Minnesota Car Insurance Laws and Requirements (2023)

Minnesota state law dictates the minimum requirements for insurance coverage that all drivers must carry. All drivers in Minnesota must hold 30/60/10 in liability coverage, personal injury protection, and uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. Additionally, drivers can pick from a long list of additional coverages for added protection.

Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in Minnesota

The minimum car insurance requirements in Minnesota^[1] are:

• $30,000 for bodily injury liability per person

• $60,000 for bodily injury liability per accident

• $10,000 for property damage liability per accident

• $40,000 for personal injury protection per accident ($20,000 for medical expenses and $20,000 for non-medical expenses)

• $25,000 uninsured bodily injury liability coverage per person

• $50,000 uninsured bodily injury liability coverage per accident

• $25,000 underinsured bodily injury liability coverage per person

• $50,000 underinsured bodily injury liability coverage per accident

Minnesota’s no-fault insurance law requires drivers to carry personal injury protection (PIP) coverage, also called no-fault coverage or basic economic loss benefits. Half of your minimum PIP coverage pays for your hospital and medical costs after an accident; the other half covers lost wages and other non-medical losses. You make this claim in an accident regardless of fault.

Bodily Injury Liability

Bodily injury liability is part of your liability car insurance coverage. If you cause an accident, this coverage will help cover the other party’s medical expenses. This type of coverage will not cover your own medical expenses for injuries sustained in a car accident you caused. Bodily injury liability coverage is required in Minnesota.

Property Damage Liability

Property damage liability is the other half of your liability car insurance. It covers repair costs and damage expenses to the other cars involved in an accident you caused. This coverage does not cover damage to your own car in an accident you were at fault for. Property damage liability coverage is required in Minnesota.

Personal Injury Protection

Personal injury protection, also known as PIP, covers medical bills, lost wages, and replacement services for you and other members of your household if you’re injured in a car accident. PIP provides coverage regardless of who is at fault for an accident. Personal injury protection is required in Minnesota.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage

If an uninsured (or underinsured) driver causes an accident and you suffer bodily injury, uninsured motorist coverage will cover your medical expenses. If the at-fault driver surpasses their bodily injury liability coverage limits, your underinsured motorist coverage will cover the rest of your medical expenses. This coverage is required in Minnesota.

Is state minimum car insurance enough in Minnesota?

The minimum required car insurance coverage in Minnesota provides drivers with a solid foundation of auto insurance coverage, but it may not be enough for everyone. Let’s say you’re in an accident that’s your fault and a new Mercedes-Benz valued at $50,000 winds up totaled. With only $10,000 in property damage liability coverage, you’ll pay $40,000 out of pocket.

Serious injuries sustained in car accidents can run up medical bills that blow past Minnesota’s $60,000 minimum limit for bodily injury liability per accident, even though it’s higher than in most states. If you have lots of assets to protect, consider upping your coverage limits to total at least your net worth.

If you cause a car accident and someone is hurt, their PIP coverage will pay for $20,000 worth of medical expenses—but a simple broken bone can rack up that much. An insurance policy that leaves you on the hook for tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars in the event of an accident just isn’t worth it. It’s better to invest in a policy with robust coverage.

Optional Car Insurance Coverage for Minnesota

Minnesota drivers who want to be protected in any situation should consider bolstering the minimum car insurance coverage with the following supplemental car insurance coverages:

Collision Coverage

Collision coverage covers damages to your car after a collision with another vehicle or object. If your vehicle is a total loss, collision coverage will reimburse you for the actual cash value of your vehicle. This is a great addition to the required property damage liability coverage in Minnesota, which applies only to the damages to the other driver’s vehicle.

Comprehensive Coverage

Complementing your collision coverage, comprehensive insurance covers damage to your vehicle that occurs during an event that is not a collision with another vehicle or object. This may apply in situations of vandalism, theft, weather damage, or a run-in with an animal. Adding comprehensive and collision coverage together creates a full-coverage car insurance policy.

Other Supplemental Coverage

Auto insurance companies in Minnesota offer other types of coverage with more specific applications. If you need your car to commute every day, you might consider rental car reimbursement coverage, which will pay for you to rent a car while yours is getting repaired for a covered loss.

Minnesota winters can make for dangerous conditions. It’s not a place to be stuck on the side of the road, whether you have a flat tire, run out of gas, or something else goes wrong with your car. Insurance companies offer roadside assistance coverage for a small monthly fee and dispatch drivers via a hotline to help you out at no charge to you.

Penalties for Driving Uninsured in Minnesota

It is illegal to drive in Minnesota without the minimum car insurance coverage. If you can’t provide an officer with proof of insurance upon request, you will be charged with a misdemeanor, fined at least $200, and given a court date^[2].

• Any sentence of imprisonment the court may impose

• A fine no lower than $200

• Potential revocation of license or permit to drive

If you had insurance at the time but failed to produce it, you can get the charge dismissed by mailing proof of insurance to the court that shows that you were insured at the time of the offense. Just send it out before your court date. If not, you’ll be fined and could go to jail.

Minimum Requirements for High-Risk Drivers in Minnesota

When a court of law revokes your driver’s license or registration in Minnesota, you won’t have to procure an SR-22 certificate like in some states. Your insurance agent, however, will have to provide a certificate that certifies you have purchased an auto insurance policy or are a listed driver on one before you can get your license reinstated.

If you’re turned down for insurance because of your driving record, you may qualify for the Minnesota Automobile Insurance Plan, which guarantees every driver access to a car insurance policy if they are turned away for a reason other than nonpayment.

More Information for High-Risk Drivers in Minnesota

DUI Insurance in Minnesota

Cheapest Minimum Car Insurance in Minnesota

Car insurance companies weigh different factors to determine what to quote drivers on their car insurance policies. Minimum coverage generally means lower car insurance rates. It also means low coverage limits, which may cost you if you’re ever involved in an accident. Here are the cheapest car insurance quotes for minimum coverage in Minnesota.

How to Find Cheap Car Insurance in Minnesota

The best way drivers can find cheap car insurance is by comparison-shopping. Insurify is a reliable, fast, and free site that millions of auto insurance customers use to compare car insurance quotes. You can look at a personalized set of quotes in one place, access exclusive deals, and call or click to buy right away.