Cheap Auto Insurance in Billings, MT
Are you in need of cheap auto insurance in Billings, MT? At CheapCarInsuranceinc.com, you will discover the most affordable insurance policy in your city. To find best rates available from the major providers now, enter your postal code into the quote box here.
Billings is the largest city in Montana and the only metropolitan area with a population in the six figures. And the population is only growing; in the most recent US census, the suburb of Lockwood expanded by nearly 60% in a decade. It is sometimes referred to as “The Magic City”.
- Fun fact: that was quick! Billings is #30 on the list of “Top 100 cities with shortest commuting times (pop. 50,000+)”.
Coverage Requirements - Auto Insurance in Billings Montana
Driving legally in Billings requires:
| Coverage | Requirements | Most Common |
| Liability Bodily Injury | 30,000/55,000 | 100,000/300,000 |
| Liability Property Damage | 10,000 | 50,000 |
| Bodily Injury - Motorist Uninsured | Not required | 30,000/55,000 |
| Medical Payments | Not required | 5,000 |
| Collision | Not required | 500 deductible |
| Comprehensive | Not required | 250 deductible |
Montana drivers have some of the lowest state requirements for Automobile insurance in the country. But that doesn’t mean your coverage should take a backseat. Liability only pays out claims if you were the one who caused the accident or the damage. In every other scenario, you may be financially liable.
Despite having such low minimum state requirements, the average monthly cost for vehicle premiums in Montana can be as high as $168 or more. Luckily, living in Billings can get you some pretty significant discounts – you could be driving legally for $32/mo or less!
Cal Casualty, Nationwide, and the National Farmers Union are offering attractively low rates in Billings right now. But make sure all other aspects of the company are just as attractive as their premiums. Otherwise, you might get stuck with poor customer service, or have to fight a small battle just to file a claim.
Montana car insurance providers evaluate multiple variables when calculating insurance prices, especially gender, driving violations, credit score/rating, education, and multiple cars and drivers. Furthermore, premiums may vary from business to business. To make sure you’re still forking out the best fee, check insurance premiums via the internet.
Most Car Insurance Facts to know in Billings MT
At the time your auto insurance company prepares to build your insurance plan, they take a lot of parameters into account. Many of these, for instance your real age or perhaps your exact location, are usually unfeasible to vary. A few other elements are:
- Your Zip Code
In many cases, the least expensive car insurance is usually found in cities having a lower population density. Because there are less vehicles traveling the road, there are fewer possibilities to get into a significant car accident with another motorist. The population of Billings is 109,059 and also the usual family earnings are $49,247.
- Automobile Accidents
Deadly accident statistics are generally what would be considered in the “low” category. However, Billings does have over 100,000 residents, which means that those numbers could go up at any time. This may or may not be having a negative effect on your monthly premiums. Contact your insurance agent today for more information.
- Car Thieving in Billings
Finding cheap auto insurance can be tough if you are at risk for auto theft. multiple common automobile models usually are popular with thieves, in addition to motor vehicles which might be parked typically in big cities. The total amount of stolen cars in Billings shot up to 541 during 2013. Not only are those numbers on the rise, but per capita theft rates are also high. To protect yourself from vehicle theft, make sure you have Comprehensive coverage on your policy.
- Your Credit Score
Take a look at the chart below. Drivers with a poor credit score are forking out at least twice as much as drivers with perfect credit. This might not be a budget-breaker for some companies, but it can push your premiums into the triple digits with other providers.
- Your Age
Regrettably, teenage drivers are going to be charged immensely higher rates, no matter what. Good Student or Driver’s Ed discounts can help some, and certain providers are more forgiving than others (see below). Some, like National Farmers Union, won’t accept the risk of insuring a teenage driver at all.
- Your Driving Record
No matter who insures you in Montana, it seems as though most are forgiving enough to ensure high-risk drivers – motorists with significant violations on their record – albeit for a higher monthly premium. But if your record only contains minor blemishes, ask if your provider offers any Accident Forgiveness discounts.
- Your Vehicle
The expense associated with insuring a luxury vehicle has more to do with the amount of insurance you buy, rather than the vehicle itself. After all, you’re not going to cover a Ferrari or a Porsche with state minimum Liability coverage. You’re going to purchase many different coverage options, and in sufficiently high amounts to cover the cost of your vehicle.
Minor Car Insurance elements in Billings
Don’t overlook these other important elements, though:
- Your Marital Status
It’s easy to get vehicle insurance discounts if you know how and what policies you can bundle. And it’s even easier to take advantage of those savings if you’re married! Married couples can not only bundle their auto policies together, but also things like renters or homeowners insurance, too.
- Your Gender
Insurance providers, for the most part, base their monthly premiums on cold, hard data. And in recent years, that data states that there is no significant risk from one gender to another. This explains why many providers are starting to phase out this particular metric when calculating premiums.
- Your Driving Distance to Work
It won’t take long to commute to and from work in Billings with average commute times ranging anywhere from 12-21 minutes. The vast majority of residents prefer to use their own car in order to get around (82%), while an additional 8-10% would rather carpool.
Almost every insurance agent asks about yearly miles driven, as well as your purpose on the road. But no matter how you answer these questions, it rarely amounts to more than a 3-5% change in monthly premiums. But if you’re insuring a vehicle for business, expect to pay at least 10% more on average.
- Your Coverage and Deductibles
As discussed earlier, Comprehensive coverage is necessary to protect yourself from Billings’ notoriously high rates of auto theft – but it can also be costly. One way to lower your monthly expense is to increase your deductible. Just make sure you have a little extra cash stashed away in case you ever do need to file that claim.
- Education in Billings, MT
A good number of citizens in Billings (29%) have completed their high school education. In addition, another fifth of the population (20%) has gone on to earn a bachelor’s. These well-educated individuals have more to look forward to than a better job or a higher salary; they will also be enjoying lower prices on their auto insurance premiums, because providers often give discounts for having a higher education.
Billings is home to two state schools which offer associates degrees, bachelor’s degrees, and higher: the MSU Billings College of Technology and Montana State University. There are also private institutions, such as the Rocky Mountain College or Yellowstone Baptist College.
Finding inexpensive auto insurance might end up being a hassle. There’s lots of important information to consider, and determining just how insurance providers examine your possible risk may be complex. But don’t permit the wrong insurance provider to convince you to purchase an insufficient policy.
How We Conducted Our Car Insurance Analysis
Sources:
Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance
Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
You could assess YOUR car insurance risks by simply typing in your Zip Code into the calculator below.