Auto Insurance

Montana and Idaho both require liability coverage to legally register and drive a vehicle, but the minimum limits differ slightly between the two states and rarely cover the full cost of a serious accident.

As an independent agency, we shop your policy across multiple carriers to make sure you’re not just meeting the state minimum — you’re actually protected if something goes wrong. If you’re only carrying state-minimum limits today, it’s worth a quick review; we can usually improve your coverage without a big jump in premium.

State minimums are a legal floor, not a safety net. If you own a home, have savings, or drive often in winter conditions common to the Flathead Valley and North Idaho, higher liability limits protect those assets if you’re at fault in a serious accident.

We typically walk clients through liability limits, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, and comprehensive and collision coverage together, then match the combination to your vehicle’s value, your driving habits, and your budget — not a one-size-fits-all package.

Collision coverage pays to repair or replace your vehicle after an accident with another car or object, regardless of fault. Comprehensive coverage pays for damage from causes other than a collision — think deer strikes, hail, wildfire smoke and debris damage, theft, vandalism, or a cracked windshield from gravel on the highway.

Both are optional unless you have a loan or lease on the vehicle, but in areas with wildlife on the roads and severe weather swings, most drivers we work with carry both.

Yes — but only if you carry comprehensive coverage. Animal collisions are classified as comprehensive claims rather than collision claims, since they’re considered outside your control. Given how common deer and elk strikes are throughout the Flathead Valley, Kalispell, Whitefish, and the North Idaho panhandle, this is one of the most important coverages to have if you drive rural highways or at dawn and dusk.

Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage protects you if you’re hit by a driver who has no insurance or doesn’t carry enough to cover your damages. It also typically applies to hit-and-run accidents.

Not every driver on the road carries adequate coverage, and this protection often costs less than people expect. We recommend it for nearly every policy we write, and can show you exact pricing side-by-side with and without it.

It depends on the claim type, who was at fault, and your carrier’s specific rules — and this is exactly where having an independent agent helps. Some of the carriers we work with offer accident forgiveness programs that protect your rate after a first at-fault accident.

Before you file a claim, or if you’re deciding whether a repair is worth going through insurance, give us a call. We can walk through your specific policy and give you a straight answer rather than a guess.

An SR-22 isn’t insurance itself — it’s a certificate your insurer files with the state to verify you carry the state-required liability coverage. It’s typically required after a DUI, certain traffic violations, driving without insurance, or an at-fault accident without coverage, and both Montana and Idaho require it in different circumstances.

Not every carrier files SR-22s, so this is another area where working with an independent agency helps — we know which of our carriers offer it and can usually get one filed quickly.

Not automatically — roadside assistance and towing coverage are typically add-ons rather than standard features of a liability or collision policy. Given how far apart towns can be across our Montana and Idaho service areas, we usually recommend adding it; the cost is modest compared to a single tow bill on a winter highway.

If your car is in the shop after a covered accident, rental reimbursement coverage helps pay for a rental car while repairs are underway. Without it, you’re covering that cost out of pocket. It’s an inexpensive add-on that we recommend for any vehicle you rely on daily.

Adding a teen driver typically raises your premium, since younger, less experienced drivers statistically carry higher risk. That said, most carriers offer good-student discounts, driver’s education discounts, and telematics or safe-driving programs that can meaningfully offset the increase.

We work with families across our Montana and Idaho locations every year on exactly this situation, and can compare how different carriers price a teen driver before you commit to one.

Standard auto policies aren’t always built for classic cars, kit cars, or vehicles with modifications — they can undervalue the vehicle in a claim. Specialty auto coverage is written specifically to protect agreed value, so you’re not shortchanged if you ever need to file a claim.

If you also own recreational vehicles like ATVs, snowmobiles, or watercraft, those typically need separate recreational vehicle policies rather than being added to your auto policy — we can bundle all of it together for you.

You can request a new ID card directly through our website’s Request ID Card form, or call either of our offices and we’ll have it to you the same day in most cases.

Check for injuries and call 911 if needed, move to a safe location if possible, and exchange insurance and contact information with the other driver. Take photos of the vehicles, damage, and scene if you’re able to safely do so.

Then call our office before you speak with the other driver’s insurance company. We’ll walk you through the claims process, let you know what your policy covers, and make sure you’re not leaving money on the table.

A direct insurer can only sell you their own coverage at their own price. As an independent agency, we compare your risk profile against multiple carriers and place you with the one that actually fits — whether that’s the best price, the broadest coverage, or the best claims experience for your situation.

We’ve been doing this for Montana and Idaho drivers since 1986, and that carrier relationship is what lets us push back on a rate increase or advocate for you during a claim.

Yes, and most clients save money by doing it. Bundling auto with homeowners, renters, or business insurance through the same carrier typically qualifies you for a multi-policy discount, and it also means one agent — us — handles your entire insurance picture instead of juggling separate companies.