Montana CSI lists 25/50/20 liability and a written UM rejection. Its total-loss guidance emphasizes comparable vehicles and supporting valuation records.
Key takeaways
- The Montana liability and UM questions
- Build a valuation file
- A local-comparable exercise
On this page
Coverage requirements at a glance
| Coverage | Amount or rule | Scope and exceptions |
|---|---|---|
| State-specific coverage rule: The Montana liability and UM questions | CSI lists $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident and $20,000 property damage. It says UM is provided unless a rejection form is signed. Obtain the actual election; UIM should be investigated separately rather than inferred from UM. | Comparative negligence paragraph internally ambiguous and excluded. No NADA-onlyclaim, notice period or legal remedy adopted. Existing official material inspected 2026-10-12. Original commencement date is not established by this metadata; the source’s scope and exceptions remain applicable. Official source 1 for State-specific coverage rule: The Montana liability and UM questions |
Montana CSI lists 25/50/20 liability and a written UM rejection. Its total-loss guidance emphasizes comparable vehicles and supporting valuation records.
The Montana liability and UM questions
CSI lists $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident and $20,000 property damage. It says UM is provided unless a rejection form is signed. Obtain the actual election; UIM should be investigated separately rather than inferred from UM.
Build a valuation file
The regulator describes most total-loss payments as actual cash value, meaning pre-loss market value, and discusses comparisons by make, model, mileage and equipment. Ask for the insurer’s supporting information and identify mismatched vehicle facts.
Do not confuse consumer help with valuation authority
CSI says it lacks legal authority to determine the vehicle’s value. Present evidence and request assistance about the insurance process without expecting the regulator to set a settlement amount.
Check a Montana total-loss comparison vehicle by vehicle
CSI’s valuation discussion focuses on pre-loss market value and comparable vehicle facts. Start by correcting the description of your own car: model, trim, mileage, equipment and condition. A comparison vehicle with the same model name is not necessarily a close match.
| Comparison item | Evidence worth providing |
|---|---|
| Trim or equipment omitted | VIN details, purchase records or photographs |
| Mileage recorded incorrectly | Recent service record or odometer evidence |
| Condition adjustment disputed | Dated photos and explanation of prior damage |
| Comparable differs | Listing details and the specific mismatch |
| Loan balance exceeds settlement | Separate payoff statement, not a substitute valuation |
Hypothetical: An insurer’s starting valuation is $14,000 with an applicable $500 deductible and no other adjustments, producing $13,500. A $16,200 loan payoff leaves a $2,700 difference. That difference does not prove the car was undervalued or that gap protection exists. Resolve vehicle-value evidence and loan obligations separately.
Ask CSI for help within its role
The agency says it cannot determine the vehicle’s value. A useful complaint identifies the process issue or evidence not addressed, with the insurer’s written response attached. Asking the agency to set a preferred sale price misstates its role.
If the disagreement is about another driver’s responsibility, obtain qualified advice about the actual legal facts. The source’s comparative-negligence wording remains an unresolved research question and is deliberately not turned into a payment formula here.
Compare injury protection and car protection independently
Retain the selected UM coverage or signed rejection. Investigate UIM separately instead of assuming a UM form covers both choices. Then compare collision and comprehensive deductibles and the lender’s actual requirements.
For a regularly borrowed or business-used car, describe the use before accepting the quote. Keep the insurer’s accepted classification with the policy. A familiar minimum-liability label and an attractive price do not show whether the correct car, driver and use were insured.
Sources and review scope
Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance: Auto Insurance FAQs. Source access/inspection: October 12, 2026. The coverage needs checklist can organize the policy discussion; it does not establish legal compliance.
Sources & references
Use these references to verify the information in this guide.
Policy terms and state requirements can change. Verify details with official sources and a licensed professional. Read our editorial standards.