Insurance requirements for registering a car in Minnesota
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The Minnesota Department of Driver and Vehicle Services requires all drivers to have no-fault or "financial liability" auto insurance to help cover the cost of damage and injury related to a car accident.
Minnesota's Minimum Drivers' Financial Liability includes three types of liability insurance, each of which must meet a certain minimum amount of coverage:
No fault insurance or personal injury protection pays for your medical bills and loss of income if you are injured in an accident as a driver or passenger, regardless of who is at fault in the accident. You must have a minimum of $20,000 for health insurance and a minimum of $20,000 for loss of income.
Liability insurance covers injuries and property damage suffered by others if you were found at fault in an accident. You must carry at least $30,000 for bodily injuries per person, which means that the total minimum you must carry is $60,000 to cover the smallest possible number of people involved (two drivers). You must also carry at least $10,000 with you in case of property damage.
Uninsured motorist insurance covers medical expenses beyond your injury protection in the event that you are involved in an accident with an uninsured motorist. The minimum amount required for uninsured motorist insurance is $50,000.
This means the total amount of mandatory minimum insurance for any driver in Minnesota is $160,000.
Other types of insurance
Although Minnesota does not require other types of insurance, you may consider additional coverage for added protection in the event of an accident. This includes:
Collision insurance to pay for damage to your vehicle in an accident.
Comprehensive coverage to pay for non-accident damage to your vehicle.
Rent coverage to cover the cost of the required rent.
Minnesota car insurance plan
All insurance companies in Minnesota can refuse coverage for high-risk drivers. In order for these drivers to obtain the legal coverage they need, they can contact selected insurance providers through the Minnesota Motor Insurance Plan or MNAIP. Even companies that have previously denied coverage to certain drivers must provide coverage under the Minnesota Automobile Insurance Plan.
proof of insurance
Any driver operating a vehicle in Minnesota must carry an insurance certificate with them at all times. You must show proof of insurance to a law enforcement officer upon request. You will also need insurance to register your vehicle.
Acceptable forms of proof of insurance include:
Insurance card from an authorized insurance company
Copy of your insurance policy
Letter from your insurance company
To register a vehicle or renew your registration, your insurance certificate must contain the following information:
Insurance company name
Insurance number
Policy validity period
Penalties for Violation
If you do not have proper insurance in Minnesota, you may be subject to one of the following penalties:
Quote about misbehavior
Possible jail time
Suspension of driving license
Suspension of vehicle registration
$30 fine for re-licensing
For more information, contact the Minnesota Department of Public Safety's Division of Driver and Vehicle Services through their website.
