The Hidden Cost of Owning a Car in Montana

Owning a car in Montana isn’t exactly cheap. 

Montana's Driving Dilemmas: Weather and Statistics

We’ve got rough roads, winter weather, plenty of miles to cover, and, let’s be honest, some pretty questionable driving out there. 

Most of us like to think we’re good drivers. But when you look at some of the statistics, Montana ranks high in some categories you really don’t want to be high in, including speeding-related fatalities and teenage driving fatalities. 

Hidden Costs: What You Need to Consider

Then there’s the cost of simply keeping your car on the road. 

When you think about the price of owning a vehicle, you probably think about the monthly payment first. But there are plenty of other costs that add up over the course of the year, including insurance, gas and maintenance. 

According to an analysis from Insurify using data that includes AAA figures, Montana ranks 16th in the country for the total hidden cost of car ownership. 

That works out to about $6,211 a year in hidden costs for the average Montana driver. 

That’s well above the national average of about $5,851 a year. 

Comparing Costs: Montana vs. Other States

Montana isn’t the most expensive state, though. 

That distinction goes to Georgia, followed by Maryland, Wyoming, Mississippi and Missouri. 

Our neighbors in Wyoming actually make the top five. 

Insurance Insights: Montana’s Coverage Costs

Montana’s full-coverage car insurance costs are relatively low compared with many other states, at about $1,883 a year in the analysis. But gas and maintenance costs help push Montana’s overall total higher. 

READ MORE: Montana Gas Prices are $1.24 Higher Than a Year Ago

Maintenance can be a particularly big deal here because Montanans tend to hold on to their vehicles for a long time. If you drive around Montana, you probably see plenty of older trucks, SUVs and cars still doing their jobs. 

There’s a good reason for that. 

Financial Reasons to Keep Your Old Vehicle

If your vehicle is paid off and still running, replacing it with a newer vehicle can mean taking on a pretty big monthly payment. 

READ MORE: The Most “Montana” Thing About Our Vehicles

At the other end of the list, New Hampshire is the cheapest state for hidden car ownership costs, at about $4,063 a year. 

So, while Montana isn’t the most expensive place in the country to own a car, we’re paying more than the average American to keep our vehicles on the road. 

And if you’re driving an older Montana vehicle, that’s paid off? 

Maybe those scratches and that check-engine light aren’t looking quite so bad after all.