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Best car insurance company in Minnesota

In Minnesota, the average premium for car insurance is $1,911 a year or $159 a month, which is the 22nd highest in the country – Louisiana was number one.

For drivers looking for cheap car insurance in Minnesota, Nationwide, State Farm, Travelers, Automobile Club MI (AAA) and others on our list are great options, offering plenty of coverage options at affordable rates.

Our research found Auto-Owners offers low rates when compared to its competitors and received high marks when we look at other factors including J.D Power customer satisfaction scores, financial strength rankings and complaint data. Auto-Owners was our top scorer and was awarded 4.66 out of 5 stars.

State Farm finished second in our rankings with a score of 4.41 stars and Nationwide was third at 4.21 stars.

The best car insurance companies in Minnesota

Company GroupNAICJ.D. PowerAM Best RatingScore (out of 5)
Auto-Owners0.54663A+4.66
State Farm0.79647A++4.41
Nationwide0.63628A4.21
Travelers0.52613A++4.07
GEICO0.69622A++3.43
Allstate1.1629A+3.18
USAA*1.18759A++4.49
*USAA is only available to military community members and their families.
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How we picked the top auto insurance companies

When choosing the top car insurance companies in the state, we not only looked at the average cost of coverage but also J.D. Power customer satisfaction scores, AM Best financial strength ratings and National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) complaint rankings. National averages were used where state and regional data was not available.

For each of the four metrics, we gave companies in each state from 1 to 5 (5 being the best) based on how they performed in each category. Those components were then given the following weights, to arrive at an overall star rating.

  • Premiums: 25%
  • JD Power: 30%
  • AM Best: 25%
  • NAIC: 20%

Cheapest car insurance in Minnesota

Nationwide has the lowest average rate in Minnesota at $1,363 a year or $114 a month.

State Farm is the next most affordable at $1,525 annually and Travelers at $1,618. While these insurers had the cheapest average premiums, there are plenty of other options for coverage in the state.

Insurers consider a wide variety of factors when setting a rate and use proprietary algorithms which can result in dramatic differences in premium quotes. Where you live also affects rates.

“States that have a higher rate of severe weather that damages cars or helps cause accidents will typically have higher rates,” says Chong Gao, director of product management R&D at Mercury Insurance. “Minnesota, for example, is prone to extreme weather like hurricanes and its car insurance costs are consequently much higher.”

The data shows how shopping around for coverage can result in savings. While Nationwide had the lowest average rate at $1,363, GEICO was the most expensive at $2,495.

Below are the cheapest car insurance rates by state. To calculate these rates, we used data for a 40-year-old driver of a 2023 Honda Accord LX – one of the most commonly insured vehicles – to provide a consistent and realistic comparison across states.

Cheapest full-coverage insurance in Minnesota

CompanyAverage annual premiumAverage monthly premium
Nationwide$1,363$114
State Farm$1,525$127
Travelers$1,618$135
Automobile Club MI (AAA)$1,636$136
Auto-Owners$1,693$141
Allstate$2,388$199
GEICO$2,495$208
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Auto insurance premiums vary significantly from city to city, so drivers need to be sure they’re getting the best deal. Insure.com has done the research for you. Get more information on auto insurance rates by city below.

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Full coverage car insurance in Minnesota

As noted, the rates above are for full coverage car insurance. Full coverage car insurance simply means you are carrying liability and any other state requirements as well as collision and comprehensive.

Full coverage insurance includes collision and comprehensive, which protects your own vehicle. Collision insurance will pay to repair your vehicle when it is damaged after colliding with another vehicle or object. Comprehensive covers damage that is done by perils such as fire, theft, flooding, vandalism, and more.

Shopping for car insurance in Minnesota

Shopping around for coverage is a great way to make sure you are getting the best rates on your auto insurance. Experts often tell consumers to shop for insurance yearly. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you should be looking to switch.

“I recommend that people stay with the same insurance company, as they tend to get a better rate when they have been with the same carrier for more than 12 months. The more tenure you have with a carrier, the more potential there is to earn benefits,” says Tim Bottini, a Country Financial insurance agent based in St. Louis. “The carrier can also review your claims history and provide information about applicable discounts.”

But make sure you are comparing like coverage levels and deductibles.

“It is extremely important to make sure you start off with an apples-to-apples comparison,” Bottini says. “However, if a person has low limits, say 25/50/25 – limit per person/per occurrence/limit for property damage – I am going to recommend and quote at least 50/100/100. Depending on their age, income and profession, I would quote higher limits to protect their net worth and earnings potential.”

Bottini also says people can save money on their car insurance by keeping their credit score up, following the speed limit and placing both home and auto insurance with the same carrier.

Cheapest car insurance in Minnesota by age

Statistics show that young drivers, because they are inexperienced and tend to take more risks, have more accidents and claims, all of which lead to higher premiums for younger drivers.

“Data indicates that teenagers and seniors are riskier drivers, so they often pay more for auto insurance than other policyholders in different age groups,” says Chong Gao, director of product management R&D at Mercury Insurance. “For teenagers, the lack of driving experience is a significant factor that impacts their rates; younger drivers with little experience behind the wheel tend to pay higher insurance premiums.”

Auto-Owners is the cheapest insurer in Minnesota for teens.

Age factors into a premium as the data clearly shows. Teens pay the highest rates by far with the lowest premium coming in at $3,540 which is 197% more expensive than the most affordable coverage for seniors at $1,191 and 64% more than young drivers’ best rate of $2,153.

Rates start to drop, assuming their driving record stays clean as teens move into their young adult years and tend to stay stable until a driver gets into their 70s when rates will go up a bit.

Cheapest car insurance for senior drivers in Minnesota

Seniors in the state pay more for coverage than all other driver groups, except for teens. Nationwide is the most affordable option for seniors with a yearly premium of $1,191 or $99 a month. State Farm was the second cheapest at $1,368 and Travelers rounded out the top three at $1,480.

Seniors tend to pay more for coverage due to age. Many seniors suffer from vision and hearing issues as well as slowing reflexes. In addition, medications they may take can impact their driving. All of these factors combined lead to more accidents and claims which will result in a higher premium.

The chart below shows the average premium for senior drivers.

Average rates for seniors in Minnesota

CompanyAverage annual premiumAverage monthly premium
Nationwide$1,191$99
State Farm$1,368$114
Travelers$1,480$123
Auto-Owners$1,544$129
Automobile Club MI (AAA)$1,591$133
Allstate$2,461$205
GEICO$2,483$207
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Car insurance for young drivers in Minnesota

While young adults pay less than teen drivers, they still pay more than older more experienced drivers. The best choice for young adults (early 20s) in Minnesota is Nationwide with an annual rate of $2,153 or $179 a month.

State Farm had the second cheapest premium at $2,384 a year followed by Travelers was third at $2,401.

If young drivers keep their driving record clean, their rates will drop down as they move out of their 20s.

The table below shows the best insurers for young drivers in Minnesota:

Average rates for young drivers in Minnesota

CompanyAverage annual premiumAverage monthly premium
Nationwide$2,153$179
State Farm$2,384$199
Travelers$2,401$200
Auto-Owners$2,481$207
Automobile Club MI (AAA)$2,738$228
Allstate$3,819$318
GEICO$3,949$329
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Car insurance for teen drivers in Minnesota

Although teen drivers always pay much higher premiums than other driver groups, Auto-Owners offers teens the cheapest rate at $3,540. Teen drivers are inexperienced and are big risk takers which results in more accidents and claims, pushing up the cost of coverage.

“Teenagers are more likely to be involved in accidents than older drivers because of their lack of experience. This increased risk results in higher insurance rates because insurance companies regard them as high-risk drivers,” says Goronga. “Teenagers are also more likely to engage in risky driving behaviors, such as distracted driving or speeding, increasing their chances of being involved in an accident.”

State Farm has the second most affordable premium at $3,906 a year followed by Travelers at $4,153 annually.

Our data clearly shows how dramatic premium differences can be for teens and how important shopping your coverage is when trying to find the best rate for your specific risk factors. While Auto-Owners was the most affordable at $3,540, GEICO was the most expensive with an annual premium of $7,066.

There are a few ways to save some money when insuring a teen. Ask your insurer for a good student discount if they are carrying a B average or better. Putting your teen in an older vehicle that you wouldn’t repair after an accident can help save some money by dropping collision and comprehensive. Just keep in mind that doing so means you’ll be on the hook for any damage if they’re in a crash.

The chart below shows average premiums for teens in Minnesota:

Average rates for teens in Minnesota

CompanyAverage annual premiumAverage monthly premium
Auto-Owners$3,540$295
State Farm$3,906$326
Travelers$4,153$346
Nationwide$4,271$356
Automobile Club MI (AAA)$5,454$455
Allstate$7,007$584
GEICO$7,066$589
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Average cost of car insurance in Minnesota

Minnesota is the 22nd most expensive state (Louisiana is number one) when it comes to car insurance with an average premium of $1,911.

The table below shows the average rate in each state for a 40-year-old driver of a 2023 Honda Accord LX.

Average rates for a 40-year-old in Minnesota

Average annual premiumAverage monthly premium
$1,911 $159
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Which Minnesota ZIP codes are most expensive for car insurance?

Where your vehicle spends its days and nights will impact your rate. Frequent severe weather or a high crime rate will raise the cost of insurance for everyone in the area.

Our data shows that Brooklyn Center is the most expensive area for coverage with an average premium of $2,232 a year.

Here are the most expensive ZIP codes in Minnesota for car insurance:

Most expensive ZIP codes in Minnesota

CityAverage annual Premium
Brooklyn Center$2,232
Columbia Heights$2,226
Fridley$2,200
Minneapolis$2,188
Ah Gwah Ching$2,174
St. Paul$2,164
Remer$2,158
Lake George$2,156
Federal Dam$2,155
Outing$2,154
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Which Minnesota ZIP codes are the cheapest for car insurance?

Rural areas are almost always cheaper than urban areas when it comes to car insurance. Fewer people and cars on the road mean fewer accidents and claims. The cheapest zip code for car insurance in Minnesota is in Mankato with an annual premium of $1,625.

Least expensive ZIP codes in Minnesota

CityAverage annual Premium
Mankato$1,625
North Mankato$1,640
Eyota$1,662
Moorhead$1,676
Madison Lake$1,679
Janesville$1,687
Owatonna$1,702
Truman$1,703
Fairmont$1,703
Eagle Lake$1,705
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Cheapest car insurance for high-risk drivers in Minnesota

Drivers with a speeding ticket, DUI or at-fault accident on their record are often considered high-risk drivers and end up paying more for coverage. The increase can range from reasonable for a speeding ticket to a big leap in costs for a DUI.

The data showed that a speeding ticket will result in a 40% increase, pushing the average rate to $2,366. Speeding tickets will typically impact your premium for at least three years.

An at-fault accident will raise your rates by 55% to an average of $2,621. A DUI will result in the biggest increase, sending your premium up 188% to an average of $4,851.

The table below shows the average increase for drivers with an incident on their record:

How much rates increase in Minnesota after a traffic incident

Profile GroupsAverage annual premiumRates after IncidentRates increase after incident ($)Rates increase after incident (%)
At-Fault Accident$1,686$2,621$93555%
Bad Credit$1,686$3,608$1,921114%
DUI$1,686$4,851$3,165188%
Speeding$1,686$2,366$67940%
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Minimum car insurance requirements in Minnesota

Most states require all drivers to carry a minimum amount of liability coverage to drive legally. Minnesota requires drivers to carry 30/60/10 in liability coverage, which translates into:

  • $30k for bodily injury and $50,000 for death for a person involved in an accident
  • $60k for bodily injury and $100,000 for death for two or more people in an accident
  • $10k for property damage for a single accident

These required minimums are fairly average when compared to other states. However, these minimums are rarely enough coverage if you are involved in a serious accident. Once your coverage levels are exceeded, you will be on the hook for any remaining damage.

Experts typically recommend carrying 100/300/50 as a minimum liability coverage level.

expert

What our expert says

Q: How does a state’s population affect car insurance rates?

expert-image
Chong GaoDirector of product management R&D at Mercury Insurance.
“States with a higher population density have more cars on the road and thus more accidents and claims, increasing insurance rates. A more rural state like Iowa will have significantly lower average yearly car insurance costs compared to a highly metropolitan state like Minnesota.”
author image
Mark Vallet
Contributing Researcher

 
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Mark Vallet is a Denver-based insurance expert and journalist with 18 years of experience covering the car insurance industry. He specializes in breaking down complex insurance topics into clear, expert-backed insights that help drivers make smarter insurance coverage decisions.

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