Cheapest car insurance in Minnesota for 2024

To find the cheapest car insurance in Minnesota, Bankrate analyzed the latest rate data from Quadrant Information Services for the best auto carriers in the state. To choose companies that meet your coverage needs and your budget, we researched each company’s financial strength ratings from AM Best and S&P. We also analyzed customer satisfaction scores from the J.D. Power 2024 Auto Insurance Study.

Key takeaways

• Cheapest company for minimum coverage: North Star Mutual
• Cheapest company for full coverage: West Bend
• Cheapest company for drivers with prior incidents: North Star Mutual and Western National
• Cheapest company for young drivers: North Star Mutual and Allstate

Like most states, Minnesota has a minimum insurance standard that all drivers must meet. Although in some states this coverage includes liability only, Minnesota drivers also need personal injury protection, uninsured motorist coverage and underinsured motorist coverage. Minimum coverage does not provide protection for your own vehicle, so insurance typically experts recommend that you purchase additional coverage to be adequately protected in the event of an accident. In Minnesota, North Star Mutual has the lowest average minimum coverage rates of the insurers we reviewed.

Minimum coverage requirements for Minnesota drivers

For an average rate of $585 per year, minimum coverage in Minnesota includes:

• $30,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person
• $60,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per accident
• $10,000 in property damage liability coverage per accident
• $25,000 in uninsured/underinsured bodily injury liability coverage per person
• $50,000 in uninsured/underinsured bodily injury liability coverage per accident
• $40,000 personal injury protection (PIP)

Minnesota drivers are required to have policies that meet at least these requirements in order to comply with state law. Although Minnesota's minimum insurance requirements are fairly robust compared to most other states, the majority of insurance experts recommend carrying additional coverage if you can afford to do so. Minimum coverage may not be enough to prevent high out-of-pocket costs following an accident or other incident. You may want to talk with an insurance agent about what coverage makes sense for you.

Full coverage includes Minnesota's minimum coverage car insurance requirements plus optional collision and comprehensive insurance. The second type of policy covers damages to your car after a covered accident or claim. Although full coverage is generally more expensive than minimum coverage insurance, it also provides more robust protection, which could save you thousands of dollars in the event of a claim. In Minnesota, West Bend offers the lowest average full coverage rates of the carriers we assessed.

Insurers typically charge high-risk drivers higher premiums than drivers who are viewed as safe drivers. This is because past infractions are seen as an indication of unsafe driving habits, which may increase your chances of filing a future claim. Drivers with a clean record will generally see the lowest rates, with rates increasing depending on the severity of past moving violations.

• Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a ticket: North Star Mutual
• Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident: Western National
• Cheapest car insurance for high-risk drivers: Western National

Cheapest insurance companies for drivers in Minnesota with a speeding ticket: North Star Mutual

Your driving record is a key metric carriers use when determining your rate. Being convicted of a speeding ticket in Minnesota will likely increase your premium when your policy renews. This is because carriers see a speeding ticket as an indication that you may engage in risky driving behavior and file a claim. However, some carriers offer lower average rates than others following a speeding ticket conviction. In Minnesota, North Star Mutual offers the lowest average rates for minimum coverage.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers in Minnesota with an at-fault accident: Western National

Unless you have accident forgiveness coverage on your car insurance policy, your rates will likely increase following a car accident. The following carriers offer some of the lowest rates for drivers with a single at-fault accident on their record. Western National was at the top of the list for minimum coverage.

Cheapest rates in Minnesota for high-risk drivers: Western National

High-risk drivers are typically drivers who have been convicted of a DUI, multiple speeding tickets, multiple accidents or another severe driving infraction. Being deemed a high-risk driver will typically increase your auto insurance rates substantially and may even disqualify you for coverage with some carriers. We assessed the cheapest companies for high-risk drivers by looking at rates for drivers with a single DUI conviction. In Minnesota, Western National's average rates were most reasonable for both minimum and full coverage.

Cheap car insurance in MN can be challenging to find if you are a young driver, since this age group is statistically more likely than any other group to be involved in car accidents. It is possible to find affordable coverage, however, by shopping around and asking for multiple quotes to see who will give you the best rate.

• Cheapest car insurance for insuring a teen driver: North Star Mutual
• Cheapest car insurance for teens with a ticket: Auto-Owners
• Cheapest car insurance for teens with an at-fault accident: Western National
• Cheapest car insurance for young drivers with a DUI: Western National and Plymouth Rock

Cheapest Minnesota car insurance for insuring a teen driver: North Star Mutual

Teen drivers are among the most expensive to insure, largely due to their inexperience behind the wheel and high accident rate. Teen drivers need to be insured on their parents' insurance policy until age 18, but they may be able to save on their premium by remaining on their parents' policy for as long as they are eligible to. You may also save money by looking for discounts geared toward teen drivers, which may include student discounts. Several carriers, including North Star Mutual.

Cheapest Minnesota car insurance for teens with a ticket: Auto-Owners

As is true with adult drivers, teens who have a moving violation on their driving record are likely to pay more for their coverage, since insurers will view them as being at a higher risk of future infractions. For 18-year-old drivers on their own policy with a ticket looking for the cheapest car insurance in Minnesota, Auto-Owners stand outs as offering the lowest average rates for minimum overage.

Cheapest Minnesota car insurance for teens with an at-fault accident: Western National

Teens with an at-fault accident on their driving record may want to look at companies such as Western National and Auto-Owners when searching for affordable insurance. Although their rates may seem high, they are among the cheapest car insurance companies in Minnesota for young 18-year-old drivers in this situation.

Cheapest Minnesota car insurance for young drivers with a DUI: Western National

Perhaps the most serious infraction you can earn on your license is a DUI. Insurers take this very seriously, and some carriers will not write policies for individuals who have this mark against them on their license. In Minnesota, Western National offered relatively low average rates for drivers who have been convicted of a DUI.

Many insurance companies offer at least a few car insurance discounts to eligible drivers. Exact discounts, savings potential and eligibility differ between companies. To find which discounts your insurer offers, you could check their website or contact your agent.

• Young driver discounts: Many companies offer opportunities for young drivers to save by having good grades, leaving a car behind while away at college or taking a defensive driving course.
• Safe driver discounts: Drivers who don't file a claim for a set period of time, take a defensive driving course or enroll in a telematics program may save on their premiums with select carriers.
• Telematics discounts: A telematics program may save you money if you don't drive many miles each year. This type of program involves installing equipment on your car that tracks your mileage, speed and other driving habits. If you avoid rush hour and stay safe, you could qualify for a discount.
• Other discounts: Depending on your insurer, you may also be able to save for enrolling in paperless or automatic billing, having certain safety features in your car or bundling other insurance policies with your auto insurance.

These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes.