After the first 59 days, a Minnesota auto insurer cannot cancel a policy midterm except for reasons listed in statute, and the notice period is generally 30 days, or 10 days for nonpayment or for a cancellation in the first 60 days.

Those rules come from sections 65B.15, 65B.16, 65B.17, and 65B.19 for auto, and from sections 65A.01 and 65A.29 for homeowners, along with the Department of Commerce Auto Insurance Guide.

How does auto cancellation and nonrenewal work?

The Commerce guide states that after the first 59 days, an insurance company cannot cancel a policy during the policy term except for listed reasons, which can also be used to decline renewal. Those reasons include nonpayment of premium; obtaining the policy through a misrepresentation; a knowing false or fraudulent claim; failure to disclose accidents or traffic violations within 36 months, or other requested application information that would affect acceptance or rating; failure to give required notice of a lawsuit or to cooperate in a claim; and other grounds listed in section 65B.15, including certain license suspensions, medical conditions without a physician's written opinion, and specified uses or defects of the insured automobile.

Section 65B.16 requires that a cancellation or reduction in limits under section 65B.15 state the specific reason and be mailed or delivered so that the named insured has at least 30 days' notice, except that at least ten days' notice is enough when the reason is nonpayment of premium or when the company is cancelling coverage that has been in effect for less than 60 days. Information about moving violations or motor vehicle accidents may be used to cancel within the first 59 days only if it was specifically requested on the application. If the company cancels within the first 59 days and gives notice with less than ten days remaining in that period, coverage must be extended to expire ten days after the notice was mailed.

Section 65B.17 requires at least 60 days' advance notice of auto nonrenewal, with the specific underwriting or other reason. The section does not apply if the insurer has manifested its willingness to renew, or in case of nonpayment of the renewal premium. An insurer may not fail to renew an automobile policy solely because of the age of the insured, or for reasons that are arbitrary or capricious. If the failure to renew is based on termination of the agency contract, the notice must say so. The Commerce guide adds that when an agency contract ends, drivers 65 or older must be informed that they have the right to continue the policy.

Section 65B.19 requires the auto notice of nonrenewal, cancellation, or reduction in limits to tell you about the right to complain to the commissioner within 30 days of receiving the notice, and about possible eligibility for the Minnesota Automobile Insurance Plan.

What notice does a homeowners policy require?

Section 65A.29 says no insurer may cancel a homeowners policy except for the reasons specified in section 65A.01. For a policy less than 60 days old that is declined, or a policy cancelled for nonpayment of premium, section 65A.01 requires that notice be mailed at least 20 days before the effective cancellation date. Midterm cancellation for listed reasons requires at least 30 days' mailed notice. Nonrenewal, or a reduction or elimination of coverage, requires at least 60 days' advance notice under section 65A.29, subdivision 7, with the specific reason, the insurer's name, and the date the notice is issued. The notice must also mention the Minnesota FAIR Plan, the right to object to the commissioner, and the right to the return of unearned premium in appropriate situations.

If a notice looks short, compare the mailed date with these statutory periods, keep a copy, and consider a Commerce complaint. The Commerce guide also states that, after the first 59 days, the listed midterm grounds can be used to decline renewal, and that a nonrenewal notice may be sent 60 days before the end of the policy term. Two common nonrenewal reasons described in the guide are a point total under Minnesota Rules and the termination of an agency contract, with the age-65 continuation right noted above. The guide also states that an auto insurer cannot use employment status, status as a tenant, or the lack of a previous auto policy (unless the person was legally required to have one) as risk-determining factors in determining your policy.

Residual-market coverage is a last-resort option after the standard market has been tried, not a first shopping stop.

FAQ

How much notice is required for a midterm auto cancellation?

Generally at least 30 days, with the specific reason. At least ten days' notice is enough for nonpayment, or for cancellation of coverage that has been in effect for less than 60 days, under section 65B.16.

Can an auto insurer cancel for any reason after the first 59 days?

No. After that early period, midterm cancellation is limited to the grounds in section 65B.15, as the Commerce guide also summarizes.

How much notice is required for a homeowners nonrenewal?

At least 60 days' advance notice, with the specific reason, under section 65A.29, subdivision 7.

What residual markets are named in the notices?

The Minnesota Automobile Insurance Plan for auto, under section 65B.19, and the Minnesota FAIR Plan for property, under section 65A.29.

If a cancellation or nonrenewal notice has you unsure about timing or residual-market options, talk with a licensed local agent and, if needed, contact the Department of Commerce.

Sources: Minnesota Department of Commerce, Auto Insurance Guide; Minnesota Statutes section 65B.16; Minnesota Statutes section 65B.17; Minnesota Statutes section 65A.29; Minnesota Statutes section 65A.01.

Minnesota requires auto liability insurance of at least $30,000 for injuries to one person, $60,000 for injuries to two or more people, and $10,000 for property damage. Because Minnesota is a no-fault state, every licensed vehicle also needs $40,000 in personal injury protection, made up of $20,000 for medical expense loss and $20,000 for other basic economic-loss benefits.

Those figures come from the Minnesota Department of Commerce Auto Insurance Guide and from sections 65B.44 and 65B.49 of the Minnesota statutes. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverages are also required and are covered in a companion article.

What do the required liability and PIP coverages pay?

The Commerce Department guide states that liability helps cover injury and property damage expenses when you are at fault in an accident. The $30,000 figure is the most the minimum policy will pay for one person's injuries. The $60,000 figure is the most it will pay for everyone hurt in that accident, combined, subject to the per-person limit. The $10,000 figure is the minimum for physical damage to another vehicle or other property.

Those floors are not a guess about what a serious claim will cost. If a claim exceeds your limits, you can be personally responsible for the rest. A licensed local agent can quote higher limits or an umbrella policy if you have a house or savings to protect.

Personal injury protection, also called basic economic-loss benefits, is the no-fault part of the policy. Section 65B.44 requires a minimum of $40,000 for loss arising out of the injury of any one person, consisting of $20,000 for medical expense loss and a total of $20,000 for income loss, replacement services loss, funeral expense loss, survivor's economic loss, and survivor's replacement services loss. The Commerce guide describes PIP as paying you and members of your household, within the stated limits, for medical or funeral expenses, lost wages, and replacement services.

Minnesota is a no-fault state, the guide explains, meaning drivers injured in a car accident in Minnesota can get compensation under their own policy regardless of who was at fault for the accident. No-fault coverage applies only to expenses resulting from injuries, not to property damage. Claims are first made on your own PIP. If expenses are higher than the PIP limit on your policy, or if you meet specified thresholds, you may make a claim against the other driver's liability coverage if that driver is found to be liable. The Commerce guide states that no-fault claims must be made within six months of the accident.

The guide also explains who is covered. You are covered by the policy in your name. Any resident living in your home who does not have a policy of their own is also covered, including a spouse, adult children riding with you, or a minor in your custody or the custody of a relative. If a friend borrows your car and has an accident, and that friend has a policy, their injuries are covered under that policy. If not, PIP is paid from your policy.

What else is required, and what is optional?

A plan of reparation security for a vehicle registered or principally garaged in Minnesota must also include uninsured and underinsured motorist coverages of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident, under section 65B.49. Those required coverages are explained in a companion article.

Collision and comprehensive are optional unless a lender requires them. The Commerce guide says collision covers damage to your vehicle in an accident with another vehicle or object. Comprehensive covers a loss that is not the result of a collision, usually including fire, theft, hail, or an accident involving a deer. If the policy includes comprehensive coverage, section 65B.134 requires the insurer to offer complete coverage for repair or replacement of damaged safety glass without a deductible.

If you have a car loan and coverage lapses, the guide warns that the lender may purchase a policy that is likely more expensive and is designed to protect the lender's interest. Motorcycles must have liability, uninsured, and underinsured coverages; PIP is not required for motorcyclists. ATVs are not covered by a standard auto policy.

Shop with more than one licensed agent. The Commerce Department licenses agents in Minnesota. You can confirm a license through the department's license lookup or by calling the Consumer Services Center at 651-539-1600, or 800-657-3602 in Greater Minnesota only.

FAQ

What are Minnesota's auto liability minimums?

The Department of Commerce lists $30,000 for injuries to one person, $60,000 for injuries to two or more people, and $10,000 for property damage. Section 65B.49 states the same floors.

How much personal injury protection is required?

Section 65B.44 requires a minimum of $40,000 per person, consisting of $20,000 for medical expense loss and $20,000 for other listed economic-loss benefits. The Commerce guide describes this as $40,000 per person, per accident.

Is Minnesota a no-fault state?

Yes. The Commerce guide states that injured drivers can get compensation under their own policy regardless of who was at fault, through required PIP, and that no-fault claims must be made within six months of the accident.

Does required PIP pay to repair my car?

No. The guide states that no-fault coverage applies to injury expenses, not property damage. Damage to your vehicle is a question for collision or comprehensive coverage, if you bought it, or for a claim against a liable driver.

If your limits, a no-fault claim, or a lapse has you unsure about the next step, talk with a licensed local agent who can review your policy and Minnesota's current required coverages.

Sources: Minnesota Department of Commerce, Auto Insurance Guide; Minnesota Statutes section 65B.44; Minnesota Statutes section 65B.49.

Flood coverage for a Minnesota home is purchased as a separate policy, often through the National Flood Insurance Program. There is usually a 30-day waiting period after you apply and pay the premium, with narrower exceptions for certain loan closings and map revisions.

Do not assume a homeowners policy automatically includes a flood policy, and do not assume collision coverage will pay for hail or a flooded car.

How do you buy flood insurance for a home?

Flood insurance may be bought through a licensed property or casualty agent. Some companies issue the Standard Flood Insurance Policy in partnership with the federal government as Write Your Own insurers. Others may order a policy from the National Flood Insurance Program. Official consumer information is at floodsmart.gov. A licensed local agent can also tell you whether a private flood form is being offered, and you should compare the waiting period, building limits, and contents limits in writing.

You can purchase National Flood Insurance Program coverage at any time, but a 30-day waiting period after you apply and pay the premium is the usual rule before the policy goes into effect. Official National Flood Insurance Program materials describe two exceptions: there is no waiting period when the initial purchase is connected with making, increasing, extending, or renewing a loan, if the application and premium are handled at or before closing; and there is a one-day waiting period when the initial purchase is made during the 13-month period after a Flood Insurance Rate Map for the community is revised or updated.

Those exceptions are narrow. If you are not closing a loan and your community's flood map was not just revised, plan on the 30-day wait. Buying coverage while water is already rising will not usually put a policy in force for that event. Even if a lender does not require a flood policy, you can still buy one. Ask about building coverage and contents coverage as separate limits, and about how a basement or a detached garage is treated under the form you are offered.

A residual homeowners market, the Minnesota FAIR Plan, is a last-resort property option described in a companion article.

Ask a licensed local agent to help you compare a National Flood Insurance Program policy with any private flood form being offered, including the waiting period, the deductible, and whether contents are covered. Keep the application and the premium receipt, because the wait usually runs from the date you applied and paid. A FAIR Plan policy, like many standard homeowners policies, is not a substitute for a flood policy. If flood risk is part of why a standard company declined the house, ask about flood coverage as well as about residual property coverage.

What does auto comprehensive cover in Minnesota?

The Commerce guide states that comprehensive covers a loss that is not the result of a collision. This usually includes fire, theft, hail, or an accident involving a deer. Collision covers damage to your vehicle when you are involved in an accident with another vehicle or object. If you carry collision without comprehensive, hail, theft, fire, and a deer strike are not paid under collision as the guide describes those products.

If the policy provides comprehensive coverage, section 65B.134 requires the insurer to offer complete coverage for repair or replacement of all damaged safety glass without regard to any deductible. That first-dollar glass option is yours to accept or decline, but it must be offered. Winter and gravel-road windshield breaks are a practical reason to ask whether the option is on the policy.

A lender may require comprehensive and collision as a condition of a loan. If coverage lapses, the Commerce guide warns that the lender may buy a policy that is likely more expensive and is designed to protect the lender's interest. Read a lender-placed notice carefully.

For a flooded vehicle, comprehensive is the auto coverage to review, because the guide places non-collision losses, including water-related events typically handled as comprehensive claims, outside collision. Confirm the declarations page with a licensed local agent rather than assuming collision will respond.

FAQ

Is there a waiting period for flood insurance on a home?

Yes, in most cases. National Flood Insurance Program coverage usually has a 30-day waiting period after you apply and pay the premium, with narrower exceptions for certain loan closings and map revisions.

Does a Minnesota homeowners policy automatically include flood coverage?

Flood coverage is sold as a separate policy through a licensed agent, often using the National Flood Insurance Program. Ask an agent to show you, in writing, whether any flood form is on the homeowners policy.

Does collision coverage pay for hail or a deer strike?

The Commerce guide describes hail and an accident involving a deer as comprehensive losses, not collision. Collision is for an accident with another vehicle or object.

Is deductible-free glass coverage required if I have comprehensive?

The insurer must offer complete safety-glass coverage with no deductible. Whether you elect that option is your choice under section 65B.134.

If you need a flood quote for a home or want to confirm comprehensive and glass coverage on an auto policy, talk with a licensed local agent who can review the current forms and waiting-period rules.

Confirm whether comprehensive is on the auto declarations page before a severe-weather forecast, not after hail has already hit the car.

Sources: Minnesota Department of Commerce, Auto Insurance Guide; Minnesota Statutes section 65B.134; National Flood Insurance Program.

If you have a problem with a Minnesota insurance company or agent, start with the company or the agent. If that does not resolve it, you can file a complaint with the Department of Commerce Consumer Services Center by phone or through the department's official online form.

The Commerce Department licenses agents and regulates insurers. Its Auto Insurance Guide tells consumers to confirm that an agent is licensed and lists the Consumer Services Center at 651-539-1600, or 800-657-3602 in Greater Minnesota only, and an online complaint form at mn.gov/commerce/consumers/file-a-complaint/.

What should you try before you file?

Call the claims adjuster or the customer-service number on your declarations page, and ask for a supervisor if the first person you reach cannot help. Put a follow-up request in writing when the issue involves a denial, a cancellation, a nonrenewal, a premium dispute, or a settlement amount. Keep notes of dates, names or departments, and what you were told.

Have these items ready, because a complaint goes faster when the facts are in one place:

• Your name, mailing address, phone number, and email address
• The policy number, claim number, and the legal name of the insurance company and the agent, if any
• Dates of the event, the claim, the notice, or the billing problem
• Copies of the declarations page, the denial or cancellation letter, estimates, photos, and your written requests to the company
• A short, factual summary of what happened and what you want the company to do

Do not send original titles or original policies if a copy will do. Keep a copy of everything you file.

The Commerce guide also walks through everyday claim disputes that often lead to complaints. Your insurer cannot require you to have a vehicle repaired at a specific shop, but it may require more than one estimate. If it requires more than two estimates, it must reimburse you for the cost, if any, of additional estimates. If parts are replaced, the company is required to pay for original-equipment parts unless you agree to after-market parts, and it is responsible for restoring the vehicle to the way it was before it was damaged, using parts of like kind and quality on an older vehicle. The company must settle a vehicle claim by assuming the cost to repair the damage or by paying a cash settlement if the vehicle is a total loss. Evaluation of a totaled vehicle's value must follow the Minnesota Fair Claims Settlement Act. If those rules are not being followed, start with the assigned adjuster or a supervisor, then use Commerce if the issue remains open.

How do you reach the Department of Commerce?

Official Commerce consumer contacts published in the Auto Insurance Guide include:

• Consumer Services Center phone (metro): 651-539-1600
• Consumer Services Center phone (Greater Minnesota only): 800-657-3602
• Online complaint form: mn.gov/commerce/consumers/file-a-complaint/
• Agent or company license lookup: mn.gov/commerce

When you file, include the company name, policy or claim number, and a clear timeline. If the dispute is a cancellation or nonrenewal, attach the notice and the policy's effective dates. Minnesota's auto and home notice rules, including a 10-day or 30-day auto cancellation notice and a 60-day nonrenewal notice, are explained in a companion article. For auto nonrenewal, cancellation, or a reduction in limits, section 65B.19 also requires the insurer to tell you about the right to complain to the commissioner within 30 days of receiving the notice, and about possible eligibility for the Minnesota Automobile Insurance Plan.

A Commerce complaint can review whether the company followed insurance law. Include copies of estimates, photos, and any settlement offer so the reviewer can see the numbers in dispute. It does not always replace a lawsuit, an appraisal, or a policy appeal, and it does not automatically pause a deadline in the policy. If a time limit to demand appraisal or to sue is running, keep that deadline on your calendar while the complaint is pending. A licensed local agent can help you read those policy deadlines.

If the seller is not a licensed insurer or agent, Commerce may tell you that another office has jurisdiction. Follow that referral and keep your records.

FAQ

What phone numbers does Commerce publish for consumer help?

The Auto Insurance Guide lists 651-539-1600 and, for Greater Minnesota only, 800-657-3602. Use the current Commerce consumer page if a menu or form points you to a different intake path.

Where is the official online complaint form?

The guide points consumers to mn.gov/commerce/consumers/file-a-complaint/. Confirm the current link on the Commerce website before you submit.

Do I have to complain to Commerce within 30 days of a cancellation notice?

Section 65B.19 requires the auto insurer's notice to tell you about the right to complain to the commissioner within 30 days of receipt of a nonrenewal, cancellation, or reduction-in-limits notice. File promptly and keep a copy of the notice.

Can Commerce look up whether my agent is licensed?

Yes. The guide tells you to use the license lookup at mn.gov/commerce, or to call the Consumer Services Center, to verify that an agent is licensed.

If a claim denial, a cancellation, or a billing dispute is still unresolved after you contacted the company, talk with a licensed local agent about the policy and, if needed, file with the Department of Commerce using the official contacts above.

Sources: Minnesota Department of Commerce, Auto Insurance Guide; Minnesota Department of Commerce, File a Complaint; Minnesota Statutes section 65B.19.

The Minnesota FAIR Plan is the residual property market created by the Minnesota FAIR Plan Act, sections 65A.31 to 65A.42. When a standard homeowners insurer cancels, nonrenews, or refuses to write coverage, the notice must tell you about the possibility of coverage through the Minnesota FAIR Plan.

The plan is a last-resort property option, not a first quote. Premiums and coverage can differ from a standard homeowners policy, so compare the form in writing with a licensed local agent.

When does the FAIR Plan come up?

Section 65A.29 requires that a notice canceling a homeowners policy, and other required statements under that section, inform the insured of the possibility of coverage through the Minnesota FAIR Plan under sections 65A.31 to 65A.42, the right to object to the commissioner, and the right to the return of unearned premium in appropriate situations. A nonrenewal, a reduction in limits, or an elimination of coverage on a homeowners policy requires at least 60 days' advance notice, with the specific underwriting or other reason, the name of the insurer, and the date the notice is issued.

If several standard companies have declined the house, or if a nonrenewal letter names the FAIR Plan, talk with a licensed property agent about residual-market eligibility and about whether any standard-market option remains. The FAIR Plan exists because some houses, locations, or claims histories are hard to place, not because it is automatically a better bargain than a standard policy. Ask for a specimen form, the deductible, and any limits before you treat a residual policy as if it were a typical homeowners form.

Flood insurance is a separate product. A residual property policy is not a substitute for a National Flood Insurance Program policy or another flood form. If flood risk is part of why a standard company declined the house, ask the agent about flood coverage as well.

The residual market for auto insurance is different. When an auto policy is cancelled, nonrenewed, or reduced in limits, section 65B.19 requires the insurer to tell you about possible eligibility for the Minnesota Automobile Insurance Plan and about the right to complain to the commissioner within 30 days. Do not send a homeowners application to the auto plan, or an auto application to the FAIR Plan, by habit. Use the market named for that line of insurance.

Section 65A.29 also says that, upon a written request after you complete an insurer's homeowners application, a company that writes homeowners insurance in the same city or town is entitled to respond with either an offer of coverage, including type, amount, and premium, or a written declination that states the specific underwriting or other reason. That written declination can help you show a residual-market application that the standard market was tried.

How do cancellation and nonrenewal timing relate to residual coverage?

For a homeowners policy, section 65A.01 and section 65A.29 together set the notice rules described more fully in a companion article. In brief, a policy less than 60 days old that is declined, or a policy cancelled for nonpayment, requires at least 20 days' mailed notice before the effective cancellation date. Midterm cancellation for listed reasons requires at least 30 days' notice. Nonrenewal requires at least 60 days' notice. After a homeowners policy has been in effect at least 60 days, or has been renewed, cancellation is limited to stated reasons.

If a notice looks short, compare the mailed date and the effective date with those rules, and consider a Commerce complaint as described in the complaint article. Residual-market coverage can be a bridge while you complete repairs, improve insurability, or shop the standard market again at renewal.

If you apply to the FAIR Plan, ask a licensed property agent to submit the application and to explain any inspection or photographs the plan requires. Keep copies of standard-market declination letters, because they may be part of showing that ordinary coverage was not available. Do not invent coverage limits from unofficial sites; use the plan, the agent, or the current official statute and Commerce contacts.

Keep looking at the standard market on renewal. The FAIR Plan is the statutory last-resort property facility, not a permanent substitute for every household that can be written in the ordinary market.

FAQ

What law created the Minnesota FAIR Plan?

Sections 65A.31 to 65A.42 are cited as the Minnesota FAIR Plan Act. Section 65A.29 requires homeowners cancellation and related notices to mention the possibility of coverage through that plan.

Will a homeowners nonrenewal notice mention the FAIR Plan?

Yes. Section 65A.29 requires the notice or statement to inform you of the possibility of FAIR Plan coverage, the right to object to the commissioner, and the right to the return of unearned premium in appropriate situations.

Is the Minnesota Automobile Insurance Plan the same thing?

No. The Automobile Insurance Plan is the residual auto market named in section 65B.19. The FAIR Plan is the residual property market.

How much nonrenewal notice does a homeowners policy require?

At least 60 days' advance notice, with the specific reason, the insurer's name, and the date the notice is issued, under section 65A.29, subdivision 7.

If standard insurers have declined a Minnesota home, or you received a nonrenewal that names the FAIR Plan, talk with a licensed local agent about current eligibility and about whether any standard-market option remains.

Sources: Minnesota Statutes section 65A.29; Minnesota Statutes section 65A.31; Minnesota Statutes section 65A.01; Minnesota Statutes section 65B.19.

Minnesota requires both uninsured motorist coverage and underinsured motorist coverage of at least $25,000 for injury or death of one person and $50,000 for two or more people in any accident. Those coverages are separate from the $40,000 in required no-fault personal injury protection, and they sit on top of the $30,000/$60,000/$10,000 liability minimums.

The Department of Commerce Auto Insurance Guide and section 65B.49 of the Minnesota statutes are the official sources for those floors. Unlike some states that treat underinsured motorist coverage as optional, Minnesota makes both UM and UIM mandatory on a plan of reparation security for a vehicle registered or principally garaged here.

How do required UM and UIM work with no-fault PIP?

The Commerce guide states that uninsured motorist coverage pays for your medical expenses after you have exhausted your PIP benefits, when the other driver is held responsible for the accident but does not have insurance. The required amount is $25,000 for injuries to one person and $50,000 for injuries to two or more people.

Underinsured motorist coverage, the guide says, pays for medical claims of people covered by your policy. These benefits are in addition to your PIP benefits and are used when the other driver is held responsible and does not have enough liability coverage to cover your medical claims. The required UIM amount is also $25,000 per person and $50,000 for two or more people.

Section 65B.49, subdivision 3a, requires that no plan of reparation security may be renewed, delivered, issued for delivery, or executed in this state with respect to any motor vehicle registered or principally garaged in this state unless separate uninsured and underinsured motorist coverages are provided. Each coverage, at a minimum, must provide limits of $25,000 because of injury to or the death of one person in any accident and $50,000 because of injury to or the death of two or more persons in any accident. In a multi-person accident, the amount available to any one person must not exceed the per-person limit. Every owner of such a vehicle must maintain those coverages. A reparation obligor is not required to provide UM and UIM limits in excess of the bodily injury liability limit on the policy.

Read the declarations page for separate line items for UM and UIM. If a limit is lower than 25/50, or if one of the two coverages is missing, ask the insurer to correct it in writing. You can also ask a licensed local agent about UM and UIM limits equal to your bodily injury liability limits, which may be higher than the legal minimum.

Required PIP still comes first on many injury bills, as the companion article on minimums explains. The Commerce guide tells you to make no-fault claims within six months of the accident. UM and UIM are additional tools after PIP is exhausted or when a liable driver has no insurance, or not enough insurance, to cover the remaining injury claim, as the guide describes those products.

What about safety glass and other add-on coverages?

Section 65B.134 requires that any automobile policy providing comprehensive coverage must, at the option of the insured, provide complete coverage for repair or replacement of all damaged safety glass without regard to any deductible or minimum amount. The Commerce Department's rate-filing materials also remind insurers that this first-dollar glass option must be offered. If you have comprehensive coverage and want glass claims paid with no deductible, ask the agent to confirm that option on the policy.

Comprehensive, when you buy it, also covers losses that are not collisions, including, the Commerce guide says, fire, theft, hail, or an accident involving a deer. Collision covers damage from an accident with another vehicle or object. Neither coverage replaces UM, UIM, or PIP.

Insurers must also offer applicants the option to combine, or stack, PIP benefits on more than one vehicle, under section 65B.47, subdivision 7, as described in official Commerce filing guidance. Ask a licensed local agent whether stacking is on your application and how it would work if two household vehicles are listed.

Shop only with agents licensed by the Commerce Department, and confirm the license at mn.gov/commerce or by calling 651-539-1600, or 800-657-3602 in Greater Minnesota only.

FAQ

Is underinsured motorist coverage optional in Minnesota?

No. Section 65B.49 requires separate uninsured and underinsured motorist coverages, each at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident, on a policy for a vehicle registered or principally garaged in Minnesota.

Do UM and UIM replace no-fault PIP?

No. The Commerce guide describes UM as paying after you have exhausted PIP when the other driver is responsible and uninsured, and UIM as benefits in addition to PIP when the other driver is responsible but underinsured.

Can I buy UM or UIM limits higher than 25/50?

Yes, up to the bodily injury liability limit on the policy. Section 65B.49 states that an insurer is not required to provide UM and UIM limits higher than that liability limit.

Must comprehensive include deductible-free glass coverage?

The insurer must offer complete safety-glass coverage with no deductible if the policy provides comprehensive coverage. The option is yours under section 65B.134.

If you are reviewing UM, UIM, glass, or PIP stacking on a Minnesota policy, talk with a licensed local agent who can compare the declarations page with the current statutory floors.

Sources: Minnesota Department of Commerce, Auto Insurance Guide; Minnesota Statutes section 65B.49; Minnesota Statutes section 65B.134.