Required Auto Insurance Coverage in Minnesota

After MN State Legislature passed the Minnesota No-Fault Automobile Insurance Act in 1974 it became mandatory for all motorists in the North Stat State to maintain basic economic loss benefits to legally drive. This act was designed to help reduce some of the burden on court costs, and ensure that residents can be financially responsible while driving. The various types of coverage that are either required by the state or optional to motorists can come from a wide range of sources, making it essential to shop around and make comparisons. It’s essential for North Star State’s 3,200,000 plus licensed drivers to develop an adequate understanding of the coverage they are required to purchase and the various economic ways to maintain their policies.

The primary portions of Minnesota auto insurance that are required by law include personal injury protection (PIP), liability coverage and uninsured/underinsured motorist protection. PIP, which is often referred to basic economic loss benefits, covers various medical expenses including lost wages and replacement services for the policyholder and members of the same household. This is also considered to be No-Fault vehicle protection because the listed expenses are generally paid regardless of who is responsible for the accident. Liability protection, on the other hand, covers damages or bodily injuries that the policyholder may be responsible for. Although residents are already required to carry PIP, liability coverage is still essential because PIP does not cover property damage, and medical losses have the potential to become costly.

MN Auto Insurance with Additional Coverage

The Insurance Research Council estimates that in 2009 only 13 percent of drivers in Minnesota were driving without adequate coverage, but to be prepared for the possibility of being involved in an accident with one of these motorists, drivers are required to carry uninsured/underinsured motorist protection. This mandatory coverage pays for a variety of medical expenses that come as the result of an accident involving an uninsured or underinsured driver, after a policyholder’s PIP has been exhausted. Apart from the Auto Insurance Basics that are required in the North Star State, there are further forms of coverage that may be required for additional reasons.

Motorists who have a loan on their automobile are required to maintain the minimum coverage required by the state, but many lenders also require additional comprehensive and collision coverage as well. This added protection covers an extensive array of damages to the policyholder’s vehicle. Choosing not to purchase this added protection may result in the lender purchasing force placed insurance and charging the motorist. Often lenders will not shop around for the lowest rates, potentially leaving the policyholder with an unnecessarily expensive plan. Drivers are urged to avoid these preventable expenses by comparing quotes and other information from an assortment of companies to buy a policy that is adequately priced.