Cheapest and Best Car Insurance in Rochester, MN (2024)

In Rochester, finding the cheapest insurance can vary by coverage and driver profile. For full coverage, AAA offers the most affordable rates. The minimum coverage frontrunner is Westfield. Families with teens find State Farm cost-effective.

The premier customer service experience is provided by West Bend Mutual, which also ranks as the top overall provider, blending price with quality service effectively. Choose based on your unique needs and coverage requirements.

Westfield offers the cheapest car insurance in Rochester for a minimum coverage policy.

• Westfield: $229 per year
• West Bend Mutual: $352 per year

GEICO has the most expensive minimum coverage policy in Rochester, with an annual premium of $798. This stark contrast in prices underscores the importance of comparing car insurance rates to ensure you're getting the best deal for your needs.

State Minimum Liability Requirements

For all cities in Minnesota, including Rochester, a set state law mandates the minimum required car insurance coverage. Here are the essential coverage minimums:
-$30,000 bodily injury per person
-$60,000 bodily injury per accident
-$10,000 property damage liability per accident
-$25,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
-$50,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
-$40,000 personal injury protection (PIP) per person

Let’s take bodily injury liability as an example. If you have the minimum coverage, and you're liable for an accident, insurance will cover up to $30,000 for a single person's injuries. If multiple people are injured, it pays up to $60,000. Any costs beyond these limits would typically come out of your pocket.

AAA offers the cheapest full coverage car insurance in Rochester, making it the go-to option for cost-conscious drivers.

• AAA: $760 per year
• American Family: $831 per year

GEICO holds the title for the most expensive full coverage policy in Rochester, with an annual premium of $1,680, which underscores the value of comparison shopping. This significant price gap highlights why full coverage policies are typically pricier than minimum coverage due to their comprehensive protection against a variety of on-road risks.

Do You Need Full Coverage in Minnesota?

A full coverage policy includes coverage for damage to your own vehicle in the form of comprehensive and collision coverages. It usually also includes increased liability limits.

• Collision Insurance: This provides coverage for your vehicle in the event of a collision, whether with another vehicle or a stationary object like a tree or light pole. It also covers rollover accidents and pothole damage.

• Comprehensive Insurance: This coverage insures your vehicle against various types of damage not caused by collisions, including theft, vandalism, fires, natural disasters and being struck by an animal like a deer.

If you have a new vehicle, it's wise to opt for full coverage insurance for more robust financial protection. If you're leasing or have a car loan, you are typically required to carry full coverage insurance.

On the other hand, owners of older vehicles may find that the extra cost — which can amount to several hundred dollars more per year — is not justified by the value of the vehicle. When deciding how much car insurance coverage you need, consider your ideal balance: more extensive coverage comes with higher premiums, but getting less coverage means you may pay more out of pocket if you need to file a claim.

Auto-Owners offers the cheapest full coverage auto insurance options in Rochester for drivers with speeding ticket. But various driving offenses impact rates differently. Here are the lowest-priced options for different infractions:

• Speeding Ticket: Auto-Owners ($986 per year)
• At-fault accident: American Family ($831 per year)
• DUI: American Family ($989 per year)

These rates demonstrate that, in this particular instance, the severity of the offense does not alter the cost with the same insurer, though it generally can with others. On the other end of the spectrum, Hanover holds the title for the most costly rates for these infractions.

Insurance premiums in Rochester, like in many cities, typically increase with the severity of a driving infraction due to the higher risk perceived by insurance companies. Drivers with a DUI on their record can expect to pay an average annual rate of $2,888, which is notably higher than the $1,959 average for those with a speeding ticket. With such significant differences in rates, it's important for individuals with driving offenses to diligently compare insurance quotes to maximize potential savings.

State Farm offers the cheapest full coverage car insurance for teens in Rochester.

• State Farm: $1,573 per year for female teens and $1,940 per year for male teens
• Nationwide: $1,573 per year for female teens and $1,679 per year for male teens

These premiums reflect the combined cost of coverage for a family with two parents and a teen driver. In comparison, the most expensive provider for teen family policies in Rochester is GEICO, with female teens being quoted an annual premium of $2,097. This substantial price difference illustrates the necessity of comparison shopping, particularly when adding higher-risk teen drivers to your insurance policy, to ensure you're getting the best deal possible.

In Rochester and similar urban areas, teen drivers face substantially higher car insurance premiums when purchasing an individual policy compared to joining a family plan. On average, a teen's individual premium is around $4,202, while being included on a family plan reduces the average cost to approximately $2,203.

This difference is primarily due to the higher perceived risk insurers place on inexperienced solo teen drivers. Additionally, the stringent qualifications for individual policies often make approval for teens challenging, reinforcing the financial advantage and accessibility of family plans for young drivers. It's financially prudent for teens to capitalize on the lower rates and easier approval process of family plans.

AAA offers the most affordable full coverage car insurance for military backgrounds in Rochester. Here's a snapshot of the top choices:

• AAA: $760 per year
• American Family: $831 per year

USAA is known for its tailored service for active duty military members, but at $977 per year, it is not the cheapest option in this dataset. It does provide competitive rates and specialized services for military families.

In Rochester, comparing car insurance rates is a key strategy for cost savings. However, the process is often cumbersome, potentially requiring over an hour to examine rates from three or more companies.

MoneyGeek's car insurance calculator can help you streamline this process. By inputting details like age, driving history, credit score and preferred coverage, you can instantly receive rate estimates.

Choosing the perfect auto insurance is a balance of valuing service quality, affordability, coverage, and other individual preferences. MoneyGeek employs distinctive scoring systems to assess these factors when rating Rochester's best auto insurance companies.

• Best overall: West Bend Mutual (MoneyGeek score of 88 out of 100)
• Best for service: West Bend Mutual (MoneyGeek score of 85 out of 100)
• Best cheap: **Westfield **(MoneyGeek score of 87 out of 100)

West Bend Mutual demonstrates a powerful combination of superior customer service and reasonable prices, appealing to those seeking a well-balanced option. Westfield caters to cost-conscious consumers who do not wish to forfeit service quality for affordability.

West Bend Mutual is the best car insurance option in Rochester.

• West Bend Mutual: MoneyGeek score of 88 out of 100 ($894 per year)
• Auto-Owners: MoneyGeek score of 80 out of 100 ($887 per year)

West Bend Mutual leads primarily due to its superior satisfaction and affordability scores. This score is noteworthy because it references the value and service provided with a full coverage policy.

West Bend Mutual is the best option in Rochester for top-notch customer service in car insurance. This recognition is solely based on their superior performance in overall satisfaction, claims handling and the breadth of coverages they provide, without considering rates.

• West Bend Mutual: MoneyGeek score of 85 out of 100 ($894 per year)
• Westfield: MoneyGeek score of 79 out of 100 ($1,013 per year)

West Bend Mutual distinguishes itself from other insurers with the highest satisfaction and claims handling scores, which are the most significant contributors to its overall MoneyGeek score.

Westfield is the best option in Rochester for those seeking affordable car insurance without compromising on the quality of claims handling and customer satisfaction. This company stands out as the leading provider of budget-friendly auto insurance that still delivers on service.

• Westfield: MoneyGeek score of 87 out of 100 ($229 per year)
• West Bend Mutual: MoneyGeek score of 85 out of 100 ($352 per year)

Westfield distinguishes itself by achieving the highest MoneyGeek score, a testament to its excellence in affordability combined with solid claims handling and customer feedback. The score is for a minimum coverage policy, highlighting its ability to offer cost-effective insurance solutions that don't cut corners on essential service elements.

Residents of Rochester, Minnesota, can expect to pay an average of $1,037 for car insurance. Minnesota's average car insurance cost is $1,278, indicating that Rochester's rates are quite competitive within the state. Minnesota as a whole has lower insurance premiums than the national average car insurance cost, which is $1,781.

Car insurance premiums are influenced by myriad factors, including but not limited to geographic location. Location plays an important role because it encapsulates risk factors such as traffic patterns, crime rates, and the frequency of accidents.

For instance, St. Paul has the highest reported city premium in Minnesota at $1,445, surpassing the state average by $166. By contrast, Rochester is the city with the cheapest premium at $887, $190 less than the Minnesota average. This exemplifies the variation in insurance costs within the same state and suggests that rates may be even more favorable in less densely populated, non-city areas.