Question 1

What is the minimum car insurance required in Minnesota?

Accepted Answer

Minnesota requires residual liability coverage of at least 30/60/10: $30,000 for bodily injury to one person, $60,000 for injury to two or more people in one accident, and $10,000 for property damage. Every policy must also include basic economic loss (no-fault/PIP) benefits of at least $40,000 per person ($20,000 for medical expenses and $20,000 for income loss, replacement services, funeral and survivor losses), plus separate uninsured and underinsured motorist coverages of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident each.

Question 2

Is Minnesota a no-fault car insurance state?

Accepted Answer

Minnesota is a no-fault state. Each policy provides basic economic loss benefits (at least $20,000 medical and $20,000 for income loss and related losses per person) regardless of fault. An injured person may sue for noneconomic damages (such as pain and suffering) only if reasonable medical expenses exceed $4,000, or the injury results in permanent disfigurement, permanent injury, death, or disability for 60 days or more.

Question 3

Is uninsured motorist coverage required in Minnesota?

Accepted Answer

Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverages are both required: every policy for a vehicle registered or principally garaged in Minnesota must include them separately, each with limits of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident, and every owner must maintain them. Insurers are not required to provide UM/UIM limits higher than the policy's bodily injury liability limits.

Question 4

Can you show proof of car insurance on your phone in Minnesota?

Accepted Answer

Every driver must have proof of insurance in their possession whenever driving and show it when a peace officer asks. An insurance identification card may be in electronic format, and showing proof on an electronic device does not give the officer consent to access other contents of the device. A driver who is the owner and could not show proof can avoid conviction by giving the court proof that the vehicle was insured by the first court appearance.

Question 5

What is the penalty for driving without insurance in Minnesota?

Accepted Answer

Driving, or as an owner allowing operation of, a vehicle without required insurance is a misdemeanor (a gross misdemeanor for a third offense within ten years, or if the uninsured driver causes an accident resulting in death or substantial bodily harm), with a mandatory fine of at least $200. Failing to produce proof of insurance on demand is also a misdemeanor. On conviction, the driver's license is revoked for up to 12 months, and if the driver is also the owner, the vehicle's registration is revoked for up to 12 months. The Commissioner of Public Safety may also revoke registration and suspend the license based on department records showing no insurance.

Question 6

When do you need an SR-22 in Minnesota, and for how long?

Accepted Answer

Before a driver's license or vehicle registration revoked for driving without insurance can be reinstated, the person must file with the Commissioner of Public Safety a written certificate from an insurer authorized in Minnesota stating that the required insurance has been provided.

Question 7

How much notice must an insurer give before canceling car insurance in Minnesota?

Accepted Answer

During the policy period, an insurer may cancel or reduce limits only for reasons stated in the policy and listed in the statute, including nonpayment of premium; material misrepresentation; a false or fraudulent claim; failure to disclose required accidents, violations or rating information; failure to give notice of loss or cooperate; and certain license suspensions, medical conditions, or driving and criminal records of the named insured or a regular household driver. The notice must state the specific reasons and give at least 30 days' notice (10 days for nonpayment or for policies in effect less than 60 days). A nonrenewal requires at least 60 days' advance notice with specific reasons; an insurer may not refuse to renew solely because of age or for arbitrary or capricious reasons.

Question 8

Can car insurance companies use your credit score in Minnesota?

Accepted Answer

Insurers may not reject, cancel or nonrenew a private passenger auto policy based in whole or in part on credit information (including a credit or insurance score) without considering other applicable underwriting factors. Insurers that use credit information must disclose it to the consumer, may not count insurance inquiries or non-consumer-initiated inquiries, must provide reasonable exceptions for credit harmed by catastrophic illness or injury, temporary job loss or a death in the family, and may not use a scoring method that incorporates gender, race, nationality or religion.

Question 9

When is a car a total loss in Minnesota?

Accepted Answer

A "salvage vehicle" is one for which an insurer declared or paid a total loss, or one whose repair cost exceeds 80% of its value immediately before the damage. When a Minnesota insurer acquires a vehicle by paying damages, it must immediately obtain a title branded "salvage" for a late-model vehicle (model year within the last five years) or high-value vehicle (actual cash value over $9,000 before damage), or "prior salvage" for other vehicles, and notify the department within ten days.

Question 10

How do you transfer a car title in Minnesota?

Accepted Answer

The seller assigns the title (with the odometer disclosure) and delivers it to the buyer immediately. The buyer must, within 20 calendar days after the title is assigned, complete the application for a new certificate of title on the title and mail or deliver it to Driver and Vehicle Services; failing to do so results in suspension of the vehicle's registration. Title work can be done at a deputy registrar office.

Question 11

How long do you have to register your car after moving to Minnesota?

Accepted Answer

New residents have 60 days to register a passenger vehicle, motorcycle, utility trailer or house trailer (immediately if the registration has expired or for commercial trailers or trucks), at a deputy registrar office or by mail to Driver and Vehicle Services; the insurance company name, policy number and expiration date are required. A valid out-of-state driver's license may be used for no more than 60 days after becoming a Minnesota resident.

Minimum coverage required	Minnesota requires residual liability coverage of at least 30/60/10: $30,000 for bodily injury to one person, $60,000 for injury to two or more people in one accident, and $10,000 for property damage. Every policy must also include basic economic loss (no-fault/PIP) benefits of at least $40,000 per person ($20,000 for medical expenses and $20,000 for income loss, replacement services, funeral and survivor losses), plus separate uninsured and underinsured motorist coverages of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident each. PIP amounts: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/65B.44 Source: Minn. Stat. §65B.49, subds. 3 and 3a; §65B.44, subd. 1
At-fault or no-fault	Minnesota is a no-fault state. Each policy provides basic economic loss benefits (at least $20,000 medical and $20,000 for income loss and related losses per person) regardless of fault. An injured person may sue for noneconomic damages (such as pain and suffering) only if reasonable medical expenses exceed $4,000, or the injury results in permanent disfigurement, permanent injury, death, or disability for 60 days or more. PIP benefits: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/65B.44 Source: Minn. Stat. §65B.51, subd. 3; §65B.44
Uninsured motorist coverage	Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverages are both required: every policy for a vehicle registered or principally garaged in Minnesota must include them separately, each with limits of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident, and every owner must maintain them. Insurers are not required to provide UM/UIM limits higher than the policy's bodily injury liability limits. Source: Minn. Stat. §65B.49, subd. 3a
Proof of insurance	Every driver must have proof of insurance in their possession whenever driving and show it when a peace officer asks. An insurance identification card may be in electronic format, and showing proof on an electronic device does not give the officer consent to access other contents of the device. A driver who is the owner and could not show proof can avoid conviction by giving the court proof that the vehicle was insured by the first court appearance. Source: Minn. Stat. §169.791, subds. 1-2a; §169.797, subd. 4(b)

Cancellation and nonrenewal	During the policy period, an insurer may cancel or reduce limits only for reasons stated in the policy and listed in the statute, including nonpayment of premium; material misrepresentation; a false or fraudulent claim; failure to disclose required accidents, violations or rating information; failure to give notice of loss or cooperate; and certain license suspensions, medical conditions, or driving and criminal records of the named insured or a regular household driver. The notice must state the specific reasons and give at least 30 days' notice (10 days for nonpayment or for policies in effect less than 60 days). A nonrenewal requires at least 60 days' advance notice with specific reasons; an insurer may not refuse to renew solely because of age or for arbitrary or capricious reasons. Reasons: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/65B.15 ; nonrenewal: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/65B.17 Source: Minn. Stat. §§65B.15, 65B.16, 65B.17
What insurers can use to set rates	Insurers may not reject, cancel or nonrenew a private passenger auto policy based in whole or in part on credit information (including a credit or insurance score) without considering other applicable underwriting factors. Insurers that use credit information must disclose it to the consumer, may not count insurance inquiries or non-consumer-initiated inquiries, must provide reasonable exceptions for credit harmed by catastrophic illness or injury, temporary job loss or a death in the family, and may not use a scoring method that incorporates gender, race, nationality or religion. Source: Minn. Stat. §72A.20, subd. 36
Total loss rules	A "salvage vehicle" is one for which an insurer declared or paid a total loss, or one whose repair cost exceeds 80% of its value immediately before the damage. When a Minnesota insurer acquires a vehicle by paying damages, it must immediately obtain a title branded "salvage" for a late-model vehicle (model year within the last five years) or high-value vehicle (actual cash value over $9,000 before damage), or "prior salvage" for other vehicles, and notify the department within ten days. Definitions: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/168A.01 Source: Minn. Stat. §168A.151, subd. 1; §168A.01, subds. 6a, 8a, 17b

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