State guide
Car Insurance in Montana
Updated August 2026
Montana's minimum liability limits are 25/50/20 under MCA 61-6-103: $25,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $50,000 per accident, and $20,000 for property damage. That property damage figure is the detail worth pausing on — it's $5,000 lower than the $25,000 most neighboring states require, and it hasn't kept pace with what vehicles cost. A minimum-limits Montana policy that pays out after a collision with a newer pickup can run out well before the repair bill does.
Montana is an at-fault state with no PIP requirement: the driver who causes a crash pays for the other side's injuries and vehicle damage through liability coverage. Your own medical bills after a not-at-fault crash ride on the other driver's policy — or on optional coverages you add to your own.
| Coverage | Required minimum |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability (per person) | $25,000 |
| Bodily injury liability (per accident) | $50,000 |
| Property damage liability | $20,000 |
| PIP / medical | Not required (at-fault state) |
| No-fault state | No |
| SR-22 used | Yes |
Source: MCA §61-6-103; Montana Motor Vehicle Division
Average annual expenditure for auto insurance in Montana was $885 in 2022. (NAIC 2022 Auto Insurance Database Average Premium Supplement)
What the 25/50/20 minimum does and doesn't cover
The liability policy Montana requires pays other people, not you. It covers injuries you cause (up to $25,000 per person, $50,000 per crash) and damage to others' property (up to $20,000). It pays nothing toward your own vehicle or your own medical care — those need optional collision, comprehensive, and medical payments coverage.
Montana insurers also offer uninsured motorist coverage, which steps in when the at-fault driver carries no insurance. It isn't mandatory — you can decline it — but drivers weighing it should know it's often one of the less expensive lines on a quote, and the gap it fills is exactly the scenario the state minimums can't reach.
SR-22 filings in Montana
After certain suspensions and convictions, Montana's Motor Vehicle Division requires an SR-22 — a certificate your insurer files electronically to prove you carry at least the state-minimum coverage. The MVD doesn't accept paper forms from individuals; the filing has to come from the insurance company, and it typically must stay on file for three years.
The SR-22 form itself costs little. What moves the needle is how each carrier prices the violation underneath it — and carriers diverge sharply on the same record. Drivers under a filing requirement usually see the widest quote spreads of anyone, which makes comparing several carriers' rates worth the effort before committing.
Comparing quotes in Montana
Average annual expenditure for auto insurance in Montana was $885 in 2022, per the NAIC — below the countrywide average of $1,127 that year. Averages hide the spread, though: rates for the same driver vary by carrier, by rating territory, and by how much coverage above the 25/50/20 floor you select. Pulling quotes at both minimum limits and a higher tier (50/100/50 is a common step up) shows what the extra protection actually costs — often less than drivers expect.
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Frequently asked questions
What car insurance is required in Montana?+
Liability coverage of at least $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, and $20,000 property damage (25/50/20), per MCA 61-6-103. Montana does not require PIP or medical payments coverage.
Is Montana a no-fault state?+
No. Montana is an at-fault (tort) state — the driver who causes an accident is responsible for the other party's injuries and property damage, paid through their liability coverage.
Does Montana require an SR-22?+
Yes, after certain suspensions and convictions. Your insurer files the SR-22 electronically with the Montana Motor Vehicle Division — individuals can't submit paper forms — and the filing generally must be maintained for three years.
Is uninsured motorist coverage required in Montana?+
No, it's optional. Insurers offer it and drivers may decline it, but it's the coverage that pays for your injuries when an at-fault driver has no insurance — a gap the required liability minimums don't address.
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