Idaho requires at least $25,000 of bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 per accident and $15,000 of property damage liability, often written as 25/50/15. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage at the same injury limits is part of every policy unless the named insured rejects it in writing or in an electronic record.
Idaho checks coverage electronically. If the state’s records show a car without insurance for two months in a row, the owner gets a notice and, if it isn’t resolved, the registration is suspended until the owner shows proof of insurance and pays $75.
Key Takeaways
- Idaho’s minimum is 25/50/15 liability. Uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM and UIM) coverage comes with the policy unless you reject it, and nothing else is required by law.
- Idaho UIM comes in two types. Offset UIM is reduced by what the at-fault driver’s insurer pays, while excess UIM is added on top, and insurers don’t have to offer both, so check which one your policy has.
- A first conviction for driving uninsured is a $75 infraction. A second or later one within five years is a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $1,000, up to six months in county jail or both.
- A conviction also suspends your license until you file proof of financial responsibility (an SR-22), which you keep for one year after a first conviction or three years after a repeat within five years.
Idaho Minimum Car Insurance at a Glance
| Coverage | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability | $15,000 per accident |
| Uninsured motorist | Included at $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident unless you reject it |
| Underinsured motorist | Included at $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident unless you reject it |
| Personal injury protection | Not required. Idaho is not a no-fault state. |
| Medical payments | Optional |
| Collision and comprehensive | Optional under Idaho law, though a lender or lessor may require them |
The Idaho Department of Insurance (DOI) lists these limits on its required auto coverages page, and they’re defined in Idaho Code 49-117. Under Idaho Code 49-1229, owners of vehicles registered and driven in Idaho have to carry liability insurance continuously, and Idaho Code 49-1428 makes it unlawful to drive on the highway without it. RateFrog’s guide to liability limits explains how the three numbers work.
A 2026 bill, H0770, would have raised the property damage minimum to $25,000. It was referred to the House Business Committee in February 2026 and went no further, so the $15,000 minimum still applies.
Insurance isn’t the only option. Section 49-1229 also allows an indemnity bond filed with the DOI director of at least $50,000 per accident for each vehicle, with $15,000 of that for property damage, up to $120,000 for five or more vehicles. Owners of more than 25 Idaho vehicles can apply to self-insure under Idaho Code 49-1224.
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage in Idaho
Under Idaho Code 41-2502, an auto liability policy for a vehicle registered or principally garaged in Idaho has to include UM and UIM coverage at the state’s bodily injury minimums. The named insured can reject UM, UIM or both, but only in writing or in an electronic record, and that choice applies to everyone on the policy. Once you reject it, the same insurer or an affiliate doesn’t have to add it back on a renewal or replacement policy.
Before a new policy is issued, or an existing one is first renewed or replaced, the insurer has to give you a standard statement approved by the DOI that explains both coverages in summary form. The DOI says UM and UIM limits generally match your bodily injury limits, though this can vary by carrier, and you can buy them at or above the minimums.
Under Idaho Code 41-2503, an uninsured vehicle includes one whose insurer can’t pay, such as an insolvent insurer. The requirement covers bodily injury only, so uninsured motorist property damage isn’t required, and it doesn’t apply to ATVs, UTVs, specialty off-highway vehicles or motorbikes.
Offset vs. Excess UIM
According to the DOI’s UM and UIM disclosure form, Idaho has two types of UIM:
- Offset UIM (also called difference in limits): your UIM limit goes down by whatever you recover from the at-fault driver’s liability insurer.
- Excess UIM: your UIM limit is added to the at-fault driver’s liability limits.
In the DOI form’s excess example, an at-fault driver with a $50,000 limit plus your $100,000 of UIM makes $150,000 available for your injuries. Insurers aren’t required to offer more than one type, and policies differ, so check your declarations page and policy or ask your insurer which type you have. RateFrog’s guide to uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage explains these coverages in more detail.
Medical Payments Coverage
Idaho doesn’t require personal injury protection or medical payments coverage. The DOI lists medical payments on its optional coverages page, along with collision and comprehensive, and notes that available options vary by company. If you buy it, Idaho Code 41-2514 says a policy can’t limit recovery to less than three years from the injury. That rule doesn’t cover an injury that isn’t discovered and treated within one year of the accident.
Proof of Insurance in Idaho
Under Idaho Code 49-1232, the driver has to have proof of insurance in the vehicle, and an officer can ask to see it. An electronic image on a cell phone or another portable device is acceptable. Your insurer or agent issues an insurance card when you buy or renew a policy, or when you ask, at no charge, under Idaho Code 49-1231. RateFrog’s guide to getting proof of insurance fast can help if you need a card right away.
If you’re cited for not having proof, you can’t be convicted if you produce proof, before conviction, that your insurance was in effect when you were cited.
How Idaho Checks Your Coverage
When you register a car, you certify that it’s insured under Idaho Code 49-1230. After that, the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) runs an online verification system under Idaho Code 49-1234. Insurers report to it at least weekly, ITD matches it against registrations at least monthly, and police can check it during a stop. An officer can’t cite you for lack of proof if the system shows you’re insured.
Here’s how the notice process works under the statute:
- After two consecutive months without coverage on record, ITD sends an initial notice giving you 60 days to show you’re insured or claim an exemption.
- If you don’t, ITD sends a final notice giving you 10 more days.
- If you still don’t comply, the registration is suspended. Reinstating it takes proof of insurance and a $75 fee.
Those timelines come from a 2023 amendment. ITD’s Drive Insured FAQ and vehicle insurance page may still show an older 30-day timeline. The FAQ also says your registration can be suspended even if you didn’t receive the notice, and that if your insurer is based out of state and doesn’t report to ITD, you’ll be treated as uninsured until you give proof another way. You can report coverage through ITD’s page or call the DMV at (208) 584-4343. RateFrog’s guide to what happens when insurance lapses covers the broader risks of a gap.
Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in Idaho
Fines, license suspensions and registration suspensions are handled separately, and you can face more than one.
Fines and Jail
Sections 49-1229, 49-1232 and 49-1428 set the same penalties. A first violation is an infraction with a $75 fine. A second or later conviction within five years under any of those sections is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, up to six months in county jail or both.
License Suspension
Under Idaho Code 49-1208, a conviction for driving uninsured means you have to give and maintain proof of financial responsibility for one year after a first conviction, or for three years after a second or later conviction within five years. Your license stays suspended unless you do.
If a court hasn’t ordered the suspension, ITD can rescind it if you prove your insurance was in force when you were cited, and no reinstatement fee is charged in that case. Otherwise, expect a license reinstatement fee. ITD’s SR-22 reinstatement sheet lists $85 for a no-insurance suspension. Confirm the current amount with ITD before you pay.
Registration Suspension
A verification suspension hits the vehicle’s registration, not your license, and costs $75 plus proof of insurance to reinstate.
A Crash Without Insurance
If you cause a crash while uninsured, the other side can sue you. ITD’s guide to accidents with uninsured drivers explains what happens if a judgment goes unpaid: the person who won can send ITD a certified copy, ITD issues an Order of Intent to Suspend giving the driver 30 days to pay or sign a payment agreement, and then an Order of Suspension. Reinstatement takes payment or an agreement, an SR-22 and a fee.
SR-22 Filings in Idaho
Idaho statutes call it proof of financial responsibility, while ITD uses the term SR-22. You get one through an insurance company. Besides uninsured driving convictions, it can be required after certain license suspensions or revocations and after an unpaid crash judgment. ITD’s driver records and suspensions page says that after a DUI conviction, the SR-22 is required for three years starting when the suspension ends. It also says that since January 1, 2025, SR-22 information goes to the Idaho Insurance Verification System and updates your driver record automatically.
Under Idaho Code 49-1220, the requirement can generally be cancelled once the one-year or three-year period has passed without a qualifying conviction. If your insurer cancels a policy that has an SR-22 attached, Idaho Code 49-1213 says coverage can’t end until at least 10 days after the insurer files a notice with ITD. RateFrog’s SR-22 guide explains how these filings work in general.
If You Can’t Find Coverage
Under Idaho Code 49-1225, every insurer writing auto liability in Idaho has to take part in a plan for drivers who are entitled to coverage in good faith but can’t get it the usual way. That’s the Idaho Automobile Insurance Plan. According to its AIPSO page, the plan office takes customer service calls at (800) 227-4659, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Pacific time.
How Idaho Insurers Set Rates
Idaho insurers can use credit, with a limit. Under Idaho Code 41-1843, an insurer can’t charge more, cancel, nonrenew or decline a personal policy based primarily on your credit history. The statute defines “primarily” to mean the insurer gives credit more weight than all its other rating factors combined.
Drivers 55 and older can earn a discount. Under Idaho Code 41-2515, insurers have to give an appropriate premium reduction on liability, medical payments and collision to a principal operator who completes an approved accident prevention course. The discount lasts three years, and you retake the course to keep it. Insurers can require no at-fault accidents or moving violations during that time, and the law doesn’t set a percentage. RateFrog’s guide to the factors that affect car insurance rates covers the rest.
Cancellation and Nonrenewal Rules
Idaho’s rules in Idaho Code 41-2506 through 41-2512 apply to personal auto policies covering private passenger cars not used for hire and other four-wheel vehicles with a load capacity of 15,000 pounds or less that aren’t used in business. They don’t apply to a new policy that’s been in effect less than 60 days when the notice goes out, unless it’s a renewal, or to policies issued through the assigned risk plan.
For covered policies, Idaho Code 41-2507 lets the insurer cancel or refuse to renew only for listed reasons. These include nonpayment, a material misrepresentation, a fraudulent claim, a license suspension or revocation within the past 36 months and certain serious driving offenses. Under Idaho Code 41-2508, the insurer has to give:
- At least 10 days’ notice, with the reason, to cancel for nonpayment
- At least 20 days’ notice to cancel for other reasons
- At least 30 days’ notice before declining to renew, unless the reason is nonpayment or the insurer offered to renew
Cancellations for reasons other than nonpayment, and nonrenewals, also have to tell you that you may be eligible for the assigned risk plan. RateFrog’s guide to car insurance grace periods explains what usually happens when a payment is late.
Is Idaho’s Minimum Coverage Enough?
It depends on what you have to protect. $15,000 of property damage coverage won’t go far if you total a newer car, and $25,000 per person can run out quickly after a serious injury. If a claim is more than your limits, you could be asked to pay the rest yourself.
Before you reject UM or UIM to save money, think about how you’d pay your own medical bills if the driver who hit you had little or no insurance. If you keep UIM, find out whether it’s offset or excess, since that changes how much it can pay. RateFrog’s guide to how much car insurance you need can help you choose, and you can compare car insurance quotes at several coverage levels.
Where to Get Help
The Idaho Department of Insurance’s Consumer Affairs staff take calls at 208-334-4250 or toll-free at 1-800-721-3272, weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You can file a complaint online through the DOI’s complaint page. For registration suspensions, license suspensions and SR-22 questions, call the ITD DMV Customer Contact Center at (208) 584-4343.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage Required in Idaho?
UM and UIM are included in every Idaho policy unless the named insured rejects them in writing or in an electronic record. If you reject them, the same insurer doesn’t have to add them back at renewal.
What Happens If Idaho Can’t Verify My Insurance?
Under current Idaho law, after two months without coverage on record, ITD sends a notice giving you 60 days, then a final notice giving you 10 days. If you don’t respond with proof, your registration is suspended until you show proof and pay a $75 fee. ITD’s website may still show an older 30-day timeline.
What Is the Fine for Driving Without Insurance in Idaho?
A first violation is a $75 infraction. A second or later conviction within five years is a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $1,000, up to six months in county jail or both. A license suspension and SR-22 requirement apply separately.
Can I Show Proof of Insurance on My Phone in Idaho?
Yes. Idaho law accepts an electronic image on a cell phone or other portable device.
Sources
- Idaho Department of Insurance: Idaho Required Auto Coverages
- Idaho Department of Insurance: Optional Auto Coverages
- Idaho Department of Insurance: UM and UIM Notice and Rejection Forms
- Idaho Transportation Department: Drive Insured FAQ
- Idaho Transportation Department: Vehicle Insurance
- Idaho Transportation Department: Driver Records and Suspensions
- Idaho Transportation Department: SR-22 Reinstatement
- Idaho Transportation Department: Accidents with Uninsured Drivers
- Idaho Code 49-117
- Idaho Code 49-1208
- Idaho Code 49-1213
- Idaho Code 49-1220
- Idaho Code 49-1224
- Idaho Code 49-1225
- Idaho Code 49-1229
- Idaho Code 49-1230
- Idaho Code 49-1231
- Idaho Code 49-1232
- Idaho Code 49-1234
- Idaho Code 49-1428
- Idaho Code 41-1843
- Idaho Code 41-2502
- Idaho Code 41-2503
- Idaho Code 41-2506
- Idaho Code 41-2507
- Idaho Code 41-2508
- Idaho Code 41-2514
- Idaho Code 41-2515
- Idaho Legislature: H0770 (2026)
- AIPSO: Idaho Automobile Insurance Plan
- Idaho Department of Insurance: File a Complaint