Montana Auto Insurance
Montana is not heavily populated but it has beautiful grassy plains, meadows, and rugged mountain areas. Nevertheless, being so close to the Canadian border, Montana can have some very harsh winters and therefore the need for sufficient auto insurance is of utmost importance. The average cost of Montana auto insurance in 2007 was $1704.00 which represented a decrease of 3.8% ($1769.00) down from 2006. On average Montana residents paid almost $200.00 less in that year for Montana auto insurance than the national average. Of course, these figures represent the average and each individual driver will pay according to his/her credit history, make of car, and other factors.
Montana Auto Insurance Requirements
The State of Montana does not have many regulations concerning bodily injury and property damage or other types of auto insurance. In this wide-open countryside state, Montana auto insurance coverage is set at the minimum of a 25/50/10 ratio for each vehicle owned.
- Bodily Injury Liability – The insured’s Montana auto insurance company will pay up to $25,000 which is the basic coverage required for at fault drivers.
- A total of $50,000 will be paid out to more than one injured person in the other car.
- Property Damage Liability – In the event that the insured is deemed at fault, the insurance company will pay out up to $10,000 for damages sustained by the other driver’s vehicle, and for damages to public and private property such as street signs, fences, traffic signs, and guardrails.
Of course these are basic amounts and Montana recommends that its insured carry higher amounts of insurance protection to offset the sometimes-outrageous medical expenses and property damages incurred in an accident.
Montana also recommends that its drivers carry Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist protection to cover themselves from out of pocket expenses in the event that the driver at fault does not have any insurance or insufficient auto insurance to cover the damages sustained on the victim’s vehicle. UM insurance coverage also protects against damage caused by hit and run drivers.
The State of Montana, though not requiring its drivers to carry it, recommends that it is just as important for Montana drivers to carry Comprehensive and Collision insurance. This multiple purpose insurance coverage will pay for coverage when the at fault driver lacks the proper amount of insurance to pay for the damage to the Comprehensive and Collision carriers car. It will also cover damage to the insured’s car should the insured be found to have caused the accident, and it will also protect the insured’s car against natural events such as powerful storms and damage from contact with wildlife.
