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Many people are searching for ways to cut costs and save money with auto insurance. More often that not, they find that they are overpaying for car insurance and can usually get lower rates and premiums. If you live and drive in Minnesota, you may be searching for ways to reduce your premiums.  This article will review Minnesota’s requirements for auto insurance and offer tips for lowering  your car insurance costs without losing coverage.

One way to get discount auto insurance in Minnesota is by seeking out multiple quotes.  Use our free 5 quotes online service to achieve this.

Minnesota State Requirements
Minnesota mandates that drivers carry four types of auto insurance; including:

1. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) – pays for medical expenses and lost wages for a driver or passenger injured in an accident by your car.  This is regardless of who is at fault.  The minimum coverage is $40,000 per person.
2. Bodily Injury Liability – covers you against claims in an accident that you were responsible for.  Bodily injury coverage pays for items like medical bills, loss of income, and pain and suffering.  The minimum coverage that you need in Minnesota are $30,000 per person, $60,000 per accident and $10,000 for property damage.
3. Uninsured Motorist – this coverage pays for your medical expenses when the other driver is at fault but is not insured.  Once your PIP coverage is exhausted, the uninsured motorist benefit will kick in.   Required minimums are $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.
4. Underinsured Motorist – cover personal injury or property damage caused by a driver who did not have enough insurance coverage.  Required minimums are $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.

Comprehensive and collision coverage are not required in Minnesota; however, your insurance company may require you to have this if you still owe money on your car.

Discounts and Ways to Offset Costs

You can offset some auto insurance costs by comparison shopping between more than one insurer; setting your deductibles as high as you can afford; and asking for all possible discounts.  The price you pay for car insurance depends on many variables.  Here are some of the things that affect your premiums:

• Coverages you add above the state minimums
• Your age and gender
• The type of vehicle you drive – If you are driving a flashy sports car versus a simple entry model Chevy, the sports car will cost more to cover.
• How many miles you drive annually - It is a little known fact but you should know that most auto insurance companies give discounts to those who drive less than 7,500 miles a year.
• Where you live- Premiums are based on demographic information.
• Your driving record – By knowing how many tickets and points are on your state record at any given time, you will be able estimate the impact they are likely to have on the cost of your coverage.
• Discounts applied to your premiums – Auto insurance companies give discounts for things like safe driving, good grades (for students), and features in your car that enhance safety, such as anti-lock brakes and airbags.
• Surcharges due to traffic violations or accidents
• How high you set your deductibles -You can save money by increasing your deductible in case of collision. This means you will pay less every month, but will pay more of the repair costs  if you get into an accident.
• Multiple Coverage Discounts – Check into how much you would save by using the same insurer for both your home and your car.
• Paying your premium on time – In order to save money, consider switching from a monthly payment plan to a yearly or semi-annual payment plan.
• Some of the major cities in MN, such as Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, Duluth, Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Plymouth, St. Cloud and Eagan will traditionally offer you the cheapest insurance prices.