Minnesota Car Insurance

Insuring Your Car in Minnesota

Minnesota's official nickname is The North Star State. It's also known as The Land of 10,000 Lakes and provides great opportunities for recreation and scenic drives all year round. For urban drives, explore Minneapolis' Grand Rounds Scenic Byway. This byway is the nation's longest continuous system of public urban parkways. Prefer a quieter drive? The Edge of the Wilderness Byway will take you past lakes, forests, swamps, and more in the Chippewa National Forest. Wherever you go by car in Minnesota, having the proper auto insurance coverage is important. Getting a Minnesota car insurance quote is easy with GEICO.

Minnesota Auto Insurance Minimum Coverage Requirements

Minnesota requires the following minimum coverages on your car insurance:

  • Bodily injury liability: $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident
  • Property damage liability: $10,000
  • Personal injury protection (PIP): $40,000
  • Uninsured motorist coverage: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident
  • Underinsured motorist coverage: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident

While these are the minimum coverages Minnesota requires you to have, everyone's insurance needs are unique. Use our Coverage Calculator to determine how much coverage you need.

Teen Driving in Minnesota

Minnesota has a graduated driver's licensing program. The first phase of the program is the learner's permit. To obtain a permit, a driver must:

  • Be at least 15 years of age
  • Complete or be enrolled in a driver's education program approved by the commissioner of public safety that includes both classroom and behind the wheel instruction, have completed a course in another state, or have a previously issued valid license from another state
  • Pass a vision and knowledge test
  • Complete the required application
  • Pay the required fees

A permit holder may drive only when supervised by a:

  • Certified driving instructor
  • Parent
  • Guardian
  • Licensed driver who is at least 21 years old

The next phase is the provisional license, for which the minimum age is 16. Drivers must meet the following requirements to qualify:

  • Have held the learner's permit for at least six months with no moving or alcohol/controlled-substance violations
  • Have completed 50 hours of supervised driving, or 40 hours if a parent/guardian completes the parent class and submits a certificate of completion to the driver exam staff at the time of the road test (at least 15 hours at night)
  • Have passed the classroom and behind-the-wheel components of driver education
  • Have passed a road skills test

Provisional license holders may not drive between midnight and 5:00 AM for the first six months unless accompanied by a licensed driver 25 or older. In addition, only one passenger under 20 years of age is permitted unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. After the first six months of holding a provisional license, no more than 3 passengers under 20 years old are permitted. This rule does not apply to immediate family members.

The final phase of the graduated licensing program is the full license. If the applicant is younger than 18, he or she must have held a provisional license for at least 12 months before being eligible for this license.

Minnesota Vehicle Registration Information

To apply for a Minnesota driver's license, identification card, or instruction permit, you may present:

  • A Minnesota driver's license, instruction permit, or state identification card that is current or expired for:
    • 5 years or less if it has a photo.
    • 1 year or less if it does not have a photo.
  • If you do not have one of these items, you must present one primary and one secondary form of identification. The primary document must contain your full legal name (first, middle, and last) and the month, day, and year of your birth.

Minnesota Driving Hazards

With the frigid Minnesota winters, knowing how to drive in snow and ice is critical. It is also important to use extreme caution when driving over frozen lakes. On Lake Minnetonka near the Twin Cities, for example, there are channels between the bays where the ice can be vulnerable to breaking all winter long. Follow all warning signs regarding ice thickness and weight limits whenever you are considering driving over or onto a frozen lake, and remember that ice is never 100% safe.