Idaho is an at-fault (tort) state with 25/50/15 minimum liability. Here's exactly what the law demands, what it costs to ignore it, and how SR-22 filings work — with statutes cited.
| Coverage ID law requires | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability — per person | $25,000 |
| Bodily injury liability — per accident | $50,000 |
| Property damage liability | $15,000 |
| Uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) bodily injury coverage must be included with every auto liability policy unless the named insured rejects it in writing (Idaho Code § 41-2502; Idaho Department of Insurance) | Uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) bodily injury coverage must be inc |
Effective Longstanding limits; verified unchanged against Idaho Code § 49-117 and the Idaho Department of Insurance as of July 2026. Source: Idaho Code § 49-117 (definitions, minimum liability limits) · Idaho Code § 49-117 and Title 49, Chapter 12 (Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility); Idaho Code § 41-2502 (UM/UIM)
First offense: Driving without insurance is an infraction punishable by a $75.00 fine (Idaho Code § 49-1232).
Repeat offenses: A second or subsequent conviction within 5 years is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, up to 6 months in county jail, or both (Idaho Code § 49-1232).
License impact: Driving privileges can be suspended until proof of financial responsibility (SR-22) is filed with the Idaho Transportation Department; separately, under Idaho's insurance verification program (Idaho Code § 49-1234), a vehicle showing no insurance on record for two consecutive months gets a warning letter and, absent proof or an exemption within 30 days, its registration is suspended, with a $75 reinstatement fee. (source: Idaho Code § 49-1232; Idaho Code § 49-1234; Idaho Transportation Department)
The Idaho Transportation Department requires an SR-22 to be maintained for 3 years following a DUI-related suspension, beginning at the conclusion of the suspension period; a license cannot be reinstated until the SR-22 is on file. Since January 1, 2025, SR-22s are filed electronically through the State of Idaho Insurance Verification System (idahoivs.com). Non-owner SR-22 policies are available for drivers who need a filing but do not own a vehicle.
Typically required after: DUI conviction, administrative license suspension (ALS), license suspensions requiring proof of financial responsibility for reinstatement, including repeat no-insurance convictions. Filing period: 3 years in most cases. Non-owner option: available — you can file without owning a car.
Need one filed? Our SR-22 service page explains the process; a licensed professional at (866) 370-6395 can usually file the same day.
Idaho is a tort (at-fault) state and does not require personal injury protection (PIP); medical payments coverage is optional.
Insurers must include UM and UIM bodily injury coverage with every policy unless the named insured rejects it in writing after receiving a disclosure form (Idaho Code § 41-2502; Idaho Department of Insurance).
Comprehensive and collision coverage are not required by Idaho law for personal vehicles (Idaho Department of Insurance).
License and registration consequences: Driving privileges can be suspended until proof of financial responsibility (SR-22) is filed with the Idaho Transportation Department; separately, under Idaho's insurance verification program (Idaho Code § 49-1234), a vehicle showing no insurance on record for two consecutive months gets a warning letter and, absent proof or an exemption within 30 days, its registration is suspended, with a $75 reinstatement fee.
Under the Drive Insured program (Idaho Code § 49-1234, effective January 2020), the DMV electronically verifies insurance on registered non-commercial vehicles; owners can check or update their status at driveinsured.itd.idaho.gov.
| City | Population | Median income | 30+ min commute | No-vehicle households |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boise | 237,242 | $83,904 | 16.0% | 5.0% |
| Meridian | 130,138 | $100,795 | 24.4% | 2.4% |
| Nampa | 110,319 | $74,279 | 37.2% | 3.8% |
| Idaho Falls | 67,725 | $73,110 | 15.4% | 3.3% |
| Caldwell | 66,516 | $73,058 | 41.3% | 3.6% |
| Pocatello | 57,635 | $60,418 | 11.4% | 5.8% |
| Coeur d'Alene | 56,447 | $72,338 | 18.4% | 5.3% |
| Twin Falls | 54,164 | $61,205 | 13.8% | 3.7% |
| Post Falls | 43,391 | $82,183 | 27.4% | 5.5% |
| Rexburg | 40,543 | $50,617 | 18.0% | 2.6% |
Source: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-year estimates.
Treasure Valley traffic has grown up fast: I-84 links Boise, Meridian, Nampa, and Caldwell, and the Eagle Road corridor has become the congestion story every local complains about. Highway 55 winds north toward McCall with winter ice and weekend recreation traffic hauling trailers. Winter inversions bring freezing fog and black ice to valley mornings, while deer move through the foothills edges of Eagle and Kuna at dawn. Rapid growth means plenty of new-to-Idaho drivers and construction zones, which keeps collision exposure real. Comprehensive coverage earns consideration for windshield chips from sanded winter roads — a Gem State classic — and UM limits deserve a genuine look.
Eastern and southern Idaho driving is long, open, and weather-ruled. Idaho Falls, Rexburg, and Pocatello sit on the I-15 and US-20 corridors, where Snake River Plain winds push drifting snow and black ice across the road all winter, and ground blizzards can close highways outright. Twin Falls drivers know the I-84 stretch and the Perrine Bridge approaches, while Lewiston's famous grade on US-95 tests brakes and nerves every ice season. Deer and elk strikes are a leading claim on rural highways, which keeps comprehensive coverage front of mind. Distances between towns are serious, so towing coverage is not decorative. Farm equipment, sugar-beet trucks at harvest, and sudden canyon fog complete the local picture.
237,242 residents
130,138 residents
110,319 residents
67,725 residents
66,516 residents
57,635 residents
56,447 residents
54,164 residents
43,391 residents
40,543 residents
34,651 residents
32,855 residents
27,158 residents
26,286 residents
Every legal claim on this page traces to:
Laws change. We refresh state pages on a rolling schedule and date-stamp every change; verify with your state before acting.