Minnesota Minimum Car Insurance Requirements (2026)
Minnesota law requires every registered vehicle to carry at least 30/60/10 liability coverage: $30,000 bodily injury per person, $60,000 per accident, and $10,000 property damage. Because Minnesota is a no-fault state, you must also carry at least $40,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) plus uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.
Minnesota minimum car insurance at a glance
Minnesota law makes auto insurance mandatory for every vehicle registered in the state. Unlike most states, Minnesota is a no-fault state, which means your policy has to do more than just cover damage you cause to others. To register and legally drive a car in Minnesota you must carry four separate coverages: bodily injury and property damage liability, no-fault Personal Injury Protection (PIP), uninsured motorist (UM), and underinsured motorist (UIM).
The headline liability minimum is written as 30/60/10. That translates to $30,000 of bodily injury coverage per injured person, $60,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $10,000 of property damage coverage per accident. On top of that, Minnesota requires a minimum of $40,000 in no-fault PIP benefits per person, and UM/UIM coverage of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. These are floors set by statute, not recommendations, and buying only the minimum leaves most drivers underinsured for a serious crash.
The four required coverages explained
Bodily injury (BI) liability pays other people you injure in a crash you cause, up to $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident. Property damage (PD) liability pays for damage you cause to another person's vehicle or property, up to $10,000. Liability does not pay for your own injuries or your own car.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is the no-fault portion. It pays your own medical bills, lost wages, and certain replacement-service costs regardless of who caused the crash. Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage protects you when an at-fault driver has no insurance or flees the scene, and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage steps in when the at-fault driver's liability limits are too low to cover your injuries. Minnesota requires both UM and UIM at a minimum of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. Because so much protection is bundled into a compliant Minnesota policy, the state's mandatory coverage package is broader than what most other states demand.
Key data
| Factor | Filed value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum liability limits (BI per person / BI per accident / property damage) | $30,000 / $60,000 / $10,000 | Insurance Information Institute - Automobile Financial Responsibility Laws by State · Jul 2026 |
| Minimum no-fault PIP benefit per person ($20,000 medical + $20,000 non-medical) | $40,000 | Minnesota Department of Commerce - Auto Insurance Basics · Jul 2026 |
| Minimum no-fault PIP (basic economic loss) benefits per person | $40,000 per person ($20,000 medical expense + $20,000 income loss/other non-medical) | Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes · Jul 2026 |
How Minnesota's no-fault system works
In a no-fault state, each injured person first turns to their own insurer for medical and wage-loss benefits after a crash, no matter who was at fault. That is the purpose of PIP: it pays quickly and without waiting for a determination of blame. The tradeoff is that no-fault limits your ability to immediately sue the other driver for pain and suffering.
You may step outside the no-fault system and pursue a bodily injury liability claim against the at-fault driver only when you cross a statutory tort threshold. In Minnesota that generally means medical expenses exceeding $4,000 (excluding diagnostic, X-ray, and rehabilitation costs), or an injury involving permanent disfigurement, permanent injury, death, or disability lasting 60 days or more. Below that threshold, your recovery comes from your own PIP. This is why Minnesota drivers carry both PIP for themselves and liability for others, and why UM/UIM matters so much when the other driver is uninsured or carries only minimum limits.
No-fault PIP: what it covers and the $40,000 minimum
Minnesota's minimum PIP benefit is $40,000 per person, per accident. The Minnesota Department of Commerce explains that this $40,000 is split into two halves: up to $20,000 for medical expenses and up to $20,000 for non-medical costs such as lost wages and replacement services (for example, hiring help for tasks you can no longer do while injured).
PIP benefits extend beyond just the policyholder. They generally cover you, members of your household, passengers in your vehicle, and pedestrians you may strike, up to the stated limits. Because health-care and wage-replacement costs add up fast after a serious injury, the $20,000 medical sublimit can be exhausted by a single hospital stay. Many Minnesota drivers buy PIP well above the $40,000 floor, and coordinate it with their health insurance, to avoid a coverage gap. PIP is one of the reasons a Minnesota policy cannot legally be reduced to just liability coverage the way it can in some other states.
Penalties for driving without insurance in Minnesota
Driving an uninsured vehicle in Minnesota is a criminal offense, not just a ticket. Under Minnesota Statutes section 169.797, operating a vehicle without the required insurance is a misdemeanor, and the court must impose a fine of not less than $200 up to the maximum authorized by law. The offense escalates to a gross misdemeanor if it is committed within ten years of two prior convictions under the statute.
Beyond fines, the Commissioner of Public Safety can revoke your driver's license and vehicle registration for up to 12 months. You can also face revocation for lying about coverage, for failing to produce proof of insurance when an officer or the state requests it, and for an at-fault or uninsured accident. Reinstatement fees, higher future premiums, and the cost of a required insurance filing all stack on top of the original fine, making an insurance lapse far more expensive than the premium you skipped.
Reinstatement and the certificate of insurance (no SR-22)
A point of frequent confusion: Minnesota does not use the SR-22 form that many other states rely on, and there is no such thing as an "SR-22A" in Minnesota law. Instead, Minnesota Statutes section 169.797 requires that before a license or registration revoked for an insurance offense is reinstated, the driver file a written certificate of insurance from a carrier authorized to do business in Minnesota, stating that the required security has been provided.
The statute gives the Commissioner of Public Safety authority to require that the certificate be certified by the insurer as noncancelable for a period not to exceed one year. In practice, you obtain this certificate through your insurance company, the insurer files it with Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS), and DVS will not process your reinstatement until an approved certificate is on file. If your coverage lapses during any required filing window, the reinstatement can be undone. Always confirm the exact filing requirement for your case directly with DVS.
How much coverage do you really need?
The 30/60/10 minimum satisfies the law, but it is thin protection. A single serious injury can generate medical bills far above $30,000, and if you injure two or more people the $60,000 per-accident cap is exhausted quickly. Anything above your limits becomes your personal responsibility, and an injured party can pursue your wages, savings, and other assets to collect the difference.
Most Minnesota drivers with assets to protect carry liability of at least 100/300/100 and raise their PIP and UM/UIM above the state floors. UIM is especially valuable in Minnesota because a large share of drivers carry only the 30/60/10 minimum; if one of them causes a crash that seriously injures you, your own UIM coverage fills the gap between their low limits and your actual losses. Optional collision and comprehensive coverage (which pay for your own vehicle) are not required by the state, but your lender or lessor will require them if you finance or lease the car.
How to compare Minnesota auto insurance
Rates for identical coverage can vary widely between insurers, so comparison shopping is the single most effective way to lower your Minnesota premium. When you gather quotes, hold the coverage limits constant across every carrier so you are comparing the same protection, not different policies. Start at or above the mandatory 30/60/10 liability, $40,000 PIP, and 25/50 UM/UIM, then price higher limits, which often cost far less than drivers expect.
Ask each insurer about discounts for bundling home and auto, insuring multiple vehicles, maintaining a clean driving record, completing a defensive-driving course, and using telematics. Verify that any quote actually includes all four Minnesota-required coverages, because a quote that omits PIP or UM/UIM is not a legal Minnesota policy. Finally, check the insurer's complaint record and financial strength, and confirm your effective date leaves no gap in coverage, since even a short lapse can trigger the penalties and certificate-filing rules described above.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum car insurance required in Minnesota?
Minnesota requires 30/60/10 liability coverage ($30,000 bodily injury per person, $60,000 per accident, and $10,000 property damage), plus at least $40,000 in no-fault Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. All four coverages are mandatory for a legal Minnesota policy.
Is Minnesota a no-fault state?
Yes. Minnesota is a no-fault state, which is why PIP is mandatory. After a crash, your own PIP pays your medical bills and lost wages regardless of fault. You can only bring a bodily injury liability claim against the at-fault driver if you cross a tort threshold, generally more than $4,000 in medical expenses or a serious or permanent injury.
Does Minnesota require an SR-22?
No. Minnesota does not use the SR-22 form. Under Minnesota Statutes section 169.797, drivers reinstating after an insurance-related revocation must file a written certificate of insurance from an authorized carrier. The Commissioner of Public Safety may require that certificate to be noncancelable for up to one year. There is no SR-22 or SR-22A in Minnesota law.
What is the penalty for driving without insurance in Minnesota?
It is a misdemeanor with a mandatory fine of at least $200, and it becomes a gross misdemeanor if committed within ten years of two prior convictions. The Commissioner of Public Safety can also revoke your driver's license and vehicle registration for up to 12 months, and you must file a certificate of insurance before reinstatement.
How much does PIP cover in Minnesota?
The minimum no-fault PIP benefit is $40,000 per person, per accident. According to the Minnesota Department of Commerce, that amount is split into up to $20,000 for medical expenses and up to $20,000 for non-medical costs such as lost wages and replacement services. Many drivers buy PIP above the $40,000 minimum to avoid exhausting the medical sublimit.
Should I buy more than the Minnesota minimum coverage?
For most drivers, yes. The 30/60/10 minimum can be exhausted by a single serious injury, leaving you personally responsible for the rest. Drivers with assets typically carry higher liability (such as 100/300/100) and raise their PIP and UM/UIM limits. Underinsured motorist coverage is especially important because many Minnesota drivers carry only the minimum.
Sources cited
- Insurance Information Institute - Automobile Financial Responsibility Laws by State — captured Jul 2026
- Minnesota Department of Commerce - Auto Insurance Basics — captured Jul 2026
- Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes — captured Jul 2026
- Minnesota Department of Public Safety - Driver and Vehicle Services Driver Compliance — captured Jul 2026
- NAIC - Auto Insurance Database Average Premium Supplement — captured Jul 2026
