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- What's Full Coverage Car Insurance?
- Is Full Coverage Car Required by Law In Montana?
- Does a Full Coverage Policy Mean It's All Inclusive?
- If Montana Car Insurance Laws don't require full coverage, why would I need it?
- Full Coverage Car Insurance: What are the Cheapest Rates By Company?
- What Is the Cheapest Car Insurance In Montana?
- What is the most Affordable Montana Car Insurance for Drivers With a Bad Driving Record?
- Should I get Full Coverage Calculator
- Additional Helpful LInks
- INSURANCE SERVICES WE OFFER
In this article, we will make sure you fully understand what is involved in purchasing a full coverage auto insurance policy and how to make sure you are in compliance with Montana Insurance Laws.
What’s Full Coverage Car Insurance?
If you just purchased a new vehicle, your lender might have recommended or even required that you have “full coverage” on your auto policy.
Full coverage car insurance primarily refers to the addition of collision and comprehensive coverage, added to your liability coverage:
Liability + Comprehensive/Collision = Full Coverage
Is Full Coverage Car Required by Law In Montana?
No, Montana car insurance laws do not mandate that you must have full coverage on your auto policy. What they do require, however, is that you at least have the state minimum liability coverage limits.
To drive legally on the roads in Montana, you must have the following coverage (protect for yourself if you are at fault in an accident) :
- $25,000 Bodily Injury Coverage per person
- $50,000 Bodily Injury Coverage per accident
- $20,000 Property Damage Coverage
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident bodily injury coverage
Sometimes liability only coverage is all you need. See if you could benefit from having liability only Montana car insurance, a budget friendly option.
Does a Full Coverage Policy Mean It’s All Inclusive?
No, as mentioned above, all you need to add to your car insurance policy to make it “full coverage” is comprehensive and collision coverage. However there are multiple other optional coverages that won’t be on your policy unless you request them to be added.
Optional Coverage Type | What It Covers |
---|---|
Comprehensive Coverage | Covers damage caused to your vehicle by something other than a collision or accident like natural disasters, theft, etc. |
Collision Coverage | As it’s name implies, this covers damages from collision with another vehicle, object, pothole, etc. |
Medical Payments | This is a monetary amount you will set on your policy that will cover medical expenses to yourself and any passengers due to accident related injuries, regardless of who is at fault. |
Roadside Assistance | Depending on the insurance company, you will receive covered assistance such as towing, tire change, gas refill, help if locked out of the vehicle, dead battery jump start, and more. |
Rental Reimbursement coverage | If your car is in the shop being repaired due to and accident, this coverage will help pay for the cost of a replacement vehicle. |
Gap Insurance | Once you drive your car off the lot, it’s value plummets. Without gap insurance, your insurance policy will only cover the car’s actual cash value, even if it’s less than what you purchased it for. Gap insurance will help pay for the difference or gap. |
These are just some of the additional items you could potentially include on your auto policy
Call your agent now if you have mistakenly assumed that any of these items would be automatically added at the time your policy was started. They can help you figure out if a requested item is on there, and if not, can assist you in adding it to your coverage.
If Montana Car Insurance Laws don’t require full coverage, why would I need it?
There are multiple reasons why you might want to consider having a full coverage policy, even if it’s not legally required, such as:
- You have financed your vehicle
- You are leasing your vehicle
- You want better coverage for potential non-accident related damages
- You have a newer, and more expensive vehicle

Full Coverage Car Insurance: What are the Cheapest Rates By Company?
Montana car insurance does not have to break the bank. There are full coverage options out there that are surprisingly affordable.
One way that you can obtain better rates is by calling an insurance agent. Don’t count us out, since it is our job to search until we can get you the best rate possible.
We are trained to look for discounts at every opportunity. If applicable in your area and with the insurance company, some potential discount opportunities include:
Impact on Rates | Potential Discount |
---|---|
Mild | Multi Vehicle |
Mild | Homeowners |
Mild | Married |
High | Advanced Quote |
Mild | Multi Policy |
Mild | Education Discount |
Very High | Continuous Insurance |
Mild | Military |
Mild | Paperless Discount |
Take a look at some actual full coverage rates people have been able to find in Montana.
Insurance Company | Average Monthly Rate |
---|---|
National General | $137 |
Nationwide | $144 |
Bristol West | $146 |
Acceptance RTR | $150 |
Progressive Insurance | $151 |
Travelers | $151 |
Allstate | $161 |
Geico | $163 |
21st Century | $166 |
American Family | $168 |
GAINSCO | $168 |
Mendota Ins. Company | $168 |
Farmers | $170 |
USAA | $171 |
Sample rates only, as insurance premiums are based on multiple individual factors.
What Is the Cheapest Car Insurance In Montana?
Not all insurance companies are created equally.
Some companies might be better suited for a person with multiple vehicles and drivers, while another company might be better for a person with lot’s of violations on their record.
For example, for our drivers in Montana, we typically write Progressive policies. However note some things we have observed, especially when it comes to full coverage car insurance:

Best Rates If:
- You plan on bundling your auto policy with another Progressive product such as homeowners or renters insurance.
- You are a homeowner
- You have a long history of prior insurance
- You are a safe driver and would benefit from the snapshot program
- You can afford to pay your premium in full
Rates Might be High If:
- You have multiple accidents
- You don’t have any prior insurance history
- You don’t bundle
- You are a young (especially male) driver, you might expect to pay higher rates than average.
What is the most Affordable Montana Car Insurance for Drivers With a Bad Driving Record?
Whether due to inexperience, youthfulness, or just having made some bad choices, you might find that your driving record has accumulated one too many violations.
If you are fearful that you will never find a full coverage policy, don’t worry! There is something out there for you. That’s why it’s so important to find an agent who can help do the shopping for you.
Take a look at what some drivers in Billings, Montana have been able to find:
Insurance Company in Montana | Avg. Monthly Rate |
---|---|
Dairyland | $151 |
The General | $159 |
National General | $170 |
21st Century | $175 |
Acceptance RTR | $176 |
Geico | $176 |
AssuranceAmerica | $182 |
GAINSCO | $186 |
Nationwide | $186 |
Mendota Ins. Company | $190 |
Progressive Insurance | $195 |
USAA | $195 |
Bristol West | $200 |
American Family | $204 |
Accidents Happen, do not wait until it is too Late to Add Comprehensive and Collision Coverage

Did You Know?
When first purchasing a policy, it’s tempting to stick with liability only insurance for the affordable rates, thinking…”I’ll just add full coverage later.”
However, there are a few things to know about auto insurance companies before you decide to do that:
- Not all companies let you add comprehensive and collision coverage mid policy, and you have to wait until renewal to make that change
- Some companies might be very affordable for liability only, but are not a good fit for full coverage policies, and end up charging more than what another company might charge you.
- Other companies might not even allow full coverage at all, or if they allow you to add comp/collision, they will tack a surcharge onto your premium, and then you will no longer be eligible for renewal with them.
Should I get Full Coverage Calculator
Additional Helpful LInks
Additional Montana Insurance |
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Homeowners Insurance Montana |
Montana Motorcycle Insurance |
Car Insurance Montana: Liability Only |
SR22 Car Insurance Montana |
Montana DMV |
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