Bozeman Insurance Basics
Buying Bozeman insurance is easier than skiing Sunnyside at Bridger. All you need are a few basics to help you in your search. For example, suppose you’re shopping for Bozeman insurance quotes for a car you’re buying. The Big Sky State requires the following minimum Montana car insurance coverage:
- $25,000 bodily injury coverage for one person
- $50,000 for coverage of bodily injury for 2 or more people
- $10,000 property damage coverage
This means if you’re at fault in an accident, you’ve got minimum protection for yourself and others. Now if you own a newer car, your lien holder will probably require comprehensive and collision coverage. Comprehensive covers things like theft, vandalism, flood and animals–not a bad thing to have in the wilds of Montana. Collision pays for repairs–less your deductable–when you hit or are hit by another car or object.
Sample Bozeman Insurance Quotes
Ok, so now you’re asking what this insurance is going to cost. Glad you asked. The Montana Commissioner of Insurance and Securities performed a survey in early 2010, asking 16 of the state’s largest insurers to provide quotes based on a handful of scenarios.
The scenarios assume you’ve been driving for three years, that you’ll be driving a standard performance car, and that you’re a new and not renewing customer.
Scenario #1:
A 19-year-old driving a 2007 Ford Taurus (I know a teen-ager wouldn’t be caught dead in this car but play along anyway). You drive 8 miles to and from work, 5 days a week and average 10,000 miles a year with the following coverage in thousands: 25/50/10 Liability; 25/50 Uninsured Motorist.
Driver A (no accidents or driving citations) 6-month average premium: $452
Driver B (one at-fault accident two years ago; insurer paid $10,000 to settle, one minor speeding ticket six months ago.) 6-month average premium: $603
Scenario #2:
A 27-year-old driving a 2009 Chrysler Sebring Sedan, 40 miles round-trip to work, 5 days a week, averaging 15,000 miles yearly with the following: 25/50/10 Liability; 25/50 Uninsured Motorist.
Driver A (no accidents or driving citations) 6-month average premium: $200
Driver B (one major speeding ticket one year ago) 6-month average premium: $237
Scenario #3
A farming couple (48 & 50) and their three children (14, 15, 17). The 48-year-old drives a 2007 Xterra 4WD, 50 miles, 5 days a week for a yearly average of 28, 000 miles. The 50-year-old drives a 2006 GMC Sierra 4WD pickup for farm use only totaling 15,000 miles yearly. The 14 and 15-year-old drive 1989 Ford F350 4WD for farm use only totaling 6,000 miles yearly. The 17-year-old drives a 2005 Ford F250 2WD to and from school 40 miles, 5 days a week totaling 12,000 miles yearly. All three kids get good student discounts. All are covered by 25/50/10 Liability; 25/50 Uninsured Motorist.
Driver A (none of the drivers have accidents or citations) 6-month average premium: $1,216
Driver B (50-year-old had at-fault accident two years ago–insurer settled for $20,000) 6-month average premium: $1,390
Now What?–Reading Between the Lines
Phew…that was a lot! These sample average Bozeman insurance quotes will give you a good idea of pricing in the Bozeman insurance market. But there is one important factor hidden in the averages–the sometimes large difference in pricing from one insurer to the next.
For example, in Scenario #3, State Farm Mutual’s premium was $713 while at the top end; Progressive Direct was $2,452, a huge difference! That’s why it’s important to shop for your Bozeman insurance quotes with a company like NetQuote. You’ll get price comparisons from the widest possible selection of Montana insurance companies, all competing for your business. Now what are you waiting for? Let’s get to it!
