Updated: March 16, 2026
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Minnesota doesn't offer a low-income car insurance program, but drivers denied by voluntary insurers may qualify for MAIP, which provides assigned risk coverage. Read more.
Westfield, North Star and Western National offer the most competitive rates. Compare quotes to find your lowest premium. Read more.
Minnesota allows credit-based insurance scoring. Building credit from poor to good can reduce premiums by up to 51%. Read more.
No, Minnesota doesn't offer a state-sponsored low-income car insurance program. Westfield Insurance, North Star and Western National rank as the most affordable options for drivers seeking minimum coverage in the state.
Drivers denied coverage by voluntary insurers may qualify for the Minnesota Automobile Insurance Plan (MAIP), which assigns high-risk drivers to participating insurers at state-regulated rates higher than voluntary market premiums.
The Minnesota Automobile Insurance Plan (MAIP) serves drivers who can't get coverage in the voluntary market. The program places eligible drivers with participating insurers at state-regulated rates that run 25% to 50% higher than standard premiums. You qualify if at least one insurer has denied you coverage in the voluntary market. Apply through a licensed insurance agent with documentation of your denial.
Our guide to high-risk car insurance in Minnesota provides complete details on MAIP eligibility and the application process.
Westfield offers Minnesota's most affordable coverage at $40 per month for drivers with poor credit, with North Star at $40 and Western National at $66. Minnesota allows credit-based insurance scoring, meaning improved credit reduces premiums. The state requires 30/60/10 minimum liability coverage, and while these limits are higher than some states, rates remain manageable.
| Westfield Insurance | $40 | $475 |
| North Star Insurance | $40 | $481 |
| Western National Insurance | $66 | $797 |
| Geico | $82 | $984 |
| Auto Owners | $101 | $1,212 |
| Nationwide | $111 | $1,332 |
| Travelers | $115 | $1,385 |
| Farmers | $120 | $1,434 |
| Allstate | $131 | $1,571 |
| State Farm | $219 | $2,629 |
| AAA | $307 | $3,689 |
Improving credit from poor to good can cut premiums. Westfield drops rates from $40 per month to $19 for drivers who build good credit, saving $244 per year.
Westfield provides the most affordable family coverage at $1,306 annually for married couples with a 16-year-old driver. North Star ($1,389) and Auto-Owners ($1,639) offer alternatives.
| Westfield Insurance | $1,306 |
| North Star Insurance | $1,389 |
| Auto Owners | $1,639 |
| Western National Insurance | $1,883 |
| State Farm | $2,242 |
| Geico | $2,345 |
| Travelers | $2,763 |
| AAA | $3,074 |
| Allstate | $3,461 |
| Nationwide | $3,965 |
| Farmers | $4,604 |
*Rates for married couples with a 16-year-old teen driver are based on 50-year-old male and female drivers with clean driving records.
How to Lower Family Premiums
Drivers in Minnesota can decrease insurance bills with these affordable strategies:
Get quotes from at least three standard insurers before applying to Minnesota's assigned risk plan. MAIP coverage costs 25% to 50% more than voluntary market rates. Many drivers who believe they can't get standard coverage actually qualify with Westfield Insurance, North Star Insurance or Western National Insurance.
Minnesota allows credit-based insurance scoring. Westfield Insurance charges $40 monthly with poor credit but drops to $19 with good credit, $244 annual savings. Pay bills on time, reduce credit card balancesand dispute errors on your credit report to improve your score and lower premiums.
Minnesota drivers may qualify for good student discounts, military discounts, employer group rates and other affinity programs not always advertised. Ask each insurer directly about these opportunities when comparing quotes to make sure you're getting the lowest possible rate.
Minnesota doesn't provide dedicated assistance programs for low-income drivers, but drivers can save by shopping around and improving credit scores.
Westfield Insurance, North Star Insurance and Western National Insurance provide the most competitive rates for drivers with limited budgets. Minimum coverage keeps costs lowest for Minnesota drivers who own their vehicles outright, though financing or leasing requires additional coverage.
No, Minnesota doesn't offer a state-supported low-income car insurance program. Drivers rejected by voluntary insurers can access coverage through the Minnesota Automobile Insurance Plan (MAIP), an assigned risk program that make sures access to state minimum coverage at rates higher than voluntary market premiums.
Income doesn't directly impact car insurance rates in Minnesota. But insurers can use credit-based insurance scores when setting premiums, and credit scores often correlate with financial circumstances. Minnesota requires insurers to disclose when credit information increases premiums.
Study Overview
MoneyGeek analyzed state auto insurance rates using data from Quadrant Information Services.
Data Acquisition, Depth and Analysis
Our analysis covers quotes from multiple companies across ZIP codes to determine the average cost of car insurance for low-income drivers.
Sample Driver Profile
We used this sample driver profile to determine average car insurance rates for low-income drivers:
To calculate rates for different driver profiles, we adjusted for age, family status and driving history.
Our study defines seniors as 60 or older, young drivers as 22 to 29 and adults as 30 to 59. Married couples with a child include 50-year-old male and female drivers with a 16-year-old teen.
Coverage Levels and Deductibles
The minimum coverage rates we analyzed meet Minnesota's mandatory insurance limits of 30/60/10: $30,000 bodily injury per person, $60,000 bodily injury per accident and $10,000 property damage. Minnesota also requires $40,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut, is MoneyGeek's resident insurance expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for almost a decade, first with LendingTree and now with MoneyGeek, conducting original research on hundreds of insurance companies and millions of insurance rates for insurance shoppers.
He writes about economics and insurance on MoneyGeek, breaking down complex topics so people can have confidence in their purchase. Like all MoneyGeek analysts, Mark collects and analyzes independent cost and consumer experience data on insurance companies to provide objective recommendations in our content that are independent of any of MoneyGeek's insurance company partnerships.
His insights — on products ranging from car, home and renters insurance to health and life insurance — have been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR among others.
Mark holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He started his career working in financial risk management at State Street before transitioning to analysis of the personal insurance market. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
