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Michigan: the Great Lakes State. Home to Detroit (the Motor City), the Upper Peninsula (Yoopers, you betcha!), Michigan’s Adventure, Ski Brule, and Traverse City Charter Fishing. As the largest state in the Midwest, Michigan boasts landscapes and leisure time activities that are as diverse as its people.

From farming towns to fishing towns to college towns to industrious metropolises, Michigan has so many different areas visit and adventures in which to partake that it would be easy to lose yourself in all of the excitement.

One area that you definitely don’t want to be lost and left in the dark is getting affordable auto insurance rates.

Enter your ZIP code to compare auto insurance rates from the top carriers so that you can find the most affordable premiums for you.

Michigan Insurance Coverage and Rates

Fishing through all the facts and figures to find the most relevant information from the top auto insurance companies in Michigan is no way to spend your valuable time.

The good news for you is that we have done all the thorough research so you don’t have to. We will give you all the information you need to protect your premium savings.

We’ll help you to understand the requirements of The Great Lakes State, what you may want for coverage, and where you can get it at the most affordable price.

Michigan Minimum Coverage

Michigan is one of a handful of states that is a no-fault state, meaning that both parties in an auto accident are subject to receive benefits from their own insurance companies, no matter who caused the crash. You might consider carrying Personal Injury Protection (PIP) to offset any expenses beyond what your basic auto insurance would cover.

The Michigan Division of Insurance and Financial Services (MDIFS) has created this helpful resource for consumers which explains the benefits of PIP coverage in the state.

All drivers in Michigan are required to carry minimum liability insurance levels of 20/40/10 to satisfy basic overage. This means that car owners must carry the following minimum coverage for auto insurance in Michigan:

• $20,000 for bodily injury or death of one person in an accident caused by the owner of the insured vehicle

• $40,000 for total bodily injury or death in an accident caused by the owner of the insured vehicle

• $10,000 for property damage per accident caused by the owner of the insured vehicle

Drivers in Michigan have the option to purchase Medical Payments Coverage (Med Pay) of at least $5,000 to cover medical expenses after an accident (again) regardless of who is at fault for the crash.

The state of Michigan does require you to carry Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage with minimums of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.

It is the sole responsibility of each driver to determine how much risk he or she is willing to take on.

Each driver must do a cost-benefit analysis for himself or herself to decide whether the monthly (our semi-annually or annually) premiums saved by foregoing Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage (or choosing the bare minimum) is worth the potential litigation to which he or she would be vulnerable.

If a driver has substantial assets that he or she desires to protect, he or she should consider increasing his or her liability coverage.

The experts at the Wall Street Journal advise that if you do choose to purchase liability coverage, make sure to increase the limits to 100/300/50.

Next, we will explore how much money drivers in Michigan spend on average for their auto insurance compared to the national average.

The amount you will actually pay will more than likely differ from these stated amounts; however, this data should serve as a helpful blueprint that you can apply to your current situation with confidence.

Premiums as a Percentage of Income

American legal scholar Steven G. Calabresi has said, “Income tax filing and payment day should be moved from April 15th to November 1st so it can be close to election day. People ought to have their tax bills fresh in mind as they go to vote.”

This salient quote emphasizes the major impact that taxes have on the Disposable Personal Income (DPI) of the American citizen. One’s DPI is the amount that is netted by an individual or household after taxes are withdrawn.

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Full coverage policies include liability, comprehensive, and collision insurance. Here’s a peek at the average cost of each:

Now that we have sorted through some data about auto insurance costs to the individual consumer, let’s take a look at some important statistics about the insurance companies themselves.

Loss Ratio

First, let’s examine loss ratio and how it impacts your insurance. What exactly is a loss ratio? How is it calculated and why should you even care about it?

The insurance loss ratio is the proportion of incurred losses compared to earned premiums expressed as a percentage. A high loss ratio means that an insurance company has paid out too many claims, which will subsequently lead to a rise in future premiums for all consumers.

For example, an auto insurer collects $100,000 of premiums in a given year and pays out $20,000 in claims, the company’s loss ratio is 20 percent ($20,000 incurred losses/$100,000 earned premiums).

Add-ons, Endorsements, Riders

Over 20 percent of drivers in Michigan ( a whopping 20.3 percent to be exact) are driving without insurance, which ranks as just the 4th-highest percentage in the nation.

The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (MDIFS) has created the Your Guide to Automobile Insurance as a useful tool that outlines all the insurance enhancements available to you.

Pay-by-the-mile auto insurance plans offered by companies like Metromile are growing in their popularity, unfortunately, they are not yet active in the Sunflower State.

Other Usage-Based Insurance programs (UBI) are active and available to drivers in Michigan. Programs like SmartRide from Nationwide or Snapshot from Progressive or Drive Safe & Save from State Farm offer discounts to drivers based on their driving habits and capabilities.

In addition to these add-ons, there are several more optional enhancements that you can explore to decide which ones may be right for you:

• Guaranteed Auto Protection (GAP)
• Personal Umbrella Policy (PUP)
• Rental Reimbursement
• Emergency Roadside Assistance
• Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
• Non-Owner Auto Insurance
• Modified Auto Insurance Coverage
• Classic Auto Insurance

Average Monthly Auto Insurance Rates by Age & Gender in MI

The Temptations, legendary Motown Records musical artists, were big proponents of chivalry (at least, their lyrics to the songs were). They are literally on record imploring their male peers to honor their partners in a relationship by treating them like a lady.

But how far does this chivalrous spirit extend? Does that mean women should be given better auto insurance rates? Well, let’s examine the data to see if the insurance carriers in Michigan offer better rates to the men or women of the state.

Here’s a look at the Most Expensive Demographic rates in Michigan. With which company can you and your family find the best value?

Whether you’re a man or woman, single or married, young or old, you should always know what’s going on when it comes to your auto insurance rates.

For example, a single 25-year-old female in Michigan would save over $13,000 annually on her premiums with Geico over Allstate.

Michigan Insurance Rates by ZIP Code

Are you more likely to get lower auto insurance rates in Detroit or Saginaw? Do the students and faculty in Ann Arbor enjoy more favorable premiums than their counterparts in Flint?

Let’s find out by taking a look at the most expensive ZIP codes in Michigan. Here is a chart with the average annual premiums in Michigan by city for the most and least expensive insurance carriers:

Where did your hometown rank statewide? Let’s take an even more in-depth look as to how your city and neighborhood compares to the state average.

This is a list of the least expensive ZIP codes in Michigan.

Michigan Insurance Rates by City

Which cities are the most expensive cities for auto insurance? Let’s take a look.

Unsurprisingly, Detriot is the most expensive city for auto insurance. So what cities are the cheapest?

If you live in St. Louis, your auto insurance rates should be the lowest in the state.

Michigan Auto Insurance Reform: July 2020

On July 1, 2020, a completely reformed law will go into effect. Michigan residents are expected to save between seven and 44 percent on the portion of their premium that accounts for PIP.

Michigan lawmakers not only adjusted PIP; other parts of the new law operate similarly to at-fault states. Even though drivers will save in PIP, other portions of their premium will increase.

What do the experts have to say about this new law?

Choices in PIP Coverage

The current law provides unlimited PIP, but the new law offers options which may raise or lower your premium. Each option is detailed in the table below with a calculation of savings.

Most drivers will see only a seven to 16 percent savings, but lawmakers designed this portion of the new law to focus mainly on assisting those residents below the poverty level and older adults.

However, if you keep your PIP unlimited as they are now, you will probably see your premium slowly increase over the years.

Michigan residents will still be required to pay the annual assessment fee per vehicle to cover deficits. The fee will increase to $220 in July 2019. The assessment fee is not part of the newly reformed law, so expect to continue to pay it. Even those drivers who choose to opt-out will still be required to contribute to the fund, but it’s estimated to decrease to $43.

The new law also mandates the MCCA to extend refunds to drivers if their assets are 120 percent of what they must pay per vehicle. The mandated refund is intended to demand more transparency from the MCCA.

The transparency should result in a refund just over $8 per vehicle to those who opt-out, for example, if what the MCCA collects is 40 percent above what they are required to pay out in catastrophic claims. Those who choose to keep unlimited PIP would then see a $44 refund as long as the assessment fee doesn’t increase.

Changes that Accompany Choice-PIP

The scales still need to be balanced for healthcare providers.

To place more control on what hospitals and doctors can charge for auto accident victim care, the new law puts into effect a limit based on the Medicare fee schedule to provide a standardized method in figuring charges and reimbursements.

The new law will enforce caps on what hospitals and doctors can charge for care provided to an auto accident victim. Lawmakers chose to model after the Medicare fee schedule, so this means no medical service can exceed 190 to 250 percent higher than the fees that Medicare would reimburse.

The type of facility that provides treatment will determine the percentage of reimbursement, and this portion of the law will be effective for care provided after July 1, 2021. However, in-home care is now limited to 56 hours per week.

The new choice-PIP law will also permit an injured driver to sue for the medical expenses beyond their chosen PIP limit. Interestingly, this right to sue will place more responsibility on the insurance company for the negligent driver which happens to be how it works in at-fault states.

And if insurance companies are to be more liable for their negligent drivers, guess what?

Minimum liability coverage is set to increase so the insurance companies can still get their cut.

The liability coverage requirements are currently $20,000 per person or $40,000 total per accident to cover bodily injury.

These limits will increase to $50,000 and $100,000 which will join Michigan with Alaska and Maine as the three states requiring such high minimum amounts of liability coverage.

Unfortunately, liability coverage is only useful if you drive in another state or if you are in an accident with an out of state driver in the state of Michigan. So, this increase in liability coverage will not come into play if two Michigan residents are in an accident.

The default amount of liability coverage on policies drawn is $250,000 and $500,000, so be sure to specifically request the minimum liability coverage limits because it’s less likely you will actually use it.

Rates Determined by Only your Age and Driving Record

The traditional method used to calculate a rate for auto insurance often includes factors that most drivers feel should not matter such as gender, marital status, credit score, homeownership, occupation, and level of education. Insurance companies make assumptions that these factors determine how safe of a driver you are.

Some states have outlawed basing rates on gender and/or marital status, but the new law in Michigan will prohibit additional discriminatory practices.

Michigan is making history by passing a law that restricts insurance companies in determining rates based on discriminatory factors. Companies will be limited to using only age (amount of driving experience) and driving record (speeding tickets, accidents, or DUIs) to set rates.

No doubt due to Detroit having the highest rates in Michigan (and the country), the new law also lists ZIP code as a discriminatory factor. However, experts that have analyzed the specific wording believe it will still permit insurance companies to set rates based on undefined territories.
If insurance companies wish to establish territories, they must work with the Department of Insurance and Financial Services and justify the higher rates in each territory.

Insurance companies may be granted some freedom is basing rates on location, but details of the new law will monitor (and hopefully) increase the accountability by requiring more transparency when it comes to rates charged and fees for medical care after a car accident.

The Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) is giving insurance companies and medical providers until July 1, 2022 to get things in order and document how they are passing along savings to policyholders.

The bottom line is this:

Your total out-of-pocket premium may not waiver much in the first two years after the new law goes into effect, but, with more time, lawmakers hope the scales will balance out profits and losses and ultimately reduce premiums.

It’s hard to say how things will shake out, but we will always be here to make sure you know how to shop around and get the best rate possible.

Michigan Auto Insurance Companies

Selecting the proper insurance coverage for your budget is important. You would potentially have to take a lot of time out of your busy day to sift through all the data.

No need to fret. We have gathered all the information that will be most helpful to you to make a fabulous decision on the best auto insurance company for your family’s needs.

When choosing to align yourself with an auto insurance company, make sure to choose one with a fabulous reputation.

An insurer’s public reputation can be a clear indication of the kind of rates it offers to its consumers. We’ll show how the largest companies rate in the areas of financial stability and customer satisfaction.

Financial Ratings

AM Best is a credit rating agency. It evaluates insurance companies and grades them based on their financial stability. The table below shows the ten largest insurance companies in Michigan as measured by direct premiums written with their AM Best rating.

Customer Satisfaction Ratings

Companies in Michigan with the Most and Least Complaints

The Jackson 5 produced the hit record, “I Want You Back,” as a memorable and melodic attempt to salvage a relationship gone awry.

Unfortunately, some relationships just aren’t salvageable. If a consumer’s relationship with his or her auto insurance company deteriorates, the customer has the right to let his or her voice be heard.

When the consumer is left dissatisfied with an insurer, he or she can file a complaint. Those complaints, justified or not, are factored into a company’s complaint ratios.

The complaint ratio is how many complaints a company receive per $1 million of business written.

If you wish to file a complaint against an auto insurer in the state of Michigan, use this online form.

Largest Auto Insurance Companies in Michigan

This chart gives a visual representation of the auto insurance companies with the largest market share in Michigan.

There are 851 auto insurance companies registered in the state of Michigan. Of the 851, 65 of them are homegrown; while 786 are foreign.

Michigan Auto Insurance Rates by Company

Now, we’re going to compare and contrast the top auto insurance companies to see which of them give the best rates on average in Michigan.

Michigan Rates by Carrier and Commute

Michigan Rates by Carrier and Coverage Level

Michigan Rates by Carrier and Credit History

Michigan Rates by Carrier and Driving Record

Earning points on your license will have a negative impact on your auto insurance rates. How severely those rates are impacted is up to the discretion of each insurance company. Each insurer uses its own underwriting metrics when assessing risk. Here is a quick look at how top auto insurance companies in Michigan price various driving infractions:

Michigan Laws

Reviewing every state ordinance and traffic statute would be tremendously boring. We’ve got your back by collecting the most important rules and regulations for you to know when driving in Michigan.

Auto Insurance Laws

State insurance commissioners are afforded lots of leeway and authority to administer laws and regulations on the auto insurance industry in their respective commonwealths.

Each state determines the type of tort law and threshold (if any) that applies in the state, the type and amount of liability insurance required, and the system used for approval of insurer rates and forms.

Insurance companies in Michigan are subject to the regulations set by that state insurance commissioner. Ultimately, all rates and regulations must meet the fair competition standards set by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).

High-Risk Insurance

SR-22 coverage may be required for drivers who have committed serious infractions or have multiple violations, as well as uninsured drivers and others. If your license has been revoked or suspended, you may need to file an SR-22 to have it reinstated.

For more information regarding SR-22, Proof of Financial Responsibility, and Driver Responsibility Fees, click here.

The state of Michigan also runs the Michigan Automobile Insurance Placement Facility (MAIPF) to help drivers who have been unable to get coverage on the open market. This is a last-resort option for insurance for high-risk drivers.

Windshield Coverage

Michigan has no specific laws requiring insurance companies to offer special glass coverage or no-deductible windshield replacement; however, companies may offer it along with their comprehensive coverage.

The insurance companies can choose aftermarket parts that are of like kind and quality and they must be identified as such in a written estimate. Customers have the option to choose their own repair vendors but may have to pay the difference in quotes.

For a detailed summary of windshield and glass coverage in Michigan, click here.

Automobile Insurance Fraud in Michigan

Insurance fraud is the second largest economic crime in America. Premium rates are raised dramatically by insurance companies and passed on to the consumers in attempts to combat fraud.

There are two classifications of fraud: hard and soft.

• Hard Fraud – A purposefully fabricated claim or accident
• Soft Fraud – A misrepresentation of information to the insurance company

Soft fraud is more common than hard fraud. Twenty to 40 percent of consumers admitted to lying to their insurer about one of the following:

• Number of annual miles driven
• Number of drivers in the household
• How the vehicle would be used

Insurance fraud is a crime no matter how you slice it. Even the “little, white lie” you tell to get a lower rate can lead to harmful consequences. That kind of willful misrepresentation of facts is called known as “rate evasion” and is $16 billion annual expense to auto insurers.

If you suspect insurance fraud or have been the victim of fraud, you can contact the Michigan Department of State (MDOS) Office of Investigative Services (OIS) to report such activity.

Statute of Limitations

Michigan’s statute of limitations for filing a claim is three years for both personal injury and property damage.

Vehicle Licensing Laws

Michigan’s Secretary of State, by way of the Department of State, has an online portal called ExpressSOS where residents can perform tasks such renew their registrations and drivers’ licenses, update or change their address, and retrieve their driving history. Vehicle registration and insurance information can be easily accessed through the state database.

Proof of Financial Responsibility

Proof of financial responsibility requirements in Michigan can be found here.

Teen Driver Laws

The State of Michigan wants to ensure that all teenage drivers are equipped with all the tools and resources to be safe and knowledgeable behind the wheel.

Older Driver License Renewal

Michigan cannot be rightfully accused of ageism when it comes to its license renewal policies. All drivers, regardless of age, must renew their licenses every four years.

Drivers of all ages must show proof of adequate vision at every renewal that is done in person. And all drivers are eligible to renew online every other renewal period.

New Resident Licensing

New Michigan residents who are age 18 or older wishing to obtain a Michigan license must provide proof of residency and/or proof of employment. If you have a valid license from another state, the written and driving skills tests may be waived.

New Michigan residents must immediately title and register their vehicles at a Secretary of State office and turn in the title from their previous home state, usually within 30 days of becoming a resident.

REAL ID

Michigan is compliant with the REAL ID Act passed by Congress and enforced by Homeland Security. This means that a driver’s license or state ID issued by the Wolverine State is an acceptable form of identification at federal facilities, airports, and nuclear power plants.

As of October 1, 2020, anyone wishing to fly on a commercial flight or enter a federal facility must have a REAL ID-compliant form of identification.

Rules of the Road

Keep Right and Move Over Laws

Michigan law requires drivers to keep to the right to allow faster moving vehicles to pass unless passing or turning left.

Move Over Michigan is a website and organization that is dedicated to promoting the state’s “Move Over” laws and informing the public on various ways and initiatives to keep law enforcement, emergency service attendants, and road service workers safe.

Speed Limits

Seat belt Laws

Michigan’s seat belt and car seat laws are in place with your safety in mind, as well as the safety of your family. All children three years old and younger must be in a child restraint; children ages 4-7 and who are less than 57 inches tall must be in a child restraint or booster seat.

Car Seat Laws

According to child safety seat laws in Michigan, all children three years old and younger must be seated in the back seats.

Safety Laws

Promoting safety and preventing chaos are the ultimate goals of any traffic laws. The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has developed initiatives like Driving Change Bicycle Safety to provide tips, facts, and interactive graphics in hopes of making Michigan roads safer for all drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike.

In accordance with the National Highway Traffic Saftey Administration (NHTSA), Michigan released its most recent Strategic Highway Safety Plan as an additional resource for drivers.

DUI Laws

The Blood-Alcohol Content (BAC) limit in Michigan is 0.08 percent; the High BAC limit is between 0.15 percent.

The OWI (Operating While Intoxicated) penalties in the state of Michigan can be found in the underneath table

Drug-Impaired Driving Laws

At present, Michigan has no specific marijuana-impaired drugged driving laws.

Michigan Can’t-Miss Facts

Take a look at some interesting factoids about Michigan, the Sunflower State

Vehicle Theft in Michigan

There may be no place like home, but there also is no pain like home and auto theft. Here is the chart of the top stolen vehicles in the state of Michigan.

As you can see, American-made vehicles are the favorite targets for auto pilferers in the state of Michigan.

Vehicle Theft by City

The table below gives a breakdown of the top cities for auto theft within the state.

Risky and Harmful Behavior

We’ve compiled a list of all driving-related fatalities in Michigan. For more information and resources, visit the Michigan Traffic Crash Facts website.

Fatality by Speeding (County)

Fatality by DUI (County)

Fatal Crashes by Weather Conditions

Fatal Crashes by County

Fatal Crashes in Top Ten Counties (Five Year Trend)

Fatality Rates Rural vs. Urban

Fatalities by Person Type

Fatalities by Type of Crash

EMS Response Time

Transportation

Here is a chart of the details car ownership stats in Michigan.

Car Ownership

A majority of Michigan households own two cars. The percentage of households that own either one or three cars is about equal at around 20 percent.

Commute Time

At 23.5 minutes, drivers in Michigan have significantly less commute time than the national average of 25.3 minutes. Only 1.89 percent of drivers in Michigan experience a “super commute” of 90 minutes or more.

Detroit, the Motor City, ranks as the 27th most congested city in the US, 146th most congested city in the world. Detroit motorists spent 66 hours in congested traffic in 2018.

Commuter Transportation

More than 80 percent of Michigan workers drive alone to work. A little less than 10 percent carpooled.

Now that you have been fully-equipped with all the important information regarding Michigan driving laws and insurance requirements, there’s no need for there to be any panic in Detroit (or any of the other towns and cities in the Great Lakes State).

Just enter your ZIP code to start saving today.

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21.05.2019 / affordable auto insurance / auto insurance in Michigan / car insurance tips