montana where coverage is offered and data is available. When comparing rates for different coverage amounts, ages and backgrounds, we change only one variable at a time, so you can easily see how each factor affects pricing.

Cheapest for 20-year-old drivers

Drivers in their 20s may have to get a lot of quotes to find the best cheap car insurance. Prices can be sky-high for younger 20-somethings, but tend to come down as drivers get more experience on the road. Still, some companies routinely have better insurance rates for young drivers, so it's best to shop around to find them.

Cheapest full coverage car insurance in Montana for 20-year-olds

Drivers in Montana with clean driving records may want to consider the following companies, which had the lowest average rates:

  1. QBE: $2,670 per year, or about $223 per month.
  2. State Farm: $3,015 per year, or about $251 per month.
  3. Progressive: $4,720 per year, or about $393 per month.
  4. Nationwide: $5,231 per year, or about $436 per month.
  5. Geico: $7,061 per year, or about $588 per month.

Cheapest minimum coverage car insurance in Montana for 20-year-olds

Drivers in Montana who want just the state minimum coverage may want to check with these companies, which had the lowest average rates:

  1. State Farm: $477 per year, or about $40 per month.
  2. QBE: $655 per year, or about $55 per month.
  3. Progressive: $953 per year, or about $79 per month.
  4. Geico: $956 per year, or about $80 per month.
  5. Allstate: $1,048 per year, or about $87 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Montana for 20-year-olds with poor credit

Drivers with poor credit in Montana should look at the following insurers with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

  1. QBE: $1,181 per year, or about $98 per month.
  2. Geico: $1,234 per year, or about $103 per month.
  3. Allstate: $1,326 per year, or about $110 per month.
  4. Progressive: $1,414 per year, or about $118 per month.
  5. Nationwide: $1,534 per year, or about $128 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Montana for 20-year-old drivers with one speeding ticket

For drivers with a recent speeding ticket in Montana, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

  1. State Farm: $712 per year, or about $59 per month.
  2. QBE: $1,067 per year, or about $89 per month.
  3. Progressive: $1,111 per year, or about $93 per month.
  4. Geico: $1,131 per year, or about $94 per month.
  5. Allstate: $1,237 per year, or about $103 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Montana for 20-year-old drivers with one at-fault crash

For drivers with a recent accident in Montana, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

  1. State Farm: $668 per year, or about $56 per month.
  2. QBE: $1,067 per year, or about $89 per month.
  3. Progressive: $1,191 per year, or about $99 per month.
  4. Nationwide: $1,288 per year, or about $107 per month.
  5. Geico: $1,303 per year, or about $109 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Montana for 20-year-old drivers after a DUI

The cheapest auto insurance we found after a DUI is shown here, alongside the insurers' average rates for minimum coverage.

  1. State Farm: $757 per year, or about $63 per month.
  2. Progressive: $1,074 per year, or about $90 per month.
  3. Nationwide: $1,530 per year, or about $128 per month.
  4. QBE: $1,550 per year, or about $129 per month.
  5. Allstate: $1,563 per year, or about $130 per month.

Cheapest for 30-year-old drivers

By the time they reach their 30s, most drivers will enjoy cheaper car insurance rates than in their teens and 20s. Still, factors like a person’s driving record and car make and model can increase prices. Drivers in their 30s can get lower rates by shopping around and taking advantage of any car insurance discounts.

Cheapest full coverage car insurance in Montana for 30-year-olds

Drivers in Montana who want their state's minimum coverage can check with the following companies, which had the lowest average rates:

  1. State Farm: $1,435 per year, or about $120 per month.
  2. QBE: $1,565 per year, or about $130 per month.
  3. Nationwide: $2,150 per year, or about $179 per month.
  4. Geico: $2,473 per year, or about $206 per month.
  5. Progressive: $2,683 per year, or about $224 per month.

Cheapest minimum coverage car insurance in Montana for 30-year-olds

Drivers in Montana who want their state's minimum coverage can check with the following companies, which had the lowest average rates:

  1. State Farm: $191 per year, or about $16 per month.
  2. QBE: $271 per year, or about $23 per month.
  3. Geico: $326 per year, or about $27 per month.
  4. Allstate: $415 per year, or about $35 per month.
  5. Nationwide: $499 per year, or about $42 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Montana for 30-year-olds with poor credit

Drivers with poor credit in Montana should consider the following companies with the lowest average rates for full coverage:

  1. QBE: $2,371 per year, or about $198 per month.
  2. Nationwide: $3,371 per year, or about $281 per month.
  3. Geico: $3,763 per year, or about $314 per month.
  4. Allstate: $4,121 per year, or about $343 per month.
  5. Progressive: $4,202 per year, or about $350 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Montana for 30-year-old drivers with one speeding ticket

For drivers with a recent speeding ticket in Montana, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

  1. State Farm: $218 per year, or about $18 per month.
  2. Geico: $372 per year, or about $31 per month.
  3. QBE: $484 per year, or about $40 per month.
  4. Allstate: $507 per year, or about $42 per month.
  5. Nationwide: $621 per year, or about $52 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Montana for 30-year-old drivers with one at-fault crash

For drivers in Montana with a recent accident, here are the lowest average rate options for full coverage:

  1. State Farm: $1,754 per year, or about $146 per month.
  2. QBE: $2,230 per year, or about $186 per month.
  3. Progressive: $3,841 per year, or about $320 per month.
  4. Nationwide: $3,934 per year, or about $328 per month.
  5. Allstate: $4,160 per year, or about $347 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Montana for 30-year-old drivers after a DUI

For the cheapest auto insurance after a DUI, we found the following options for full coverage.

  1. State Farm: $1,945 per year, or about $162 per month.
  2. QBE: $3,054 per year, or about $255 per month.
  3. Progressive: $3,175 per year, or about $265 per month.
  4. Allstate: $4,226 per year, or about $352 per month.
  5. Kemper: $4,790 per year, or about $399 per month.

Cheapest for 40-year-old drivers

Drivers in their 40s tend to have better insurance rates than their younger counterparts on average, but still pay more than older age groups. Shopping around for cheap car insurance quotes with multiple insurers is the best way to find lower rates. Good drivers who don’t get behind the wheel often might want to consider pay-per-mile insurance, which charges drivers by how many miles they drive.

Cheapest full coverage car insurance in Montana for 40-year-olds

Drivers in Montana with clean driving records may want to think about the following companies, which had the lowest average rates:

  1. State Farm: $1,377 per year, or about $115 per month.
  2. QBE: $1,465 per year, or about $122 per month.
  3. Nationwide: $2,117 per year, or about $176 per month.
  4. Progressive: $2,425 per year, or about $202 per month.
  5. Geico: $2,473 per year, or about $206 per month.

Cheapest minimum coverage car insurance in Montana for 40-year-olds

Drivers in Montana who want just the minimum coverage may want to check prices from these companies, which had the lowest average rates:

  1. State Farm: $181 per year, or about $15 per month.
  2. QBE: $261 per year, or about $22 per month.
  3. Geico: $326 per year, or about $27 per month.
  4. Allstate: $415 per year, or about $35 per month.
  5. Progressive: $477 per year, or about $40 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Montana for 40-year-olds with poor credit

Drivers with poor credit in Montana can check out the following insurers with the lowest average rates for full coverage:

  1. QBE: $2,147 per year, or about $179 per month.
  2. Nationwide: $3,319 per year, or about $277 per month.
  3. Geico: $3,763 per year, or about $314 per month.
  4. Progressive: $3,809 per year, or about $317 per month.
  5. Allstate: $4,121 per year, or about $343 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Montana for 40-year-old drivers with one speeding ticket

For drivers with a recent speeding ticket in Montana, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

  1. State Farm: $208 per year, or about $17 per month.
  2. Geico: $372 per year, or about $31 per month.
  3. QBE: $486 per year, or about $41 per month.
  4. Allstate: $507 per year, or about $42 per month.
  5. Progressive: $594 per year, or about $49 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Montana for 40-year-old drivers with one at-fault crash

For drivers with a recent accident living in Montana, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for full coverage:

  1. State Farm: $1,682 per year, or about $140 per month.
  2. QBE: $2,144 per year, or about $179 per month.
  3. Progressive: $3,558 per year, or about $297 per month.
  4. Nationwide: $3,879 per year, or about $323 per month.
  5. Geico: $4,071 per year, or about $339 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Montanafor 40-year-old drivers after a DUI

The cheapest full coverage auto insurance we found for drivers with a DUI came from the following companies.

  1. State Farm: $1,869 per year, or about $156 per month.
  2. Progressive: $2,891 per year, or about $241 per month.
  3. QBE: $2,935 per year, or about $245 per month.
  4. Kemper: $3,794 per year, or about $316 per month.
  5. Allstate: $4,226 per year, or about $352 per month.

Cheapest for 50-year-old drivers

Drivers in their 50s have cheaper car insurance rates than most other age groups on average. Prices will continue to drop as they inch toward their 60s and gain more driving experience. Rates can still vary depending on other factors such as a driver’s gender and location, so it’s smart to shop around to find the best rate. Our list of cheap auto insurance companies is a good place to start.

Cheapest full coverage car insurance in Montana for 50-year-olds

Drivers in Montana with clean driving records may want to get quotes from these insurers, which had the lowest average rates:

  1. State Farm: $1,317 per year, or about $110 per month.
  2. QBE: $1,426 per year, or about $119 per month.
  3. Nationwide: $1,955 per year, or about $163 per month.
  4. Progressive: $2,181 per year, or about $182 per month.
  5. Allstate: $2,632 per year, or about $219 per month.

Cheapest minimum coverage car insurance in Montana for 50-year-olds

Drivers in Montana who opt for the state minimum coverage may want to consider the following companies, with the lowest average rates:

  1. State Farm: $176 per year, or about $15 per month.
  2. QBE: $260 per year, or about $22 per month.
  3. Geico: $371 per year, or about $31 per month.
  4. Allstate: $415 per year, or about $35 per month.
  5. Progressive: $448 per year, or about $37 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Montana for 50-year-olds with poor credit

Drivers with poor credit in Montana can check with the following companies, which showed the lowest average rates for full coverage:

  1. QBE: $2,067 per year, or about $172 per month.
  2. Nationwide: $3,071 per year, or about $256 per month.
  3. Progressive: $3,431 per year, or about $286 per month.
  4. Allstate: $3,800 per year, or about $317 per month.
  5. Kemper: $4,216 per year, or about $351 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Montana for 50-year-old drivers with one speeding ticket

For drivers with a recent speeding ticket in Montana, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

  1. State Farm: $269 per year, or about $22 per month.
  2. Geico: $466 per year, or about $39 per month.
  3. Allstate: $507 per year, or about $42 per month.
  4. QBE: $542 per year, or about $45 per month.
  5. Progressive: $573 per year, or about $48 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Montana for 50-year-old drivers with one at-fault crash

For drivers living in Montana with a recent accident, here are the insurers with the lowest average full coverage rates:

  1. State Farm: $1,613 per year, or about $134 per month.
  2. QBE: $2,194 per year, or about $183 per month.
  3. Progressive: $3,312 per year, or about $276 per month.
  4. Nationwide: $3,639 per year, or about $303 per month.
  5. Allstate: $3,858 per year, or about $322 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Montana for 50-year-old drivers after a DUI

The cheapest auto insurance we found for drivers with a recent DUI comes from the following companies, listed with rates for full coverage.

  1. State Farm: $1,791 per year, or about $149 per month.
  2. Progressive: $2,614 per year, or about $218 per month.
  3. QBE: $3,041 per year, or about $253 per month.
  4. Kemper: $3,262 per year, or about $272 per month.
  5. Allstate: $3,968 per year, or about $331 per month.

Cheapest for 60-year-old drivers

Although 60-year-olds have cheaper car insurance rates than many other age groups on average, prices will start increasing as they get older. To find cheap car insurance for seniors, drivers in their 60s should make sure to shop around to find the best rate. Drivers in this age group should also take advantage of any available discounts for senior citizens.

Cheapest full coverage car insurance in Montana for 60-year-olds

Drivers in Montana with clean driving records may want to think about getting quotes from these companies, which had the lowest average rates:

  1. State Farm: $1,224 per year, or about $102 per month.
  2. QBE: $1,439 per year, or about $120 per month.
  3. Nationwide: $1,869 per year, or about $156 per month.
  4. Progressive: $2,078 per year, or about $173 per month.
  5. Allstate: $2,612 per year, or about $218 per month.

Cheapest minimum coverage car insurance in Montana for 60-year-olds

Drivers in Montana who want just the state minimum coverage may want to check with these insurers, which had the lowest average rates:

  1. State Farm: $164 per year, or about $14 per month.
  2. QBE: $298 per year, or about $25 per month.
  3. Geico: $381 per year, or about $32 per month.
  4. Allstate: $415 per year, or about $35 per month.
  5. Progressive: $441 per year, or about $37 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Montana for 60-year-olds with poor credit

Drivers with poor credit in Montana can look at the following companies with the lowest average rates for full coverage:

  1. QBE: $2,060 per year, or about $172 per month.
  2. Nationwide: $2,942 per year, or about $245 per month.
  3. Progressive: $3,271 per year, or about $273 per month.
  4. Allstate: $3,716 per year, or about $310 per month.
  5. Kemper: $3,944 per year, or about $329 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Montana for 60-year-old drivers with one speeding ticket

For drivers with a recent speeding ticket in Montana, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

  1. State Farm: $189 per year, or about $16 per month.
  2. Geico: $466 per year, or about $39 per month.
  3. Allstate: $507 per year, or about $42 per month.
  4. Progressive: $564 per year, or about $47 per month.
  5. Nationwide: $564 per year, or about $47 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Montana for 60-year-old drivers with one at-fault crash

For drivers with a recent accident living in Montana, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for full coverage:

  1. State Farm: $1,500 per year, or about $125 per month.
  2. QBE: $2,240 per year, or about $187 per month.
  3. Progressive: $3,203 per year, or about $267 per month.
  4. Nationwide: $3,513 per year, or about $293 per month.
  5. Allstate: $3,821 per year, or about $318 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Montana for 60-year-old drivers after a DUI

The cheapest auto insurance we found after a DUI came from the following companies, shown with their average rates for full coverage.

  1. State Farm: $1,665 per year, or about $139 per month.
  2. Progressive: $2,505 per year, or about $209 per month.
  3. Kemper: $3,052 per year, or about $254 per month.
  4. QBE: $3,129 per year, or about $261 per month.
  5. Allstate: $3,968 per year, or about $331 per month.

Cheapest for 70-year-old drivers

Car insurance costs may start to rise for 70-year-old drivers. To find the cheapest possible coverage, shop around and compare quotes from multiple companies. Also, look for insurers that offer discounts for seniors. For example, some insurers offer discounts to senior drivers who take a defensive driving course.

Cheapest full coverage car insurance in Montana for 70-year-olds

Drivers in Montana with clean driving records may want to think about getting quotes from these companies, which had the lowest average rates:

  1. State Farm: $1,263 per year, or about $105 per month.
  2. QBE: $1,566 per year, or about $131 per month.
  3. Nationwide: $2,053 per year, or about $171 per month.
  4. Progressive: $2,249 per year, or about $187 per month.
  5. Allstate: $2,638 per year, or about $220 per month.

Cheapest minimum coverage car insurance in Montana for 70-year-olds

Drivers in Montana who want just the state minimum coverage may want to check with these insurers, which had the lowest average rates:

  1. State Farm: $173 per year, or about $14 per month.
  2. QBE: $377 per year, or about $31 per month.
  3. Allstate: $415 per year, or about $35 per month.
  4. Geico: $437 per year, or about $36 per month.
  5. Progressive: $503 per year, or about $42 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Montana for 70-year-olds with poor credit

Drivers with poor credit in Montana can look at the following companies with the lowest average rates for full coverage:

  1. QBE: $2,219 per year, or about $185 per month.
  2. Nationwide: $3,216 per year, or about $268 per month.
  3. Progressive: $3,536 per year, or about $295 per month.
  4. Allstate: $3,833 per year, or about $319 per month.
  5. Kemper: $4,182 per year, or about $349 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Montana for 70-year-old drivers with one speeding ticket

For drivers with a recent speeding ticket in Montana, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for minimum coverage:

  1. State Farm: $200 per year, or about $17 per month.
  2. Allstate: $507 per year, or about $42 per month.
  3. Geico: $527 per year, or about $44 per month.
  4. Nationwide: $658 per year, or about $55 per month.
  5. Progressive: $678 per year, or about $57 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Montana for 70-year-old drivers with one at-fault crash

For drivers with a recent accident living in Montana, here are the companies with the lowest average rates for full coverage:

  1. State Farm: $1,552 per year, or about $129 per month.
  2. QBE: $2,629 per year, or about $219 per month.
  3. Progressive: $3,571 per year, or about $298 per month.
  4. Nationwide: $3,790 per year, or about $316 per month.
  5. Allstate: $3,922 per year, or about $327 per month.

Cheapest auto insurance in Montana for 70-year-old drivers after a DUI

The cheapest auto insurance we found after a DUI came from the following companies, shown with their average rates for full coverage.

  1. State Farm: $1,727 per year, or about $144 per month.
  2. Progressive: $2,849 per year, or about $237 per month.
  3. Kemper: $3,246 per year, or about $271 per month.
  4. QBE: $3,745 per year, or about $312 per month.
  5. Allstate: $4,004 per year, or about $334 per month.

Cheapest car insurance for military families

If you're an active member of the military or a veteran — or have an immediate family member who is — chances are you'll get a relatively cheap rate with USAA, a company that isn't available to the general public.

Because of that restriction, USAA isn't ranked with the others, but it was among the cheapest three auto insurance options for 70 of the 70 driver profiles we examined.

Minimum required auto insurance in Montana

Montana drivers are required to carry liability insurance, which helps cover others’ injury costs or property damage if you’re at fault in an accident.

The minimum limits are:

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person.

  • $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident.

  • $20,000 property damage liability per accident.

While this will allow you to drive legally, experts suggest getting more than the bare minimum to be better protected in Big Sky Country. For instance, a single at-fault accident could easily leave you owing more than $20,000 in repairs, and you'd be stuck paying the difference out of pocket.

You may also want to consider common optional coverages such as comprehensive coverage, which helps replace your car if it’s stolen, or uninsured motorist protection, which helps cover your medical treatment if you’re hit by a driver who lacks insurance.

Check out NerdWallet’s guide to state car insurance requirements for more details on the required and optional parts of your Montana auto policy.

Alternative car insurance in Montana

Drivers who try and fail to buy car insurance through the open market could qualify for coverage through the Montana Automobile Insurance Plan.

For personalized auto insurance quotes, use NerdWallet’s car insurance comparison tool to view estimates from top insurers side-by-side and possibly save hundreds.

Methodology

For our “good driver” profile, NerdWallet averaged insurance estimates for single male and female drivers with good credit and no tickets or violations. The analysis included 5-10 of the largest insurance companies in each state; smaller insurers were also included when rates were available. Liberty Mutual and its subsidiaries were excluded from our analysis as rates were not available.

For full coverage policies, we used the following coverage limits:

  • $100,000 bodily injury liability per person.

  • $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident.

  • $50,000 property damage liability per accident.

  • $100,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person.

  • $300,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident.

  • Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible.

  • Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible.

In states where required, minimum additional coverages were added. Some policies include additional coverages at the insurer’s discretion.

We used a 2021 Toyota Camry LE for all drivers and assumed 12,000 annual miles driven.

We analyzed rates for drivers 20 to 70 years old in ten-year increments. For the average cost of full and minimum coverage in each state, we looked at 35-year-old drivers.

We used the same assumptions for all other driver profiles, with the following exceptions:

  • For drivers with minimum coverage, we adjusted the numbers above to reflect the minimum required coverage by law in the state.

  • We changed the credit tier from “good” to “poor” as reported to the insurer to see rates for drivers with poor credit.

  • For drivers with one at-fault crash, we added a single at-fault crash that happened six months ago, resulting in $10,000 in property damage and no bodily injury claim.

  • For drivers with a DUI, we added a single drunken driving violation that happened six months ago.

We looked at 35-year-old drivers to find the cheapest company overall, the cheapest company for minimum coverage and the cheapest company for drivers with poor credit in states where credit history is used to price rates. We looked at 20-year-old drivers to find the cheapest company for young drivers.

These are rates generated through Quadrant Information Services. Your own rates will be different. Some insurance companies included in this article may have made changes in their underwriting practices and no longer issue new policies in your state.

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