Best Car Insurance Rates in Montana (2024)

The state average for car insurance in Montana is $3,220.84.

As you can see, Safeco has the lowest rate of $1,326.11. That is an incredible 142.88 percent below the state average.

USAA and State Farm also fall below the state average.

Allstate shows the highest premium at $4,672.10. This is 31.06 percent above the state average.

Does my commute affect my car insurance rate in Montana?

The more you drive your car, the more chance you have of an accident. In some cases, this can lead to higher insurance rates. Let’s look at some of the insurance companies in Montana to see if a longer commute equals a higher cost.

Montana Average Annual Car Insurance Rates by Commute Rate

It’s good to know that half of these companies do not charge more for a longer commute. Allstate charges the most for a commute at least 25 miles. This is over $220 above policy with a 10-mile commute.

Working closer to home might save you some cash, as well as time.

Can coverage level change my car insurance rate with companies in Montana?

These are eight companies in Montana along with their rates based on coverage levels. This will give you a good idea of what to expect based on the type of coverage that is right for you.

Montana Average Annual Car Insurance Rates by Coverage Level

Liberty Mutual is the cheapest for all coverage levels, ranging from $1,231.99 to $1,416.55. Allstate is the most expensive insurance on the list, ranging from $4,449.47 to $4,905.69.

Once you determine what the right amount of coverage is for you, you can compare that to the companies listed above.

We’ve talked about some factors that influence your car insurance rates, like your age, where you live, how far you commute, and what coverage you choose.  There are more factors like credit history and driving records to consider as well.  Let’s take a closer look at those now.

How does my credit history affect my car insurance rate with companies in Montana?

Believe it or not, your credit score affects your car insurance rates.

According to Experian, the average credit score in the US is 703. That falls in what they consider the “good” range. The average for a Montanan is 720, also in the good range.

Let’s look at how your rates change with your credit scores.

Montana Average Annual Car Insurance Rates by Credit History

Liberty Mutual is the only company that did not charge more for fair or poor credit.

These are the average premiums you will pay based on your credit score:

• Good credit (670+) = $2,563.51
• Fair credit (580-669) = $2,960.10
• Poor credit (300-579) = $4,138.92

As you can see, keeping a good credit score can save you hundreds, or even thousands. If your credit score falls below the good range, don’t worry. You can always work to improve it.

Watch this video for tips on improving your credit score.

How does my driving record change my rates with car insurance companies in Montana?

It should be no surprise that your driving record affects your car insurance rate. Drivers who are high-risk pay more for insurance than drivers who have not been ticketed for speeding, being in an accident, or having a DUI.

Let’s look at just how much those high-risk behaviors can affect your rates.

Montana Average Annual Car Insurance Rates by Driving Record

Let’s make this even easier. These are average premiums you will pay based on your driving record:

• Clean Record = $2,578.83
• 1 Speeding Ticket = $2,928.73
• 1 Accident = $3,406.71
• 1 DUI = $3,969.11

Having one DUI on your record will cause you the biggest increase. If you have multiple convictions on your driving record, your rates can skyrocket.

In addition to the possible fines and jail time, your insurance rates will increase if you do not keep a clean driving record. You can save thousands of dollars just by obeying the driving laws in Montana.

Which car insurance companies are the largest in Montana?

This table breaks down the 10 largest car insurance companies in Montana .

Largest Car Insurance Companies in Montana

You can see the State Farm Group has the largest market share and a good loss ratio. Farmers Insurance Group has a low loss ratio. However, it is important to note that it also has a small part of the market.

How many car insurance companies are available in Montana?

There are hundreds of companies licensed to sell insurance in Montana. Most of them are considered foreign insurers. Foreign just means that they are out of state.

This will show you how many carriers are domestic (in-state) and how many are foreign.

• Domestic: 14
• Foreign: 822

Even though there are less than 20 domestic carriers, you have hundreds to choose from when you include the foreign carriers. This gives you lots of options to look for the perfect plan for you. Make sure to get lots of quotes to compare policies.

Montana Laws

Just like every state, Montana has its own set of driving and insurance laws. Knowing and obeying these laws is crucial to being a good driver and keeping insurance rates low. Breaking laws can lead to fines, imprisonment, and higher rates.

It can be confusing and time-consuming to track down these laws yourself. Don’t worry, we’ve done it for you.

Keep reading to explore our guide to Montana’s insurance laws. We’ll look at everything from how laws are determined to teen driver laws as well as rules of the road, and DUI laws.

What are the car insurance laws in Montana?

How State Laws for Insurance are Determined

The Office of Montana State Auditor and the Commissioner of Securities and Insurance ensures that insurance companies in Montana follow the laws in place and help navigate insurance costs for the citizens. They are also available to answer any questions or concerns you might have about your insurance company.

Now that we know who upholds the laws, let’s look at the laws themselves.

Windshield Coverage

Montana does not require a driver to have windshield coverage. Liability insurance does not cover a broken windshield but comprehensive coverage usually does. Adding comprehensive coverage may mean you would not have to pay out of pocket for a windshield repair or replacement.

There are also laws regarding your windshield itself. You must not have anything blocking or impairing your vision through the windshield. This would include tint that is too dark, stickers, or even chips or cracks that obstruct the driver’s view.

High-Risk Insurance

SR-22 is a certificate that you request from your insurance company to show the state that you have the minimum insurance required by law. You would need to request this certificate if you have committed risky behavior while driving, including multiple accidents, DUI, reckless driving, speeding, etc. This is in addition to any penalties or fines you would be charged by law enforcement.

Requesting this certificate signals your insurance company that you are a high-risk driver and will likely lead to increased rates.

Low-Cost Insurance

Unfortunately, Montana does not have government-assisted low-cost insurance plans for low-income families.  However, there are other discounts you can ask for:

• Safe-driver discounts
• Bundled plan discounts
• Multiple car discounts
• Student discounts
• Military discounts

Make sure you talk with an insurance agent about these and other discounts. Adding multiple discounts can save you a lot of money.

Automobile Insurance Fraud in Montana

The Insurance Information Institute or III defines insurance fraud as lying to or by an insurance agent for financial gain and is illegal in Montana.

Common types of fraud are:

• misrepresenting damages
• inflating claims
• staging accidents
• falsely reporting stolen vehicles.

This video details some of these types of fraud.

Nationally, car insurance fraud totaled about $7 billion in 2012. The costs, of course, result in higher premiums as insurance companies try to recoup their losses.

In Montana, the Office of the Montana State Auditor, Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance is responsible for investigating and prosecuting securities and insurance fraud.

If you are convicted of insurance fraud, there are stiff penalties in Montana. You may:

• Pay up to $1,500 if the amount of fraud is less than $1,500 and/or receive up to six months in jail
• Pay up to $50,000 if the amount of fraud is more than $1,500 and/or receive up to 10 years in jail

However, if you are involved with or know someone who has committed insurance fraud, you may receive immunity from civil charges if you testify or provide information to the commissioner.

Committing insurance fraud is not work the risks involved.

If you need to file a report of insurance fraud or have questions, you can contact this office:

• Office of the Montana State Auditor
  Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance
  https://csimt.gov
  (800) 332-6148

Statute of Limitations

A statute of limitations is the maximum amount of time you have to file a lawsuit after an incident.

Montana law gives you up to two years to file a claim for property damage.

You will have three years to file a claim for personal injury from a car accident.  If someone dies from an accident, the three years starts from the date of death.

After that time is up, you can no longer seek either personal or property damages.

Montana Specific Laws

Each state has its own specific laws governing the roads, licensing, and insurance needs. These are a few to get us started.

Drivers may only use studded tires from October 1 to May 1.

Montana increases penalties for violations in work zones. These penalties are called “Work Zone Enhancements” and double the original fine for each violation.

One of the oddest laws we found is still active. It is illegal to have a sheep in the cab of your truck without a chaperone.

Do you have questions about Real ID or have a teen that getting ready to drive? Let’s dive into some of the more widespread laws on the books.

What are the vehicle licensing laws in Montana?

There are laws in Montana that concern how to receive and keep a driver’s license.  Let’s dive into Real ID, teen driving, license renewal, insurance needs, and new residents.

Real ID

Montana complies with the Real ID law. The Read ID combats identity fraud and offers a more secure form of identification. Licenses with a Real ID will have a gold star in the upper right-hand corner.

After October 2020, you must have a license with the Real ID to board any flight or access any federal government facility.

Penalties for Driving Without Insurance

Not only is it illegal to drive in Montana without insurance, but it is also a bad idea financially.  Legally, you must carry at least liability insurance. If you do not, you run the risk of fines, jail time, and lawsuits.

If you are caught driving with no insurance, the first offense could result in:

• Fine of $250-$500
• Up to 10 days in jail.

A second offense faces these penalties:

• Minimum fine of $350
• 10 days in jail
• Have your license revoked for 90 days
• Receive five points on your driving record. (A license will be revoked if 30 points are accumulated.)

Three or more offenses can face:

• $500 fine
• Up to six months in jail

Teen Driver Laws

There are rules governing when teens can get their restricted and full licenses. This table will break those down for you.

Montana Teen Driving Requiements

Montana allows teens to begin their driving career at age 14 1/2 if they are taking or have taken driver’s education. Otherwise, they must wait until 16 years old if they do not want to take a driver’s education course.

Once they have their restricted license, teens can begin driving with certain requirements. The state puts restrictions on how many other teens can be in the car and the hours in which a teen can drive.

Although teens with a restricted license are not allowed to drive from 11 pm to 5 am, there are some exceptions. Teens may drive during that time if they are:

• Supervised by a licensed adult 18 years old or older
• Going to or from employment
• Going to or from a school activity
• Going to or from a religious activity
• Driving for emergency purposes
• Driving for farm purposes within 150 miles of the farm
• Under specific instruction from a parent or guardian

There are also penalties if a teen breaks these rules. If a teen breaks the first year rules, they will face 20 to 60 hours of community service. Two or more offenses will mean a six-month license suspension.

Since teen drivers have little experience, they are at a higher risk for accidents. This video shows what one school is doing to remind students of the risks involved with driving.

Older Driver License Renewal Procedures

Renewing your driver’s license once you are 75 years old is very similar to renewing it when you are younger. You must take a vision test each time and can only renew by mail or online every other renewal, no matter your age.

The main difference is that once you reach 75 years old, you must renew your license every four years instead of every eight years.

New Residents

If you move to Montana from another state, you have 60 days to change your license. As a new resident, you must provide proof of identity, proof of Montana residency, and proof of authorized presence.

Proof of identity would include your current driver’s license, birth certificate, or valid passport.

Proof of Montana residency would include utility bills, rental or mortgage papers, bank statements, or a payroll check with your Montana address listed.

Proof of authorized presence would include a birth certificate, a valid passport, or a valid passport card.

License Renewal Procedures

If you are under 75 years of age, you will renew your driver’s license every eight years. You must pass a vision test for each renewal. You can choose to renew online or by mail every other renewal.

You may renew your license six months before it expires to three months after it expires.

If your license is more than three months expired, you will have to reapply as a new driver. You will need to provide proof of identity, residency, and retake all tests.

Negligent Operator Treatment System (NOTS)

Montana does not have a negligent operator treatment system, but there are other laws in place for reckless and careless driving.

Montana makes a distinction between reckless and careless driving. Each of them carries different penalties.

Reckless driving is defined as “willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.” Willful means it was intentional and wanton means the person understood what they were doing and did it anyway. Reckless driving is a misdemeanor in Montana but still carries serious penalties.

Penalties for reckless driving:

• First offense: $25 to $300 fine and/or 90 days in jail
• Second offense: $50 to $500 fine and/or 10 days to six months in jail
• Third offense within 12 months: one-year license suspension
• Offenses with death or serious injury: up to 12 months in jail and/or maximum $10,000 fine
• Five points are added to your driving record for each conviction. Getting 15 or more points within 36 months can lead to your license being suspended.

Careless driving is similar to reckless driving. The major difference is the intent. Someone can be driving carelessly and not intend to or realize it.

Penalties for careless driving:

• First offense: $10 to $100 fine
• Second offense: $25 to $200 fine
• Third offense: $50 to $500 fine
• Offenses with death or serious injury: up to six months in jail and/or maximum $5,000 fine
• Four points are added to your driving record for each conviction.

An example of careless driving would be speeding less than 20 mph over the limit. There is no intent to harm anyone, but it is still breaking the law.

Reckless driving would be knowingly having faulty breaks or passing a stopped school bus. In those instances, hurting someone is a real possibility.

Driving recklessly or carelessly can lead to fines, jail time, and car insurance increases. High-risk driving can lead to losing your license if you continue to be convicted. Make sure you are driving carefully to avoid those outcomes.

What are the rules of the road in Montana?

Each state develops its own driving laws. Let’s take a look at some of the things you need to know when you drive in Montana.

Fault vs. No-Fault

Auto accidents can result in varied damages to your vehicle, yourself, and others.

If you are in an accident, who is liable for those damages?  Who is required to pay for damages?

The answer is that it varies from state to state. Some states are considered at-fault and some are no-fault.

Montana is an at-fault state. That means that if you are found to have caused the accident, you and your insurance company are responsible for the damages. It will be up to your car insurance to pay for any property or physical damages of the other driver. You can also be sued personally for anything your insurance doesn’t cover.

That is why it might be a good idea to consider carrying more than liability insurance.

No-fault means that you have to recover damages from your own insurance company, even if you didn’t cause the accident. Thankfully, Montanans don’t have to worry about that.

Seat Belt and Car Seat Laws

Montana law states that anyone six years and older must wear a seatbelt. A driver can’t be stopped for not wearing a seatbelt, but can be ticketed if they are stopped for another reason. The ticket for not wearing a seatbelt is $20.

If a child is under 5-years-old and weighs less than 60 pounds, the child must be in a child seat.

There is no law that restricts allowing people to ride in the bed of a pickup truck.

Not wearing your seatbelt can result in more than just a fine. You are much more likely to be injured in an accident if you are not wearing a seatbelt.

Occupants in the rear seats should always wear a seatbelt, too. Watch this video to see what happens when a passenger in the backseat doesn’t wear a seatbelt. Not only do they injure themselves, but they also hurt other occupants.

Keep Right and Move Over Laws

I’m sure we’ve all felt the frustration of having a slow driver in the left-hand lane. Trying to get around them can sometimes be annoying and even dangerous.

Drivers in Montana should always drive in the right lane unless passing slower vehicles. By law, you must stay in the right lane if you are moving slower than the traffic around you.

If there is an emergency vehicle, tow truck, or maintenance vehicle on the shoulder of the road, you must move over when approaching. If you are unable to move over, you must slow down at least 20 mph.

This video made by a county plow driver details what he has to deal with when people do not pay attention and give him the space he needs to work. This makes it dangerous for everyone.

Speed Limits

Montana has different speed limits depending on the type of vehicle you are driving and the road you are on.

Rural interstates are 80 mph if you are driving a car or 70 mph if you are driving a truck. Urban interstate’s speed limit is 65 mph.

Other roads are 70 mph during the day and 65 mph at night.

Knowing the speed limit for the road you are on and the vehicle you are in can save you money on speeding tickets and higher insurance rates.

Ridesharing

Ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft have become increasingly popular. Insurance companies have had to reevaluate the policies offered and make changes since the vehicle is sometimes a personal car and sometimes commercial.

If you drive for a rideshare company, you will be covered under their liability insurance policies while you have a fare.

What happens in the meantime, like when you are driving to pick up a customer? Your personal insurance may cover it, but many car insurance companies require you to purchase additional coverage.

Check with your insurance company to make sure you are covered.

Automation on the Road

Automated driving is becoming a hot topic around the country as technology gets more and more advanced. State laws and insurance companies have to rethink their driving laws and car insurance requirements.

How will new technology shape the landscape of driving and affect insurance rates? Will rates go up as drivers are more hands-off or will the automation make vehicles safer by taking out the human element? All of those factors, among others, must be considered when discussing the changes that are coming to laws and policies.

Most newer vehicles have some sort of automated technology already included. Cars now will keep you in your lane, brake if you get too close to the car in front of you, and even park for you.

Some vehicles, like the Tesla models, even have the ability to perform almost all of the driving for you.

Although Montana has not currently passed any laws regarding automated driving, you can be assured it will be addressed soon. As technology grows by leaps and bounds, automated vehicles will increasingly be available. Each state and insurer will have to figure out what that looks like.

What are the safety laws in Montana?

Each state has laws that cover a variety of safety concerns. We’ve already touched on some of them like seatbelt, speed limit, and move over laws.

Keep reading to learn Montana’s laws about DUI, impaired driving, and distracted driving.

DUI Laws

Montana ranks fourth in the U.S. for DUI accidents and ties for first for the number of DUI related deaths.

How are DUIs determined and what are the consequences?

Montana laws that determine driving under the influence are decided by blood alcohol content (BAC), which is the amount of alcohol in blood after drinking. The number of drinks needed depends on several factors: gender, body size, and type of alcohol consumed.

For adults, anyone with a BAC of 0.08 percent or higher, is considered under the influence. This limit is reduced to 0.04 percent for commercial drivers and 0.02 percent for anyone under 21 years old.

We’ve already discussed how a DUI can increase your car insurance rates. Those convicted of DUI face stiff legal penalties as well. See the chart below for details.

Montana DUI Penalties

Having one DUI conviction can cost you up to $1,000 and six months in jail. Your license will also be suspended for six months. If you are a commercial driver, you could lose your commercial license permanently as well.

Montana has an implied consent law. That means that when you receive a Montana driver’s license, you agree that you will consent to a blood or breath test if requested.

If you refuse a blood or breath test, your license will be suspended for six months the first time. If you refuse twice in five years, your license will be suspended for one year. Even if you refuse, law enforcement can still require a blood test with a warrant.

In 2017, Montana had 56 alcohol-related driving fatalities, which was 30.1 percent of all traffic fatalities in the state. The U.S. average was 29.3 percent. That puts Montana just above the national average.

Forty percent of drivers involved in fatal crashes in Montana were repeat offenders. That’s almost double the national average of 25.4 percent.

With all of the rideshares out there, there is no good reason to attempt to drive after drinking. Keep yourself and others safe by calling for a ride.

Marijuana-Impaired Driving Laws

Although federal law makes marijuana illegal, some states have begun to legalize the use.

Montana only allows the legal use of marijuana for medical purposes. In order to use the herb legally, you must have a registry identification card issued by the state. Any other usage is illegal, and you could be fined or put in jail.

Montana law makes it illegal to drive a vehicle with more than 5 ng/ml of THC in the blood. The penalties are similar to those for DUI, as this falls under the definition of driving while impaired.

Distracted Driving Laws

We’ve all seen someone driving a car and texting, putting on makeup, eating, playing with their climate controls or navigation, or even dealing with their kids or pets. Those are all examples of distracted driving and cause thousands of accidents a year and increase insurance rates.

The most common distraction is texting and driving. According to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), “Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for five seconds. At 55 mph, that’s like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed.”

Surprisingly, Montana is the only state that does not have some sort of a law restricting cell phone usage while driving. Some towns have had to take it upon themselves to create these laws to cut down on distracted driving.

You need to know the laws for these towns when you travel or live there.

• Missoula has banned text messaging while driving.
• Billings, Butte, Bozeman, Columbia Falls, Great Falls, Helena, and Whitefish have banned drivers from text messaging and using hand-held cell phones.
• In Anaconda-Deer Lodge, Baker, Butte-Silver Bow, and Hamilton, drivers are banned from all handheld cell phone use.

This video details how distracted you truly are when you text and drive.

Driving in Montana

We’ve already covered car insurance rates and laws for Montana. Now let’s focus on the safety of driving in the state.

In this section, we’re going to learn about thefts, fatalities, emergency response times, and what traffic looks like.

How many vehicle thefts occur in Montana?

Having your car stolen means you lose time and money. The type of car you drive and the city you live in can increase your chances of having your vehicle stolen.

These are the top 10 vehicles stolen in 2015.

Montana Car Thefts by Vehicle Type

The top 4 vehicles stolen were full-size trucks.

The number of vehicle thefts varies from city to city. The table below is the data the FBI compiled from 2016.

Montana Car Thefts by City

Montana had 1,641 car thefts in 2016. More than half of the thefts for the year occurred in Billings, which had 842. Some cities like Baker, Ennis, and Fort Benton didn’t report any thefts.

How does your city and vehicle stack up? Are you at a higher risk of vehicle theft? This gives some clarity on why your ZIP code can increase your insurance rates.

How many road fatalities occur in Montana?

The sad fact is that people die in auto accidents every day.

What is the most fatal highway in Montana?

What are the conditions that lead to these deaths?

Where do most of these deaths occur?

NHTSA keeps track of those answers and more. We will answer those questions for you below.

Most Fatal Highway in Montana

US Highway 2 is the most dangerous highway in the state. Part of the reason that the fatality rate is so high is location. It takes an average of 80 minutes to be reached by emergency responders if you have an accident on US Highway 2.

Fatal Crashes by Weather Condition and Light Condition

Accidents can happen no matter the weather or light conditions. This table will show you what those conditions were when fatal accidents happened in 2017.

Montana Fatal Crashes Related to Weather Conditions

As you can see, most of the accidents happened under normal weather conditions in the daylight. That data shows that for 2017, the fatal crashes in Montana were caused by factors other than weather or light conditions.

Fatalities (All Crashes) by County

Where you live or travel can affect your chances of being in a fatal crash.

Check out this table detailing the counties in Montana and the fatal crashes that happened from 2014-2018.

Do you live or travel in any of these high fatality counties?

Montana Fatal Car Crashes by County

Yellowstone and Missoula counties had the highest number of fatalities. Yellowstone is the most densely populated county in Montana so it makes sense that most traffic fatalities would be there also.

Several counties reported no fatalities during that timeframe. Fallon, Golden Valley, and Wibaux counties all had no reported fatalities.

Traffic Fatalities

Accident fatalities are more likely to occur on rural roads versus urban roads. NHTSA compiled data from 2009 – 2018. Their findings are below.

Montana Rural vs Urban Car Crash Fatalities

In the 10 years that are represented, rural areas had 1,843 fatal crashes, while urban areas only had 182. One factor is the amount of time it takes for someone to receive medical care.

Fatalities by Person Type

This table will show what type of vehicle the person was in for fatal crashes from 2014 – 2018 and if they were an occupant.

Montana Car Crash Fatalities by Person Type

You can see that most people killed in an auto accident were in passenger cars. Light pickup trucks were very close to cars in the percentage of deaths. Nonoccupants such as bicyclists and pedestrians account for very few of the fatalities.

Fatalities by Crash Type

Fatalities can be broken down by crash type. Factors like how many cars involved, speeding, rollover, road departure, and intersections are all taken into account by NHTSA when compiling data.

Montana Fatalities by Car Crash Type Data

Most of the crashes were single vehicle and involved a roadway departure or rollover. These types of accidents can especially be deadly if people are not wearing their seatbelts.

Five-Year Trend For The Top 10 Counties

This table breaks down the top 10 counties for fatalities from 2014 – 2018.

Montana Car Crash Fatalities by County

The top 10 counties had more fatalities in that time period than the rest of the counties combined.

Yellowstone County had the most fatalities in that timeframe. Fergus County had the fewest in the top 10.

Fatalities Involving Speeding by County

Speeding can be a major factor in fatalities. This table breaks down how many fatalities involved speeding in each county. Search for your county to see how many speeding fatalities were recorded.

Montana Speeding Fatalities By County

Yellowstone and Flathead counties had the most speeding fatalities in the state for the five-year period.

Eight counties reported no fatalities involving speeding. Those counties are Carter, Daniels, Fallon, Golden Valley, Granite, Petroleum, Pondera, and Wibaux.

Fatalities in Crashes Involving an Alcohol-Impaired Driver by County

Sadly in this day and age, some people still continue to drink and drive.  This table will break down fatal crashes where alcohol was a factor.

Montana Car Crash Fatalities involving Alcohol by County

Yellowstone and Big Horn counties had the most fatal crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver from 2014-2018.

Eight counties also reported no alcohol-related traffic fatalities.

Teen Drinking and Driving

Just as with adults, teenage drinking and driving is a serious problem. According to data from 2016, Montana ranks fifth in the nation for DUIs under 18 years old, and eighth in the nation for DUIs for those 18-21 years old.

Montana Teen DUI Arrests

Over 4,000 people under the age of 21 were arrested for DUI in one year. That number is very worrisome.

EMS Response Time

EMS response time can literally be the difference between life and death. In a state as large as Montana, the response times can vary wildly depending on where you are. Let’s look at the difference between rural and urban average response times in 2017.

Montana EMS Response Times Rural vs Urban

Rural and urban areas differ greatly in the time it takes to get someone to the hospital after a crash. On average, people get transported to the hospital 25 minutes faster than in urban areas. Perhaps that is why the number of fatalities is so much lower in urban areas.

What is transportation like in Montana?

DataUSA has compiled information about how people in Montana get around. Let’s dive into car ownership, commute times, and other transportation.

Car Ownership

In 2018, there were over 806,000 licensed drivers in Montana. With a state population of 1.062 million, that means that about 75 percent of the population is a licensed driver.

Most households in Montana own two cars. That is similar to the national average of 1.88 per household.

Commute Time

Montana workers have an average commute time of 17.2 minutes, much lower than the national average of 25.7 minutes.

A small portion of Montanans has what is considered a “super commute” of more than 90 minutes.

Commuter Transportation

An overwhelming amount of workers in Montana drive alone. Seventy-five percent of you like your alone time on your drive to work.

Only 9.45 percent prefer to carpool and 7.3 percent work from home.

The rest of the workers walked, bicycled, took public transit, or called a taxi or rideshare.

Traffic Congestion in Montana

Since the average commute time is under 20 minutes, Montana does not have traffic data in Inrix, TomTom, or Numbeo. It’s safe to say that traffic congestion is at a minimum in Montana.

Conclusion

Now that we’ve worked our way through this guide to all things Montana car insurance, you’ve got the confidence you need to get the best car insurance policy for you. Will you choose liability only coverage or is full coverage the best for you?

Just enter your ZIP code to get quotes that work for you. Don’t forget to ask about all of the discounts too.