Minnesota requires drivers to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance. Without this type of coverage, motorists cannot travel legally on state roads. Review the laws about driving without insurance in MN to learn why it's so important to keep your car insurance up to date.
Minnesota Insurance Law
Under Minnesota Statute 169.791, driving without auto insurance is a misdemeanor offense in the state. Drivers must present proof of insurance if asked to do so by a law enforcement officer. You can receive a ticket for failure to have proof of coverage while driving even if you're insured. You can present either a paper or digital version of your auto insurance card.
Minnesota Auto Insurance Requirements
According to WalletHub, drivers in Minnesota must carry at least $30,000 for bodily injury liability per person, $60,000 for bodily injury liability per accident, and $10,000 for property damage liability per accident. These policies pay the expenses other individuals experience if the policyholder has an at-fault accident. Minnesota also requires coverage to pay your expenses in an accident with an uninsured motorist and personal injury protection (PIP) coverage to pay your medical bills after a crash, regardless of fault.
According to the state's No-Fault Automobile Insurance Act, you must carry insurance on all vehicles you have licensed, registered, and park in Minnesota. You also agree that your auto insurance company will handle accident claims outside the legal system except in cases involving devastating injuries.
Penalties for Driving Without Insurance
According to ValuePenguin, the penalties increase for each instance of driving without insurance. For the first or second offense, drivers can receive fines of up to $1000, license suspension for up to 30 days, and community service. The third offense, elevated from a simple misdemeanor to a gross misdemeanor, carries up to $3000 in fines, license suspension for up to 12 months, community service, and even up to 90 days in jail. For all offenses, the state can also impound your vehicle and cancel your registration and vehicle plates.
Drivers with convictions for driving without insurance in Minnesota must purchase SR-22 insurance. This certificate provides proof of insurance to the state as a requirement of license reinstatement, along with a $30 fee.
If you have auto insurance but do not have proof of coverage when asked to provide it, you can bring your policy ID card to court and potentially have your ticket dismissed.
Cost of Minnesota Auto Insurance Coverage
According to Bankrate.com, Minnesota drivers pay an average of $537 for minimum state liability coverage and $1643 for a full coverage policy. These numbers closely align with the average auto insurance rates across the U.S. The website reports the most affordable full coverage rates on average from these Minnesota providers:
- Iowa Farm Bureau: $1015.
- State Farm: $1167.
- American Family: $1176.
- West Bend: $1306.
- Auto-Owners Insurance: $1366.
- North Star Mutual: $1421.
- USAA: $1491.
- Western National: $1739.
- MetLife: $2011.
- Country Financial: $2022.
- GEICO: $2051.
- QBE: $2214.
ValuePenguin reports that State Farm has the most affordable overall average rates for Minnesota residents, as well as the lowest minimum and full coverage premiums and the most affordable rates for young drivers. To gather these numbers, the researchers used a sample profile of a 30-year-old man who has a good driving history and owns a 2015 Honda Civic EX.
The website also notes that Auto-Owners has the best reputation for customer service, based on a claims satisfaction rating of 100 percent in a recent policyholder survey. They were followed by American Family with 86 percent, USAA with 78 percent, State Farm with 72 percent, and Allstate with 71 percent.
According to NerdWallet, these Minnesota auto insurance companies have the most affordable annual rates for drivers with at-fault accidents in the past few years:
- American Family: $960.
- Auto-Owners: $980.
- Country Financial: $995.
- North Star: $925.
- State Farm: $1033.
Bankrate also reviewed the average auto insurance premiums in Minnesota's 20 most populous cities. They found the lowest annual rates for drivers who live in Mankato, Rochester, Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, and Maple Grove. Motorists pay the highest average rates in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Costs for auto insurance vary by zip code based on factors such as vandalism, theft, and accident rates.
Accessing Minnesota Auto Insurance Coverage
Some drivers might have difficulty getting affordable auto insurance or think they do not need coverage. WalletHub reports on a few of these common situations:
- If you have a history of driving without insurance or lapses in your insurance policy, your premiums will go up when you do obtain coverage. Rates increase by about 27 percent after a two-month lapse in coverage in Minnesota. Drivers in this situation can find the most affordable average rates from GEICO, Nationwide, State Farm, and USAA.
- If you do not own a car but sometimes borrow a friend or family member's car, you do not legally need auto insurance. However, you can protect your financial interests by purchasing a nonowner policy. WalletHub recommends The General, Nationwide, State Farm, and GEICO for this type of coverage in Minnesota.
- Drivers with histories of accidents and violations are considered high-risk. Insurance companies might deny them standard policies. In this case, you can enroll in the Minnesota assigned risk program to get coverage. High-risk drivers pay about 44 percent higher premiums than their counterparts who have clean driving records.
Check this out if you need additional information, resources, or guidance on car insurance.
Sources:
Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in Minnesota | valuepenguin.com
What is the penalty for driving without insurance in Minnesota? | wallethub.com
Average Cost of Car Insurance in Minnesota for 2021 | bankrate.com
Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance Quotes in Minnesota? | valuepenguin.com
Best Cheap Car Insurance in Minnesota for 2021 | nerdwallet.com
Car and Driver: Car Insurance | caranddriver.com
Best Car Insurance in Minnesota: Everything You Need to Know | caranddriver.com
2015 Honda Civic EX-L 2dr CVT W/Navi Features And Specs | caranddriver.com
Criminal Penalty for Failure to Produce Proof of Insurance | revisor.mn.gov
Hearst Autos Research
Hearst Autos Research, produced independently of the Car and Driver Editorial staff, provides articles about cars and the automotive industry to help readers make informed purchasing choices.
