Cheapest Auto Insurance in Rochester, Michigan (2025)

Rochester drivers pay an average of $164 per month for liability insurance, which is similar to the Michigan state average rate of $146 and higher than the national average of $104. Though Rochester has lower liability rates than Detroit, the city may have higher averages than some other Michigan cities due to its proximity to Detroit, which has high crime rates and expensive car insurance.1

But you can still find affordable coverage in Rochester if you compare car insurance quotes online from multiple insurers before buying a policy. Here’s what you need to know to find cheap auto coverage in Rochester.

3 of the cheapest car insurance companies in Rochester

The cheapest car insurance company won’t always be your best option. Auto insurance companies consider many factors when setting rates, such as your age, ZIP code, driving record, and vehicle type.

Your rate will differ from every other driver, so it’s important to compare quotes from multiple car insurance companies to find the best fit. The table below outlines the top companies’ pros and cons and average monthly rates.

Best insurer for classic cars: Chubb

Best insurer for cheap rates: Auto-Owners

Best insurer for military members: USAA

How to get the cheapest car insurance in Rochester, MI

Insurance companies consider several factors when determining car insurance rates, including your age, driving history, vehicle type, and even the ZIP code where you park your car at night.

Here are a few things to help you find car insurance to fit your budget in Rochester:

• Bundle your auto and home insurance policies. If you have multiple types of insurance, including home insurance, renters insurance, life insurance, business insurance, or multiple vehicles, you may qualify for discounts by bundling your policies or insuring multiple vehicles on one policy.

• Maintain a clean driving record. Your driving history has a big effect on your insurance rates. Car owners with accidents or moving violations on their records typically pay higher rates than drivers with a clean record, so practicing safe driving habits can help you keep a clean record and qualify for more affordable rates.

• Take advantage of usage-based insurance. Some car insurance companies now offer usage-based insurance, which determines your premiums based on how often you drive and your driving behaviors. You may have to install a telematics device on your car or install a smartphone app to track your mileage and driving activity. Ask your insurance agent or auto insurance company about available telematics device discounts.

• Shop around. Different companies offer different rates — even for seemingly identical drivers and coverages. Comparing quotes from multiple insurance companies can help ensure you find the cheapest car insurance.

Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Rochester: Auto-Owners

Liability-only car insurance is a type of car insurance policy that covers the cost of damages to other vehicles, pedestrians, or property caused by the insured driver. But it doesn’t cover damage to your own vehicle. Liability-only car insurance is cheaper than full coverage, so you may be interested if you have an older model car that isn’t worth a lot. But if you financed the purchase of your car and are still making payments, your lender will require you to carry full coverage.

Rochester drivers pay an average monthly rate of $164 for liability-only car insurance. Here are some of the best rates for liability coverage in Rochester.

Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Rochester: Auto-Owners

Full-coverage auto insurance includes liability insurance along with comprehensive and collision coverage. Comprehensive coverage reimburses you for loss due to theft or damage caused by something other than a collision, such as a fire, falling object, or vandalism. Collision coverage pays for damage to your vehicle resulting from a collision with another vehicle or object.

You’ll benefit from full-coverage insurance if you can’t afford to repair or replace it without help from your insurance company. On average, full coverage costs Rochester drivers $253 per month. Below are some of the cheapest options for full-coverage auto insurance in Rochester.

Car insurance requirements in Michigan

Michigan is a no-fault state for car insurance. This means drivers receive compensation from their insurance company after an accident, regardless of who caused the accident.

All drivers must carry a minimum amount of bodily injury liability coverage. Most drivers must also purchase a minimum amount of personal injury protection (PIP) medical coverage, which pays for medical expenses, recovery, and rehabilitation after an auto accident. Only Medicaid recipients meeting specific criteria can opt out of PIP medical coverage.2

The table below shows the minimum-coverage liability insurance in Michigan:

To protect yourself more thoroughly, you should consider carrying more than the minimum-coverage limits. Some other coverage options to consider include:

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident

Incidents can include speeding tickets, driving under the influence (DUI), at-fault accidents, and other moving violations. Having such incidents on your driving record can increase your car insurance rates compared to what drivers with a clean record pay. This is because insurance companies see you as a higher risk and charge higher premiums to offset that risk.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket: Auto-Owners

Having a speeding ticket on your record often means facing a rate increase when you renew your policy, although the extent of the increase depends on the severity of the incident and whether it was your first offense.

Rochester drivers with a speeding ticket pay an average of $186 per month for liability-only coverage. Here are some of the cheapest car insurance companies for drivers with speeding tickets in the city.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident: Auto-Owners

If you have an at-fault accident on your record, insurance companies tend to view you as a risky driver and will increase your rates to account for that extra risk. This can make finding affordable car insurance more challenging.

Rochester drivers with an at-fault accident on their record pay an average monthly premium of $235 for liability-only insurance. Below are some of the lowest monthly liability rates for drivers with an at-fault accident in the city.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI: Auto-Owners

Driving under the influence is a serious offense that involves operating a vehicle while impaired by drugs or alcohol. Finding cheap car insurance will be difficult if you’ve been convicted of a DUI, and your choices may be limited.

The average cost of liability car insurance for Rochester drivers with a past DUI is $264 per month. Here are some of the lowest liability car insurance rates for drivers with a DUI in the city.

Cheapest car insurance for seniors: Auto-Owners

Experienced drivers tend to be safer behind the wheel. But drivers age 70 and older have higher rates of fatal crashes per mile driven than middle-aged drivers, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).3 As a result, insurance companies tend to decrease rates for drivers around age 35 but increase them again around age 70.

Senior drivers in Rochester pay $137 per month for liability insurance and $212 for full-coverage insurance. Below are the average monthly car insurance rates for seniors in the city.

Cheapest car insurance for teens: Auto-Owners

Car insurance companies charge higher rates for teen drivers because they don’t have many years of experience behind the wheel and are prone to taking risks that more mature drivers might avoid.4

On average, teen drivers in Rochester pay $248 per month for liability-only coverage and $382 per month for full coverage.

The best way for teens and their families to keep rates affordable is to join their parents’ insurance policy. They should also take advantage of discounts most insurance companies offer, such as those for good students and completing an approved driver training course.

Below are the average insurance rates for teens in the city.

Is car insurance more expensive in Rochester?

Yes. The cost of car insurance in Rochester, Michigan, is higher than the national average but comparable to the state average.

Average monthly premiums in Rochester are $253 for full coverage and $164 for liability-only coverage, according to Insurify data. Nationwide, the average monthly premiums are $184 for full coverage and $104 for liability-only coverage.

One of the reasons for this discrepancy has historically been Michigan’s unique form of no-fault insurance. Until July 1, 2020, insurance companies in the state had to offer unlimited PIP coverage, meaning there was no cap on potential medical damages if one of their customers had an accident.5 In 2020, a tiered system replaced the old system, allowing Michigan drivers to purchase lower PIP limits. The legislation also requires insurance companies to reduce statewide average premiums for eight years.

Despite this positive change, rates in Rochester will likely remain higher than in some areas, partially due to Michigan’s harsh winters. Inclement weather increases the likelihood of accidents, which increases insurance claims. For example, snow and ice can make the road slippery in Rochester and nearby Rochester Hills, leading to an increased frequency of accidents. Harsh storms can lead to damage from falling tree branches, leading to more severe losses.

More cities in Michigan 

The cost of car insurance in Rochester is higher than in many other Michigan cities, partially because of its proximity to Detroit, which has high crime and vehicle theft rates.1 The table below shows how rates in other Michigan cities compare to Rochester’s average monthly rates if you’re considering a move to save money.