Post Falls Car Insurance
Independent insurance agents are available to help you find the coverage you need at a great price.
Jeff Green has held a variety of sales and management roles at life insurance companies, Wall street firms, and distribution organizations over his 40-year career. He was previously Finra 7,24,66 registered and held life insurance licenses in multiple states. He is a graduate of Stony Brook University.
From multicar collisions on I-90 to fender-benders on E. Seltice Way, accidents can happen to anyone, especially in the winter when roadways in Post Falls can be slick with ice and sleet. That is why if you own a vehicle in the state of Idaho, you are required to carry car insurance.
Finding the best auto insurance policy is easy when you work with a local independent agent. These agents can provide you with a variety of customized car insurance quotes from competing providers. That way, you can be sure you are getting the coverage you want at a great price.
Find an insurance agent near you to get started.
How Much Does Car Insurance Cost in Post Falls, ID?
The average cost of car insurance in Idaho is well below the national rate. This is great news for Post Falls vehicle owners who are looking for an affordable auto insurance policy.
- National average annual car insurance cost: $1,311
- Idaho average annual car insurance cost: $877
Of course, an average can only give you a ballpark idea of what your actual costs may be. Rates can vary significantly from one driver to the next because they are based on several considerations, such as the following.
- The make, model, and year of the vehicle(s) you are insuring
- Your age, occupation, marital status, and driving record
- Information about other licensed drivers in your household
- The collision and auto theft rates in the vicinity of your home
- The amount of coverage you are purchasing
- Whether you are bundling your coverage with another policy like home insurance or renters insurance
When it comes to car insurance, experience matters. Therefore, you can expect that a senior at Post Falls High School will be more expensive to insure than a 40-year-old accountant with a long, safe driving record.
Every insurance company has its own way of calculating rates. Comparing quotes from a variety of insurance companies enables you to save money by purchasing the policy that is offered at the most affordable price.
What Are the Car Insurance Requirements in Post Falls?
In the state of Idaho, you are required to cover your vehicles with car insurance before you can legally take them out on the road.
All car insurance policies in this state must include liability insurance and uninsured motorist insurance. However, Idaho state law does permit drivers to opt out of uninsured motorist coverage if they do so in writing.
Your Post Falls car insurance policy must meet or exceed the following requirements.
- Liability coverage: This covers injuries and property damage that you may cause to other people in a collision. Your policy must include, at a minimum:
- Bodily injury liability insurance: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident
- Property damage liability insurance: $15,000 per accident
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: This covers damage and injuries you may sustain if hit by an uninsured driver. Unless you have opted out, your policy must include, at a minimum:
- Bodily injury insurance: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident
- Property damage insurance: No minimum requirement
The costs associated with a serious collision can easily exceed what a minimum coverage policy will pay for. That is why many residents of Post Falls opt to purchase car insurance with much more liability insurance than the state requires.
If you have a lot to lose and want to have even more liability coverage than your car insurance provider can provide, you can also purchase umbrella insurance. This is a very affordable way to boost all of your liability coverage.
What Else Can Post Falls Car Insurance Cover?
In addition to the coverage that is required by law, insurance companies give you the choice of including a number of coverage options in your car insurance policy. These include the following.
- Comprehensive insurance: This can pay to repair or replace your vehicle if it is damaged by a non-collision event such as a garage fire or hailstorm. It is usually required if you are leasing or financing your car.
- Collision insurance: This can pay to repair or replace your vehicle if it is damaged in a collision, regardless of fault. It is usually required if you are leasing or financing your car.
- Medical payments insurance: Also known as “MedPay", this can cover the cost of medical treatments if you or your passengers are injured in collision, regardless of fault.
- Gap insurance: This can pay off your car loan or lease buyout if your vehicle is totaled in a covered event.
- Towing and roadside assistance insurance: This pays for assistance if your vehicle becomes disabled while you are out on the road.
- Rental reimbursement insurance: This can pay for the cost of renting a vehicle while repairs are being made to your car following a covered event.
By reviewing costs for each coverage option, you can determine whether they are a good value for you and your family.
What Is the Penalty for Driving without Insurance in Idaho?
It is illegal to drive without insurance in Idaho. A first offense is charged as an infraction, but second and subsequent offenses are charged as misdemeanors and have more severe consequences. The penalties for driving without insurance include the following.
- A fine of $75 for a first offense, and up to $1,000 for second and subsequent offenses
- Potential jail time for up to six months for second and subsequent offenses
- The loss of driving privileges until proof of insurance is provided and all fines are paid
- A license reinstatement fee of $85
- Various administrative fees totaling about $55
- The requirement to maintain an SR-22 for 1 to 3 years
- Higher car insurance rates
Perhaps because of these tough penalties, the rate of uninsured drivers in Idaho is well below the national average.
- Percentage of US drivers who are uninsured: 13.0%
- Percentage of Idaho drivers who are uninsured: 8.2%
If you are in a collision caused by an uninsured driver, uninsured motorist insurance can ensure that you will receive immediate coverage for any related medical bills and repair costs you may have accrued without the need to go through lengthy legal channels and court orders.
Unless you have specifically opted out in writing, your car insurance policy will include this coverage.
Does Post Falls Car Insurance Cover against Vehicle Thefts?
The auto theft rate in Idaho is much lower than the national average. In Post Falls, the risk is even lower. Residents of this city report about 35 car thefts a year.
- National auto theft rate per 1,000 vehicles: 2.29
- Idaho auto theft rate per 1,000 vehicles: 1.12
- Post Falls, ID, auto theft rate per 1,000 vehicles: 1.07
Although the risk is low, it is important to know that you cannot be compensated for a stolen car unless your auto insurance policy includes comprehensive, or “other than collision,” insurance.
Comprehensive insurance covers against far more than just theft. It can also reimburse you for loss and damage to your car due to a variety of other non-collision hazards like fallen trees and floods.
If you are still paying for your car, or if you have it on a lease, chances are good you have comprehensive insurance already. Otherwise, you may want to look into how much it will cost to add this valuable coverage to your policy.
Why Work with an Independent Insurance Agent?
You can turn to a local independent agent for help when you are looking for an ideal auto insurance policy to meet your coverage and budgetary needs. These agents are free to work with several different insurance providers, so they can shop around to find you the best and most affordable policies.
It doesn’t cost anything to get information from an independent agent. Discover how easy buying a great auto insurance policy can be. Find an insurance agent near you to start comparing customized quotes.
http://www.city-data.com/city/Post-Falls-Idaho.html
https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/title49/t49ch12/sect49-1232/
https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-auto-insurance
http://www.naic.org/prod_serv/AUT-PB-14.pdf