The state of Minnesota requires insurance on any vehicle being driven on the roads. This is to protect yourself and others in case of an accident.
The liability portion of an auto insurance policy provides coverage for:
- Bodily injury: caused to others.
- Property damage: arising out of an auto accident for which the insured is legally liable.
- Personal Injury Protection: Minnesota’s “no fault” law that covers medical expenses, replacement services, and wage loss incurred by the insured regardless of fault.
- Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist: bodily injury to the insured caused by a negligent driver who does not have any or enough liability insurance.
- Comprehensive: covers physical damage not caused by collision, such as flood, vandalism, fire, hail, wind, glass breakage, theft, explosion, earthquake, falling objects, and contact with a bird or animal. Typically a deductible applies.
- Collision: covers damage caused by collision with another vehicle or object. Typically a deductible applies.
If you have “full coverage” on your vehicle, you also have:
- Comprehensive: covers physical damage not caused by collision, such as flood, vandalism, fire, hail, wind, glass breakage, theft, explosion, earthquake, falling objects, and contact with a bird or animal. Typically a deductible applies.
- Collision: covers damage caused by collision with another vehicle or object. Typically a deductible applies.
Optional extra coverage options include:
- Roadside assistance: necessary labor at the place of breakdown when your vehicle is disabled due to mechanical breakdown, dead battery, flat tire, lockout, low fuel supply, and/or towing to the nearest qualified repair facility.
- Rental reimbursement: pays for a replacement vehicle after a covered claim.Loan/lease gap coverage: if you have purchased or leased a newer model vehicle, this covers the gap between what you owe on the car and what it’s worth if your car is totaled in a covered loss
