What is the Average Cost of Car Insurance in Boise?
Boise, the capital of Idaho and its largest city, boasts a population of approximately 230,000 within its 64 square miles. It is also the seat of Ada County. This Pacific Northwest city has relatively mild winters and hot, dry summers.
Industries with the largest number of employees include:
- Agriculture
- Electronics
- Government
- Healthcare
- Lumber
- Trucking
The city serves as headquarters for major companies such as Albertson’s, Idaho Timber, Idaho Pacific Lumber Company, Boise Cascade LLC, and WinCo Foods. High tech employers have flocked to Boise, and the city has grown rapidly in recent years. The city is also home to more than 20 call centers and Boise’s public schools rank high nationally.
The city offers many recreational opportunities, including hiking and biking in Boise’s considerable trail network. Boise is renowned for its city parks and specimen trees. The Boise National Forest, a primarily coniferous forest with the remains of old mining towns scattered within is nearby. In winter, visitors flock to the area to take advantage of sports such as skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing.
In 2018, the Boise metropolitan area ranked #274 nationwide in the number of vehicle thefts. The average travel time for commuters here is 18.4 minutes, significantly lower than the national average of 27 minutes. These factors are just a couple of those that insurance companies will use to decide how much your annual premium will be. The further you are likely to drive, the higher the risk of getting in an accident. The more thefts that take place in an area, the more likely that one of their insured customers will have their car stolen. Luckily, these two factors specifically are quite low in this area.
What are the Insurance Requirements in Boise?
Idaho motorists must purchase a minimum of $25,000 in bodily injury liability insurance for one person in any one accident and $50,000 in bodily injury liability insurance for two or more people in any one accident. This insurance pays for medical expenses and lost wages up to the coverage limit of parties injured by an at-fault driver. Motorists must also carry at least $15,000 in property damage coverage.
While uninsured motorist coverage is not mandatory in Idaho, it’s highly recommended. If the driver decides to reject the purchase of uninsured motorist coverage, they must do so in writing.
You’ll definitely want to consider purchasing more than the required minimum. In a serious accident, these minimums will not go far toward paying the medical expenses of the injured party if you were at fault. Your personal assets are at risk if the injured party files a personal injury lawsuit against you.
Most Expensive and Least Expensive Insurance Rates by Zip Code
Cheap Car Insurance in Boise by Insurer
Keep in mind that the least expensive policy is not necessarily the best insurance policy for your needs. By its nature, you’ll only find out how easy or difficult the claims process is after you have an accident. That’s why checking the company’s customer service ratings is a necessity when choosing cheap car insurance.
Use this guide to compare auto insurance quotes from the best companies.
Low Cost Auto Insurance for Bad Credit in Boise
In Boise, the average annual car insurance premium is $955, far below the national average of $1,679. Idaho does permit insurance companies to charge more for drivers with bad credit. The motorist with poor credit may pay between $1,099 and $2,503 in annual premiums, depending on the insurance company. Not every insurer will cover a driver with bad credit.
This guide here can help you find the lowest cost car insurance companies near you.
Difference Between Liability and Full Coverage
What is Liability Only Coverage?
Liability-only coverage means coverage that only pays for the loss others incur if you are at fault in an automobile accident. These are for the medical expenses, other property damage or car repairs that you cause to another or their property in an accident.
One has the option of paying for more than the state minimum requirements outlined above for liability insurance. That is a good idea because you will be personally liable from your own finances and assets if you harm someone else or their property in an accident and your state minimum coverage levels do not fully reimburse the losses of the other party.
What is Full Coverage Car Insurance?
Full coverage means that you not only have adequate insurance to cover the losses of others if you are at fault in an accident. Full coverage means you have all the liability coverage you need to care for the harm to others if you have an accident and are at fault, and you have coverage for your own losses as well. There are two main kinds of other coverages that drivers purchase in order to repair their vehicles in the event of an accident they cause:
What is Collision Coverage?
Collision insurance covers the cost of repairing your own car if you are in an accident that is your fault. A way to save money on collision insurance is to purchase it with a higher deductible. For example, it will likely be very expensive to have collision coverage on your vehicle with a $500 deductible, but a $1,500 deductible or a $2,000 deductible will save considerable money on your automobile full coverage policy.
What is Comprehensive Coverage?
Comprehensive insurance covers the cost of repairing your vehicle for those things that were not your fault, like extreme weather that damaged your vehicle, or a deer that walked in front of you, theft, or vandalism. Comprehensive insurance tends to be much cheaper than collision. Even those with older vehicles may benefit from carrying comprehensive insurance because it is relatively cheap and will cover things like windshield replacement.
What is the Difference Between the Two Types of Car Insurance?
The chief distinction between full and liability coverage is that full coverage ensures that any damage done to your car can be covered by insurance. Liability insurance only protects you from claims when you are at-fault in an accident. You will still need to pay for any damage to your own car, you just won’t have to pay for damage you caused to another person’s car. Full coverage can cover damage to your car even if the other driver is not insured and cannot compensate you for damages.
Finally, all states require that you carry at least a liability insurance policy so that collision victims receive compensation in the event of an accident. At-fault drivers are likewise protected from claims resulting from an automobile accident.
Average Annual Car Insurance Rates in Idaho by City
Car Insurance Discounts to Lower Your Policy Rates
The following auto insurance discounts can be used to help lower your premiums in Boise:
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Raise your deductible
If you are willing to pay more money for a deductible, in the event of an accident, then you can lower your insurance rates substantially. You can lower your premium to around 10% just by raising your deductible to around $1,000.
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Drop Collision Coverage on Old Cars
Dropping collision coverage on older cars can really help save you a lot, especially for cars that are more than ten years old and only worth four or five thousand dollars. Think about it, if you have an accident while driving an older car, are you really going to pay to repair it or just buy a new car?
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Check Insurance Rates for Your Car’s Make and Model
The make and model of your car can make a big difference in how much you pay for auto insurance. Therefore, before purchasing a new car, be sure and check the insurance rates for it as some can be much higher than others.
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Shop Around to Check Rates from Numerous Insurance Companies
The chart in this article should be enough proof to know that there can be a big difference in what various insurance companies charge for auto insurance. That is why it is a good idea to check rates from a number of insurance companies before deciding which plan to choose.
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Drive Fewer Miles
One of the questions asked when applying for auto insurance rates, is how many miles you drive regularly. This is because the more miles you drive, the more risk you are to the insurance company and the higher your insurance cost will be. Try to drive fewer miles, if possible, to save more money on your premiums.
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Maintain a Good driving record
Being a safe driver can not only save your life, but it can also save you a lot of money, too. There is a big difference in how much people with accidents on their record have to pay, and what those without any accidents pay. Therefore, always drive safely.
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Live in a less populated area
Your location matters when it comes to auto insurance rates. If you live in a highly populated area, your rates will be higher than if you live in a lower-population area. The Jefferson and New Orleans areas have some of the highest rates in Louisiana, but if you live just 30 minutes outside of the city, you can expect your rates to go down.
To take advantage of all discounts on premiums, check out this guide.
Here are Some of the Typical Factors that Affect Your Boise, ID Car Insurance Premiums
There are quite a few factors included in determining your cost for auto insurance such as:
- Your location
- Age
- Number of violations you had in the past
- Gender
- Whether you are married or single
- Your credit score
- The plan you are seeking
- The deductible
- Daily miles you drive
- The make, model, and year of the vehicle to be insured
- Whether you live alone or with others
- Your occupation
If you have a bad driving record and need cheap insurance, compare rates here.
Check Out Car Insurance Companies in Boise and Reviews
Helpful Boise, Idaho Vehicle Resources:
Live Traffic and Accidents
https://www.viamichelin.com/web/Traffic/Traffic_info-Boise-_-Idaho-United_States
DMV (Find Locations, Vehicle Registration, Titles and Insurance Info)
https://itd.idaho.gov/itddmv/