The best cheap car insurance in Idaho

The best cheap car insurance in Idaho

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According to the Insurance Information Institute, car insurance in Idaho is very affordable. The average Idaho driver will pay just $678 annually for car insurance. Compared to the national average of $935 per year, car insurance in Idaho is the most affordable in the US. 

Car insurance companies consider your location, age, gender, and driving record to calculate rates for premiums. Other factors like credit score, marital status, vehicle type, previous coverage, and miles driven can all play a role in the amount you’ll pay for coverage.

Even though auto insurance costs aren’t high in Idaho, there are opportunities to save by shopping around and comparing coverage beyond the premium or the amount you’ll pay for coverage. 

Minimum car liability insurance requirements in Idaho

In the US, all drivers must have liability coverage. If you’re involved in an accident, liability insurance covers damage you cause to the other vehicle, driver, and passengers. If you finance or lease your car, your lender probably requires comprehensive and collision coverage

The two main components of liability insurance are bodily injury and property damage, which most states require. Liability insurance also includes uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist coverage. This type of coverage protects you when an at-fault driver hits you, and they have no coverage or not enough coverage.

Idaho requires bodily and property coverage, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Idaho’s minimum liability requirements are 25/50/15 — up to $25,000 of injury protection for each person involved in an accident, up to $50,000 worth of injuries per incident, and up to $15,000 of property damages per incident. 

Types of liability coverage Definition
Bodily injury (BI) Injury you cause to others, includes medical expenses, lost wages, and funeral expenses
Property damage (PD) Damage you cause to others’ vehicle or property
Uninsured motorist (UM) Protects you when an at-fault driver hits you with no insurance
Underinsured motorist (UIM) Protects you when an at-fault driver hits you with not enough coverage

Best cheap car insurance in Idaho based on credit score

Consumer Reports compiled a list of all car insurance pricing formulas from all companies in every state. It used an average single adult driver to find the best pricing in each state. It found that three companies came out on top for three different credit levels. Here are the three best companies and their average price for coverage:

Excellent credit (FICO 800+) Good credit (FICO 670-739) Poor credit (300-579)
  • Safeco: $226 per year

  • USAA: $511 per year

  • American Family: $717 per year

  • Safeco: $459 per year
  • USAA: $673 per year
  • American Family: $829 per year
  • American Family: $1,360 per year
  • State Farm: $1,384 per year
  • Farmers Bureau of Idaho: $1,420 per year

Best car insurance for Idaho drivers with a clean record

For a driver in Idaho age 25 or older with no accidents and one vehicle, the following companies provide the best average rates:

Company Average monthly insurance premium 
Liberty Mutual $101
GEICO $102
State Farm $102
Progressive $110
USAA* $115
Esurance $116
Safeco $124
Allstate $139

*USAA is only for active military, veterans, and their families.

Above data obtained from Savvy, based on 540 policyholders in the state of Idaho 

Best car insurance for Idaho drivers with one or more accidents

For a driver in Idaho age 25 or older, with one or more accidents and one vehicle, the following companies provide the best average rates:

Company Average monthly insurance premium 
State Farm $75
Allstate $93
Farmers $101
Esurance $108
Progressive $120
GEICO $120
Bristol West $151

Above data obtained from Savvy, based on 540 policyholders in the state of Idaho 

Average premiums for seniors and teen drivers in Idaho

The table below shows the average senior and teen drivers can expect to pay in Idaho. Because teen drivers are new drivers with little driving history and more prone to accidents, their rates are high. Most insurance companies offer discounts to teen drivers for good grades or taking driving safety classes.

Senior drivers typically see an uptick in car insurance premiums as they age, but not as much of an increase as new or teen drivers. If you’re still driving in your 60s and 70s, there are ways to negotiate cheaper auto insurance rates, like pay-per-mile usage.

Average premium for seniors  Average premium for teens

$2,142 per year

$2,245 per year 

Data provided by Goosehead Insurance

Idaho car insurance rates by city

Below is the estimated average annual premium of auto insurance policies per household in Idaho’s most populous cities:

City Average annual insurance premium 
Boise $1,316
Meridian $1,411
Nampa $1,281
Idaho Falls $1,346
Pocatello $1,264
Caldwell $1,289
Coeur d’Alene $1,264
Twin Falls $1,293
Post Falls $1,298
Lewiston $1,277
Rexburg $1,136
Eagle $1,465
Moscow $1,195
Kuna $1,379
Ammon $1,456
Hayden $1,363
Chubbuck $1,347
Mountain Home $1,281
Garden City $1,242
Blackfoot $1,254
Jerome $1,235
Burley $1,212
Star $1,408
Hailey $1,325
Rathdrum $1,338
Sandpoint $1,210
Middleton $1,363
Payette $1,256

Data from S&P Global Market Intelligence

Best car insurance in Idaho based on customer satisfaction

Customer satisfaction with car insurance providers may factor into your decision. Five factors define customer satisfaction: billing process and policy information; claims; interaction; policy offerings; and price. According to a 2021 survey by J.D. Power, a consumer research company that surveys customers, these are the top car insurance companies in the Northwest region (which includes Idaho):

Most popular car insurance companies in Idaho based on market share

The following are the most popular car insurance companies in Idaho, based on the percentage of insured Idaho drivers who use them:

Company Market share (%)
State Farm 13.73
GEICO 11.13
Progressive 10.7
Liberty Mutual 10.54
Farm Bureau Mutual of ID 10.51
Allstate 8.58
Farmers Insurance 7.65
USAA* 6.16
American Family Insurance 3.14
Travelers 2.00
Auto-Owners Insurance 1.85
Sentry 1.83
MetLife 1.28
Nationwide 1.25
Mutual of Enumclaw 1.16
The Hartford 1.11
Oregon Mutual 0.78
Kemper 0.75
United Heritage Insurance 0.60
Grange Insurance 0.58

*USAA is only for active military, veterans, and their families.

Data from S&P Global Market Intelligence

Who gets the best car insurance in Idaho?

Those who get the best car insurance rates will be those who have the best credit. Several other factors can change how an insurance company will price your premium, including your age, gender, the type of car you drive, and even where you live in Idaho. 

Another way to save is to shop around. Every insurance company prices policies differently, and no two policies are the same. Prices vary greatly depending on whether you get liabilitycomprehensive, or collision coverage.

Consider the amount of coverage and the types of coverage listed on your quote. Remember, you’re looking for the most coverage for your money. Don’t forget to look at the deductible or the amount you’ll pay out of pocket if you get into an accident.

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