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It shouldn’t be hard to find cheap car insurance in Minnesota that fits your particular needs. Unfortunately, with dozens of companies advertising their low rates, identifying the best policy can be a tedious and time-consuming endeavor. To reduce the hassle, our Geeks analyzed the insurance rates of several leading providers to noodle out the best and most affordable carriers.
Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in Minnesota
Minimum Car Insurance Requirements
Penalties for Driving Without Auto Insurance
Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in Minnesota
The best way to find the cheapest car insurance rates in Minnesota is to perform a side-by-side comparison of quotes from multiple providers. The table below features our suggested insurance companies for various driver profiles:
| Cheapest Insurer | Driver Category |
|---|---|
| Liberty Mutual | Safe Drivers |
| USAA | Drivers in the Military |
| State Farm | Low Annual Mileage |
| Esurance | Drivers Who Pay Their Premiums Upfront |
Allstate | High-Risk Drivers |
Best Car Insurance Companies in Minnesota
Our Geeks looked at policyholder reviews and complaint data to rank the best insurers in the state. Find the results of our analysis below:
| Rank | Company | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Progressive | A |
| 2 | USAA | A- |
| 3 | Liberty Mutual | A- |
| 4 | Esurance | B+ |
| 5 | Allstate | B+ |
Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in Minnesota
Drivers in Minnesota are required to carry auto insurance that would cover $30,000 for bodily injury to one individual, $60,000 for bodily injury in one wreck, and $10,000 for damage to property. Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury Coverage is also required with minimum limits of $25,000 per individual and $50,000 per collision.
Penalties for Driving Without Auto Insurance in Minnesota
Minnesota takes driving without car insurance very seriously, and so should you. Insurance is meant to protect drivers in case of an accident or unforeseen event. It’s a crucial part of the effort to make roadways safer; without it, Minnesota roads would pose a greater-than-normal risk of financial devastation. Thus, state law makes auto insurance mandatory.
Drivers must always carry valid proof of insurance with them. Valid proof could be an insurance card, a policy declaration page, or e-insurance.
To ensure people’s compliance with these laws, Minnesota developed a variety of potential sanctions. Driving without proof of insurance could lead to a license and/or registration revocation, and driving without insurance could lead to a license and/or registration revocation, a $1,000 fine, and up to 90 days in jail.
Adding to the mix, Minnesota made getting your license back after such a conviction a real hassle. Drivers need to submit a new application, pass a knowledge test, pay a $30 reinstatement fee and whatever fees the court mandates, and submit proof of insurance.
Minnesota Car Insurance FAQs
What Minnesota Traffic Laws Should All Drivers Know?
Unlike most states, Minnesota does not use a point system to keep track of violations. This doesn’t mean they just go away once they’re taken care of, however. Instead, your driving record contains a list of every violation committed in the state—forever. Insurers can and do readily use this information when deciding what to charge you. A shorter list means a better premium, so there’s even more incentive to know and follow the laws in Michigan. We’ve assembled some key concepts below.
Speeding Laws in Minnesota
Speeding is a leading contributor to crashes in Minnesota. Driving too fast reduces your ability to react to what’s going on around you and driving too slowly can be just as risky. For that reason, it’s important to pay attention to the speed limits. They are there to keep you and those around you safe.
Fines may be imposed for driving above the speed limit. If you are caught going more than 20 mph over the speed limit, you will incur additional fines. If you are caught going more than 100 mph, your license will be revoked for at least six months.
Keep an eye out for unique circumstances like work zones; reduced speed zones are common in these areas, violations may result in additional fines.
Seat Belt Laws in Minnesota
Seat belt usage is mandatory in Minnesota. Seat belts can be credited with saving numerous lives; they prevent car occupants from being ejected during a crash, and the chances of being killed in an accident are four times greater without one.
Minnesota police can stop your vehicle if even one passenger isn’t wearing a seat belt. Infants must be secured in a rear-facing child safety restraint system, and older children must use front-facing booster seats. Children may never use a seat belt alone until he/she is either 4-feet-9-inches tall or 8 years old.
Texting and Driving Laws in Minnesota
The use of any device not necessary to the operation of the car is expressly unlawful while driving. This includes cell phones, tablets, and gaming devices. The first violation comes with a $50 fine, but two or more violations will lead to a $275 fine.
The only exceptions to this rule are using the device to report a crash or crime or obtain emergency assistance, or if it’s completely voice-activated and hands-free.
Drinking and Driving Laws in Minnesota
Alcohol impairs judgment, vision, reaction time, steering, perception, coordination, balance, and attention, all of which greatly raise the possibility of a crash. It’s a very serious problem, both nationwide and in the state of Minnesota. For this reason, very strict laws and sanctions are in place.
If you are found to have had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 percent or greater when in control of a vehicle, you will be arrested for driving while impaired (DWI). If you are found to be under the influence of alcohol while committing driving violations, you can be arrested for DWI with a BAC of .04 percent. It is also illegal to have any alcohol open in a moving vehicle; even passengers are forbidden from drinking in a car.
First-time offenders could face a slew of penalties, including a minimum 90-day revocation, 90 days in jail, or a $1,000 fine. There is also a $650 reinstatement fee and a mandatory DWI knowledge test.
Drivers may be eligible for a work permit after 15 days if the reinstatement terms are met. Another option for regaining some privileges sooner is enrolling in the Ignition Interlock Device Program, through which you agree to let a device be placed in your car that measures your BAC. The car will not start if you are deemed to have a BAC of more than .02 percent.
A second offense comes with a minimum one-year license revocation, one year in jail, and/or a $3,000 fine, plus the aforementioned reinstatement requirements. Additionally, your license plates will be impounded.
Minnesota has a zero tolerance policy for drivers under 21, as they are also under the legal drinking age. Driving with any detectable alcohol will result in a first-time penalty of a 30-day suspension and a second-time penalty of a 180-day suspension.
Police officers can search any vehicle they think may have an impaired driver, and the driver is required to submit to a blood, breath, and/or urine test. Failure to comply will result in a license revocation of one to six years.
Distracted Driving Laws in Minnesota
Besides phones, a lot of other factors can contribute to distracted driving. Minnesota recognizes three different types of distraction: visual, cognitive, and mechanical/physical. The first involves looking away from the road, the second involves getting lost in thought or emotional issues, and the third involves taking your hands off the wheel. All three are bad; according to the Minnesota DMV, some form of distracted driving is the leading cause of 25 percent of crashes every year.
When you’re on the road, you are responsible for paying full attention to what you’re doing and what’s going on around you. Even looking at a map or GPS could hold your attention long enough to cause a crash. If you need to do anything other than drive, either take care of it beforehand or afterwards or pull off the road and stop in a safe location.
While all distracted driving is prohibited, it is specifically illegal to wear headphones or earbuds in both ears and listen to something. This can hinder your ability to hear car horns and sirens, which could impact your reaction time.
Penalties for Fleeing from Police in Minnesota
Fleeing from police is a felony offense in Minnesota. Whatever trouble you are in, fleeing will make it infinitely worse. The maximum prison sentence for this crime is three years, and the maximum fine is $5,000.
If fleeing causes you to get in a crash and you injure someone, the penalty is upped to a maximum prison sentence of five years and a maximum fine of $10,000. If you critically injure someone, you face a maximum seven-year imprisonment and $14,000 fine, and if you kill someone, you face a maximum 10-year imprisonment and $20,000 fine.
Avoiding infractions like these is key to maintain manageable insurance rates.
School Bus Laws in Minnesota
Drivers are required to stop at least 20 feet from a bus with its red lights flashing and its stop sign extended. Failure to do so is illegal; officers can arrest you on probable cause within four hours of the infraction. Potential penalties include a misdemeanor charge, a minimum $500 fine, and the loss of driving privileges.
Emergency Vehicle Laws in Minnesota
If an emergency vehicle with sirens and lights on is approaching your vehicle, you must yield to them. Pull over to the side of the road and wait until all vehicles pass before resuming your journey. Violators can be arrested within a four-hour window.
If an emergency vehicle with flashing lights is pulled to the side of the road, move to the farthest lane away from them as soon as it’s safe to do so. In the event it is unsafe to change lanes, reduce your speed and be on high alert. This can help save lives.
Construction Zones on Minnesota Roads
Driving past a construction zone can be hazardous for both you and the workers. To avoid damage to your car and/or injury to the people on the side of the road, it is important to heed signs, road markings, flags, and flag people. Most work zones employ a reduced speed limit to increase safety, and some construction can lead to detours and lane closures.
Take note of when construction is happening so you can plan ahead. Leaving earlier than normal or taking another route can lessen feelings of stress and rage, which in turn results in better choices on the road.
License Suspensions in Minnesota
The state reserves the right to suspend the license of anyone it deems unfit to drive. Potential reasons for this decision include committing repeated traffic violations, failing to appear in court to pay a fine or address a violation when ordered to, allowing another person to use your license, being convicted of stealing gasoline, and possessing a fake ID, among many others. In any of these cases, the Department of Public Safety will send a letter with an explanation and instructions for reinstatement. The reinstatement fee will be a minimum of $20.
License Revocation in Minnesota
If you commit a more serious violation on the roads, Minnesota will likely revoke your license. Major infractions include alcohol and/or drug charges, any felony committed using a motor vehicle, excessive speeding of 100 mph or greater, and failure to stop and give aid in a crash.
There are a lot more hoops to jump through to gain driving privileges back when comparing a revocation to a suspension. For a revocation, motorists must wait the. required time, pay a fee (which could be as much as $680), and retake both the knowledge and skills tests before applying for a new license.
License Cancellation in Minnesota
If you are found to not have a legal right to your license or if you develop an injury or illness that impacts your ability to drive, your license will be cancelled. You do not have a legal right to your license if you are found to have provided fraudulent information on your application.
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