Cheap Car Insurance in Idaho

Whether you’re moving to the state or just trying to save money on auto insurance, it’s wise to know what your responsibilities are as a licensed driver in Idaho.

Auto insurance is in place to protect other people on the road, and that’s why most states have minimum liability requirements.

However, car insurance also protects you. At the right levels, it can shield your assets in the event of a lawsuit.

Car insurance will also help you cover your own financial losses if you should be involved in an accident.

It’s not enough to just get a license and keep your car registered. You’ll also need to carry a minimum level of insurance, and you may choose to go with a higher level in order to remain properly covered.

If you are searching for affordable quotes for auto insurance in Idaho, start comparison shopping by entering your ZIP code above!

Idaho’s Insurance Laws

Drivers in Idaho are legally required to purchase liability insurance.

Auto insurance requirements include:

• $15,000 for property damage
• $25,000 for personal injuries to a single person in a single accident
• $50,000 for personal injuries to multiple people in a single accident

Idaho is a tort state, so drivers involved in an accident have the right to file a lawsuit, file a claim with the other company, or seek compensation from their own company.

When registering a vehicle, drivers are required to sign a statement that their car is insured before receiving plates or tags.

Drivers must also have the proof of insurance with them when behind the wheel. The state does accept electronic proof of insurance for drivers who want to pull up the insurance card on their smartphone.

An SR-22 certificate may be required by drivers who are trying to reinstate driving privileges after their license has been suspended.

Not every driver on the road has adequate insurance, but you can protect your financial interests by signing up for uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.

— How to Save on Auto Insurance

Auto insurance can be pricey, and one way to bring it down is by going with the state minimum requirements. However, this may not be enough to protect you financially in the event that you cause an accident.

For example, it’s very easy to cause $25,000 in property damage if you hit someone in a brand new car. Your insurance will only pay out up to your maximum levels, and you’ll be personally responsible for the difference.

Before you start shopping around for better coverage, make sure that you know what level of protection you require.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• If you have good health insurance, then you really won’t need more than the minimum for personal injury protection since your health plan will cover you
• Invest in underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage in case someone with state minimums hits you
• Go with collision and comprehensive if you have a newer car that would be expensive to repair after an accident
• Remember that your levels for bodily injury should be enough to shield your assets in the event of a lawsuit and consider increasing them.

Factors That Affect Cost

You may be worried about the cost of insurance with the extra coverages, but there are ways to bring the bill down again. Premiums are driven by several different factors.

There are some that you cannot control, including:

• Age
• Gender

However, you can control other factors, such as:

• The size of your deductible – Your premiums will go down as the deductible rises
• Driving history – Maintain a clean record to take advantage of discounts
• Credit score – Clean up your credit to show that you’re responsible and pose a lower risk
• Type of car you drive – Historically, sports cars and luxury vehicles are more expensive to insure
• Location – Before deciding to move to a new zip code, call your agent to see if that will cause your rates to change

Check Financial Ratings Before Pricing Policies

The old adage about getting what you pay for is typically true when it comes to insurance. If you go with a discounted plan that seems too good to be true, it probably is a scam or a general waste of money.

You can check with Idaho to be sure they’re licensed, but you should also look at the financial stability ratings from A.M. Best or Moody’s.

With a little research, you can find out how:

• Strong a company is financially
• Existing and past customers rate them
• Good they are about paying claims

When you make the time to look at a company more closely, you can avoid some serious problems.

Sound companies pay claims in a timely manner, and they will try to keep their customers happy by providing great service. You may find that it’s well worth a slightly higher premium for the peace of mind that a better company can bring you.

Discounts on Car Insurance

When you’re shopping around, you can also ask for different discounts on your insurance policy. Companies generally want to reward good, low-risk drivers and they also like to reward loyalty.

Before choosing a new provider, ask about discounts for:

• Experienced drivers
• Good students
• Good drivers with clean records
• Multi-line policies
• Multi-vehicle policies
• Successfully completing driver training courses

Shopping Around and Comparing Policies

Car insurance premiums can vary drastically from one company to another. You don’t want to spend all your free time struggling through Internet searches and making phone calls, but it’s still important to shop around for the best rates.

The easiest way to shop around is to use a comparison site.

All you have to do is enter a little basic information to receive quotes from a range of companies.

Comparing different policies can feel overwhelming because it’s not as simple as just looking at the final price. You want to get the right coverage at a fair price, but you also need a company that will take care of you and treat you right.

Here are some tips to help you take the guesswork out of comparisons:

• Look at the coverage levels to determine if they’re the same
• Ask if you’ve received all applicable discounts before ruling out a company based on price
• Ask if the policy comes with any special perks like vanishing deductible or other features
• Review the information to see if there are any little extras like glass coverage or rental car insurance
• Look at the company’s ratings to be sure that it’s financially sound

What Do You Do Once You’ve Decided on a Company

Contact the company or go through a licensed agent to submit your application. You’ll need to provide them with information about your current insurer, desired coverage levels, driver’s license information, and VINs on the cars you’ll be insuring.

It may take a few days to get the new policy issued and in full effect. Once you receive the proof of insurance, you can call your old company to let them know that you’ve switched.

In addition to notifying them by phone, you should also send a letter informing them of a cancellation.

Shopping around can help you find lower insurance rates, but you want to be properly covered. Rather than relying on state minimums, consider your own needs and look at better protection levels.

You can find a plan that will suit your budget while also safeguarding your assets and providing you with the peace of mind that you deserve.

Start looking today and comparison shop for the best rates! Enter your ZIP code below to get started!