Auto Insurance in Michigan

Guide to Auto Insurance in Michigan

Strategies to help you cut costs on car insurance in Michigan
By Matt Alderton

Car insurance in Michigan, like gas or rent, is expensive yet necessary. It doesn't just protect your car from dents; it protects you and other drivers from both bodily harm and financial ruin. For that reason, Michigan car insurance coverage isn't just something that drivers in the "Wolverine State" should have; it's something they must have.

Michigan auto insurance coverage doesn’t have to break the bank. You may be able to save by shopping around, declining unnecessary coverage and trading high deductibles for lower premiums. Indeed, you can cut costs, but you can't cut corners. If you drive in Michigan, you need auto insurance in Michigan. Here's what kind and how much, according to Michigan state law:

1. When buying auto insurance in Michigan, drivers must purchase residual liability bodily injury and property damage (BI/PD) insurance, as well as personal injury protection (PIP) and property protection (PPI) coverage; collision, comprehensive, uninsured motorist bodily injury (UM) and uninsured property damage coverage are recommended, but not required.
2. Auto insurance in Michigan must include PIP coverage, which will cover all of your medical costs if you’re in an accident and up to 85 percent of the income you would have earned if you weren’t injured.
3. Auto insurance in Michigan must include PPI coverage, which will pay up to $1 million for damage that your car does to other people’s property in Michigan.
4. In Michigan, car insurance must include residual liability insurance; your policy needs at least $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident in BI coverage for costs associated with the injury or death of other people in a car accident, and at least $10,000 in out-of-state PD coverage in the event that you’re in an accident outside of Michigan.

Action Steps

The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Browse Michigan auto insurance rates online If you need Michigan auto insurance, online quotes are a good starting point. Available from all major auto insurance companies in Michigan, they offer a fast and convenient way to research and compare premiums.

I recommend:  Get comprehensive online quotes from Michigan car insurance providers at websites like InsWeb, Insurance.com, InsuranceUSA and InsuranceFinder, or from companies like Progressive and Esurance, which quote both their own and competitors' rates.

Solicit Michigan car insurance quotes from national providers Most major car insurance carriers offer auto insurance in Michigan and all provide competitive Michigan auto insurance rates.

I recommend:  Among the largest and most popular car insurance companies in Michigan are AIG, Allstate, Chubb, Farmers, GEICO, The Hartford, Liberty Mutual and State Farm. National associations like AAA and AARP are also good sources for affordable auto insurance in Michigan.

Get car insurance in Michigan from local and regional companies In Michigan, auto insurance rates can vary dramatically; for some of the most affordable, consider locally based providers.

I recommend:  For automotive insurance in Michigan, try Michigan-based companies like Michigan Insurance Company, Fremont Insurance and Wolverine Mutual Insurance Company. Also consider local programs like the Michigan Automobile Insurance Placement Facility (MAIPF), which exists for drivers who can't easily find auto insurance in Michigan.

Use an independent agent to find Michigan car insurance bargains Buying car insurance in Michigan via an independent insurance agent can expose you to new resources, practical advice and special rates.

I recommend:  To find an independent agent who can sell you car insurance in Michigan, search the member directory at the Michigan Association of Insurance Agents.

Choose Michigan auto insurance companies that you can trust Before doing business with Michigan car insurance providers, review their records with consumers to make sure they are reliable, reputable and responsible.

I recommend:  If you subscribe to Consumer Reports, you can check up on car insurance companies in Michigan. Another good resource is the Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Services, which licenses auto insurance companies in Michigan and compiles statistics about complaints against them.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• Consider buying more coverage than is required by state law; minimum Michigan car insurance might not be enough to cover car repairs or medical bills after an accident.
• Penalties for drivers who don't have Michigan car insurance include driver's license suspension and cash fines. Furthermore, driving without car insurance in Michigan is a misdemeanor; those convicted face up to $500 in fines and up to a year in jail.
• If you're leasing or financing your car, dealerships might require you to have more and better Michigan auto insurance than is required by state law.
• Higher deductibles typically mean lower premiums and more monthly savings on auto insurance in Michigan.