How Much Does Car Insurance Cost on Average in Idaho?
- In Idaho you can expect to pay $49 a month or $590 a year for state minimum liability. Full coverage car insurance costs around $178 a month or $2,141 a year.
InsuranceQuotes cost rates are pulled from our real-time auto insurance database from recent quotes in Idaho – Rates are based on a used car driver who is single, middle aged & has a clean driving record. Read on to learn about the cheapest local rates filtered by insurance providers, new cars, vehicle types and age.
Cheapest Idaho Car Insurance Companies
- In Idaho the cheapest average car insurance companies are State Farm, Farm Bureau and Allstate. State minimum liability car insurance starts at $40 a month or $485 a year with State Farm. Full coverage policies starts at $136 a month or $1,627 a year.
Here is a breakdown of average costs from the cheapest local insurance providers in Idaho from our data set of used-car drivers who are single, middle aged and have a clean driving record.
| Insurance Provider | State Minimum | Monthly | Full Coverage | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Farm | $485 | $40 | $1,627 | $136 |
| Farm Bureau of Idaho | $497 | $41 | $2,059 | $172 |
| Allstate | $609 | $51 | $2,885 | $240 |
| Farmers Insurance | $734 | $61 | $2,533 | $211 |
Even though Idaho isn’t as densely populated as other states, drivers still need to contend with traffic in cities, and rugged mountain conditions. It’s important to protect yourself with auto insurance as a resident of Idaho. Insurance for your vehicle is mandatory in Idaho, as it is in most states.
Your auto insurance rates depend on a number of different factors. One major factor that affects how much you pay for insurance is age. Policies tend to have higher premiums when young drivers are covered and for those whose age are under 30 or over 75. These groups have more accidents than the average driver.
Driver age isn’t the only factor that affects your insurance rates. The kind of car you drive, how often you drive, and even where you drive affects how much you pay. Your driving record matters, too. If you have a history of unsafe driving, your rates will likely be higher.
Men tend to have higher rates, especially those that are young. Young men statistically have more accidents than other driver groups, which is why their rates tend to be higher.
Auto Insurance Costs by City
| Idaho City | State Minimum | SM Monthly | Full Coverage | FC Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boise City | $590 | $49 | $2,141 | $178 |
| Caldwell | $591 | $49 | $2,277 | $190 |
| Coeur d’Alene | $530 | $44 | $2,270 | $189 |
| Eagle | $618 | $52 | $2,209 | $184 |
| Idaho Falls | $599 | $50 | $2,434 | $203 |
| Lewiston | $528 | $44 | $2,471 | $206 |
| Meridian | $582 | $48 | $2,081 | $173 |
| Nampa | $627 | $52 | $2,283 | $190 |
| Pocatello | $564 | $47 | $2,393 | $199 |
| Post Falls | $517 | $43 | $2,194 | $183 |
| Rexburg | $548 | $46 | $2,446 | $204 |
| Twin Falls | $566 | $47 | $2,280 | $190 |
List of Idaho Cities:
How Credit Scores and DUIs Affect Idaho Car Insurance Rates
A DUI conviction raises Idaho car insurance rates by roughly 65%, adding about $137 per month to full coverage premiums — pushing the annual bill to around $2,423 — plus mandatory SR-22 filing for several years.
Credit history has an even bigger impact in Idaho. Drivers with poor credit pay around $316 per month for full coverage, compared to roughly $77 per month for drivers with good credit — a jump of more than 300% and nearly $2,900 a year. Raising your credit score before you shop is one of the fastest ways to cut your Idaho premium.
Average Cost for Car Insurance in Idaho by County
When you’re looking for the best auto insurance policy rates in Idaho it’s good to know what the costs are. We’ve provided a list below of the average costs of an auto insurance policy in ID below:
| Costs by County: | Sedan: | SUV: | Coupe: | Truck: | Hybrid: |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ada | $629 | $532 | $601 | $635 | $672 |
| Adams | $652 | $539 | $612 | $667 | $710 |
| Bannock | $669 | $549 | $621 | $690 | $737 |
| Bear Lake | $650 | $533 | $602 | $671 | $716 |
| Benewah | $713 | $588 | $665 | $733 | $781 |
| Bingham | $721 | $602 | $682 | $733 | $779 |
| Blaine | $720 | $592 | $672 | $640 | $788 |
| Boise | $652 | $539 | $612 | $667 | $710 |
| Bonner | $716 | $591 | $669 | $723 | $781 |
| Bonneville | $722 | $606 | $684 | $734 | $778 |
State Minimum Liability Car Insurance Requirements
The first thing you should know about Idaho auto insurance is how much you absolutely have to carry. Just like residents of other states, Idaho residents must carry liability insurance at all times, with the following minimums in place:
- $25,000 personal injury liability for one person.
- $50,000 total injury liability for everyone involved in an incident.
- $15,000 property liability.
Idaho is also big on uninsured motorist insurance. You don’t legally need it, but the company has to write it into your policy. Even if you don’t want the coverage, you have to decline in writing.
You can’t register a car in Idaho unless you sign a statement that you have insurance, and agree to maintain insurance on the car. If you drive without insurance, you risk license suspension.
Idaho is a tort state, not a no-fault state. This means that someone must be legally at fault for every accident. It’s a good idea to carry more insurance than you think you need just in case.
Moving to Idaho: Important Information
You have 90 days from when you move to Idaho to get an Idaho Driver’s license. The only exceptions are for members of the military and students from other states attending school in Idaho. Everyone else has to get an Idaho license. If you have a commercial license, you only have 30 days, not 90.
Idaho has a One License Law. This means you have to give up your out-of-state license when you get your Idaho license. You can, however, keep a foreign license unless you have a commercial license.
You get your Idaho license through the County Sheriff’s Office. All drivers must take a vision test, and some drivers may have to take a skills test. As a new resident, you also are required to provide proof of identity and legal presence.
Understanding Driving Laws in Idaho
You can talk on your cell phone while driving in Idaho, but you cannot text. This applies to all drivers, regardless of age.
According to Idaho statute 49-673, everyone must wear a seat belt unless they have a specific medical exemption, or the car does not have enough seat belts. If there are not enough seat belts, you cannot let someone under 18 ride without one. Children 6 and under must use approved safety restraints.
If you incur a DUI, the state suspends your license for at least 90 days. The BAC limit is 0.08 percent if you are over 21, 0.02 percent for those under 21. If you are under the influence of more than one substance, you can still be charged with a DUI even if your BAC is below 0.08. You don’t have to be over the limit if you mixed another intoxicant with alcohol.
Car insurance in Idaho averages approximately $33 per month for minimum coverage and $105 per month for full coverage in 2026, making Idaho the fourth most affordable state for car insurance. Idaho’s low rates reflect its rural character, low population density, and lower accident frequency compared to urban states. State Farm is the most affordable major carrier in Idaho at approximately $25 per month for minimum coverage. GEICO and Progressive are competitive national alternatives. Idaho’s 25/50/15 liability minimums are standard for a western state, though the $15,000 property damage minimum is below the national standard.
State Farm is consistently the most affordable car insurance option in Idaho for most standard driver profiles at approximately $25 per month for minimum coverage and $80 per month for full coverage. GEICO is competitive at $28 per month for minimum coverage. Progressive offers the best rates for Idaho drivers with violations or accidents. For military families and veterans at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Gowen Field, or the Idaho National Guard facilities, USAA is available and consistently prices below the state average. Idaho’s competitive carrier market makes comparison shopping impactful — the rate gap between cheapest and most expensive carriers can exceed $50 per month.
Idaho requires minimum liability coverage of 25/50/15 — $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury liability, plus $15,000 in property damage liability. Idaho is a tort state with no mandatory PIP requirement. Idaho does not mandate uninsured motorist coverage, though an estimated 9 to 11 percent of Idaho drivers carry no insurance. Idaho’s $15,000 property damage minimum is below what modern vehicles typically cost, making it worth upgrading to 25/50/25 or higher for meaningful protection. Idaho allows credit-based insurance scoring.
Yes — Idaho has significant wildlife collision risk, particularly on US-20, US-26, US-93, and highways through the Sawtooth, Boise, and Caribou National Forests. Deer, elk, and pronghorn antelope crossings are common throughout rural Idaho, and a single elk collision can cause $10,000 or more in vehicle damage. Wildlife strikes are comprehensive claims only. Idaho also experiences hailstorms in the Snake River Plain region, and severe winters generate ice and snow-related vehicle damage covered under comprehensive. Comprehensive typically adds only $15 to $25 per month in Idaho given the state’s low base rates.
Boise and Ada County carry Idaho’s highest car insurance rates due to the state’s greatest traffic density on I-84, I-184, and the US-20/26 Connector. Nampa and Caldwell in Canyon County run slightly below Boise. Rural Idaho — particularly Magic Valley, eastern Idaho along the Snake River Plain, and northern Idaho’s Panhandle — runs 20 to 35 percent below Boise for comparable full coverage. Twin Falls, Pocatello, Idaho Falls, and Coeur d’Alene all fall between the Boise metro and the cheapest rural areas. Idaho’s rural markets are among the most affordable for car insurance of any western state.
A DUI conviction raises Idaho car insurance rates by roughly 65%, adding about $137 per month to full coverage premiums — pushing the annual bill to around $2,423 — plus mandatory SR-22 filing for several years.
Significantly. Idaho drivers with poor credit pay around $316 per month for full coverage, compared to roughly $77 per month for drivers with good credit — a jump of more than 300% and nearly $2,900 a year.
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Michael Giusti is a senior insurance analyst, business journalist, and university professor with over 20 years of experience. He serves as department chair at Loyola University New Orleans and contributes to Insurance Thought Leadership, U.S. News, and other leading financial outlets.
