Updated July 2026
What Is Personal Injury Protection Insurance?
Personal Injury Protection covers medical expenses, lost income, and sometimes funeral costs for you and your passengers after an accident, no matter who was at fault. It pays out immediately without waiting for liability determination or a settlement. In Idaho, PIP is optional, which means you choose whether to add it and at what limit. Most carriers offer PIP in increments from $1,000 to $10,000, though higher limits exist.
- The other driver is clearly at fault. You have $5,000 in PIP coverage. Your emergency room visit costs $3,200, and you miss a week of work worth $800. PIP pays the full $4,000 immediately. You don't wait for the other driver's liability insurer to investigate or settle. If you didn't carry PIP, you'd pay upfront and wait weeks or months to recover costs through a liability claim.
- You slide off an icy road and hit a tree. You're at fault, so no other driver's liability coverage applies. Your medical bills total $6,500. If you carry $5,000 in PIP, it pays the first $5,000, and you owe $1,500. Without PIP, you pay the entire $6,500 unless your health insurance covers auto accident injuries, which many plans exclude or apply high deductibles to.
- Your passenger has $2,800 in medical costs. Your PIP covers passengers in your vehicle, so it pays up to your limit. Without PIP, your passenger would file a claim against your liability coverage, which counts as a claim on your record and can raise your rates. PIP keeps passenger injuries off your liability record if the costs stay within your PIP limit.
Who Needs Personal Injury Protection Insurance?
PIP makes sense if your health insurance has a high deductible, excludes auto accident injuries, or requires you to pay upfront and seek reimbursement later. It's also valuable if you're self-employed or work hourly, because PIP replaces lost wages while you recover. Drivers who frequently carry passengers benefit from PIP because it covers their medical costs without forcing them to file a liability claim against you.
Compare your health insurance deductible to the cost of adding PIP. If your health plan has a $3,000 deductible and PIP costs $15 per month, you're paying $180 annually to avoid a $3,000 upfront bill after an accident. If your health insurance covers auto injuries with a $500 deductible, PIP offers less value unless you want faster payment or wage replacement.
How Much Does Personal Injury Protection Insurance Cost?
PIP adds approximately $8 to $25 per month to your premium, or $96 to $300 annually, depending on your coverage limit and deductible.
- Coverage limit: $1,000 PIP costs less than $10,000 PIP, but higher limits reduce your out-of-pocket risk.
- Deductible selection: Choosing a $250 or $500 deductible lowers your premium but means you pay that amount before PIP kicks in.
- Driving record: Carriers price PIP higher for drivers with at-fault accidents or moving violations in the past three years.
- Health insurance status: If you have comprehensive health coverage with low deductibles, PIP may duplicate benefits you already pay for.
- Household size: Covering multiple drivers or passengers in your household increases the likelihood of a PIP claim, which some carriers factor into pricing.