Cheap Car Insurance in Montana for 2023

State Farm offers the cheapest car insurance in Montana, with an average monthly rate of $98 for full coverage.
Ben Moore
By Ben Moore  
Updated

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Table of Contents

Table of Contents

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 $1,172 per year on average, or $98 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 $2,831 per year, or about $236 per month.

Minimum coverage in Montana is $534 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 $209 per year, on average, for minimum coverage car insurance for a 35-year-old driver with a clean driving record.

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. State Farm: $2,512 per year, or about $209 per month.
  2. QBE: $2,543 per year, or about $212 per month.
  3. Progressive: $3,570 per year, or about $298 per month.
  4. Geico: $5,740 per year, or about $478 per month.
  5. Farmers: $6,411 per year, or about $534 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: $521 per year, or about $43 per month.
  2. QBE: $586 per year, or about $49 per month.
  3. Progressive: $932 per year, or about $78 per month.
  4. Geico: $934 per year, or about $78 per month.
  5. Allstate: $1,355 per year, or about $113 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: $1,060 per year, or about $88 per month.
  2. State Farm: $1,132 per year, or about $94 per month.
  3. Geico: $1,289 per year, or about $107 per month.
  4. Progressive: $1,382 per year, or about $115 per month.
  5. Allstate: $1,989 per year, or about $166 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: $602 per year, or about $50 per month.
  2. QBE: $953 per year, or about $79 per month.
  3. Progressive: $1,029 per year, or about $86 per month.
  4. Geico: $1,064 per year, or about $89 per month.
  5. Allstate: $1,483 per year, or about $124 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: $679 per year, or about $57 per month.
  2. QBE: $953 per year, or about $79 per month.
  3. Progressive: $1,118 per year, or about $93 per month.
  4. Geico: $1,254 per year, or about $105 per month.
  5. Allstate: $1,862 per year, or about $155 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: $812 per year, or about $68 per month.
  2. Progressive: $1,024 per year, or about $85 per month.
  3. QBE: $1,386 per year, or about $115 per month.
  4. Geico: $1,504 per year, or about $125 per month.
  5. Allstate: $1,739 per year, or about $145 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: $1,194 per year, or about $99 per month.
  2. QBE: $1,561 per year, or about $130 per month.
  3. Progressive: $1,764 per year, or about $147 per month.
  4. Geico: $2,302 per year, or about $192 per month.
  5. Allstate: $3,293 per year, or about $274 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: $212 per year, or about $18 per month.
  2. QBE: $242 per year, or about $20 per month.
  3. Geico: $349 per year, or about $29 per month.
  4. Progressive: $378 per year, or about $31 per month.
  5. Allstate: $694 per year, or about $58 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: $2,359 per year, or about $197 per month.
  2. State Farm: $2,381 per year, or about $198 per month.
  3. Progressive: $2,881 per year, or about $240 per month.
  4. Geico: $3,540 per year, or about $295 per month.
  5. Allstate: $4,928 per year, or about $411 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: $244 per year, or about $20 per month.
  2. Geico: $396 per year, or about $33 per month.
  3. QBE: $432 per year, or about $36 per month.
  4. Progressive: $485 per year, or about $40 per month.
  5. Allstate: $779 per year, or about $65 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: $1,470 per year, or about $122 per month.
  2. QBE: $2,178 per year, or about $182 per month.
  3. Progressive: $2,503 per year, or about $209 per month.
  4. Geico: $3,549 per year, or about $296 per month.
  5. Allstate: $4,071 per year, or about $339 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: $1,638 per year, or about $136 per month.
  2. Progressive: $2,027 per year, or about $169 per month.
  3. QBE: $2,935 per year, or about $245 per month.
  4. Allstate: $3,914 per year, or about $326 per month.
  5. Kemper: $4,611 per year, or about $384 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: $1,149 per year, or about $96 per month.
  2. QBE: $1,464 per year, or about $122 per month.
  3. Progressive: $1,690 per year, or about $141 per month.
  4. Geico: $2,247 per year, or about $187 per month.
  5. Allstate: $3,288 per year, or about $274 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: $208 per year, or about $17 per month.
  2. QBE: $233 per year, or about $19 per month.
  3. Geico: $343 per year, or about $29 per month.
  4. Progressive: $368 per year, or about $31 per month.
  5. Allstate: $689 per year, or about $57 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: $2,150 per year, or about $179 per month.
  2. State Farm: $2,286 per year, or about $190 per month.
  3. Progressive: $2,782 per year, or about $232 per month.
  4. Geico: $3,448 per year, or about $287 per month.
  5. Kemper: $4,471 per year, or about $373 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: $240 per year, or about $20 per month.
  2. Geico: $390 per year, or about $33 per month.
  3. QBE: $433 per year, or about $36 per month.
  4. Progressive: $474 per year, or about $40 per month.
  5. Allstate: $774 per year, or about $64 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: $1,414 per year, or about $118 per month.
  2. QBE: $2,089 per year, or about $174 per month.
  3. Progressive: $2,424 per year, or about $202 per month.
  4. Geico: $3,479 per year, or about $290 per month.
  5. Allstate: $4,065 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: $1,575 per year, or about $131 per month.
  2. Progressive: $1,951 per year, or about $163 per month.
  3. QBE: $2,816 per year, or about $235 per month.
  4. Kemper: $3,654 per year, or about $305 per month.
  5. Allstate: $3,909 per year, or about $326 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: $1,105 per year, or about $92 per month.
  2. QBE: $1,422 per year, or about $119 per month.
  3. Progressive: $1,504 per year, or about $125 per month.
  4. Geico: $2,516 per year, or about $210 per month.
  5. Kemper: $2,999 per year, or about $250 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: $203 per year, or about $17 per month.
  2. QBE: $233 per year, or about $19 per month.
  3. Progressive: $334 per year, or about $28 per month.
  4. Geico: $387 per year, or about $32 per month.
  5. Kemper: $639 per year, or about $53 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: $2,068 per year, or about $172 per month.
  2. State Farm: $2,191 per year, or about $183 per month.
  3. Progressive: $2,477 per year, or about $206 per month.
  4. Geico: $3,822 per year, or about $318 per month.
  5. Kemper: $4,068 per year, or about $339 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: $234 per year, or about $20 per month.
  2. Geico: $449 per year, or about $37 per month.
  3. Progressive: $451 per year, or about $38 per month.
  4. QBE: $485 per year, or about $40 per month.
  5. Allstate: $765 per year, or about $64 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: $1,362 per year, or about $113 per month.
  2. QBE: $2,124 per year, or about $177 per month.
  3. Progressive: $2,282 per year, or about $190 per month.
  4. Geico: $3,823 per year, or about $319 per month.
  5. Allstate: $3,991 per year, or about $333 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: $1,520 per year, or about $127 per month.
  2. Progressive: $1,765 per year, or about $147 per month.
  3. QBE: $2,893 per year, or about $241 per month.
  4. Kemper: $3,147 per year, or about $262 per month.
  5. Allstate: $3,837 per year, or about $320 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: $1,031 per year, or about $86 per month.
  2. QBE: $1,424 per year, or about $119 per month.
  3. Progressive: $1,453 per year, or about $121 per month.
  4. Geico: $2,578 per year, or about $215 per month.
  5. Kemper: $2,810 per year, or about $234 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: $189 per year, or about $16 per month.
  2. QBE: $267 per year, or about $22 per month.
  3. Progressive: $328 per year, or about $27 per month.
  4. Geico: $397 per year, or about $33 per month.
  5. Kemper: $618 per year, or about $52 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. State Farm: $2,031 per year, or about $169 per month.
  2. QBE: $2,047 per year, or about $171 per month.
  3. Progressive: $2,390 per year, or about $199 per month.
  4. Kemper: $3,809 per year, or about $317 per month.
  5. Geico: $3,921 per year, or about $327 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: $219 per year, or about $18 per month.
  2. Progressive: $445 per year, or about $37 per month.
  3. Geico: $460 per year, or about $38 per month.
  4. QBE: $556 per year, or about $46 per month.
  5. Allstate: $774 per year, or about $64 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: $1,271 per year, or about $106 per month.
  2. QBE: $2,150 per year, or about $179 per month.
  3. Progressive: $2,232 per year, or about $186 per month.
  4. Geico: $3,908 per year, or about $326 per month.
  5. Allstate: $3,924 per year, or about $327 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: $1,418 per year, or about $118 per month.
  2. Progressive: $1,712 per year, or about $143 per month.
  3. Kemper: $2,948 per year, or about $246 per month.
  4. QBE: $2,954 per year, or about $246 per month.
  5. Allstate: $3,774 per year, or about $315 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: $1,068 per year, or about $89 per month.
  2. QBE: $1,523 per year, or about $127 per month.
  3. Progressive: $1,599 per year, or about $133 per month.
  4. Geico: $2,814 per year, or about $234 per month.
  5. Kemper: $2,986 per year, or about $249 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: $200 per year, or about $17 per month.
  2. QBE: $339 per year, or about $28 per month.
  3. Progressive: $390 per year, or about $33 per month.
  4. Geico: $461 per year, or about $38 per month.
  5. Allstate: $725 per year, or about $60 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. State Farm: $2,110 per year, or about $176 per month.
  2. QBE: $2,169 per year, or about $181 per month.
  3. Progressive: $2,600 per year, or about $217 per month.
  4. Kemper: $4,038 per year, or about $336 per month.
  5. Geico: $4,301 per year, or about $358 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: $231 per year, or about $19 per month.
  2. Geico: $533 per year, or about $44 per month.
  3. Progressive: $561 per year, or about $47 per month.
  4. QBE: $784 per year, or about $65 per month.
  5. Allstate: $814 per year, or about $68 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: $1,319 per year, or about $110 per month.
  2. QBE: $2,468 per year, or about $206 per month.
  3. Progressive: $2,552 per year, or about $213 per month.
  4. Allstate: $4,057 per year, or about $338 per month.
  5. Geico: $4,248 per year, or about $354 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: $1,475 per year, or about $123 per month.
  2. Progressive: $2,014 per year, or about $168 per month.
  3. Kemper: $3,132 per year, or about $261 per month.
  4. QBE: $3,463 per year, or about $289 per month.
  5. Allstate: $3,897 per year, or about $325 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 the cheapest auto insurance options for 56 of the 70 driver profiles we examined.

» MORE: Best car insurance for veterans and military

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 2020 Toyota Camry L 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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