Michigan is one of the most expensive states for car insurance, Insurify data shows. Full-coverage policies cost $217 per month, or $2,599 per year, on average — the ninth-highest rate in the nation.
High state coverage requirements, severe winter weather, and a relatively high percentage of uninsured drivers all contribute to the high costs of insurance in the Great Lakes State.[1]
You’ll need to compare quotes from multiple car insurance companies to find the best deal available. Maintaining a clean driving record can also help you find lower rates.
6 of the cheapest car insurance companies in Michigan
While you have plenty of options when choosing an insurance company, you’ll want to consider your needs, budget, and risks when finding the right fit for your family. The insurer with the lowest rates might not be the best fit.
As you research, consider the type of policy you want and whether you have unique circumstances (like a spotty driving record) that could affect your rates. Start your search with the insurers in the table below.
Auto-Owners
USAA
GEICO
How to get the cheapest car insurance in Michigan
Common factors that insurers consider when setting car insurance rates include a driver’s history, age, credit history, and where they live. The type of coverage you choose, like liability insurance or full coverage, will affect the cost of your policy, too.
Here are a few tips for finding the cheapest car insurance in Michigan:
Look for discounts. Check with auto insurance companies to see what discounts they offer. You may also find discounts through your work, local organizations (like the AARP), or safe driver programs.
Compare rates from multiple insurance companies. To ensure you get the best rates, compare coverage options between at least three insurance companies. Compare the cost of coverage with the amount they offer and find one that best fits your needs.
Opt for minimum coverage. If you own your vehicle and could afford to replace it or cover the cost of repairs in an accident, opting for liability-only coverage could save you a lot of money. You won’t have as much protection, but your premium will cost less since you’re taking on more risk.
Bundle multiple policies. Many insurance companies offer several types of insurance products, including auto insurance, home insurance, and renters insurance. Ask your insurer if you can bundle your policies for a discounted rate. Bundled policies often offer the best deal for households with multiple insurance products.
Low-cost car insurance in Michigan
Michigan drivers typically see some of the highest car insurance rates across the country. While the state doesn’t have a program to help low-income drivers find more affordable car insurance, if you’re looking for cheaper car insurance, you should consider comparing quotes among three to five insurers every six months to make sure you’re always getting the best deal.
Why are car insurance rates rising in Michigan?
Car insurance rates in Michigan are projected to rise by 8% by the end of 2024, according to Insurify’s latest report. Full-coverage car insurance premiums in the state increased by 4% between June 2023 and June 2024, compared to a 28% increase nationwide.
Michigan continues to be one of the most expensive states for car insurance in the country. The average driver spends 3.7% of their household income on car insurance payments, compared to the national average of 2.6%.
The Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA), which manages the state’s catastrophic claims fund, added a recoupment fee for policyholders on July 1, 2023. This move, along with industry-wide rate hikes, means Michigan drivers will likely face even higher car insurance premiums by the end of 2024.
Nationally, Insurify projects prices to rise an additional 7% in 2024 — nearly twice the average yearly increase.
Cheapest liability-only car insurance quotes in Michigan: USAA
All Michigan drivers must have at least liability-only car insurance to legally operate a vehicle in the state. Liability insurance pays for personal injury protection and property damage expenses for other drivers involved in an accident with your vehicle, but it doesn’t offer personal injury or property damage protection for you or your vehicle.
Liability-only insurance in Michigan costs $146 per month, on average.
If you’re looking for the cheapest car insurance, a liability-only policy will be less expensive than full coverage and could be a good option for your needs. If you’re worried about medical expenses, liability might not be the right choice for you.
The table below shows the cheapest liability-only insurance companies in Michigan.
Cheapest full-coverage car insurance quotes in Michigan: USAA
Drivers who want more protection should opt for full-coverage car insurance. A full-coverage policy offers the state-minimum requirements for liability and additional protection for your vehicle in an accident through collision and comprehensive coverage.
Michigan drivers pay an average of $217 per month for full-coverage policies.
Full coverage is a good idea for drivers who can’t afford repairs or a replacement if their vehicle is damaged or totaled in an accident. If you lease or finance your vehicle, your leasing company or lender will require you to carry full-coverage car insurance. Full coverage will cost more, but it offers more financial protection. High-risk drivers may also consider a full-coverage policy for maximum security.
Car insurance requirements in Michigan
Michigan is a no-fault state, so insurance companies must pay out no matter who’s at fault in an accident. In addition, Michigan drivers must carry no-fault insurance. Michigan insurance companies utilize eligibility points to determine who qualifies for coverage with their company. These eligibility points aren’t the same as points the state uses on a driver’s record.1
Insurance companies can decline to offer coverage if you have six or more points. The most significant point offenders are driving more than 15 miles per hour over the speed limit and second offenses on any incident or accident where you’re at fault. Michigan drivers must also carry personal injury protection (PIP) and property protection insurance.
Though not required, the following coverages can be helpful to carry if you want more thorough protection than the state minimum:
Cheapest car insurance companies in MI for drivers with an incident
It may be more difficult to secure cheap car insurance with incidents on your driving record. Insurance companies typically consider incidents like at-fault accidents, speeding tickets, DUIs, and other moving violations as risky behaviors.
Since insurance companies are required to pay for damages in Michigan, regardless of fault, any increased risky behavior could increase the cost of your policy. Michigan drivers could see the average cost of their policy increase significantly, depending on the type of incident.
Cheapest car insurance quotes for drivers with a speeding ticket: Auto-Owners
Speeding tickets may affect the cost of your insurance in Michigan. Michigan operates on a point system, with drivers accumulating points for certain traffic convictions. Speeding infractions typically result in two to four points, depending on how many miles over the posted limit you were driving when pulled over. Multiple speeding tickets can be a sign that you’re a risky driver, and the cost of your car insurance could increase.
Drivers with a speeding ticket in Michigan pay an average of $166 per month for liability-only insurance.
Cheapest car insurance quotes for drivers with an at-fault accident: Auto-Owners
Drivers with at-fault accidents may accumulate points on their driving record and pay more for car insurance. Drivers with six or more violations or accumulating 12 points within two years must retake their driver’s test. But if you’ve had a clean driving record for three years or longer, buying accident forgiveness coverage can keep your rates stable in case you do cause an accident.
Michigan drivers with an at-fault accident on their record pay an average of $310 per month for a full-coverage policy.
Cheapest car insurance quotes for drivers with a DUI: Auto-Owners
Michigan law allows insurance companies to deny insurance coverage to drivers with a history of a DUI in the past three years. Since insurers consider drivers with a DUI conviction to be higher risk (and they may even require an SR-22 certificate), drivers should expect to pay a higher premium.
Drivers with a DUI in Michigan pay a monthly average of $235 for liability-only insurance and $349 for full-coverage insurance.
You may have fewer coverage options with a DUI on your record, but some insurers still offer affordable quotes, as you can see below.
Cheapest car insurance quotes for seniors: Auto-Owners
Senior drivers pay a little more for car insurance once they reach age 70. The increased rate offsets some of the higher risks senior drivers experience. Common causes of accidents in seniors include physical and mental decline or medication complications.3
Senior drivers in Michigan pay an overall average of $152 per month for car insurance coverage.
You can find the cheapest car insurance companies for senior drivers in Michigan below.
Cheapest car insurance quotes for teens: USAA
Young drivers typically face higher insurance premiums than older drivers because insurance companies view them as more likely to file a claim. Drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 are more likely to be involved in a car accident than any other age group, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).4
A liability-only policy averages $221 per month for teen drivers in Michigan.
Teen drivers can secure lower insurance costs in many different ways, such as staying on their parents’ policy, obtaining a safe-driving certification, and applying for a good student discount. Teens younger than 18 won’t be able to buy their own policy without written consent from a parent or guardian.
Car insurance rates across Michigan cities
While Michigan has some of the highest car insurance rates in the country, some Michigan cities may see cheaper car insurance rates than others. This is because insurance companies take your specific location into account while setting rates. Some areas may experience higher rates of theft or may have higher rates of claims, which can drive up rates in that area.
The table below shows the average cost of car insurance across several cities in Michigan.