Driving Safety: Should Minnesota Be Looking At Increase Minimum Car Insurance Coverages?

At various times over the last couple of years, there has been occasional testimony at the State capitol concerning whether or not there should be increased minimums for Minnesota’s auto Insurance coverages. The basic argument is that while the cost of just about everything has gone up, the minimum rates haven’t been increased since the 70’s. Most people buy the minimums, so when an accident actually happens they find out that they don’t have enough to replace their wages because their coverage only covers $250.00/week and that with $20,000 in medicals, a visit to the hospital for a couple of days and it’s gone.

North Dakota is looking at doubling their basic minimums. Their Senate passed the bill with the debate centering on getting people better protection and the concern that the increased rates for the coverage would lead to more people not having coverage. "We talk about wanting people to have higher and better insurance, higher coverage, and I agree,” said Rep. Dan Ruby, R-Minot. "The reality is, though, do you want people to have the best, or none? Or do you want them to have some?”

Doing this type of work, you see all sorts of clients who increase their coverage once they use it and find out how inadequate it is. There are far too many cases where most of the money is used up almost immediately by medical bills and wage loss. The Minnesota legislature should look closely at what North Dakota does and see what happens.