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Montana Statistics Summary | Details |
---|---|
Road Miles | 74,983 |
Vehicle Miles Driven Annually | 12,157 million |
Driving Deaths (2017) | Speeding – 59 Drunk Driving – 56 |
Vehicles (2017) | Registered: 1,401,936 Total Stolen: 2,043 |
Most Popular Vehicle | Ford F150 |
Average Premiums (Annual) | Liability – $386.29 Collision – $265.32 Comprehensive – $211.91 Combined Premiums – $863.52 |
Percent of Motorists Uninsured | 9.9% State Rank: 33rd |
Cheapest Provider | USAA |
The beauty of Montana is unparalleled and each different geographical feature offers its own charm.
From the Missouri River Breaks, with its big game animals and rugged landscape, to the continental divide and the many mountain passes, to the enchanted grandeur of Glacier National Park all the way down to the edge of Yellowstone National Park.
Whether you’re soaking in the hot springs, skiing the cold smoke, hiking the national forest, or hunting big game, you’re going to need to drive to get where you’re going.
Public transportation, while available to some degree in the more populated cities, hasn’t eclipsed the need for most people to drive. And if you drive, you need insurance!
Finding the best auto insurance company and coverage level for your situation can seem overwhelming. We’ll break down all the most important things to know when making your decision and you’ll be happy to know it won’t be as arduous as you expect!
We’ll even give you access to our quote comparison tool! It’s free; just enter your ZIP code to get started.
We’ll show you the laws in Montana, what’s available for optional insurance coverage, and give you a look at how some of the top auto insurers compare to each other. And to wrap it up, we’ll show you what laws you need to pay attention to and give you a few Montana traffic stats.
Table of Contents
Why do you need Auto insurance? Well, first of all, it’s required by law! And second, it’s to protect you financially. New Hampshire is the only state where it’s not required and yet over 90 percent of the population there choose to carry it. Which, by the way, is a higher percentage than in Montana.
Instead of complaining about the requirement, start imagining how insurance can help you. If you cause an accident and it does $20,000 worth of damage to another’s property, insurance will have you covered!
You will not have to come up with that settlement out of pocket. Insurance is a good thing.
The minimum coverage for auto insurance in Montana you must carry is 25/50/20.
These figures give you a starting point. Considering that a new pickup truck can cost of $60,000, you’d be in a tough spot if you caused a total loss to a new truck and you only had $20,000 property damage liability.
Increasing your levels of liability coverage doesn’t usually cost that much and if you have assets to protect, the increased cost is very worth it. Even still, minimum coverage can be pretty expensive in different parts of the country.
You must be offered uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage with a minimum 25/50 limit but you can reject it. Nearly 10 percent of Montana drivers do not have auto insurance. If they cause an accident where you’re hurt and your vehicle is damaged, you may be out of luck getting compensated.
If you have uninsured motorist personal injury and property damage coverage, you’ll be compensated by your own insurer.
Most people choose insurance to cover the requirements of the law, but here are all the options acceptable for proof of financial responsibility while driving:
Besides a standard auto insurance policy, self-insurance is the only other type of insurance commonly encountered.
The average Montanan makes $3,003 a month after taxes. Auto insurance costs an average of $72 per month for full coverage, making the percentage of income going to Auto insurance 2.41 percent.
Obviously, what you pay for insurance in relation to how much you earn is going to vary.
Some parts of the state have a fairly low cost of living, and a person could live well on $3,000 a month. However, if you live in Missoula or Bozeman, you already know you’ll need a lot more income to make ends meet.
According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), Montana comes in about $150 lower than the countrywide average for full coverage annually.
Coverage Type | Montana Annual Average | National Annual Average |
---|---|---|
Liability | $386.29 | $538.73 |
Collision | $265.32 | $322.61 |
Comprehensive | $211.91 | $148.04 |
Combined | $863.52 | $1009.38 |
Comprehensive and collision coverages are often combined with liability coverage and referred to as “full coverage.” These first party benefits will pay for your own damages when you cause an accident or when you hit a deer or other wildlife, which let’s face it, is common in Montana.
The likelihood of hitting a deer in Montana is one in 57. Think about yourself and your 56 closest friends. One of you will hit a deer this year with your vehicle (statistically speaking).
Chances of hitting a big game animal are greatest in October, November, and December (coinciding with the rut and more nighttime hours per day) and Montana drivers who typically opt out of comprehensive coverage may wish to add it to their policy during those months as the risk for collision with an animal is greater.
If you have a leased or financed vehicle, you’re almost certainly going to be required to carry full coverage. The lender needs to ensure their investment is protected, so they will make sure you carry full coverage.
If you own your vehicle outright, you won’t be required to carry full coverage but experts recommend it if the annual cost for coverage is 10 percent or less of your vehicle’s value.
Remember, if you do file a claim, you’ll have to pay a deductible and your rates will likely increase. Ask your insurer how much and for how long your rates will increase to decide if a claim is worth filing.
We mentioned uninsured motorist coverage earlier. Another optional coverage to protect yourself is Medical Payments (MedPay). If you’re in an accident, it will cover injury costs for you and those in your vehicle regardless of whose fault the accident was.
Loss Ratio | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 |
---|---|---|---|
Medical Payments (Med Pay) | 73% | 63% | 69% |
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist | 65% | 60% | 58% |
If you’re wondering what those loss ratios listed above are, you’re not alone! I’ll explain it. The loss ratio is how much is paid in claims to how much is earned in premiums. With a loss ratio of 58 percent means that out of every $100 earned in premiums, $58 is paid in claims.
The loss ratios above are fairly solid and do not indicate any impending bankruptcies in the industry as a whole.
Just under 10 percent of motorists are uninsured in Montana. To be exact, 9.9 percent of drivers are uninsured, which ranks Montana at number 33 out of all the states, which is a bit better than average.
There are many options for more well-rounded protection.
Pay-as-you-drive is a new and popular type of coverage. Metromile is leading the way, but they are currently unavailable in Montana. Usage-based coverage is a “cousin” to pay-as-you-drive.
Typically, usage-based policies base your rates on how safely you drive according to a telemetric device you install in your vehicle.
Next, we’ll reveal some really interesting information! We’re going to look at actual rates from actual companies for different demographics. We partnered with Quadrant Data to bring you some relevant and accurate data.
Keep in mind that when we list averages, those are the averages for all driving histories, credit histories, and demographics. Your rates could vary greatly from these we show you. It’s important that you compare rates for yourself! These rates just give you a guide for reference.
Spoiler alert: there is no difference. The state of Montana forbids the consideration of sex in rate formulation.
Everyone has heard that teenage boys pay far higher rates than teenage girls. While that’s true in most of the country, in Montana, they pay the same rates!
Montana instituted this law in 1985, and similar legislation took a long time to catch on but other states have adopted a similar unisex approach to auto insurance, and in 2019 California began forbidding gender to be calculated into rates.
While Mid-Century may be a competitive choice for most age groups, it’s not going to be the best-priced option for a 17-year-old.
Companies | Married 35-year-old Annual Rate | Married 60-year-old Annual Rate | Single 17-year-old Annual Rate | Single 25-year-old Annual Rate |
---|---|---|---|---|
Safeco | $1,021.71 | $999.67 | $2,064.28 | $1,218.77 |
USAA | $1,280.16 | $1,139.97 | $4,103.59 | $1,603.83 |
State Farm | $1,640.33 | $1,439.41 | $4,814.65 | $1,776.55 |
Allstate | $2,740.02 | $2,507.60 | $10,484.90 | $2,955.90 |
Mid-Century | $2,755.44 | $2,462.45 | $7,395.41 | $3,016.88 |
Depositors | $2,785.97 | $2,533.60 | $5,640.58 | $2,952.88 |
Geico | $2,840.18 | $2,771.26 | $6,926.07 | $2,434.84 |
Progressive | $3,231.09 | $2,901.06 | $7,548.71 | $3,642.19 |
Remember that as you age and as things change in your life, different insurance companies may be better for you. It’s always appropriate to shop around and compare quotes.
The least expensive ZIP code for average rates is 59635 in East Helena at $2,866.45.
ZIP Code | Average Annual Rate | Allstate Annual Rate | MidCentury Annual Rate | Geico Annual Rate | Safeco Annual Rate | Depositors Annual Rate | Progressive Annual Rate | State Farm Annual Rate | USAA Annual Rate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
59635 | $2,866.45 | $4,525.51 | $3,775.68 | $2,890.21 | $1,209.86 | $2,908.69 | $3,589.05 | $2,115.51 | $1,917.09 |
59602 | $2,877.23 | $4,525.51 | $3,775.68 | $2,890.21 | $1,276.30 | $2,908.69 | $3,531.18 | $2,193.17 | $1,917.09 |
59626 | $2,878.40 | $4,525.51 | $3,734.61 | $2,890.21 | $1,201.94 | $2,908.69 | $3,676.27 | $2,172.87 | $1,917.09 |
59601 | $2,883.49 | $4,525.51 | $3,775.68 | $2,890.21 | $1,201.94 | $2,908.69 | $3,693.98 | $2,154.86 | $1,917.09 |
59636 | $2,887.70 | $4,525.51 | $3,734.61 | $2,890.21 | $1,276.30 | $2,908.69 | $3,676.27 | $2,172.87 | $1,917.09 |
59625 | $2,907.72 | $4,525.51 | $3,734.61 | $2,890.21 | $1,201.94 | $2,908.69 | $3,910.86 | $2,172.87 | $1,917.09 |
59803 | $2,941.55 | $4,848.33 | $3,790.01 | $2,983.05 | $1,242.35 | $2,695.46 | $3,682.81 | $2,331.37 | $1,959.03 |
59808 | $2,950.55 | $4,872.84 | $3,790.01 | $2,983.05 | $1,260.48 | $2,695.46 | $3,638.62 | $2,404.93 | $1,959.03 |
59802 | $2,952.56 | $4,848.33 | $3,790.01 | $2,983.05 | $1,212.87 | $2,695.46 | $3,778.60 | $2,353.13 | $1,959.03 |
59812 | $2,963.16 | $4,872.84 | $3,790.01 | $2,983.05 | $1,252.05 | $2,695.46 | $3,806.01 | $2,346.86 | $1,959.03 |
59801 | $2,963.80 | $4,872.84 | $3,749.16 | $2,983.05 | $1,252.05 | $2,695.46 | $3,840.76 | $2,358.08 | $1,959.03 |
59804 | $2,976.54 | $4,872.84 | $3,790.01 | $2,983.05 | $1,244.09 | $2,695.46 | $3,890.59 | $2,377.27 | $1,959.03 |
59713 | $2,979.79 | $4,525.51 | $3,790.01 | $3,038.10 | $1,318.84 | $3,020.18 | $3,814.31 | $2,395.02 | $1,936.37 |
59641 | $2,988.11 | $4,496.72 | $3,771.54 | $3,038.10 | $1,403.98 | $3,020.18 | $3,854.58 | $2,383.39 | $1,936.37 |
59851 | $2,988.25 | $4,978.05 | $3,790.01 | $2,983.05 | $1,212.87 | $2,695.46 | $3,940.69 | $2,346.86 | $1,959.03 |
59828 | $2,990.63 | $4,675.85 | $3,887.07 | $3,038.10 | $1,307.12 | $3,020.18 | $3,695.60 | $2,364.80 | $1,936.37 |
59728 | $2,993.81 | $4,525.51 | $3,913.81 | $3,038.10 | $1,318.84 | $3,020.18 | $3,814.31 | $2,383.39 | $1,936.37 |
59847 | $2,995.39 | $5,019.22 | $3,790.01 | $2,983.05 | $1,332.64 | $2,695.46 | $3,816.45 | $2,367.27 | $1,959.03 |
59835 | $2,996.26 | $4,540.86 | $3,887.07 | $3,038.10 | $1,307.12 | $3,020.18 | $3,856.98 | $2,383.39 | $1,936.37 |
59841 | $2,996.26 | $4,540.86 | $3,887.07 | $3,038.10 | $1,307.12 | $3,020.18 | $3,856.98 | $2,383.39 | $1,936.37 |
59875 | $2,996.83 | $4,525.51 | $3,764.79 | $3,038.10 | $1,340.67 | $3,020.18 | $3,972.53 | $2,376.53 | $1,936.37 |
59642 | $2,997.30 | $4,496.72 | $3,723.20 | $3,038.10 | $1,388.77 | $3,020.18 | $3,991.72 | $2,383.39 | $1,936.37 |
59735 | $2,998.46 | $4,501.72 | $3,723.20 | $3,038.10 | $1,270.03 | $3,091.61 | $3,911.91 | $2,514.71 | $1,936.37 |
59632 | $3,000.45 | $4,496.72 | $3,771.54 | $3,038.10 | $1,403.98 | $3,020.18 | $3,970.10 | $2,366.65 | $1,936.37 |
59762 | $3,001.95 | $4,540.86 | $3,771.54 | $3,038.10 | $1,377.68 | $3,020.18 | $3,947.49 | $2,383.39 | $1,936.37 |
The most expensive ZIP code is 59089 in Wyola at $3,457.80
ZIP Code | Average Annual Rate | Allstate Annual Rate | MidCentury Annual Rate | Geico Annual Rate | Safeco Annual Rate | Depositors Annual Rate | Progressive Annual Rate | State Farm Annual Rate | USAA Annual Rate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
59089 | $3,457.80 | $4,578.75 | $4,625.59 | $3,977.81 | $1,365.50 | $3,677.86 | $5,024.35 | $2,354.73 | $2,057.85 |
59853 | $3,440.51 | $5,135.42 | $4,012.32 | $3,414.38 | $1,416.63 | $3,655.44 | $5,138.66 | $2,715.52 | $2,035.70 |
59035 | $3,436.52 | $4,578.75 | $4,625.59 | $3,977.81 | $1,365.50 | $3,677.86 | $4,854.09 | $2,354.73 | $2,057.85 |
59050 | $3,433.47 | $4,578.75 | $4,625.59 | $3,977.81 | $1,365.50 | $3,677.86 | $4,819.82 | $2,364.60 | $2,057.85 |
59075 | $3,433.31 | $4,578.75 | $4,625.59 | $3,977.81 | $1,365.50 | $3,677.86 | $4,778.12 | $2,405.02 | $2,057.85 |
59417 | $3,420.37 | $5,135.42 | $3,762.10 | $4,038.88 | $1,402.99 | $3,542.04 | $4,845.55 | $2,578.17 | $2,057.85 |
59068 | $3,414.03 | $4,873.58 | $4,107.10 | $3,977.81 | $1,370.30 | $3,677.86 | $4,688.65 | $2,559.13 | $2,057.85 |
59448 | $3,408.40 | $5,135.42 | $3,762.10 | $4,038.88 | $1,432.38 | $3,542.04 | $4,776.08 | $2,522.46 | $2,057.85 |
59007 | $3,399.96 | $4,873.58 | $4,107.10 | $3,977.81 | $1,370.30 | $3,677.86 | $4,780.44 | $2,354.73 | $2,057.85 |
59070 | $3,398.91 | $4,873.58 | $4,107.10 | $3,977.81 | $1,370.30 | $3,677.86 | $4,677.66 | $2,449.16 | $2,057.85 |
59008 | $3,398.10 | $4,873.58 | $4,107.10 | $3,977.81 | $1,370.30 | $3,677.86 | $4,765.56 | $2,354.73 | $2,057.85 |
59920 | $3,391.20 | $5,135.42 | $4,012.32 | $3,414.38 | $1,407.93 | $3,655.44 | $4,687.47 | $2,677.71 | $2,138.93 |
59932 | $3,389.23 | $5,135.42 | $4,012.32 | $3,414.38 | $1,435.44 | $3,655.44 | $4,605.65 | $2,716.26 | $2,138.93 |
59411 | $3,387.91 | $5,135.42 | $3,762.10 | $4,038.88 | $1,386.23 | $3,542.04 | $4,826.09 | $2,354.73 | $2,057.85 |
59930 | $3,387.14 | $5,135.42 | $4,012.32 | $3,414.38 | $1,374.40 | $3,655.44 | $4,765.25 | $2,704.18 | $2,035.70 |
59844 | $3,386.85 | $5,135.42 | $4,012.32 | $3,414.38 | $1,421.88 | $3,655.44 | $4,684.86 | $2,734.77 | $2,035.70 |
59935 | $3,386.28 | $5,135.42 | $4,012.32 | $3,414.38 | $1,374.40 | $3,655.44 | $4,774.42 | $2,688.15 | $2,035.70 |
59925 | $3,378.26 | $5,135.42 | $4,012.32 | $3,414.38 | $1,388.39 | $3,655.44 | $4,574.15 | $2,707.08 | $2,138.93 |
59931 | $3,377.84 | $5,135.42 | $4,012.32 | $3,414.38 | $1,383.14 | $3,420.37 | $4,793.59 | $2,707.79 | $2,155.75 |
59066 | $3,377.49 | $4,578.75 | $4,107.10 | $3,977.81 | $1,365.50 | $3,677.86 | $4,854.09 | $2,400.97 | $2,057.85 |
59033 | $3,376.50 | $4,884.10 | $4,107.10 | $3,977.81 | $1,300.92 | $3,606.86 | $4,722.68 | $2,354.73 | $2,057.85 |
59001 | $3,374.37 | $4,873.58 | $4,107.10 | $3,977.81 | $1,307.54 | $3,606.86 | $4,654.62 | $2,409.60 | $2,057.85 |
59922 | $3,374.36 | $5,135.42 | $4,012.32 | $3,414.38 | $1,407.22 | $3,655.44 | $4,505.10 | $2,726.07 | $2,138.93 |
59917 | $3,372.37 | $5,135.42 | $4,012.32 | $3,414.38 | $1,378.70 | $3,655.44 | $4,642.83 | $2,704.18 | $2,035.70 |
59011 | $3,372.28 | $4,884.10 | $4,107.10 | $3,977.81 | $1,223.45 | $3,606.86 | $4,759.65 | $2,361.40 | $2,057.85 |
Where in Montana you live could cost or save you hundreds of dollars on auto insurance each year.
People that have lived in Montana their whole lives may not have heard of some of these “cities.” For the sake of sharing this information, we’ve labeled every place with a post office as a “city.”
Here are the 25 cities where you’ll pay some of the lowest rates in the state.
City | Average Annual Rate |
---|---|
EAST HELENA | $2,866.45 |
HELENA | $2,886.71 |
FORT HARRISON | $2,887.70 |
MISSOULA | $2,958.03 |
AVON | $2,979.79 |
RADERSBURG | $2,988.11 |
MILLTOWN | $2,988.25 |
CORVALLIS | $2,990.63 |
ELLISTON | $2,993.81 |
LOLO | $2,995.39 |
GRANTSDALE | $2,996.26 |
PINESDALE | $2,996.26 |
VICTOR | $2,996.84 |
RINGLING | $2,997.31 |
HARRISON | $2,998.46 |
BOULDER | $3,000.45 |
WISE RIVER | $3,001.95 |
CARDWELL | $3,002.38 |
HAMILTON | $3,004.49 |
TOWNSEND | $3,007.52 |
GLEN | $3,009.31 |
POLARIS | $3,009.31 |
GARRISON | $3,011.23 |
WISDOM | $3,011.68 |
SULA | $3,013.67 |
You’ll want to avoid buying auto insurance in the following cities, which have the most expensive rates in the state.
City | Average Annual Rate |
---|---|
WYOLA | $3,457.80 |
NOXON | $3,440.51 |
FORT SMITH | $3,436.52 |
LODGE GRASS | $3,433.47 |
SAINT XAVIER | $3,433.31 |
BROWNING | $3,420.37 |
RED LODGE | $3,414.03 |
HEART BUTTE | $3,408.40 |
BEARCREEK | $3,399.96 |
ROBERTS | $3,398.91 |
BELFRY | $3,398.10 |
KILA | $3,391.20 |
SOMERS | $3,389.23 |
BABB | $3,387.92 |
REXFORD | $3,387.13 |
HERON | $3,386.85 |
TROY | $3,386.28 |
MARION | $3,378.26 |
ROLLINS | $3,377.84 |
PRYOR | $3,377.49 |
GREYCLIFF | $3,376.51 |
ABSAROKEE | $3,374.37 |
LAKESIDE | $3,374.36 |
EUREKA | $3,372.37 |
BIG TIMBER | $3,372.28 |
Helena comes in lowest at $2886.71 while Kallispel averages $3334.32 a year. The rest of the top ten cities lie somewhere in between.
Prices are an important part of choosing a auto insurance carrier. But there need to be other things that factor into your decision.
For example, let’s say you found a rate from Company A that was quite a bit lower than Company B and you decided to go with Company A based on that alone. Then you run into a moose and have to file a claim, but you have trouble reaching anyone from your insurance company.
When you do finally reach an agent, they fight your claim every step of the way. The experience is a nightmare and you realize it would have probably been better to pay more and go with Company B because of their good reputation.
Finding all that information could take a lot of work, but we’ve already done it! And we’ve compiled the information in one place next!
Here are the stats about financial stability, customer satisfaction and, the one you likely care most about: rates.
The largest companies in the state got there through hard work and stability. They all have good financial ratings. If you’re looking at one of the smaller insurers in the state, check their financial stability rating and outlook from A.M. Best.
Companies | A.M. Best Rating |
---|---|
Geico | A++ |
Progressive | A++ |
State Farm | A++ |
Travelers | A++ |
USAA | A++ |
Allstate | A+ |
Farmers | A |
Liberty Mutual | A |
QBE | A |
Mountain West Farm | A- |
Next, we’ll look at how satisfied customers are with auto insurance companies.
J.D. Power ranks auto insurers throughout the country each year. Here’s how the major companies rate in the northwest region of the U.S.
Companies | Ranking | J.D. Power Circle Rating™ |
---|---|---|
USAA | 896 | 5 |
PEMCO Insurance | 842 | 5 |
The Hartford | 832 | 4 |
American Family | 826 | 4 |
State Farm | 817 | 3 |
Progressive | 808 | 3 |
Liberty Mutual | 807 | 3 |
Geico | 805 | 3 |
Allstate | 798 | 2 |
Safeco | 798 | 2 |
Farmers | 785 | 2 |
Nationwide | 782 | 2 |
Northwest Region | 813 | 3 |
In nearly every region, USAA outperforms the competition in rates and customer satisfaction. It’s not available to the general public, though.
QBE, the 10th largest insurer by market share in the state had a complaint ratio is very high at nearly 95. Because they are a small company, it only took five complaints to put their ratio that high.
Below are the complaint ratios for the ten largest insurers in the state.
Companies | Complaint Index | Market Share |
---|---|---|
Farmers Insurance (Mid-Century) | 0.46 | 18.10% |
State Farm | 0.57 | 13.00% |
Travelers | 0.57 | 11.70% |
Liberty Mutual (Safeco) | 0.66 | 7.30% |
Allstate Corp | 0.69 | 6.10% |
USAA | 0.83 | 5.00% |
Geico | 0.92 | 4.70% |
Progressive | 0.99 | 4.60% |
Nationwide (Depositors Insurance) | 1.09 | 3.40% |
Mountain West Farm Bureau Mutual | 1.13 | 2.30% |
These rates are the average for the state of Montana for all driving histories, credit histories, and ages. Expect your rate to vary.
Companies | National Average Annual Rates | Compared to State Average | Percentage Over/Under State Average |
---|---|---|---|
Safeco | $1,326.11 | -$1,894.73 | -142.88% |
USAA | $2,031.89 | -$1,188.96 | -58.51% |
State Farm | $2,417.73 | -$803.11 | -33.22% |
Depositors Insurance | $3,478.26 | +$257.41 | +7.40% |
Geico | $3,602.35 | +$381.50 | +10.59% |
Mid-Century Ins Co | $3,907.55 | +$686.70 | +17.57% |
Progressive NorthWestern | $4,330.76 | +$1,109.92 | +25.63% |
Allstate | $4,672.10 | +$1,451.26 | +31.06% |
Safeco is looking like a solid option!
Half of the companies in our survey charged the same rate regardless of the annual miles.
Companies | 10-Mile Commute, 6,000 Annual Mileage | 25-Mile Commute, 12,000 Annual Mileage |
---|---|---|
Nationwide | $3,478.26 | $3,478.26 |
Geico | $3,538.49 | $3,666.20 |
Farmers | $3,907.55 | $3,907.55 |
Progressive | $4,330.76 | $4,330.76 |
Allstate | $4,561.46 | $4,782.74 |
Of the ones that charged more, Allstate charged the most ($221 annually) for the higher mileage commute and USAA the least ($49 annually).
The more coverage you have, the more expensive your rates will be.
Companies | Annual Rate with Low Coverage | Annual Rate with Medium Coverage | Annual Rate with High Coverage |
---|---|---|---|
Liberty Mutual | $1,231.99 | $1,329.79 | $1,416.55 |
USAA | $1,943.70 | $2,021.60 | $2,130.37 |
State Farm | $2,289.67 | $2,407.88 | $2,555.66 |
Nationwide | $2,678.46 | $3,706.80 | $4,049.52 |
Geico | $3,460.99 | $3,577.02 | $3,769.03 |
Farmers | $3,630.98 | $3,903.65 | $4,188.01 |
Progressive | $4,090.20 | $4,318.46 | $4,583.63 |
Allstate | $4,449.47 | $4,661.15 | $4,905.69 |
From the table above, Liberty Mutual has the lowest insurance rates overall regardless of coverage level.
The use of credit history in rate formulation is a hotly debated subject. Those who argue against it say that it unfairly raises rates of good drivers because their credit history is less than stellar. Those in favor argue that individuals with lower scores are statistically more likely to file a claim.
Regardless of your stance on the issue, credit scores are a major factor in your rates for most companies.
Insurance credit scores differ from your standard credit rating, but the information for both are pulled from the same credit report.
Companies | Annual Rate with Good Credit | Annual Rate with Fair Credit | Annual Rate with Poor Credit |
---|---|---|---|
Liberty Mutual | $1,326.11 | $1,326.11 | $1,326.11 |
USAA | $1,500.57 | $1,854.79 | $2,740.31 |
State Farm | $1,660.31 | $2,116.08 | $3,476.81 |
Geico | $2,106.77 | $3,025.06 | $5,675.22 |
Nationwide | $2,866.07 | $3,172.44 | $4,396.26 |
Farmers | $3,453.72 | $3,661.37 | $4,607.55 |
Progressive | $3,745.98 | $4,005.65 | $5,240.66 |
Allstate | $3,848.58 | $4,519.28 | $5,648.45 |
Liberty Mutual’s rates remain the same regardless of your credit score. Geico and State Farm will charge you more than double for poor credit than for good.
The average credit score for a citizen of Montana is 689 which is higher than the national average of 675. If your credit score is higher, you’ll likely pay lower auto insurance rates.
Your driving record is the biggest indication of your risk to an insurance company. For example, an intoxicated driver who has had a DUI conviction within the past three years is four times more likely to be involved in a fatal collision than an intoxicated driver without a prior DUI.
If your history indicates a bigger risk for an insurance company to take on, you’ll pay for it with higher rates.
Companies | Clean record | With one speeding violation | With one accident | With one DUI |
---|---|---|---|---|
USAA | $1,531.17 | $1,868.12 | $1,901.51 | $2,826.76 |
State Farm | $2,255.63 | $2,417.73 | $2,579.85 | $2,417.73 |
Geico | $2,316.09 | $2,767.01 | $3,664.68 | $5,661.62 |
Nationwide | $2,525.70 | $3,051.00 | $3,638.09 | $4,698.24 |
Farmers | $3,433.60 | $3,433.60 | $4,436.87 | $4,326.13 |
Progressive | $3,739.67 | $4,147.16 | $4,819.80 | $4,616.41 |
Allstate | $3,925.26 | $4,485.46 | $4,642.32 | $5,635.38 |
Liberty Mutual | $903.51 | $1,259.73 | $1,570.59 | $1,570.59 |
While you may think a DUI will make your rates increase more than any other offense, that’s not always the case. As you can see, State Farm raises rates by the same amount for a speeding violation as they do for a DUI conviction.
Some companies view an accident as a greater risk factor than a DUI (Farmers, Progressive, State Farm) but half of the companies in our study do charge the most to drivers with a DUI conviction on record.
The table below offers some details on the largest insurers in Montana.
Companies | Direct Premiums Written | Loss Ratio | Market Share |
---|---|---|---|
State Farm | $166,714 | 58.29% | 22.99% |
Liberty Mutual | $93,428 | 56.54% | 12.88% |
Progressive | $92,619 | 60.42% | 12.77% |
Farmers | $64,633 | 46.34% | 8.91% |
USAA | $50,954 | 70.92% | 7.03% |
Geico | $39,509 | 73.41% | 5.45% |
Mountain West Farm | $38,879 | 58.37% | 5.36% |
Allstate | $29,149 | 47.79% | 4.02% |
Travelers | $23,589 | 55.63% | 3.25% |
QBE Insurance | $22,480 | 62.39% | 3.10% |
State Farm has almost double the market share of Liberty Mutual, the second-largest auto insurer in Montana.
Montana has more than auto insurers. These insurance companies can be categorized as foreign or domestic.
Insurance Type | Number of Licensed Companies |
---|---|
Domestic | 14 |
Foreign | 822 |
Total | 836 |
Less than 2 percent of the auto insurers in Montana are domestic companies.
Montana Code Annotated contains all the laws you need to know. Unfortunately, it’s not considered leisure reading material and it would take days, weeks, months, or maybe even a lifetime to wade through.
We’ll cover the most important laws you need to know for driving!
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Auto insurance companies must file rates and supporting data with the state prior to use. The Office of the Montana State Auditor assures residents of the following:
We make sure the policies sold in Montana comply with those laws and that prices are not unreasonably high.
They also are willing to answer questions and help you make sure you receive fair compensation from your insurance company after filing a claim.
As your risk increases, your rates will increase. Sometimes, after certain accidents or DUI convictions, your insurance company may drop your coverage because they deem you too high of a risk. At that point, you’re probably going to have a hard time finding insurance anywhere.
That’s where an assigned risk pool can offer you the insurance you need to drive. Montana Automobile Insurance Plan is part of the Western Association of Automobile Insurance Plans.
While some states require insurers to replace or repair windshields with no deductible, you won’t find that law in Montana.
Some insurance companies may offer Montanans windshield insurance to replace broken glass, but you’ll be hard pressed to find a company offering that perk because the risk for windshields breaking in Montana is too high.
Basically, what I’m trying to break to you is: Don’t get your hopes up for a deductible-free windshield replacement.
Insurance fraud costs the average American consumer about 10 percent higher premiums. Cases of hard fraud, such as falsifying claims and staging accidents are easy to condemn, but the cases of soft fraud, such as lying about personal information to get a lower rate, hurt the industry just as much.
Consumer fraud isn’t the only fraudulent activity to watch out for. A company not licensed to sell insurance may try to woo customers with low rates only to not provide actual coverage. That’s one of the reasons it’s so important to investigate a company in more areas than just a promised rate.
Insurance fraud is classified as a crime in Montana, and The Office of the Montana State Auditor, Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance investigates and prosecutes fraudulent activity in the industry.
If you suspect fraud you can download a fraud form here to report it.
Also, remember the importance of honesty when getting insurance and filing claims. If the insurance company finds out you’ve been lying, your claims could be denied and you could be prosecuted.
The statute of limitations for bringing a property damage case to court is two years in Montana. The limit for making injury claims, or filing an injury lawsuit is three years.
If you haven’t made a claim within that time period, you are out of luck.
For insurance claims, you are far better off making a claim right away and not waiting until you approach the statute of limitations. If you wait too long, you may not be able to access or remember information important to your claim, and your case may be harder to prove.
Going hand-in-hand with the requirement for auto insurance, are the requirements for drivers to be licensed and vehicles to be registered. Each of these three demands must be fulfilled to drive legally.
Think about it. If you are pulled over, what do you expect the law enforcement officer to say first? He will most likely request your driver’s license, registration, and proof of insurance.
Most of what we’ve looked at so far has focused on the insurance aspect. Now we’ll touch on the license and registration topics.
There are some serious consequences to driving without insurance in Montana.
Also, for second and subsequent convictions, the registration and plates must be surrendered. Upon the ability to provide proof of insurance, the offender may receive a restricted registration that restricts the use of the vehicle to employment purposes. The restricted registration must remain for the following lengths of time
Fourth and subsequent convictions require the suspension of the offender’s driver’s license.
The lookback period where previous offenses are considered is five years.
Montana law enforcement officers have access to a database which, in theory, provides up-to-the-minute information regarding a vehicle’s insurance status. This database is called the Montana Insurance Verification System (MTIVS).
The highway patrol and many local agencies may access MTIVS but drivers are still required to provide proof of insurance. The state accepts the following forms:
The system is also accessed by title and registration offices.
In Montana, if a vehicle is registered, it must be insured.
Like the rest of the U.S., Montana has a graduated driver licensing (GDL) system for teen drivers. The goal of a graduated system is to increase safety. Statistics prove that the increased regulation for teen drivers has brought the rate of accidents down.
Young Driver Licensing Laws | Minimum Age | Passenger Restrictions | Time Restrictions |
---|---|---|---|
Learner's Permit | 14 years, six months if enrolled in an approved driver education program. 16 years old otherwise | A licensed parent, guardian or another authorized (by parent or guardian) individual must supervise. All passengers must be seat belted. | Teens must have a supervised 50 hours of driving practice, including 10 hours at night |
Provisional License | 15 years old and have held learner's permit for at least six months. | First six months—no more than one passenger younger than 18; second six months—no more than three passengers younger than 18 (family members excepted) | No driving between 11 p.m. and five a.m. (travel to and from certain activities excepted) |
Full License | 16 years old if held provisional license for at least 12 months. 18 years old otherwise | None | None |
Montana allows teens to receive each stage of the license at an earlier age than is recommended by the CDC.
For the most part, the renewal procedures for older drivers is the same as the general population. Everyone is allowed to renew their license by mail or online every other renewal. All drivers must also provide proof of adequate vision at renewal.
License Renewal Procedures | General Population | Older Population |
---|---|---|
License renewal cycle | Every eight years or 75th birthday, whichever occurs first | Ever four years for people 75 and older |
Mail or online renewal permitted | Either is permitted every other renewal. Must renew in person every other renewal. | Either is permitted every other renewal. Must renew in person every other renewal. |
Proof of adequate vision required at renewal | Every renewal | Every renewal |
Unlike younger drivers who must renew their licenses every eight years, drivers 75 and older must renew their licenses every four years.
If you’re new to Montana, you should be aware that you have to apply for a Montana driver license within 60 days of moving. When applying for a license, here’s what you’ll need to have:
Where there are roads, there must be rules or there would be pandemonium. Montanna is a large state with I-90 crossing east/west and I-15 going north/south. The distance between towns can be long and most drivers are glad for the 80 mph speed limits on the interstates.
Long-time residents sometimes reflect fondly on the days where the speed limit was governed by the words, “reasonable and prudent,” but those vague speed limit days are no more.
Montana is a fault state, otherwise known as a tort state. The party responsible for the accident is also responsible for paying for the damages.
Drivers traveling more slowly than the average speed of traffic is required to keep right. There are a few clueless drivers who like to drive in the passing lane of the interstate. If you’re one of them, move to the right! Traffic will travel flow much more smoothly.
When a driver in front of you is turning left, you may pass on the right as long as you do not leave the well-maintained portion of the roadway.
When an emergency vehicle with lights on is stopped on the roadway or off the roadway Vehicles must move to the non-adjacent lane if safe to do so. If unable to safely move to a further lane, drivers must slow down.
If on a highway with a speed limit of 50 mph or greater, the driver must slow down at least 20 mph if unable to safely move to a non-adjacent lane.
The speed limits in Montana are based on time of day and vehicle type.
Roadway | Daytime Speed Limit (mph) | Nighttime Speed Limit (mph) | Truck: Daytime Speed Limit (mph) | Truck: Nighttime Speed Limit (mph) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Rural Interstates | 80 | 80 | 65 | 65 |
Urban Interstates (Billings, Great Falls, Missoula) | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 |
Two-Lane Highway | 70 | 65 | 60 | 55 |
For the most part, trucks must drive slower than other vehicles on the road except for on urban interstates where the speed limit is 65 at all times for all vehicles.
All occupants in all seats are required to wear seat belts. Enforcement is secondary, so the driver must commit a primary offense to be pulled over, but once pulled over, seat belt violations may be ticketed.
This video tells the story of how the Killoy family’s lives were saved by wearing seatbelts.
Highway Patrol and local law enforcement agencies often participate in buckle-up campaigns to encourage more seat belt use. A seat belt offense will cost $20. The monetary fine is nothing compared to the danger you put yourself in when you don’t buckle.
If you have more people riding in the vehicle than there are seatbelts, all the seatbelts must be used and the remaining passengers may remain unbuckled. Also, there are no laws restricting riding in the cargo area of a pickup truck.
Child safety seat laws in Montana leave a lot of room for parental judgment. Properly fitted and installed child safety seats can be the difference between life and death in a crash.
Montana law states that children under 6 years of age and under 60 pounds must be in a child safety seat. Both must be met to legally discontinue safety seat use.
So, if your child is seven years old, but weight 50 pounds, they must still be in a car seat or booster seat. Similarly, if your child weighs 65 pounds but is 5 years old, they must still be secured in a safety seat.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children are secured in a rear-facing car seat until they are two years old or outgrow the car seat’s specs.
Sometimes there is confusion about what to do when a school bus is stopped. This video explains the proper driver response.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXXyJJBpj1s
Passing a school bus that is stopped with red lights flashing is not only dangerous. It’s against the law.
Lyft and Uber are allowed to operate in the state. Farmers and State Farm offer rideshare coverage to bridge the gap between when regular auto insurance covers you and when Uber or Lyft insurance gives you protection.
Not surprisingly, Montana is not a hotbed for autonomous vehicle technology. The state legislature is still investigating and determining what laws need to be updated to cover the new range of issues autonomous vehicles would bring to the state.
Driving always carries risk, and there are some behaviors that increase that risk. We’ll look at some of those behaviors and the laws Montana has concerning them now:
In Montana, “DUI” is short for “driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.”
The lookback period (the time frame in which previous convictions are considered) is 10 years, but once you have a third DUI, the lookback period changes to lifetime.
Penalty | First Offense | Second Offense | Third and Subsequent Offenses |
---|---|---|---|
License Suspension | Six months | One year | One year |
Imprisonment | 24 hours - six months | Seven days - one year | 30 days - one year |
Fine | $600 - $1000 plus $200 reinstatement fee | $1200 - $2000 | $2500 - $5000 |
Other | 10 license points for life; must participate in ACT phases (assessment, course, treatment); may be ordered to use IID | 10 license points for life; may be required to enroll in 24/7 sobriety program | 10 license points for life = 30 total - Driver's License revoked for being a Habitual Traffic Offender |
If passengers under 16 years old are in the vehicle at the time of the offense, penalties typically double.
The judge can decide when and if a DUI offender is eligible for a probationary license during the suspension. A probationary license allows driving only for the following reasons:
Unfortunately, Montana is ranked worst for drunk driving. Be aware that drunk drivers are out on the road, report suspicious behavior, and don’t drink and drive.
Montana allows marijuana use for medical reasons. However, a person found to be operating a vehicle under the influence of marijuana (blood level five ng/ml of THC or greater) they will face the same penalties listed above. Additionally, their medical marijuana card will be suspended or revoked.
Montana is the only state with no handheld or texting bans. Even novice drivers are not prohibited from texting while driving.
Remember, though, that just because there is no state-wide ban, you could still get in trouble for texting or using a handheld electronic device depending on where you are.
Most of the major cities in Montana have hands-free city ordinances.
There are handheld bans where over one-third of the population lives, and since the bans are in the larger cities, the majority of Montanans will be driving to or through these areas on a regular basis.
There are a lot of driving stats. Finding helpful information can be difficult when so much is available at our fingertips. We’ll show you the most relevant facts. By seeing this data, you can learn what risks are out there and endeavor to mitigate the risk as best you can.
In a state where it seems that most households own a truck, it’s not surprising that pickup trucks dominate the top 10 most stolen vehicles list:
This information is from the FBI from 2013. It does not include information for Butte.
City | Motor Vehicle Thefts |
---|---|
Billings | 541 |
Missoula | 131 |
Great Falls | 104 |
Bozeman | 52 |
Kalispell | 27 |
Helena | 25 |
Polson | 24 |
Havre | 22 |
Laurel | 18 |
Whitefish | 11 |
Billings is the largest city, so you would expect the highest crime rates. What’s surprising is how much higher the vehicle theft rate is than in the next largest city, Missoula. Billings not even double the size of Missoula yet its vehicle theft rate is more than quadruple Missoula’s.
Montana leads the country in traffic deaths per capita. Contributing factors include:
Wintery roads are a dangerous reality you’ll have to face considering winter seems to last a solid 75 percent of the year and snow has fallen every month of the year in the state. So, if you live in Montana, you’re going to have to embrace the chill.
The table below provides an overview of traffic fatalities in Montana.
Type | Number of Fatalities |
---|---|
Traffic Fatalities | 186 |
Passenger Vehicle Occupant Fatalities (All Seat Positions) | 143 |
Motorcyclist Fatalities | 23 |
Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes | 228 |
Pedestrian Fatalities | 14 |
Bicyclist and other Cyclist Fatalities | 1 |
Most fatalities involve the driver of the vehicle followed by the passengers.
Let’s see how those numbers break down based on location:
Roadway Type | Number of Fatalities 2017 |
---|---|
Urban | 19 |
Rural | 167 |
The number of fatalities on rural roads is almost nine times the number of those in urban areas.
Below we can see the numbers based on whether the fatality was a driver, passenger, or pedestrian.
Person Type | Number of Fatalities 2017 |
---|---|
Occupants (Enclosed Vehicles) | 144 |
Motorcyclists | 23 |
Nonoccupants | 14 |
Most of the fatalities involved occupants of the vehicle(s) involved in the crash.
Now we’ll take a look at the fatalities by the type of accident.
Crash Type | Number |
---|---|
Single Vehicle | 116 |
Involving a Large Truck | 22 |
Involving Speeding | 59 |
Involving a Rollover | 90 |
Involving a Roadway Departure | 139 |
Involving an Intersection (or Intersection-Related) | 23 |
Crashes that involved a vehicle leaving the roadway resulted in the most fatalities.
This is how the statistics have varied in the top counties between 2013 and 2017.
County | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Missoula County | 15 | 15 | 15 | 20 | 17 |
Flathead County | 21 | 13 | 12 | 18 | 15 |
Big Horn County | 10 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 13 |
Yellowstone County | 21 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 12 |
Lewis And Clark County | 7 | 6 | 15 | 4 | 11 |
Gallatin County | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 |
Lake County | 11 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 9 |
Glacier County | 15 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 |
Broadwater County | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
Cascade County | 12 | 15 | 9 | 12 | 6 |
Top Ten Counties | 130 | 109 | 114 | 118 | 105 |
All Other Counties | 99 | 83 | 110 | 72 | 81 |
All Counties | 229 | 192 | 224 | 190 | 186 |
Missoula County had the most traffic fatalities in 2017, but the total was less than it had the previous year.
Speeding-related accidents were responsible for a number of fatalities.
County | Speeding Fatalities | Fatalities Per 100,000 Population |
---|---|---|
Flathead County | 5 | 5 |
Gallatin County | 5 | 4.64 |
Yellowstone County | 5 | 3.15 |
Lewis And Clark County | 4 | 5.9 |
Glacier County | 3 | 21.99 |
Hill County | 3 | 18.22 |
Missoula County | 3 | 2.55 |
Treasure County | 3 | 441.83 |
Big Horn County | 2 | 14.97 |
Broadwater County | 2 | 33.69 |
Cascade County | 2 | 2.45 |
Lake County | 2 | 6.61 |
Park County | 2 | 12.23 |
Phillips County | 2 | 48.56 |
Richland County | 2 | 18.12 |
Stillwater County | 2 | 21.23 |
Carbon County | 1 | 9.35 |
Chouteau County | 1 | 17.35 |
Deer Lodge County | 1 | 10.98 |
Jefferson County | 1 | 8.41 |
Liberty County | 1 | 41.2 |
Madison County | 1 | 12.23 |
Meagher County | 1 | 54.02 |
Powell County | 1 | 14.72 |
Rosebud County | 1 | 10.81 |
Sanders County | 1 | 8.54 |
Sheridan County | 1 | 28.83 |
Silver Bow County | 1 | 2.89 |
Twenty-eight counties had no speeding fatalities in 2017 and are not included in the table.
Drinking and driving is never a good idea and this table shows why.
County | Fatalities 2013 | Fatalities 2014 | Fatalities 2015 | Fatalities 2016 | Fatalities 2017 | Fatalities Per 100,000 Population 2013 | Fatalities per 100,000 Population 2014 | Fatalities per 100,000 Population 2015 | Fatalities per 100,000 Population 2016 | Fatalities per 100,000 Population 2016 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Beaverhead County | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21.5 | 0 | 0 | 10.59 | 0 |
Big Horn County | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 38.12 | 30.01 | 37.66 | 44.87 | 37.43 |
Blaine County | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 45.11 | 45.33 | 15.02 | 0 |
Broadwater County | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 17.68 | 0 | 0 | 33.69 |
Carbon County | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19.25 | 9.53 | 0 |
Cascade County | 6 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 7.31 | 10.98 | 3.67 | 6.14 | 2.45 |
Chouteau County | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 17.11 | 33.96 | 34.68 | 17.26 | 34.69 |
Custer County | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8.43 | 0 | 8.29 | 0 | 0 |
Daniels County | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 55.71 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Dawson County | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 10.67 | 0 | 31.39 | 0 | 33.52 |
Deer Lodge County | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21.96 | 0 | 0 |
Fergus County | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8.84 | 8.86 | 0 | 8.86 |
Flathead County | 10 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 10.77 | 2.12 | 5.22 | 8.19 | 2 |
Gallatin County | 3 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 3.18 | 5.15 | 2.99 | 5.77 | 5.57 |
Garfield County | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 79.74 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Glacier County | 12 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 87.15 | 21.92 | 36.71 | 51.21 | 29.33 |
Granite County | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30.38 | 0 |
Hill County | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6.05 | 6.07 | 12.18 | 0 | 6.07 |
Jefferson County | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8.75 | 8.71 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Lake County | 4 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 13.77 | 13.73 | 3.4 | 13.46 | 13.21 |
Lewis And Clark County | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4.61 | 1.52 | 1.51 | 5.99 | 5.9 |
Lincoln County | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 30.92 | 5.22 | 21.04 | 5.2 | 0 |
Madison County | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 26.09 | 12.86 | 25.25 | 0 | 12.23 |
Meagher County | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 108.58 | 0 |
Mineral County | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24.24 | 0 |
Missoula County | 6 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5.38 | 2.67 | 4.39 | 4.31 | 3.41 |
Musselshell County | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21.6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Park County | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6.29 | 25.06 | 12.42 | 6.12 |
Petroleum County | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 196.08 | 0 | 0 | 200.8 | 0 |
Phillips County | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 24.01 | 0 | 0 | 48.56 |
Powder River County | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 56.59 | 0 | 0 |
Powell County | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 14.39 | 0 | 0 | 14.6 | 14.72 |
Ravalli County | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 9.84 | 2.46 | 2.43 | 4.78 | 2.35 |
Richland County | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 44.83 | 8.67 | 8.41 | 8.77 | 9.06 |
Roosevelt County | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 9.02 | 26.6 | 26.3 | 35.65 | 0 |
Rosebud County | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 21.47 | 21.42 | 32.38 | 10.81 |
Sanders County | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 8.85 | 17.69 | 17.72 | 8.72 | 17.08 |
Sheridan County | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 54.78 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Silver Bow County | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5.81 | 2.89 | 5.8 | 0 | 2.89 |
Stillwater County | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 21.59 | 0 | 10.61 | 10.68 | 0 |
Sweet Grass County | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 27.36 | 27.5 | 0 | 0 | 27.09 |
Teton County | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 16.56 | 0 | 33.06 | 0 | 0 |
Toole County | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 19.54 | 0 | 19.7 | 20.16 | 0 |
Treasure County | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 437.96 | 147.28 |
Valley County | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13.14 | 13.14 | 0 | 0 |
Yellowstone County | 6 | 13 | 5 | 9 | 4 | 3.91 | 8.38 | 3.2 | 5.71 | 2.52 |
Only 10 counties had no fatalities involving an alcohol-impaired driver during the five years: Carter, Fallon, Golden Valley, Judith Basin, Liberty, McCone, Pondera, Prairie, Wheatland, and Wibaux.
In Montana, the legal limit for blood alcohol concentration in those under 21 years of age is 0.02 percent.
Montana has the highest rate of underage fatalities related to alcohol-impaired driving.
Underage Drinking | Stats |
---|---|
Alcohol-Impaired Driving Fatalities (under 21) Per 100,000 Population | 3.0 |
Higher/Lower Than National Average (1.2) | Highest in the Nation |
DUI Arrest (Under 18 years old) | 42 |
DUI Arrests (Under 18 years old) Total Per Million People | 184.53 |
Unfortunately, Montana ranks highest in the nation for alcohol-related fatalities involving drivers 21 and younger.
Fatalities on rural roadways are much higher because of the long response time by emergency services as the table below shows.
Crash Location | Time of Crash to EMS Notification (minutes) | EMS Notification to EMS Arrival (minutes) | EMS Arrival at Scene to Hospital Arrival (minutes) | Time of Crash to Hospital Arrival (minutes) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Rural Fatal Crashes | 9.23 | 15.55 | 42.33 | 59.38 |
Urban Fatal Crashes | 1.23 | 6.25 | 27.77 | 35.38 |
Almost an hour passes between the time of the crash and the time crash victims arrive at the hospital.
How do most people get around Montana? Let’s take a look.
When it comes to car ownership, Montana is pretty much like the rest of the U.S. Most people own two cars. Three- and one-car households are the next two largest groups.
It’s no surprise that the majority of Montanan’s, almost 75 percent, commute alone. The availability of public transportation is extremely limited, and carpooling is not part of the culture. About seven percent of Montanan’s work from home.
The average Montanan’s commute is significantly shorter in time than the U.S. average. The average Montanan spends 17.2 minutes getting to work compared to the national average of 25.7 minutes. Slightly over two percent of commuters have a drive time of 90 minutes or more.
Yes, there is traffic congestions in Montana, surprisingly! Los Angelos, New York, and Chicago residents may beg to differ, but when your trip through town takes twice as long as usual, it’s annoying!
I would be remiss if I didn’t take this moment to point out the stereotypical “Montana traffic jam.” While you probably won’t face this every day on your commute, there will likely be a time or two you’ve encountered a slowdown due to a herd of elk, another mass animal crossing, or a cattle drive.
Now you have a pretty good picture of what you’ll need for insurance in Montana, and what you can expect for rates. To find out how must YOU can expect to pay for auto insurance, compare quotes right here, today!
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