Whether or not Minnesota residents are traveling back and forth to work, vacationing in the states’ beautiful lakes, pristine wilderness, or braving the harsh winters, they must carry adequate Minnesota auto insurance to protect them. Minnesotan auto insurance rates are well below the national average.  In 2007, Minnesota residents experienced a 3.8% reduction in auto insurance rates making the average car insurance rate at $1598 amounting to $298 dollars less than the national average.

Minnesota Auto Insurance Requirements

Minnesota auto insurance carriers are among the most protected in the country due to the no fault insurance policy.  With no fault coverage all Minnesota drivers will be covered for their own medical expenses regardless of who is at fault.   Therefore, like all no-fault states Minnesota residents are required to carry Personal Injury Insurance which will not only cover personal medical expenses, but will also pay for the loss of wages and death benefits.

Due to the rising cost of medical expenses and car collisions, Minnesota drivers must carry Bodily Injury Liability and Property Damage Liability.  Minnesota auto insurance minimums are set at 30/60/10.

• Bodily Injury Liability – $30,000 is the minimum requirement by law for the medical expenses that the party deemed at fault must pay out for one individual injured in the other vehicle.
• In the case where there is more than one injured person the total amount paid out will be $60,000.
• Property Damage Liability – Property Damage Liability payout from the driver who is at fault is up to $10,000 for damage sustained by the other vehicle or state property such as roads signs.

Even though these minimums are quite good the State of Minnesota still recommends that its driver carry better than minimum coverage.

It is also recommended that Minnesota residents carry Comprehensive and Collision coverage to afford the expenses sustained upon their own vehicle should the driver be at fault, and to insure against damages brought on by natural causes, such as storms and contact with wildlife.

Motorists are also required to carry Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Protection to offset any costs that the at fault party cannot cover given they do not have insurance or insufficient coverage.  UM coverage will also protect the insured against damages caused by a hit and run driver.