Best Car Insurance in Michigan

How do you find the best car insurance coverage and rates in Michigan? As you may know, Michigan has some of the strictest car insurance coverage requirements in the country. These requirements increase the average rates that Michigan drivers must pay compared to residents of other states.

Keep reading for tips on researching auto insurance companies from our experienced car insurance agents with Encore Insurance Group. Reach out to us if you need help with car insurance!

Minimum Required Limits in Michigan

The first thing to know in choosing the best car insurance in Michigan is what coverage the state requires by law. The state of Michigan requires all drivers to carry:

• $50,000 in bodily injury liability per person
• $100,000 in bodily injury liability per accident
• $10,000 in property damage liability per accident
• $1,000,000 in property protection insurance

The state also requires drivers to choose one of these coverage levels for personal injury protection (PIP):

• Unlimited
• $500,000
• $250,000
• $50,000 (for Medicaid recipients)
• Opt-out (with qualifying health insurance)

While Michigan is a no-fault state, that doesn’t mean that all accidents are no-fault accidents. In claims with exceptional injury or death, the at-fault party’s insurance may need to cover bodily injury liability.

You may also wish to include additional comprehensive, collision, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage for protection from other injuries and damages.

Where to Find Insurance Company Comparisons

Several sites across the internet perform analyses and comparisons between auto insurance companies using different methodologies and metrics. Reputable reports and studies will cite their sources and methodologies, usually at the bottom of the report.

Here is information from three different sites comparing auto insurance companies in Michigan.

Bankrate

Bankrate uses information on average rates from Quadrant Information Services combined with information from J.D. Power customer satisfaction scores, financial strength ratings from AM Best, S&P, NAIC, and Moody’s, and common policy coverage options.

Bankrate simulates 40-year-old drivers, both male and female, driving a 2019 Toyota Camry.

Bankrate calculates a proprietary score based on these factors, rating insurance carrier USAA the best as a 5.0 for drivers who qualify, and placing carriers Geico and Travelers in a tie for second place with a score of 4.7. Geico appears to be a good option for drivers on a budget, while Travelers is a good option for drivers who want to customize policy add-ons.

Bankrate scores carriers Auto-Owners and Progressive at numbers four and five, respectively. When comparing average rates for full coverage, Auto-Owners was the highest of the five companies compared, while Progressive was the second highest. For minimum coverage premiums, Progressive was the highest, while Auto-Owners was the second lowest behind USAA.

U.S. News & World Report Magazine

U.S. News also uses Quadrant Information Services for its analysis, compiling information for male and female drivers of different age groups and driving three different vehicles with annual mileage between 6,000 and 12,000 miles. The magazine took the average to get estimated rates for drivers at ages 25, 35, and 60 who drive 12,000 miles annually, with medium coverage and a clean driving record.

Teen drivers can get the lowest rates with their parents’ USAA eligibility, although Geico comes in at a close second. Young adult drivers get low rates with Geico, with USAA and Progressive following closely behind. In most other categories, Progressive ranked first or second for the most affordable coverage.

Progressive also often had the lowest increases after a negative event, including after a speeding ticket, accident claim, or DUI.

MoneyGeek

MoneyGeek performed its own analysis of insurance quotes from 14 providers in five different zip codes to generate its MoneyGeek Score. Its score-weighting system includes 60% for general customer and claims satisfaction, 30% for affordability, and 10% for financial stability.

MoneyGeek’s best overall car insurance using these metrics was Auto-Owners Insurance Co. The rest of its best overall rankings, in descending order, include MetLife, Nationwide, Geico, and Progressive.

The best car insurance in Michigan for customer service was The Hartford, followed closely by Cincinnati Insurance. The two companies switched places for claims service, ranking Cincinnati Insurance first and The Hartford second.

MoneyGeek and U.S. News had similar findings for the best options for young drivers and students. MoneyGeek scored Progressive slightly higher than Geico in its analysis, but these two providers scored consistently as the most affordable options for young drivers.

Contact an Experienced Michigan Car Insurance Agent

To find the best car insurance in Michigan, contact our independent insurance agents at Encore Insurance Group today. We can compare rates across many companies to find the ideal coverage for you. Call us at 248-260-4259 or contact us online for a free quote.