Auto Insurance in Michigan (MI)

If You Are Paying More Than $1,548.41 on Auto Insurance in Michigan, You Are Paying Too Much.

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Auto Insurance Industry in Michigan

• An average consumer pays $2,032.00 on auto insurance
• 276 of every 100,000 vehicles are reported stolen every year
• Accident fatality rate of 0.9%
• Of all accidents: 52% are road-way accidents, 26% are intersection accidents, and 9% of all accidents involve at least 1 truck.

Vehicle ownership comes with many responsibilities. From regular maintenance and repairs to staying current on auto insurance payments, there is more to having a car than simply driving down the street.

For example, accidents are expensive when personal injuries and damages to vehicles occur. That is why Michigan’s Secretary of State (SOS) requires every vehicle owner to have auto liability insurance coverage. This provides financial protection to cover expenses and help control the cost of insurance premiums.

Michigan’s Minimum Requirements on Auto Insurance

The minimum requirements for auto insurance in the state of Michigan is that every driver must have no-fault insurance coverage. This is the only available option for establishing financial responsibility. With no-fault insurance, your insurance provider will pay you even when the other driver caused the accident.

Liability insurance in Michigan requires having the following amounts for physical injuries and property damages:

• Physical injury/death to one person, per accident: $20,000
• Physical injury/death to more than one person, per accident: $40,000
• Property damage per accident: $10,000
• Personal Injury Protection (PIP): Medical expenses when you are injured in an accident
• Property Protection (PPI): Maximum $1 million in damages that you may cause to another vehicle or other types of personal property such as a fence or building.

The insurance certificate you receive from the insurance provider is proof of financial responsibility. You will need to present this document after an accident or when you are pulled over for a traffic violation.

Your driver’s license could be suspended if you fail to meet Michigan’s minimum insurance standards. Further, the license plate and registration on your vehicle cannot be renewed without proof of insurance. This can lead to cancellation of your registration and license. The only way both are reinstated is if you pay a $50 fee and purchase proper insurance coverage.

Consumer Car Licensing Information in Michigan

You must apply for a Michigan driver’s license if you are a first-time adult driver or a new resident to the state. Generally, Michigan issues a Class O operator’s license to every driver.

Driver education is recommended but not required if you are 18 or older. Generally, you can take the written examination for a driver’s license at any SOS office. On the day of your test, you should bring:

• Proof of your legal identity
• Your social security card
• Proof that you are a Michigan resident

In addition to passing the written test for a 180-day instruction permit, you must also pass a vision screening. Michigan’s SOS also has health standards that every driver must meet. You must keep the permit for at least 30 days before you are allowed to take the road test.

An appointment with a state-approved third-party tester is necessary to take the road test. You must bring the following documents with you on test day:

• A Michigan instruction permit
• Registration and insurance proof on the vehicle used for the road test
• $25 cash or check for the driver’s license fee

You will not have to take the road test if you recently relocated to Michigan. You can simply exchange your out-of-state license for the state's regular license.

Motorcycle Licensing Information in Michigan

Generally, you can earn a CY motorcycle endorsement in Michigan by completing a multi-step process. There is a written test that the SOS administers. The mandatory safety course and road skills test are administered at a road skills testing organization that the state of Michigan certifies.

The minimum age to apply for a motorcycle endorsement is 16 once you have completed the Level 2 graduated driver’s license (GDL) process. Additionally, you must pass a vision screening, written exam and safety course.

Safety courses are available throughout the state from public and private vendors. Typically, public courses will cost $25. Fees may vary with private vendors.

If you are over 18, you must have either a valid Class O driver’s license or a temporary instruction permit (TIP). State guidelines also require a passing score on a motorcycle written test. Additionally, you have the choice of passing either a motorcycle skills test or safety training program. The fee for a CY endorsement is $13.50.

The CY endorsement expires on the same date as your driver’s license. You can renew either in person or by mail.

According to Michigan motorcycle laws, helmet are no longer required on all riders. Instead, you can drive without a helmet if you are at least 21 years old; pass a motorcycle training course within the last two years; and, have an additional $20,000 of medical insurance.

Commercial Vehicle Licensing Information in Michigan

Michigan issues a Class A, B and C commercial driver’s license (CDL) to drivers who wish to operate commercial vehicles. The state of Michigan’s CDL requirements are parallel to federal requirements.

Basically, obtaining a CDL in Michigan involves the following:

• Presenting your social security card to a SOS office. You must also provide an approval for a background and fingerprint check if you need a hazmat endorsement
• Proof that you are either a natural born U.S. citizen or have legal status
• Fulfill the requirements for a clean driving record and medical examination
• Pass all required written and vision tests
• Schedule an appointment to take the CDL driving skills test
• Pay the $25 CDL fee; $5 or $10 fee per endorsement

Written tests are dependent on the CDL level you are trying to achieve. The Class A CDL is for commercial vehicles weighing 26,001 lbs. or more. The weight for Class B vehicles is also 26,001 lbs. or more. Class C vehicles typically weigh 26,001 lbs. or less and are used to transport 16 or more passengers, or to transport hazardous materials in quantities that require placards.

More Resources on Auto Insurance in Michigan

Department of Insurance

• http://www.michigan.gov/ofir
• P.O. Box 30220 Lansing, MI 48909
• Phone: (517) 373-0220 or (877) 999-6442
• Fax: (517) 335-4978