If you have been involved in an at-fault accident, filed a claim, or received a citation for a serious violation, you could be a candidate for high-risk auto insurance. Car insurance coverage for high-risk drivers is usually expensive, but the price increases you receive depends on your auto insurance company, your driving history, and the state in which you live.

What goes into car insurance rates for high-risk drivers in Minnesota? — table of contents:

1. At-fault accidents
2. Speeding
3. Distracted driving
4. Racing
5. Reckless driving
6. Minnesota driving laws

Car insurance after an at-fault collision in Minnesota

If you’re deemed accountable for an auto accident, you can expect your car insurance costs to rise. In Minnesota, the average insurance rate following an at-fault crash is $1,835 compared to the nationwide average of $2,012. A serious incident like an at-fault crash could remain on your insurance record for up to three years!

MINNESOTA AUTO INSURANCE PREMIUMS AFTER AN AT-FAULT COLLISION

The best car insurance company after an at-fault accident in Minnesota is State Farm. State Farm’s typical price increase after a crash is $586, leading to a total cost 32% less expensive than the average among all companies. If you’ve caused an accident in Minnesota, avoid Illinois Farmers and Allstate, which are on the pricier end of the spectrum.

AUTO INSURANCE PREMIUMS AFTER AN AT-FAULT COLLISION IN MINNESOTA — CHEAP COMPANIES

Does a speeding ticket in Minnesota result in higher car insurance rates?

One of the common violations that earn drivers the "risky" tag is speeding. In Minnesota, you can expect to see your rates rise by $286 per year after a speeding citation, to an average per-year price of $1,544.

MINNESOTA AUTO INSURANCE PRICES FOLLOWING A SPEEDING TICKET

The foolproof way to get affordable insurance after a speeding ticket is to shop around and compare the options. The cheapest car insurance after a speeding citation in Minnesota is available through Western National. Western National’s average rate after a citation is $722 less than the state average. If you have been ticketed for speeding in Minnesota, Allstate probably won't be the cheapest option.

AUTO INSURANCE RATES AFTER A SPEEDING TICKET IN MINNESOTA — CHEAPEST COMPANIES

How does a distracted driving ticket impact car insurance rates in Minnesota?

A distracted driving citation means one side effect will be increased car insurance rates. In Minnesota, auto insurance rates typically increase by $22 per year. That's a 2% increase from the typical annual rate in Minnesota, and 87% less than the national average cost of car insurance after a ticket for distracted driving.

MINNESOTA CAR INSURANCE PRICES AFTER A DISTRACTED DRIVING CITATION

The best way to find affordable auto insurance after a distracted driving ticket is to shop a variety of options. The cheapest car insurance company following a distracted driving ticket in Minnesota is Western National, offering a typical rate of only $822 per year, 36% less than the average distracted driving insurance rate from all insurers.

AUTO INSURANCE RATES AFTER DISTRACTED DRIVING IN MINNESOTA — AFFORDABLE COMPANIES

How does being cited for racing impact car insurance rates in Minnesota?

Racing is a very serious offense. Auto insurance providers typically penalize racing tickets with major rate hikes — in fact, Minnesota car insurance premiums increase by an average of $368 annually after a ticket for racing. That is a 29% increase from the usual annual car insurance rate in Minnesota!

If you've been cited for racing, do your homework and shop around for the best rates. In Minnesota, start your search by checking out State Farm, offering premiums 29% less than the state average after a racing violation.

AUTO INSURANCE RATES FOLLOWING A RACING CITATION IN MINNESOTA — CHEAP PROVIDERS

Will a reckless driving ticket raise my auto insurance rates in Minnesota?

As one of the most serious driving violations, reckless driving is a surefire way to raise your insurance rates. Insurance companies increase premiums by an average of $752 annually following a reckless driving citation. That amounts to 60% higher than the average car insurance rate in Minnesota, and 16% less than the U.S. average price increase for reckless driving.

MINNESOTA AUTO INSURANCE PRICES WITH A RECKLESS DRIVING CITATION

If you're ticketed for reckless driving, compare insurance companies to find the cheapest premium. In Minnesota, the most budget-friendly underwriter with a reckless driving ticket is State Farm.

CAR INSURANCE RATES AFTER A RECKLESS DRIVING TICKET IN MINNESOTA — AFFORDABLE COMPANIES

If you're looking for car insurance as a high-risk driver, the best course of action is to do plenty of research and find the best possible policy.

Minnesota driving laws

Minnesota driving laws exist to keep the roads safe for both drivers and pedestrians. To ensure that you stay on the right side of the law, check out our overview of the basic rules of the road in Minnesota.

Learn more about Minnesota's car insurance laws.

Speeding in Minnesota

When are you speeding in Minnesota?

Many drivers often find themselves creeping past the speed limit, whether intentional or not. The state of Minnesota asks that motorists drive at speeds that are reasonable and prudent. Sticking to these general guidelines can help you avoid speeding tickets in Minnesota.

General Minnesota speed limits:

• 70 mph on interstate highways outside urban area limits
• 65 mph on non-interstate freeways and highways and interstates within urban area limits
• 55 mph on other highways
• 35 mph in a rural residential district
• 30 mph in an urban district
• 25 mph on residential roadways
• 10 mph in alleys
  
  

Penalties for speeding in Minnesota

In Minnesota, speeding is considered a petty misdemeanor. If you are caught speeding in Minnesota, you can expect a fine of up to $300. Should you break Minnesota speeding laws three times within one year, it is considered a misdemeanor and the punishments are increased. You could face up to 90 days in prison or a fine of up to $1,000.

Reckless driving in Minnesota

What is reckless driving in Minnesota?

Reckless driving often encompasses many different types of poor driving behavior. The state of Minnesota defines reckless driving as “consciously disregarding a substantial and unjustifiable risk that...may result in harm to another or another’s property.” Minnesota also has a classification for “careless driving,” which it defines as “driving or stopping a motor vehicle in a way that endangers the lives and safety of people or property.”

Penalties for reckless driving in Minnesota

Reckless and careless driving in Minnesota results in similar punishments. They are both considered a misdemeanor and carry the following punishments:

• Up to 90 days in jail
• Fine of up to $1,000

Should you be found guilty of reckless, or careless, driving in Minnesota that results in death or injury, you could face a gross misdemeanor, which has the following penalties:

• Up to one year in jail
• Fine of up to $3,000

DUI in Minnesota

What is a DUI/DWI in Minnesota?

Drinking and driving in Minnesota cause many serious accidents every year. Laws are quite clear on the issue, and anyone caught driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08% or higher considered impaired. However, it should be noted that drivers can still be arrested even if they have a BAC that is lower.

Penalties for a DUI/DWI in Minnesota

Because of the seriousness of the offense, consequences are understandably harsh. If caught driving while impaired in Minnesota, you can face the following penalties:

• Loss of license between 30 days and one year
• A fine of $1,000
• Up to 90 days in jail

The penalties become even harsher if you are convicted of two or more DWIs within a 10-year period. A second offense carries the following penalties:

• License revoked for one year
• License plate impoundment
• Mandatory sentence of at least 30 days, and up to one year, in jail
• A fine of $3,000

Distracted driving in Minnesota

What is distracted driving in Minnesota?

Distracted driving leads to countless accidents each year. Some of them have serious consequences; nearly all of them are preventable. When your mind is somewhere other than on the road in front of you, your reaction times decrease dramatically.

The three primary types of driver distraction are:

• Visual: Looking away from the road
• Physical: Hands off the wheel
• Cognitive: Not focused on the road (“lost in thought”)

Distractions can include come from almost anything, from the obvious like using a phone or grooming to the less obvious like talking with a passenger or simply thinking about what’s for dinner.

While some of these actions would be impossible to legislate against, Minnesota does impose certain restrictions that are meant to temper distracted driving. The following behaviors are illegal in Minnesota:

• Using a wireless device for text messaging, e-mailing, or accessing the internet while driving or stopped in traffic
• Wearing headphones or earphones in both ears simultaneously to listen to a radio or other sound-producing device
• Drivers under 18 who hold an instruction permit or provisional license are barred from using a cell phone altogether, even if it’s hands-free
  
  

Penalties for distracted driving in Minnesota

If you are found in violation of Minnesota distracted driving laws, you can expect the following consequences to apply.

• First offense: $50
• Second (or subsequent) offense: $275

Furthermore, if you are distracted while driving and cause an accident, you could face even steeper punishments on par with reckless driving charges.  

Racing in Minnesota

What is racing in Minnesota?

Minnesota racing laws are clear. It is defined as a “willful comparison or contest” of speed that is still illegal “whether the speed is greater than the speed limit” or not. It falls under the category of reckless driving and follows similar penalties.

Penalties for racing in Minnesota

Being charged with racing could lead you to be tried in court for a misdemeanor. You could face the following penalties:

• Up to 90 days in jail
• Fine of up to $1,000

If you are racing in Minnesota and cause an accident that results in injury or death, you could be charged with a gross misdemeanor, which carries even stiffer penalties:

• Up to one year in jail
• Fine of up to $3,000

At-fault accident laws in Minnesota

What is an at-fault accident in Minnesota?

Minnesota is a “no-fault” state. As such, the insurance requirements for Minnesota drivers are slightly different than many other states. There are certain minimums imposed for all drivers in the state that include bodily injury liability, property damage liability, and uninsured and underinsured coverage.  

Because it’s a no-fault state, Minnesota also requires personal injury protection, sometimes known as PIP. Regardless of who is at fault in the accident, this is the first coverage that you will go through. If the limits of PIP coverage are reached, then the at-fault driver’s liability insurance kicks in.

Here are the minimum car insurance requirements in Minnesota:

• Bodily Injury: $30,000 per person/$60,000 per accident
• Property Damage: $10,000
• Personal Injury Protection: $40,000
• Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Each requires $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident
  
  

Penalties for at-fault accidents in Minnesota

The penalty for driving without insurance in Minnesota is quite steep. If you cannot provide proof of insurance when asked, you can expect the following penalties:

• A fine between $200 and $1,000
• Up to 90 days in jail

Of course, should you be in an accident without carrying insurance, you can expect all losses to come out of pocket, potentially even those of the other driver, which can make the fines above seem downright cheap by comparison.

Sources and references:

• https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/2010/cite/169.14
• https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/169.89
• https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/dvs/forms-documents/documents/autoinsuranceinfo.pdf
• https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/dvs/forms-documents/Documents/Minnesota_Drivers_Manual.pdf
• https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hrd/pubs/ss/ssdistdrvg.pdf
• https://www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/resources/minnesota-misdemeanor-crimes-class-and-sentences.htm
• https://www.drivinglaws.org/resources/minnesota-reckless-careless-driving-laws-penalties.htm
• https://aacriminallaw.com/traffic-violations/driving-without-insurance/
• https://dui.drivinglaws.org/resources/first-offense-dwi-minnesota.htm