The Best Auto Insurance in Montana of 2024

Along with Nationwide, USAA offers some of the lowest rates in Montana among our top providers. It has a reputation for excellence in customer service and claims satisfaction too. That’s why we recognize it as the best auto insurance for military members and veterans.

Savings for Safe Drivers

USAA offers safe driving discounts through its telematics program, SafePilot. Drivers receive a 10 percent discount, just for enrolling and can earn up to 30 percent off their premiums for their safe driving habits.

Similar to other telematics programs, the SafePilot app tracks your driving habits automatically and logs your trips. USAA uses this date to evaluate your driving behavior and adjust your insurance rate at each policy renewal. Your driving score with SafePilot resets with each renewal.

In addition, you can see savings if you maintain a good driving record for more than five years. Completing an approved basic driver training or defensive driving course can also earn you a discount.

Strong Customer Satisfaction

USAA ranks highly on customer satisfaction ratings from third-party companies. While it technically doesn’t qualify to rank on J.D. Power studies due to its limited availability, USAA consistently scores higher than any other company in the Northwest region with an average customer satisfaction rating of 743. The next-highest-rated provider in the Northwest, among our top picks, was State Farm, with a rating of 656.

On financial strength, AM Best gave USAA an A++ rating,² which means the company has superior creditworthiness and can reliably pay out claims. In 2024, Standard & Poor’s (S&P) affirmed USAA’s AA+ rating, the second-highest rating available.³ This score shows S&P views USAA with high confidence and that the company will be able to repay its debts with a low default risk.

USAA has a lower customer satisfaction rating from The Better Business Bureau (BBB), 1.16 out of 5 stars.⁴ Many of the complaints refer to other services USAA provides, such as homeowners insurance and credit cards. The auto insurance-related complaints centered on delayed processing of claims. That said, most insurance companies have low BBB scores, so while worth considering, it’s important to note that these scores don’t always fully capture the overall quality or reliability of the company.

International Insurance

For members of the military, having access to insurance when stationed or deployed overseas is extremely important. USAA offers insurance policies designed to make deployment or international moves as seamless as possible, such as liability coverage, vehicle storage and personal injury coverage.

The company provides car insurance all across the U.S. and U.S. territories, including Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as the following international locations:

• Azores
• Belgium
• Cuba
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Italy
• Netherlands
• Portugal
• South Korea
• Spain
• United Kingdom

Additionally, you can save up to 60 percent on comprehensive coverage if you’re storing your car due to deployment or any other reason.

Like most states, Montana allows insurance companies to consider credit scores when determining rates.⁵ If your credit history has some dings, Nationwide offers competitive rates for drivers with poor credit. You can talk to local Nationwide agents throughout the state to customize your auto insurance as well as utilize its website and mobile app to buy coverage, file claims and make payments.

Poor Credit

Along with USAA, Nationwide has the lowest rates for drivers with poor credit among our top picks in Montana.

Like other insurance companies, Nationwide applies a credit-based insurance score when determining premium costs for Montana drivers. By considering credit score, insurance companies can predict insurance losses better. Nationwide looks at the following factors when determining the credit portion of your insurance score:

• Length of credit history
• Payment history, which includes delinquencies or late payments
• What kinds of credit, such as loans or credit cards

The insurer also allows customers to apply for a reconsideration of their premium if their credit takes a hit because of an extraordinary life circumstance. Nationwide defines that as:

• Any federal or state government-declared catastrophic event
• Death of a spouse, parent or child
• Divorce or dissolution of marriage
• Overseas military deployment
• Serious injury or illness to you or an immediate family member
• Temporary loss of employment due to involuntary unemployment that lasts three or more months
• Total or other loss that makes your home uninhabitable

According to Experian, there are ways you can improve your credit score.⁶ Here’s what you can do:

• Maintain low balances on your credit cards.
• Open accounts for cards that report to the credit bureaus.
• Pay your bills on time.
• Limit how often you apply for new accounts.

Once your credit score is in the good range again, you should see your car insurance premium decrease.

Local Agents

Nationwide has more than 100 local agents in Montana who can help you shop for a policy and determine what coverages you need. The company has agents on the ground in nearly 40 cities around the state. Here are the cities Nationwide has at least one agent in:

• Anaconda
• Baker
• Belgrade
• Bigfork
• Billings
• Bozeman
• Butte
• Choteau
• Columbus
• Conrad
• Cut Bank
• Deer Lodge
• Dillon
• Ennis
• Fort Benton
• Glasgow
• Glendive
• Great Falls
• Hamilton
• Harlem
• Havre
• Helena
• Hobson
• Joplin
• Kalispell
• Lewistown
• Livingston
• Malta
• Miles City
• Missoula
• Plentywood
• Polson
• Ronan
• Roundup
• Scobey
• Sidney
• Superior
• Three Forks
• Whitefish

Loyalty Rewards Program

Nationwide runs a loyalty reward program designed to give customers extra benefits, such as car key replacement, minor-accident forgiveness and pet injury coverage, at no additional cost to them:

• Auto shopping service: Nationwide helps you save on new cars, plus shows you dealer-guaranteed sticker costs on used cars prior to your visit to the showroom.
• Car key replacement: You must have comprehensive insurance to take advantage of Nationwide’s car key replacement benefit. This benefit will pay up to $400 if your key is lost.
• Fender-bender forgiveness: This coverage helps you avoid a rate bump if you have a minor accident, provided you file a property damage or collision claim payout amount under the accident threshold, even if the accident was your fault. You would still need to meet your deductible and could use this feature numerous times.
• Guaranteed repairs for life: If you choose a repair shop in Nationwide’s auto shop network, your car repairs are guaranteed for the lifetime of your vehicle.
• Pet protection: With this coverage, you could be reimbursed up to $1,000 for the injury or loss of your or a family member’s cat or dog. Pet protection applies to reasonable and necessary vet medications and expenses. If your pet dies in a covered car accident, Nationwide would pay for the cost of replacing your pet with a similar cat or dog. No deductible will apply to this coverage.
• Waived auto and home deductible: If a covered loss affects your house and car, your deductible will be waived or you’ll receive reimbursement for your lowest deductible.

State Farm is a trusted provider of auto insurance in Montana, offering a personalized experience through its extensive network of local agents. These agents can guide you through a variety of discounts to help you lower your premium. State Farm rewards safe drivers, students and those who bundle multiple policies. Programs like Drive Safe and Save and Steer Clear help drivers reduce premiums through safe driving habits and educational courses. This makes State Farm a top choice for many Montana residents.

Benefits for Safe Drivers

If you’re a safe driver in Montana, there are several State Farm discounts you can take advantage of to lower your insurance rates:

• State Farm’s Accident-Free discount rewards customers who maintain at least three continuous years without a chargeable accident. This discount can increase over time if you continue to stay accident-free.
• State Farm also offers a Defensive Driving Course discount for principal drivers over the age of 55 or members of the Montana National Guard, who have completed a Highway Traffic Safety Program within the last two years. A certificate must be presented to show successful competition of the course.
• The Drive Safe and Save program is a usage-based telematics discount program that rewards you with an initial discount just for signing up. State Farm states you can save up to 30 percent based on your driving habits. (Note: Our research indicates that achieving this maximum discount can be challenging, even for good drivers, as it may involve keeping your mileage low).
• Young drivers under 25 can benefit from enrolling in the Steer Clear Safe Drivers Program. This program includes video content on safe driving behaviors, interactive quizzes and trip monitoring to reinforce good driving habits. By participating, young drivers can improve their skills and potentially lower their insurance rates.

Work with a Local Agent

State Farm is a great option for drivers seeking a personalized experience when shopping for auto insurance. A local agent will help you create a personal price plan by considering factors like your car’s value, driving history and the amount you could reasonably afford to pay out of pocket after an accident. This tailored approach ensures that your insurance coverage meets your specific needs and budget. Personalization options include:

• Sign up for safe driver discounts.
• Take advantage of insurance discounts by bundling your auto insurance with renters or homeowners insurance.
• Drop coverages you don’t need.
• Increase your deductible.

State Farm has agents in the following Montana cities:

• Anaconda
• Belgrade
• Big Timber
• Bigfork
• Billings
• Bozeman
• Butte
• Chinook
• Colstrip
• Columbia Falls
• Columbus
• Conrad
• Cut Bank
• Deer Lodge

Second list with 14 cities:

• Dillon
• East Helena
• Forsyth
• Glasgow
• Glendive
• Great Falls
• Hamilton
• Hardin
• Havre
• Helena
• Kalispell
• Laurel
• Lewistown
• Libby

Third list with 13 cities:

• Livingston
• Manhattan
• Miles City
• Missoula
• Plains
• Plentywood
• Polson
• Red Lodge
• Shelby
• Sidney
• Stevensville
• Whitefish
• Whitehall

Many Discounts Available in Montana

State Farm offers the following discounts in Montana:

• Accident-Free Discount
• Defensive Driving Course Discount
• Drive Safe & Save Discount
• Good Driving Discount
• Good Student Discount
• Multiple Automobiles Discount
• Bundling Discount
• Passive Restraint Discount
• Steer Clear Safe Drivers Discount
• Student Away at School Discount
• Vehicle Safety Discount

In Montana, with its extensive network of rural roads, having dependable roadside assistance for a tow or a tire change is a necessity. AAA has been helping drivers with roadside assistance since 1902. The company now has a plethora of services for auto owners through its 32 motor clubs, including car insurance. Note that you must be a member of an AAA club to purchase car insurance. AAA sells insurance through regional clubs; AAA MountainWest and CSAA Insurance Group cover insurance for Montana.

In Montana, where 95 percent of the state’s more than 1,200 miles of interstate highways run through rural areas, reliable roadside assistance is essential. AAA excels in this area, offering roadside assistance as a standard feature in its baseline auto insurance.

AAA roadside assistance is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. With a basic AAA membership, you are entitled to four service calls per year. You can upgrade to a higher membership tier for more service calls, higher coverage limits for lodging and meals and additional services.

AAA roadside assistance covers the following services:

• Car battery testing, jump-starts and replacement
• Flat-tire changes
• Emergency fuel delivery
• Car lockout service
• Mechanical first aid
• Towing
• Winching
• Bicycle, RV and motorcycle services

Save with Multiple Discounts

AAA MountainWest offers a nearly 13 percent discount to policyholders who bundle their auto and home insurance. Though it’s not quite as high as State Farm and Allstate’s bundling discounts, you can also save with the following:

• 7.5 percent off when you insure multiple vehicles
• 5 percent off just for having an active AAA membership
• Like Allstate, AAA offers a discount for teen drivers who complete the teenSMART driver education program; up to a whopping 24 percent off
• Young drivers with an average GPA of at least 3.0 can also save with the good student discount, up to 14.5 percent⁸

Solid Claims Handling

AAA (CSAA Group) scored the highest among our top picks in Montana on CRASH Network’s Insurer Report Card. It received a B- in the Rocky Mountain Region with a score of 755, above the national average score of 657 (a C+).⁹ This report measures customer satisfaction by evaluating how effectively a company handles claims, its payment practices and feedback from collision repair shops on how easy the company is to work with. AAA’s favorable performance in these areas indicates strong customer service and efficient claims processing. AAA MountainWest and CSAA Group also hold A+ ratings from AM Best, indicating you can count on AAA to pay out claims.

Allstate provides ways for policyholders to bundle their renters or homeowners insurance with their car insurance to save on their premiums. So, regardless of whether you rent or own in Montana, you can save. If you purchase another policy, such as life insurance, you can save even more.

Bundling Options

Allstate gives policyholders up to a 25 percent discount when bundling car and home, renters, or condo insurance. If you add additional policies, you could save even more. Your local Allstate agent can help identify even more ways bundling could reduce your premium.

Here’s what else Allstate covers:

• Boat
• Business
• Classic car
• Condo
• Homeowners
• Identity protection
• Landlord
• Life
• Motorcycle
• Off-road vehicle
• Pet
• Phone protection
• Renters
• RV
• Special event
• Voluntary employee and supplemental

Teen Drivers

Insuring teenagers is usually more costly than older adults because young drivers’ lack of experience can lead to more accidents. When the student driver has a learner’s permit, they are covered by their parents’ policy as a member of the household. Once the driver has a license, then they would need to be listed as an operator on the policy.

Fortunately, Allstate offers a smart student discount for parents to save when adding a teen driver to their auto policy. To qualify, the young driver must be unmarried, under the age of 25, and:

• Attend school full-time and achieve a grade average of B- or above or a GPA of 2.7 or above
• Successfully finish the teenSMART driver education program

In addition, students under the age of 21 who attend school at least 100 miles from where their vehicle is garaged would qualify for a discount.

Allstate also recommends student drivers sign up for Drivewise to help parents coach their new driver. Drivewise provides personalized feedback on driving habits, which can translate into lower premiums for safe driving.

Extended Vehicle Care

One add-on feature Allstate provides its policyholders is extended vehicle care, which kicks in to protect you from the cost of repairs when the manufacturer’s warranty concludes. Manufacturer’s warranties generally cover your vehicle for three years and 36,000 miles, whichever you arrive at first. Allstate’s extended car warranty coverage would extend the warranty to seven years and 100,000 miles.

Allstate’s extended vehicle car provides:

• Mechanic choice: You get to pick the repair shop for the work. The coverage pays for the mechanic’s labor as well as rental car costs while your car is in the shop.
• Price transparency: You will receive fair and clear pricing. Plus, you can cancel anytime.
• Repair cost coverage: Allstate will foot the bill on 100 percent of parts and labor costs after a $50 deductible. This covers your engine as well as electrical repairs.
• Repair resolution for you: Once you’ve decided on a mechanic, Allstate will step in to work with the mechanic on the repairs.

The extended care coverage also includes alternative transportation, such as a rental car or rideshare trips, while your vehicle is being repaired. You’ll also receive roadside assistance 24/7 to tow your car or change a flat tire. In addition, you could get reimbursed up to $500 for meals and lodging if your travel plans are interrupted because of a covered claim while you’re away from home.