Twin Cities Traffic and Minnesota Auto Insurance
If you’re one of the thousands of North Star State residents who commute in and out of the Twin Cities every weekday, you know the high-volume traffic all too well. Even the weekends offer no reprieve, with a Vikings, Twins, or Timberwolves game almost always scheduled. But let’s face it, in one of the most active states in the country, people drive everywhere, from Eagle Mountain to Lake Superior. It’s important to know that you and your family take to the road with dependable car insurance. Minnesota auto insurance is more complex by the day, but if you do your homework, and take the time to shop around, you’ll find that Minnesota insurance quotes can be a great value.
Know the Laws
To begin, you’ll need at least a minimum amount of coverage. State law requires every driver to have a 30/60/10 policy: bodily injury liability limits of $30,000 per injured person, up to a total of $60,000 per accident, and property damage liability coverage with a minimum limit of $10,000. To fully protect yourself and your passengers, all Minnesota auto insurance quotes must also include uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage of at least $25,000/$50,000, as well as personal injury protection of $40,000. If you fail to show proof of a policy with all these minimum coverages, you’ll be charged with a misdemeanor. Fines begin at $250, though you may be subject to a $1,000 fine, up to 90 days in jail, and license suspension.
Impress the Insurer
Without a doubt, your location plays a part in your premium. But whether you live in the Twin Cities or in a quieter area, some background factors can convince potential insurers that you’re a safe bet, and thus lead to low Minnesota auto insurance quotes. Such qualities as profession, education level, and whether you own or finance your car lead insurers to place you in certain risk “pools.” Along those same lines, failure to meet legal or financial obligations looks bad for your profile. A 28-year-old man in St. Paul might pay an annual premium of $686 to purchase the state minimum car insurance for a 2004 Volvo V70, which he drives 30 miles roundtrip each workday. Suppose he got a speeding ticket on the way to work three months ago. His premium goes up to about $811. Or he maintains a clean driving record, but let his insurance lapse two months ago. That can add about $150 per year to his Minnesota auto insurance quotes. Bad credit history will raise the price even more.
Shop with Others
Just as you don’t want to pay exorbitant premiums, you don’t want to leave yourself or your spouse unprotected. Instead of paying for a personal car insurance policy, think about combining your policy with your spouse. In Minneapolis, a 36-year-old woman who commutes about 30 miles each weekday in her 2006 Acura MDX will pay about $1,325 for the state-required minimum. If she decides to add her husband’s 2007 Infiniti G35 to her policy, the total for both drivers can be as low as $2,010-saving them around $300 per driver.
Considering the long commute, she and her husband may want to ride in and out of the Twin Cities together, or with colleagues. Decreasing your mileage will lower your auto insurance quotes, so carpooling or public transportation are great ways to save money. The important thing to remember is to shop around for the premium that adequately protects you at a price you can afford. You can search the dozens of insurers, or turn to a free service like NetQuote.com to handle your comparison shopping. If you want to join the thousands of active state residents in some weekend exercise, at the gym or at Lake Superior, make sure you’re covered.
