Gem of Armor: Idaho Auto Insurance

It's important to understand what you're up against when searching for Idaho auto insurance rates. Your premium is based on a host of information including your age, sex and marital status – characteristics which you can do little or nothing about. However, other factors such as your driving record, how much you drive, and the type of coverage you need can be adjusted sometimes.

Damage Control
If you have a clean driving record you will save money on your Idaho auto insurance rates. But if it is blemished even slightly you'll have a higher premium. You can sit back and take what's coming to you, or you can inquire about discounts for participating in a safe driver course. Signing up for these types of courses can result in a traffic ticket dismissal or removal of points from your license which can ultimately reduce your Idaho auto insurance rates.

Cut Back on Your Commute
Limiting your driving can significantly reduce your insurance premium. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, only 6,113 Idahoans used public transportation to get to work between 2006 and 2008. Seeing as riding the bus to and from work every day can relieve motorists of the stresses of driving and save them big time cash, it's stunning that more Spud Staters don't hop onboard. If riding the bus doesn't work for you, do as 82,705 people did during that same timeframe and carpool to work. By rotating driving responsibilities you can reduce the number of miles on your vehicle and ultimately save a little dough on your Idaho auto insurance rates.

The Nuts and Bolts
Drivers are required to purchase liability insurance to drive legally in Idaho. The minimum amounts required are $25,000 for injury or death of one person, $50,000 for injury or death of two or more people, and $15,000 for property damage. Minimum liability insurance is more than likely enough coverage for vehicles worth less than $1,000 seeing as the cost of additional coverage could outweigh the cost of replacing that vehicle. A car worth more than that might require supplementary insurance. But Idaho auto insurance is a lot like a baked potato: it gets a lot more zing as you garnish it. The insurance industry suggests policyholders increase their liability insurance to $100,000 to cover bodily injury caused to each person in an accident and $300,000 per accident to avoid out-of-pocket payments. Purchasing uninsured and underinsured motorist coverages could also save you from having to pay for bodily injuries sustained by a hit-and-run driver, a driver with minimal coverage or a driver with no insurance coverage. Collision coverage will reimburse you if your vehicle is damaged by another driver, an object, potholes, or flipping over. Comprehensive insurance foots the bill if your car is damaged or destroyed by things like flooding, fire, windstorms, vandalism or theft. Buying additional coverages might not make your Idaho auto insurance rates increase as much as you might think. If you shop around you're sure to find great coverage at an affordable price. Entrusting LocalInsurance to do the work gets you several quotes from competing companies sent directly to your computer for free.

• Idaho Department of Insurance