Minnesota car insurance guide by CarInsuranceCalculator.info
Car insurance quotes for Minnesota should provide you with the following insurance coverage or financial responsibility at a minimum:
30/60/10 – This is shorthand for the liability policy limits required which means you need a minimum coverage of:
- $30,000 for death or injury to one person;
- $60,000 for death or injury to two or more people; and
- $10,000 for property damage to others
In addition, drivers must also have Personal Injury Protection (PIP) to provide basic economic loss coverage of $40,000. Drivers must also obtain uninsured/underinsured coverage of 25/50 – $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.
Nearly all car insurance policies have a provision that will adjust your coverage from the minimums required in your state to the minimum insurance or proof of financial responsibility in another U.S. state. So you do not need to get a new insurance policy for each state you are driving through. However, if you buy a policy in a low limits state (like Minnesota or Michigan) but live in a high limits state (like Alaska or Maine), insurers will only write a policy where your car is principally garaged. So if your home is in Alaska, you should buy the minimum limits for Alaska.
As in virtually all states of the US, Minnesota’s required insurance limits are low, compared to the real cost of repair and damages likely to occur in an accident. If you are in a serious collision and the damages you caused are greater than the coverage limits you purchased, you may be personally liable to pay for those damages that exceed your insurance coverage. Buying additional coverage is relatively cheap and can protect you in the case of an incident.
Minnesota Car Insurance Requirements and Regulations
Minnesota is a modified comparative fault state with a 51% rule. This is a legal defense that means that a plaintiff can recover for an injury, reducing the amount that the plaintiff can recover based on the percentage of which the plaintiff is at fault if it is determined that his or her fault in causing the injury is less than 51%. If the plaintiff’s fault level reaches 51% or more, he or she cannot recover any damages resulting from the accident. If the damage caused is less than 51%, the claimant can only recover their damages as reduced by their percentage of fault.
Driving While Intoxicated (DWI)
In Minnesota, a first time offense of Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) is a misdemeanor offense. If you are 21 years or older, if you have a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) level of .08% or higher while driving, Minnesota law presumes you are driving while intoxicated. If you are under 21, a lower BAC may apply to you.
1st DWI
If convicted, you may be sentenced up to a maximum of 90 days in jail. A court fine of $100 may be imposed. Your license will be suspended for up to 180 days and may be increased depending on the circumstances of your offense. You also may be required to install an ignition interlock device. SR-22 or FR-44 forms will be required for a 1st DWI.
2nd DWI
If convicted, you may be sentenced up to a maximum of 1 year in jail. Fines may be imposed up to $3,000. Your license may be suspended for up to 1 year and the license plate on your vehicle may be confiscated for a year. When your vehicle is released, you may be required to install a specially coded license plate and an ignition interlock device. SR-22 or FR-44 forms will be required for a 2nd OUI.
List of Top Ten Car Insurance Companies in Minnesota
These are the best rated insurance companies according to their market share in the Minnesota:
- State Farm Mutual Auto Insurance Company
- American Family Mutual Insurance Company;
- Illinois Farmers Insurance Company
- Progressive Northern Insurance Company
- Allstate Insurance Company
- Progressive Northwestern Insurance Company
- Western National Mutual Insurance Company
- American Standard Insurance Company of WI
- Owners Insurance Company
- Mutual Service Casualty Insurance Company
