Minnesota Auto Insurance [Rates + Cheap Coverage Guide]

Minnesota is the northernmost state in the contiguous United States, and as such, is known to have some brutally cold winters with heavy amounts of snowfall.

But the people in the land that birthed legends like the Purple People Eaters defensive line of the Minnesota Vikings and the incomparable Prince Rogers Nelson have never been deterred by a little inclement weather.

In fact, the residents of the Land of 10,000 Lakes embrace their winter wonderland with pride, refusing to let the low temperatures derail their enjoyment of the many attractions the vast land has to offer.

From the heralded food scene in Minneapolis and the surrounding area (highlighted by eclectic entrees and ambiance of The News Room and the mouthwatering milkshakes at Bev’s Cafe) to the breathtaking zip lines at the Kerfoot Canopy Tours to the allure and mystique of the luxurious Paisley Park to the grandeur and prestige of the Mall of America, Minnesota boasts a bunch of exciting opportunities for adventure that cannot be restrained by chilly climate.

Whether you plan on traveling to these Minnesota landmarks in a little, red Corvette, or in some other car, you will want to make sure you have the most affordable auto insurance protecting your vehicle.

Enter your ZIP code to compare premium rates from the top insurance companies in your state.

Minnesota Insurance Coverage and Rates

Shoveling your way through all the numbers and legalese to determine the best auto insurance companies in Minnesota for you is a tedious task.

Thank goodness we’ve done all that work, so you don’t have to. We will give you all the pertinent facts you need to keep your rates as low as the temperatures at Lake Minnetonka in January.

We’ll help you to understand the requirements of Minnesota, what you may want for coverage, and where you can get it at the most affordable price.

Minnesota Minimum Coverage

Even though Minnesota is one of a handful of states that is a no-fault state, meaning that both parties in an auto accident are subject to receive benefits from their own insurance companies no matter who caused the crash, it requires its motorists to carry all of the following: bodily injury and property damage liability insurance, personal injury protection (PIP), and both uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage (UM and UIM).

All drivers in Minnesota are required to carry minimum liability insurance levels of 30/60/10 to satisfy basic overage. This means that car owners must carry the following state minimums for car insurance in Minnesota:

• $30,000 for bodily injury or death of one person in an accident caused by the owner of the insured vehicle

• $60,000 for total bodily injury or death in an accident caused by the owner of the insured vehicle

• $10,000 for property damage per accident caused by the owner of the insured vehicle

The state of Minnesota requires its residents to carry the following limits for uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage:

• $25,000 for injury to one person for both UM and UIM
• $50,000 for injury to more than one person for UM and UIM

Drivers in Minnesota have the option to purchase Medical Payments Coverage (Med Pay) in limits of $1,000 to $5,000 per accident to cover medical expenses (again) regardless of who is responsible for the crash.

Every driver must decide for herself or himself how much risk she or he is willing to assume. Each driver must do a cost-benefit analysis to decide whether the basic, legal minimums required by the state of Minnesota is enough to protect her or his current and future assets.

The experts at the Wall Street Journal advise drivers that have substantial wealth to protect to purchase liability coverage with increased the limits of 100/300/50.

Next, we will explore how much money drivers in Minnesota spend on average for their auto insurance. The amount you will actually pay will more than likely differ from these stated amounts; however, this data should serve as a helpful blueprint that you can apply to your current situation with confidence.

Premiums as a Percentage of Income

Late-night host and comedian Jimmy Kimmel joked, “Nobody likes taxes, but they’ve been around forever. Taxes date back all the way back to the year one when Baby Jesus was visited by two wise men and an IRS agent, who demanded half the family’s frankincense.”

This lighthearted quip highlights the major impact that taxes have on Disposable Personal Income (DPI). Your DPI is the amount that is retained by an individual or household after taxes are taken out.

A full-coverage policy will include liability, comprehensive, and collision insurance. Here’s a peek at the average cost of each individual element:

Now that we have sorted through some data about auto insurance costs to the individual consumer, let’s take a look at some important statistics about the insurance companies themselves.

Loss Ratio

First, let’s examine loss ratio and how it impacts your insurance. What exactly is a loss ratio? How is it calculated and why should you even care about it?

The insurance loss ratio is the proportion of incurred losses compared to earned premiums expressed as a percentage. A high loss ratio means that an insurance company has paid out too many claims, which will subsequently lead to a rise in future premiums for all consumers.

For example, an auto insurer collects $100,000 of premiums in a given year and pays out $57,200 in claims, the company’s loss ratio is 57.2 percent ($57,200 incurred losses/$100,000 earned premiums).

Add-ons, Endorsements, Riders

Over 11 percent of drivers in Minnesota (11.5 percent to be exact) are driving without insurance, which ranks as just the 27th highest percentage in the nation.

The State of Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) has created a consumer’s guide intended to help Minnesotans gain a stronger understanding of auto insurance in the state and all of the potential enhancements available to them.

 

Pay-by-the-mile auto insurance plans offered by companies like Metromile are growing in their popularity, unfortunately, they are not yet active in the North Star State.

Other Usage-Based Insurance programs (UBI) are active and available to drivers in Minnesota. Programs like Drivewise from Allstate or KnowYourDrive from American Family Auto or Drive Safe & Save from State Farm offer discounts to drivers based on their driving habits and capabilities.

In addition to these add-ons, there are several more optional enhancements that you can explore to decide which ones may be right for you:

• Guaranteed Auto Protection (GAP)
• Personal Umbrella Policy (PUP)
• Rental Reimbursement
• Emergency Roadside Assistance
• Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
• Non-Owner Auto Insurance
• Modified Auto Insurance Coverage
• Classic Auto Insurance

Average Auto Insurance Rates by Age & Gender in MN

Babes in Toyland is a highly influential, all-female punk rock band from Minnesota who is lauded for pioneering a brand of rock and roll that was “strongly female-oriented, but not necessarily feminist.”

When it comes to prominent punk rock bands of the nineties, Babes in Toyland plays second fiddle (or better yet, the second bass) to no other band, male or female. The impact and longevity of the sound created initially by Kat Bjelland, Lori Barbero, and Maureen Herman was not at all adversely affected by their gender.

But can the same thing be said about their gender and effect it has on the auto insurance rates they would receive? Let’s examine the chart and table below to find out.

Here’s a look at the Most Expensive Demographic rates in Minnesota. With which company can you and your family find the best value?

For example, a single 25-year-old male in Minnesota will pay $13,376.94 annually on his premiums with Liberty Mutual compared to $2,403.62 with AMCO, which over five times the cost.

Minnesota Insurance Rates by ZIP Code

Here is a chart with the cheapest average annual premiums in Minnesota by ZIP code for each insurance carrier:

Where did your hometown rank statewide? Let’s take an even more in-depth look as to how your city and neighborhood compare to the state average.

This is a list of the most expensive ZIP codes in Minnesota compared to the state average.

Minnesota Insurance Rates by City

Are you more likely to get lower auto insurance rates in St. Paul or Minneapolis? Do the citizens of Duluth enjoy lower premiums than residents in St. Cloud?

Let’s find out by taking a look at the most affordable cities in Minnesota to purchase auto insurance.

The next list has the most expensive auto insurance rates in Minnesota.

Free Auto Insurance Comparison

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Minnesota Auto Insurance Companies

In 1998, the Minnesota Vikings selected Randy Moss with the 21st pick in the NFL Draft. The eventual Hall of Fame wide receiver’s physical gifts on the football field were NEVER in question; however, his draft stock suffered from having a poor reputation (fair or unfair) for being an immature malcontent on and off the gridiron.

In the case of Randy Moss, the Vikings benefited greatly from Moss’s poor reputation and his downgraded public perception. However, this is an anomaly; the exception, not the rule. Generally speaking, consumers should be hesitant in investing assets with any entity whose status has been so severely sullied.

That train of thinking should be applied to auto insurance companies as well. An insurer’s public reputation can be an indicator of the kind of rates and service it offers to its consumers. We’ll show how the largest companies rate in the areas of financial stability and customer satisfaction.

Financial Ratings

AM Best is a credit rating agency. It evaluates insurance companies and grades them based on their financial stability. The table below shows the ten largest insurance companies in Minnesota as measured by direct premiums written with their AM Best rating.

Customer Satisfaction Ratings

Companies in Minnesota with the Most and Least Complaints

American R&B singer/songwriter/dancer Mila J released a single “No More Complaining,” which tells the story about being in a relationship with someone who doesn’t appreciate you, and always gives excuses to cover up his or her mistakes.

While Mila J may have resigned herself to a no complaints policy, consumers don’t have to remain silent if they feel aggrieved by their insurance companies. If a consumer’s relationship with his or her auto insurance company becomes toxic, the customer should let his or her voice be heard.

When the consumer is left dissatisfied with an insurer, he or she can file a complaint. Those complaints, justified or not, contribute to a company’s complaint ratios.

The complaint ratio is how many complaints a company receives per one million dollars of business written.

If you wish to file a complaint against an auto insurer in the state of Minnesota, use this online form.

Largest Auto Insurance Companies in Minnesota

This chart gives a visual representation of the auto insurance companies with the largest market share in Minnesota.

There are 855 auto insurance companies registered in the state of Minnesota. Of the 855, 39 of them are homegrown; while 816 are foreign.

Minnesota Auto Insurance Rates by Company

Now, we’re going to compare and contrast the top auto insurance companies to see which of them give the best rates on average in Minnesota.

Minnesota Rates by Carrier and Commute

Minnesota Rates by Carrier and Coverage Level

Minnesota Rates by Carrier and Credit History

Minnesota Rates by Carrier and Driving Record

Earning points on your license will have a negative impact on your auto insurance rates. How severely those rates are impacted is up to the discretion of each insurance company. Each insurer uses its own underwriting metrics when assessing risk. Here is a quick look at how top auto insurance companies in Minnesota price various driving infractions:

Minnesota Rates by Carrier and Demographics

Note: The company you choose for your auto insurance needs should be the best for you and no one else’s.

When buying auto insurance, focus on companies that offer discounts and special rates customized to your personal circumstances.

Shop around between multiple carriers to make sure you’re getting the best deal on your auto insurance.

 

Another way to keep your premiums low is to maintain a clean driving record. Having a working knowledge of the traffic laws and obeying them will help your record to stay as spotless as possible. We’ll review the rules of the road in Minnesota to help you keep your record as pure as the driven snow.

Minnesota Laws

Reading through all the state traffic statutes would be hardly the best use of your time. We’ve taken care of it for you by compiling the most important rules and regulations for you to know when driving in Minnesota.

Auto Insurance Laws

State insurance commissioners are afforded lots of leeway and authority to administer laws and regulations on the auto insurance industry in their respective commonwealths.

Each state determines the type of tort law and threshold (if any) that applies in the state, the type and amount of liability insurance required, and the system used for approval of insurer rates and forms.

Insurance companies in Minnesota are subject to the regulations set by that state insurance commissioner. Ultimately, all rates and regulations must meet the fair competition standards set by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).

High-Risk Insurance

SR-22 coverage may be required for drivers who have committed serious infractions or have multiple violations, as well as uninsured drivers and others. If your license has been revoked or suspended, you may need to file an SR-22 to have it reinstated.

Windshield Coverage

Minnesota law requires insurance companies to offer no-deductible windshield replacement as part of their comprehensive coverage; however, customers have the option to decline the coverage

The insurance companies can choose aftermarket parts for the windshield and OEM parts for all other repairs. Customers have the option to choose their own repair vendors but may have to pay the difference in quotes.

Read a more detailed summary of Minnesota Windshield Replacement Insurance programs.

Automobile Insurance Fraud in Minnesota

Insurance fraud is the second-largest economic crime in America. Premium rates are raised dramatically by insurance companies and passed on to the consumers in attempts to combat fraud.

There are two classifications of fraud: hard and soft.

• Hard Fraud – A purposefully fabricated claim or accident
• Soft Fraud – A misrepresentation of information to the insurance company

Soft fraud is more common than hard fraud. Twenty to 40 percent of consumers admitted to lying to their insurer about one of the following:

• Number of annual miles driven
• Number of drivers in the household
• How the vehicle would be used

Insurance fraud is a crime no matter how you slice it. Even the “little, white lie” you tell to get a lower rate can lead to harmful consequences. That kind of willful misrepresentation of facts is called known as “rate evasion” and is a $16 billion annual expense to auto insurers.

If you suspect insurance fraud or have been the victim of fraud, you can contact the Minnesota Commerce Department. You can file a complaint with its Commerce Fraud Bureau.

Statute of Limitations

Minnesota’s statute of limitations for filing a claim is two years for personal injury and six years for property damage.

Vehicle Licensing Laws

Minnesota’s Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS), which is a division of the DPS, has an online portal where residents can perform tasks such as renew their registrations and drivers’ licenses, update or change their address, and retrieve their driving history.

Proof of Financial Responsibility

Minnesota’s laws concerning Proof of Financial Responsibility require all drivers to show proof of financial responsibility whenever requested by a law enforcement officer. Failure to provide such proof may result in a citation or fine.

For more information regarding Proof of Financial Responsibility requirements in Minnesota, click here.

Teen Driver Laws

The safety of teenage drivers is a top priority of the Minnesota DPS. The Office of Traffic Safety has additional resources and information to assist teenage drivers and their families.

Older Driver License Renewal

Minnesota is an equal opportunity issuer when it comes to its license renewal policies. All drivers, regardless of age, must renew their licenses every four years. Drivers of all ages must show proof of adequate vision at every renewal. And no renewals are yet eligible to be done online or through the mail.

New Resident Licensing

New Minnesota residents who are age 18 or older wishing to obtain a Minnesota license must provide proof of residency and/or proof of employment. If you have a valid license from another state, the written and driving skills tests may be waived.

New Minnesota residents must immediately title and register their vehicles at a Secretary of State office and turn in the title from their previous home state, usually within 30 days of becoming a resident.

REAL ID

Minnesota is in full compliance with the REAL ID Act passed by Congress and enforced by Homeland Security. This means that a driver’s license or state ID issued by the North Star State is an acceptable form of identification at federal facilities, airports, and nuclear power plants.

As of October 1, 2020, anyone wishing to fly on a commercial flight or enter a federal facility must have a REAL ID-compliant form of identification.

Rules of the Road

Keep Right and Move Over Laws

Minnesota law requires drivers to keep right if driving slower than the average speed of traffic around you (unless passing or turning left). This means that the left lane should be reserved for passing only.

Minnesota updated its keep right law on August 1st, 2019 to make sure slow drivers keep right.

The Move Over Law in Minnesota is named after Ted Foss in honor of the State Patrol trooper who was killed while on the shoulder of I-90 in Winona in 2000.

The requirements of the law are as follows:

• When traveling on a road with two or more lanes, drivers must keep over one full lane away from stopped emergency vehicles with flashing lights activated — ambulance, fire, law enforcement, maintenance, construction vehicles, and tow trucks.
• Reduce speed if unable to safely move over a lane.
• Failing to take these actions endangers personnel who provide critical and life-saving services. Fines can exceed $100.

Speed Limits

Seat belt Laws

Child safety seat laws in Minnesota are just like any other state. All children ages seven and under and who are less than 57 inches tall must be in a child restraint or booster seat. The laws have no stated preference or requirements for rear seats.

Car Seat Laws

All children are required to wear seat belts in all seats, front and rear.

Safety Laws

Promoting safety and preventing chaos are the ultimate goals of any traffic laws. The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has developed resources and initiatives in the hopes of reducing roadways fatalities and injuries. One such initiative is Minnesota Toward Zero Death, which is the state’s preeminent traffic safety program.

In accordance with the National Highway Traffic Saftey Administration (NHTSA), Minnesota released its most recent Strategic Highway Safety Plan as an additional resource for drivers.

DUI Laws

The Blood-Alcohol Content (BAC) limit in Minnesota is 0.08 percent; the High BAC limit is between 0.16 percent. The DWI (Driving While Impaired) penalties in the state of Minnesota can be found in the underneath table

Drug-Impaired Driving Laws

At present, Minnesota has no specific marijuana-impaired drugged driving laws.

Distracted Driving Laws

It is illegal to text and drive in Minnesota. Minnesota also has a new hand-held ban in place, effective since August 1st, 2019. This new ban means drivers can only make calls, change music, or get directions by using voice commands.

Enforcement of these distracted driving laws is primary, which means law enforcement can pull over and ticket drivers for breaking the hand-held ban or texting.

Minnesota Can’t-Miss Facts

Here are some interesting nuggets of knowledge about Minnesota, the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

Vehicle Theft in Minnesota

Home is where the heart is, but it’s also where most auto thefts take place. Here is the chart of the top stolen vehicles in the state of Minnesota.

As you can see, Japanese-made vehicles are popular targets for car thieves in the state of Minnesota.

Vehicle Theft by City

The table below gives a breakdown of the top cities for auto theft within the state.

Risky and Harmful Behavior

We’ve compiled a list of all driving-related fatalities in Minnesota. For more information and resources, visit the Minnesota Traffic Facts Cards website.

Fatality by Speeding (County)

If you’re county didn’t make the list, no one lost their lives because of fast driving.

Fatality by DUI (County)

Counties with no alcohol-related traffic fatalities are omitted from the list.

Fatal Crashes in Top 10 Counties (Five Year Trend)

Fatality Rates Rural vs. Urban

Fatalities by Person Type

Fatalities by Type of Crash

EMS Response Time

Transportation

Here are the details of car ownership stats in Minnesota.

Car Ownership

A majority of Minnesota households own two cars.

Commute Time

At 22.4 minutes, drivers in Minnesota have significantly less commute time than the national average of 25.3 minutes. Only 1.89 percent of drivers in Minnesota experience a “super commute” of 90 minutes or more.

According to Inrix, Minneapolis is the 24th most congested city in the United States and ranks 132nd in the world. Drivers in Minneapolis spent 70 hours in congested traffic in 2018.

Commuter Transportation

Almost 80 percent of Minnesotans drive to work alone. Fewer than 10 percent of share driving expenses by carpooling.

You are now all caught up with the most important information regarding Minnesota driving laws and insurance requirements, you’ll never have to shed a tear. You can spend your time laughing about all the money you’ll be saving on auto insurance.

And of course, there is more good news when it comes to Minnesota and driving: Minnesotans were ranked the best drivers in 2018. This affects auto insurance as well. Just enter your ZIP code to let the precipitation of savings begin.