27+ years writing about personal finance
Bylines in numerous notable publications
Geoff is a freelance personal finance journalist and author. He’s been published in top outlets such as The Wall Street Journal and CNN Money.
Featured in
15+ years in content creation
7+ years in business and financial services content
Chris is a seasoned writer/editor with past experience across myriad industries, including insurance, SAS, finance, Medicare, logistics, marketing/advertising, and many more.
Featured in
30+ years in financial services
Clinical Professor of Finance, University of San Diego
Dan is a well-recognized and widely quoted financial services expert, regularly appearing in a variety of national and local media as a subject matter expert.
Updated November 20, 2024
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Table of contents
Rochester is home to the world-famous Mayo Clinic and some pretty nice car insurance rates as well. The overall average monthly cost of car insurance in Rochester is $136 per month, according to Insurify’s latest data. The national average auto insurance policy costs $154 per month.
Multiple factors likely contribute to the city’s comparatively low car insurance rates. Rochester’s relatively small population of 121,000 means fewer accidents are likely to occur. It’s a city amid rolling hills, but it isn’t mountainous, which would mean a lot of wear and tear when braking. It also has a lower crime rate than the national average.[1]
Here’s how to compare quotes and secure the lowest car insurance rates in Rochester.
Drivers in Rochester will find the cheapest liability-only policies from National General and the cheapest full-coverage policies from Safeco.
Rochester teens pay an average of $265 per month for car insurance, while the monthly average for seniors is $98.
Minnesota is a no-fault state, which results in drivers having to buy more insurance coverage than in at-fault states.
3 of the cheapest car insurance companies in Rochester
Rochester, Minnesota, has a lot of excellent insurance companies, but the best car insurance policy will be the one that meets your individual situation and needs. The premiums you pay for that policy depend on multiple factors, such as your driving record, age, gender, budget, and credit history.
As you begin your search for car insurance in Rochester, keep the following three insurers in mind. Full-coverage and liability-only rates in the table below are national averages.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. ▲▼ | Full Coverage ▲▼ | Liability Only ▲▼ | Best For ▲▼ |
---|---|---|---|---|
State Farm | 9.3 | $119 | $54 | Low rates |
Auto-Owners | 8.5 | $73 | $34 | Customer service |
American Family | 9.1 | $161 | $73 | Discounts |
Our editorial team spent more than 350 hours developing the Insurify Quality (IQ) Score and scoring insurance companies. The IQ Score objectively analyzes and calculates a score for insurers using more than 15 crucial criteria. The team weighted criteria by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings.
We rate each company on a 1 to 10 scale based on five categories: financial ratings, customer satisfaction, affordability, customer support and transparency, and availability. Insurify updates ratings once a year or as more recent information becomes available.
- Third-party financial ratings: Insurify uses data from AM Best, S&P, Moody’s, and more to compare insurance companies’ credit and ability to pay out future claims.
- Customer satisfaction: To calculate this score, Insurify analyzed more than 28,000 customer reviews across 155 car insurance companies. We also consider third-party ratings from J.D. Power, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and Trustpilot.
- Affordability: Our data scientists analyzed more than 90 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partners across the U.S., as well as available discounts, to calculate an affordability score.
- Customer support and transparency: This measures coverage options, ease of claims filing, and the insurer's transparency surrounding discounts, coverages, and claims process.
- Availability and reach: Insurify scores availability and reach by identifying the number of states in which insurers offer coverage and company size by market share.
Best insurer for low rates: State Farm
User Reviews | 4.2 |
---|---|
IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 9.3 /10 |
Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $54/mo |
Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $119/mo |
Drivers appreciate the helpful local agents and initial service but dislike the high prices and frequent rate increases.
Drivers appreciate the helpful local agents and initial service but dislike the high prices and frequent rate increases.
Ronald
November 19, 2024
State Farm Experience: 35 Years+
David
November 19, 2024
Too expensive
Ronald
November 18, 2024
Very Expensive Auto and Home
State Farm was founded in 1922. Today it offers around 100 different insurance products, including car, renters, and pet insurance. State Farm is available in all 50 states and is the largest insurance company in the country. It continually offers some of the lowest rates in Rochester.
Strong AM Best financial strength rating
Offers rideshare insurance
Low customer reviews according to the Better Business Bureau
Not as many discounts as some competitors
Best insurer for customer service: Auto-Owners
User Reviews | 4.0 |
---|---|
IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 8.5 /10 |
Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $34/mo |
Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $73/mo |
Drivers appreciate the friendly customer service, competitive initial rates, and professional agents but dislike the frequent price increases and complicated claims process.
Drivers appreciate the friendly customer service, competitive initial rates, and professional agents but dislike the frequent price increases and complicated claims process.
Debra
November 3, 2024
Excellent
Scotty
November 2, 2024
They are a bunch of crooks. My policy has increased every single time, and I've only had one small claim.
Dana
October 31, 2024
Average
Auto-Owners isn’t a nationally known insurer, but it’s well known in Minnesota. The company started in 1916 and started writing insurance policies in Minnesota in 1945. Auto-Owners has won numerous awards for its customer service and also offers other insurance products, such as homeowners and life insurance.
Long history of selling car insurance in Minnesota
A++ financial strength rating from AM Best
Doesn’t offer online quotes
Available in only 26 states
Best insurer for discounts: American Family
User Reviews | 4.5 |
---|---|
IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 9.1 /10 |
Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $73/mo |
Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $161/mo |
Drivers appreciate the responsive customer service and reliability but dislike the high prices and frequent rate increases.
Drivers appreciate the responsive customer service and reliability but dislike the high prices and frequent rate increases.
Stephanie
November 5, 2024
It started out okay. My six-month policy was over and immediately, I received a rate hike of 124 dollars. I question why this is the case as I am an excellent driver. I'm tired of feeling punished for the actions of other irresponsible drivers. Additionally, I was informed that my insurance will continue to increase and they don't foresee any changes soon. It's not something I'm looking forward to. Thanks!
Devona
November 5, 2024
Line by Line to Save Money
Joseph
November 4, 2024
Looking for Better
American Family opened for business in 1927 in Madison, Wisconsin. Today, it offers more than a dozen different insurance types in 19 states throughout the midwestern and western United States. American Family also offers numerous discounts, including multi-product, multi-vehicle, good driving, and more.
Reputation for good customer service
Lots of discount and coverage options
Available in only 19 states
Digital experience not as robust
How to get the cheapest car insurance in Rochester
Some insurance pricing will hinge on factors out of your control, like your age, while others will be in your control, such as your driving history. If you haven’t had many incidents and have a history of safe driving, you’ll probably have lower rates than someone with a lot of speeding tickets or a teenager just starting out.
To find the right policy for you, remember:
Getting a policy that meets the minimum insurance requirements will always be cheaper than comprehensive coverage. But don’t rule out paying more for more coverage. If you get the cheapest coverage and aren’t covered for — say, a stolen car — you could be left with nothing.
You may be tempted to pay a very high deductible to get a lower rate, but keep in mind that if you get into an accident, you’ll have to pay the collision and comprehensive deductible before your insurer pays for damages. If paying a high deductible would be a challenge, you may opt for higher monthly premiums to keep your deductible low.
Choose a vehicle with safety equipment and technology. Many insurers offer discounts for safety equipment.
Ask your insurance agent if they can steer you to any discounts that will bring your rates down. You can also ask your employer, or any other organization you’re a member of, whether it has a discount with a particular insurer.
Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Rochester: National General
Liability car insurance pays for damages suffered by the other driver and their passengers in an accident you cause. But liability-only insurance won’t cover any costs you incur from the accident. Because of this, liability-only coverage is often the cheapest insurance available. Generally, though, liability-only coverage works best if you own your vehicle outright, and have an older, less-expensive vehicle.
Liability-only coverage in Rochester, Minnesota, costs an average of $94 per month. You can see a collection of average monthly quotes for liability coverage in the table below.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Average Monthly Quote ▲▼ |
---|---|
National General | $60 |
Safeco | $63 |
Progressive | $78 |
Direct Auto | $82 |
Liberty Mutual | $114 |
Bristol West | $122 |
The General | $163 |
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Rochester: Safeco
Full-coverage car insurance provides the same protections as liability, but it also includes collision and comprehensive to cover your vehicle and occupants. As such, full-coverage policies are generally more expensive but can be a good idea if you have a vehicle that would be financially difficult for you to replace.
Many lenders will also require you to carry a full-coverage policy before they grant you a loan for a new vehicle. In Rochester, the average monthly cost for full coverage is $178.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Average Monthly Quote ▲▼ |
---|---|
Safeco | $118 |
National General | $127 |
Progressive | $135 |
Direct Auto | $158 |
Liberty Mutual | $224 |
Bristol West | $255 |
The General | $336 |
Cheapest recent rates near Rochester, Minnesota
Drivers in and around Rochester, Minnesota have found policies from National General, Safeco, Direct Auto, and more, through Insurify in the last few days.
*Quotes generated for Insurify users in and around Rochester, Minnesota within the last 10 days. Last updated on November 20, 2024
*Quotes generated for Insurify users in and around Rochester, Minnesota within the last 10 days. Last updated on November 20, 2024
Car insurance requirements in Minnesota
All vehicles in Minnesota, both operated and parked, must be insured. If you’re caught driving without insurance, you could be fined or, in worst-case scenarios, imprisoned or lose your driving privileges.[2]
Minnesota is also a no-fault state. That means both parties’ insurance companies will pay for their own clients’ damages after an accident.
To take advantage of this, drivers need to provide proof of insurance in a variety of contexts, including:
When the vehicle is involved in a car accident
When requested by law enforcement
When renewing vehicle registration
This table explains the minimum amount of car insurance you need to have if you want to drive in Minnesota.
Coverage ▲▼ | Minimum Requirements ▲▼ |
---|---|
Bodily injury liability | $30,000 per person / $60,000 per accident |
Property damage liability | $10,000 per accident |
Personal injury protection (PIP) | $40,000 per person per accident |
Uninsured motorist bodily injury | $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident |
Underinsured motorist bodily injury | $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident |
If you want more coverage options, you certainly have them. The minimum requirements will prevent you from getting in trouble with the state, but minimum coverage won’t protect you in several scenarios, such as your car getting stolen or a tree falling on your parked vehicle during a storm. To meet these needs, you may want to also look into buying:
Comprehensive insurance
This type of car insurance covers you if your vehicle is damaged due to something other than a car accident. For instance, if your car is stolen or you hit a deer crossing the road, your comprehensive insurance would pay for repairs or for it to be replaced.
Collision insurance
Collision coverage pays to fix your vehicle when it’s damaged by another vehicle or an object. For instance, if you back into a telephone pole or a car hits your parked car, this type of insurance would pay for that.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident
Incidents like speeding tickets, at-fault accidents, and DUIs can affect your insurance rates, sometimes dramatically. As a general rule, insurers believe a driving incident could mean there will be more incidents to follow, so they raise premiums to protect the company financially in case it needs to make a payout.
In the sections that follow, you’ll see how different incident types can affect your premiums.
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket: Safeco
In Minnesota, if you’re caught going 20 or more miles over the speed limit, the fine for speeding doubles.[3] If you’re pulled over driving 100 mph or more, you could potentially lose your driver’s license for six months.
All of this is to say that if you want to keep your premiums as low as possible, you’ll try to stick to a speed close to what’s on the speed limit signs. In Rochester, a driver with a clean record could pay as little as $60 per month for liability car insurance, while a driver with a speeding ticket could see monthly premiums of $80 per month for liability-only coverage.
Here, you can see how a speeding ticket affects your premium quotes in Rochester.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Clean Driving Record ▲▼ | With Speeding Ticket ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
National General | $60 | $80 |
Safeco | $63 | $85 |
Progressive | $78 | $103 |
Direct Auto | $82 | $109 |
Liberty Mutual | $114 | $163 |
Bristol West | $122 | $164 |
The General | $163 | $221 |
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident: Safeco
As a general rule, insurers make drivers pay more after a car accident than motorists who manage to avoid such incidents. But if you live in Minnesota, since it’s a no-fault state and everybody’s insurance pays if there are medical bills, it’s pretty likely your rates will go up after an accident, no matter whose fault it is.
In Rochester, the average cost of car insurance after an accident is $262 per month for full coverage and $138 for liability only. Here’s a look at how an at-fault accident could affect your quotes.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Clean Driving Record ▲▼ | With Accident ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
National General | $60 | $82 |
Safeco | $63 | $86 |
Progressive | $78 | $108 |
Direct Auto | $82 | $115 |
Liberty Mutual | $114 | $166 |
Bristol West | $122 | $167 |
The General | $163 | $228 |
Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI: Safeco
Insurers see a DUI as being among the most serious incidents. In fact, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Office of Traffic Safety website estimates that a Minnesota resident who is pulled over for a DUI will spend around $20,000 in court costs, legal fees, and increased insurance premiums.[4]
The table below shows just how much you can expect to pay for insurance if you have a DUI on your record. Rochester drivers with a DUI face an average rate of $297 per month for full coverage and $157 for liability only. Some insurers will drop drivers who have a DUI. But others specialize in working with people with a DUI.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Clean Driving Record ▲▼ | With DUI ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
National General | $60 | $100 |
Safeco | $63 | $97 |
Progressive | $78 | $129 |
Direct Auto | $82 | $136 |
Liberty Mutual | $114 | $189 |
Bristol West | $122 | $202 |
The General | $163 | $271 |
Cheapest car insurance for seniors: National General
Insurers calculate premiums by looking at a lot of factors, but the age of the driver is an especially important one. If you’re 70 or older, your premiums are probably drifting upward slightly. You may have an excellent driving record, but data shows that older drivers have a greater risk of getting into an accident and getting seriously injured in an accident.
Senior drivers in Rochester pay an average of $43 per month for liability coverage and $129 for full coverage. This table shows what you may pay, on average, for your insurance as a senior.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Full Coverage ▲▼ | Liability Only ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
National General | $91 | $43 |
Progressive | $91 | $52 |
Safeco | $95 | $51 |
Direct Auto | $115 | $60 |
Liberty Mutual | $176 | $90 |
Bristol West | $191 | $91 |
The General | $255 | $124 |
Cheapest car insurance for teens: National General
Teens pay some of the highest car insurance premiums on the market due to their lack of driving experience and tendency to engage in riskier driving behaviors, like speeding, distracted driving, and driving at night. Fortunately, if you’re a teen driver or the parent of one, you can reduce these high insurance premiums.
For instance, if you can, don’t get a separate insurance policy; insurers charge less when a teenage driver stays on their parents’ policy. Using a car that your insurer considers safe may also lower premiums. Finally, your insurer may also give a discount for good grades or for completing an approved driver education course.
On average, Rochester teens pay $347 per month for full coverage and $183 for liability only. The following table shows what you may pay, on average, for your teen’s car insurance in Rochester.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Full Coverage ▲▼ | Liability Only ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
Safeco | $242 | $129 |
Progressive | $254 | $147 |
National General | $266 | $126 |
Direct Auto | $309 | $160 |
Liberty Mutual | $412 | $210 |
Bristol West | $461 | $221 |
The General | $575 | $279 |
Rochester car insurance quotes by credit tier
Most states, including Minnesota, allow insurers to look at credit histories when coming up with a price for your insurance. Data shows that your credit history is an indicator of your likelihood to file a claim.
So, drivers with good or excellent credit pay far lower insurance premiums than drivers with poor credit. The table below shows how credit tiers affect Rochester drivers’ insurance quotes.
Rates by Credit Tier
Is car insurance more expensive in Rochester?
Car insurance premiums in Rochester are cheaper than the national average. If you live in Rochester, you’ll pay $136 per month, on average. The national average car insurance policy costs $154 per month.
Why is it cheaper in Rochester? The area has a lot going for it, including a relatively low population of 121,000, a low crime rate, and terrain that isn’t rough on a car. All those factors can help drive prices down.
More cities in Minnesota
On average, Rochester drivers pay $94 per month for liability-only insurance and $178 per month for full-coverage car insurance. The table below shows how Rochester compares to some other cities in Minnesota.
City ▲▼ | Full Coverage ▲▼ | Liability Only ▲▼ |
---|---|---|
Duluth | $162 | $90 |
Minneapolis | $233 | $128 |
Rochester car insurance FAQs
If you want to learn more about how you can secure the cheapest car insurance in Rochester, the information below can help.
How much is car insurance in Rochester, Minnesota?
The average rate for full coverage in Rochester is $136 per month, and liability-only coverage costs an average of $94 per month.
Which companies have the cheapest rates in Rochester, Minnesota?
Auto-Owners has the cheapest liability-only rates in Rochester, at $62 per month. Safeco and Progressive also offer affordable rates, at $63 and $68 per month, respectively.
What are the best car insurance companies in Rochester?
State Farm, Auto-Owners, and American Family rank as the top insurers in Rochester. The companies have commendable Insurify Quality Scores of 9.3, 8.5, and 9.1, respectively. In addition, each company has earned high marks for its coverage offerings, financial stability, and low rates.
How much is car insurance per month in Minnesota?
The state average for liability-only car insurance in Minnesota is $104 per month. This is just slightly less than the national average of $104. Minnesota’s harsh winters and status as a no-fault state affect rates, driving them higher. Full coverage in Minnesota costs $201 per month, on average.
What is the state minimum for car insurance in Minnesota?
To drive legally in Minnesota, you must have insurance coverage that meets the minimum requirements of bodily injury liability ($30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident), property damage liability ($10,000 per accident), personal injury protection ($40,000 per accident), uninsured motorist bodily injury ($25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident), and underinsured motorist bodily injury ($25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident).
Is it illegal to not have car insurance in Minnesota?
Yes. To drive legally in Minnesota, you must have coverage that meets the minimum state requirements outlined above.
Methodology
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 90 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 50+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.
Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).
Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:
- Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
- Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
- No additional coverage
- Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
- Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible
Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.
Related articles
More cities in Minnesota
Sources
- Bestplaces.net. "Rochester, MN Crime."
- Minnesota Department of Public Safety. "Automobile Insurance."
- Minnesota Department of Public Safety. "Aggressive/Speed Laws."
- Minnesota Department of Public Safety. "Impaired Driving Laws."
Geoff Williams is a freelance journalist who has written personal finance articles for most of his career and for numerous publications, including U.S. News & World Report, The Wall Street Journal, Bankrate, CNNMoney.com and Forbes.com. He is also the author of several books, including “C.C. Pyle’s Amazing Foot Race” and “Washed Away,” and writes a classic TV blog called “The TV Professor.”
15+ years in content creation
7+ years in business and financial services content
Chris is a seasoned writer/editor with past experience across myriad industries, including insurance, SAS, finance, Medicare, logistics, marketing/advertising, and many more.
Featured in
30+ years in financial services
Clinical Professor of Finance, University of San Diego
Dan is a well-recognized and widely quoted financial services expert, regularly appearing in a variety of national and local media as a subject matter expert.