Idaho Car Insurance: What Every Motorist Should Know Before Purchasing Car Insurance

It seems as though every time a consumer looks around there are advertisements for car insurance. They can be found in the telephone book, on highway billboards, on the television and on the internet. Purchasing car insurance is not as simple as filling out a form and paying the fee, however. Each state has its own requirements for auto coverage, and every consumer should familiarize themselves with their state’s requirements before committing to a policy. For more information concerning Idaho’s insurance policies consumers may contact the Idaho Department of Insurance at 1-800-721-3272 or visit their website.

Like most states in the US, Idaho requires that all drivers be covered by a basic liability policy. This means that in the event the insured is responsible for an accident the insurance company will pay for the damages to the vehicle and person of the other motorist involved. Minimum levels of coverage are listed below; however, it is recommended that all motorists carry more than the minimum insurance.

In ID, the minimum level of liability will provide payment for:

• Twenty five thousand dollars worth of bodily injury coverage for a single person
• Fifty thousand dollars worth of the combined medical expenses of all of the occupants of a vehicle if the driver was transporting passengers
• Fifteen thousand dollars worth of property damage resulting from the accident, including that suffered by the victim’s vehicle

While it is not required it is recommended that all motorists carry comprehensive and collision insurance. This will pay for the damage to the vehicle of the insured in an accident that they are responsible for up to the blue book value of the vehicle. In the event that the cost of repairs exceeds the value of the vehicle it will be “totaled” and the value awarded in cash to the owner rather than paid out in repairs.

ID does not require that motorists possess uninsured or underinsured motorist insurance; however, as not all states require their drivers to carry liability this is a wise addition to every insurance policy. Uninsured and underinsured insurance will provide for the payment of medical expenses and vehicle repair in the event that the insured is struck by a vehicle whose driver does not possess insurance, whose insurance is insufficient to cover the costs incurred, or if the insured is involved in a hit and run.