Minnesota · Uninsured driver · Updated Oct 2026

Hit by an uninsured driver in Minnesota: coverage, penalties and what to do

Your coverage, the penalties and how to claim your losses.

Short answer

Driving without insurance is a misdemeanor (gross misdemeanor for repeats or if it causes death or serious injury), with a fine of at least $200 (Minn. Stat. § 169.797). Required: uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist coverage of at least 25/50 each.

Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage
Required
Minimum liability
30/60/10
Insurance system
No-fault
PIP required
$40,000

Uninsured motorist coverage in Minnesota

Uninsured / underinsured motorist (UM/UIM)
Required: uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist coverage of at least 25/50 each.
Liability minimum
30/60/10 plus $40,000 PIP
Official text
Read the official text

Compare every state in the minimum insurance table.

If the other driver has no insurance in Minnesota

  • Every Minnesota policy must include uninsured motorist coverage, so you can claim injuries from your own insurer; your PIP pays medical bills first, and collision coverage can pay for your car.

Penalties for driving uninsured in Minnesota

  • Driving without insurance is a misdemeanor (gross misdemeanor for repeats or if it causes death or serious injury), with a fine of at least $200 (Minn. Stat. § 169.797).

No-fault benefits in Minnesota

Minnesota is a no-fault state for injuries: your own personal injury protection (PIP) pays your first medical bills and lost income, whoever caused the crash. You can sue the other driver for injuries only in some cases, described below. No-fault for injuries. Your own basic economic loss benefits (PIP) pay at least $40,000 per person: $20,000 medical and $20,000 for lost income, replacement services and similar losses.

How fast an insurer must handle a claim in Minnesota

  • Insurers must acknowledge a claim within 10 business days, reply to your communications within 10 business days, and accept or deny the claim within 30 business days after notice unless they explain why more time is needed (Minn. Stat. § 72A.201, subd. 4).
  • Agreed settlements must be paid within 5 business days (§ 72A.201, subd. 5(5)).

Claiming from the uninsured driver in Minnesota

Small claims limit for car damage in Minnesota: $20,000 in Conciliation Court since July 1, 2024. Minnesota small claims guide on Small Claims Map

Step by step if an uninsured driver hits you in Minnesota

  1. Report the crash to the police. Stop and give your name, date of birth, mailing or email address and plate number to the other driver; help anyone hurt. Reporting a crash in Minnesota and getting the police report
  2. Write down the other car's plate and get witness names.
  3. Claim under your uninsured motorist coverage; in Minnesota it is required.
  4. File your PIP claim on time; Minnesota's no-fault benefits don't depend on who caused the crash.
  5. If your coverage doesn't pay everything, sue the driver before the deadline: 6 years for both property damage and injury. Deadlines to sue in Minnesota, with the calculator

Free help in Minnesota

Questions about uninsured drivers in Minnesota

Is uninsured motorist coverage required in Minnesota?

Required: uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist coverage of at least 25/50 each.

What happens if you drive without insurance in Minnesota?

Driving without insurance is a misdemeanor (gross misdemeanor for repeats or if it causes death or serious injury), with a fine of at least $200 (Minn. Stat. § 169.797).

What can I do if an uninsured driver hits me in Minnesota?

Every Minnesota policy must include uninsured motorist coverage, so you can claim injuries from your own insurer; your PIP pays medical bills first, and collision coverage can pay for your car.

What is the minimum car insurance in Minnesota?

30/60/10 plus $40,000 PIP

How long do I have to sue an uninsured driver in Minnesota?

6 years for property damage and 6 years for injury.

How fast must an insurer handle a car insurance claim in Minnesota?

Insurers must acknowledge a claim within 10 business days, reply to your communications within 10 business days, and accept or deny the claim within 30 business days after notice unless they explain why more time is needed (Minn. Stat. § 72A.201, subd. 4). Agreed settlements must be paid within 5 business days (§ 72A.201, subd. 5(5)).

More for Minnesota drivers

Nearby states

Sources

Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.