AutoInsurance.com is supported by commissions from providers listed on our site. Read our Editorial Guidelines.

Find Your Perfect Policy: 866-843-5386

Icon CheckLast updated: September 19, 2024

The Best Auto Insurance in Michigan

Make an informed choice in a state with unique insurance specifications.

Best Overall
State Farm Logo

State Farm is a national company that provides individualized, local service through its network of exclusive agents. It represents a safe bet for Michigan drivers, providing coverage options and discounts galore.

Best Safe Drivers
AAA Logo

AAA auto insurance is available for AAA members only. Costs to join vary by ZIP code, but AAA offers a wide range of discounts geared toward safe drivers, including a safe driving discount of up to 20 percent and a driver training discount of 5 percent.

Share
Twitter brand
Facebook brand
Linkedin brand
Reddit brand
Envelop icon

Unfortunately for those in the Wolverine State, Michigan auto insurance rates are the third-highest in the nation. A mixture of state laws, accident statistics, and other factors result in expensive auto insurance rates in this no-fault state. But don’t let Michigan’s unique circumstances prevent you from choosing the best auto insurance policy. Explore our top picks for auto insurance in this state.

The Best Auto Insurance in Michigan

  1. 1.

    Best Car Insurance in Michigan Overall: State Farm

  2. 2.

    Best Car Insurance in Michigan for Safe Drivers: AAA

  3. 3.

    Best Car Insurance in Michigan for Active Military and Veterans: USAA

  4. 4.

    Best Car Insurance in Michigan for Teens: Allstate

Comparison of the Best Auto Insurance in Michigan

Provider What it’s best for J.D. Power customer satisfaction rating (out of 1,000)1 Discounts available Average annual cost of insurance Review
State Farm Overall 848 Bundling, multicar, safe driving, student, anti-theft, etc. $1,419 State Farm review
AAA Safe drivers 810 Safe driver, driver training, multicar, mileage, loyalty, student, professional, paperless, new car, etc. $1,903 AAA review
USAA Military and veterans Not ranked Safe driving, defensive driving, bundling, low mileage, vehicle storage, student, family, new car, autopay, etc. $2,4482 USAA review
Allstate Teens 847 Multipolicy, new car, student, safe driving, paperless, paid-in-full, etc. $1,673 Allstate review

 

Detailed List of the Best Auto Insurance in Michigan

1. Best Car Insurance in Michigan Overall - State Farm

What We Like Most:

  • Multiple discounts for safe driving, including one specifically for young drivers
  • Local agents
  • Discounts for multiple cars

State Farm’s network of 19,000 exclusive agents service Michigan cities, including Ann Arbor, Coldwater, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Port Huron, Springfield, Traverse City, Utica, and many more.3 The company’s discounts, reasonable rates, mobile capabilities, and bundling options make State Farm our best choice for auto insurance in Michigan. Over 87 million people across the U.S. carry State Farm insurance; you could be one of them!

ProsWho It's Best For
  • pro
    People who want to work with local agents
  • pro
    Families or individuals insuring multiple vehicles
  • pro
    Drivers of vehicles with safety features, including anti-theft devices, safety belts, and passive restraints like factory-installed airbags
ConsWho It's Not Best For
  • con
    Military personnel and federal employees
  • con
    Drivers with multiple at-fault incidents on their driving records
  • con
    People who lease or finance vehicles and need limited gap insurance

Extensive Coverage Options

State Farm can take care of all your coverage needs in Michigan; it’s the rare state where minimum coverage is sufficient in some ways. Michigan law requires drivers to have at least $50,000 of bodily injury liability per person, $100,000 per accident, $10,000 of property damage liability coverage, $1 million in property protection insurance (PPI), and between $50,000 and unlimited personal injury protection (PIP).4 PIP covers medical expenses and lost wages for you and your passengers if injured in an accident, regardless of who is at fault.

In addition to the required liability and PIP, State Farm provides comprehensive, collision, rental car reimbursement, uninsured/underinsured motorist, and rideshare coverage, along with emergency road service.

Local and Exclusive Agents

Your agent is your advocate with your auto insurance provider. Ask an agent about how to lower the cost of auto insurance or how to achieve a fair insurance claim settlement after an accident.

Local agents who live in your area can be extremely beneficial because they understand the specific factors that affect auto insurance in your city and state. They can help you find the cheapest car insurance companies in Michigan based on where you live. For example, you’ll pay higher premiums living in a city like Detroit than you would in suburban or rural areas. However, there are still ways to save, as you’ll see below.

State Farm works with a large network of exclusive agents. The benefit of working with an exclusive agent is that they possess a depth of knowledge about State Farm policies and discounts. State Farm’s exclusive agents are one reason it ranks on our list of best provincial auto insurance providers.

Savings on Safety and More

Car insurance costs a lot in Michigan. According to the most recent Auto Insurance Database Report from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), the national annual average premium was $1,047, while Michigan’s was $1,419, or 35 percent higher.5

Fortunately, you can apply numerous State Farm discounts to your individualized plan:

  • Accident-free: State Farm offers a discount after three years without a chargeable accident. This discount could increase over time the longer you go accident-free.
  • Anti-theft device
  • Automobile safety belt
  • Drive Safe & Save: When you enroll in this program, you receive a discount of 5 percent. After enrollment, you will share information about your driving habits. Good driving habits equal a higher discount of up to 30 percent off your premium.
  • Good driving: If each driver on the policy has zero moving violations and at-fault accidents during the past three years, you will receive a discount. State Farm may replace this discount with the accident-free discount after three years as a State Farm customer.
  • Good student discount: Drivers under 25 who are full-time students qualify for the good student discount if they rank in the upper 20 percent of their class, have a grade average of B or higher or a GPA of 3.0 or higher, or made the Dean’s List or Honor Roll. Other eligible drivers include those who are earning Associate’s or Bachelor’s degrees, and home students who rank in the upper 20 percent of students in national standardized tests.
  • Multiple automobiles
  • Multiple lines
  • Passive restraint
  • Safe driver
  • Student away at school
  • Vehicle safety discount: 1994 and newer vehicles receive a discount based on the loss experience of the make and model of the insured vehicle.

FYI:

In some states, insurance companies take into account gender and credit scores when determining your premium. Michigan is one of only four states to ban auto insurance companies from basing premiums on these factors.

2. Best Car Insurance in Michigan for Safe Drivers - AAA

What We Like Most:

  • Roadside assistance available
  • Bundling can save you money
  • Low rates for good driving records

AAA started as a roadside assistance service through its automobile club group. Over time, the company morphed into a leading insurance carrier. It’s not surprising, given the company’s history, that AAA’s car insurance offers great protection for the day-to-day risks you face while driving. With discounts geared toward safe driving practices and features, AAA is our pick for safe drivers in Michigan.

ProsWho It's Best For
  • pro
    Safe drivers
  • pro
    AAA members
  • pro
    Professionals working in engineering, law, medicine, accounting, or education
ConsWho It's Not Best For

Roadside Assistance

AAA’s roadside assistance is renowned for its reliability. AAA applies 24/7 roadside assistance to your baseline AAA membership automatically. It includes the following services:

  • Car battery jumps
  • Flat tire changes
  • Fuel delivery
  • Locksmith services
  • Mechanical first aid
  • Towing
  • Winching

AAA Safety Savings

Safety savings for AAA insurance customers include a 20 percent good driver discount. Defensive driver courses and driver’s education courses will net you up to a 10 percent discount off your policy. Drivers with the airbags save up to 40 percent on their premiums, and those with anti-theft devices installed receive 25 percent off comprehensive coverage.6

Financial Stability

AM Best, the industry’s most trusted financial ratings company, has affirmed AAA with an A rating or above since 1979. An A, or Excellent, rating demonstrates AAA’s strong financial solvency.7 It confirms AAA has enough assets to handle catastrophic claims.

Michigan auto insurance rates are higher than in 47 other states, so make sure you’re paying for a quality auto insurance provider that won’t abandon you when you need it.

DID YOU KNOW?

While not required in Michigan, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage could help, as the state has the second-highest percentage of uninsured drivers: 26 percent of all licensed drivers in Michigan drive without insurance, according to the Insurance Research Council.8

3. Best Car Insurance in Michigan for Active Military and Veterans - USAA

What We Like Most:

  • Cheapest rates for teens on a family policy or on their own
  • Special discount for teens transitioning off their parents’ policy
  • Strong customer service and claims process

USAA caters to U.S. Armed Forces service members, families, and veterans with flexible and specialized coverage options. If you are a military member, you’ll find lower-than-average auto insurance rates and high customer satisfaction ratings.

ProsWho It's Best For
  • pro
    Active-duty military members, veterans, and their families
  • pro
    Senior drivers (60 years old and higher)
ConsWho It's Not Best For
  • con
    Non-USAA members
  • con
    Nonmilitary members or families

Savings With USAA

USAA notes that members save an average of $725 on their annual premiums when they switch to USAA. You’ll be able to get savings with the following discounts.

  • Garage: Parking your car in a garage on a military installation will reduce your comprehensive coverage premium by 15 percent.
  • Multivehicle: This discount applies when you extend coverage to two or more vehicles.
  • Bundling: Bundling auto and property policies saves you up to 10 percent of your total premium.

PIP Coverage and Medicare

USAA’s PIP covers the following:

  • Ambulance rides
  • Emergency room visits
  • Follow-up medical visits
  • Funeral expenses
  • Household services like childcare and cleaning
  • Lost wages
  • Prescriptions
  • Rehab services

FACTS:

Medicare recipients can drop PIP if they have Medicare Parts A and B. This exception is good news in a state with high auto insurance rates because, by the time you reach 60 or 70, rates will begin to increase due to the greater likelihood of being involved in an accident.

Benefits for Senior Drivers

Most seniors looking for car insurance in Michigan can stick to the state’s minimum coverage requirements in their policy. USAA is friendly to seniors, especially those who served in the military.

While available to drivers of any age, USAA offers low mileage and defensive driving discounts, which assist senior drivers. If you’re retired and don’t commute, a usage-based discount could lower your premium. Similarly, seniors can receive a discount if they complete an approved defensive driving or driver training course.

4. Best Car Insurance in Michigan for Teens - Allstate

What We Like Most:

  • Three ways to earn a student discount
  • Pay-per-mile option for drivers with low mileage
  • No waiting period to purchase accident forgiveness

Allstate offers a range of auto policies in Michigan. The company’s numerous discounts make it a viable option if you’re trying to save money on your family’s auto insurance policy, especially if you have teen or student drivers. Discounts for new car owners, student performance, and safe driving are among the ways to save.

ProsWho It's Best For
  • pro
    Teen drivers and their parents
  • pro
    Renters and homeowners who want to bundle their home and auto
  • pro
    Individuals more comfortable with large insurance providers
ConsWho It's Not Best For

Smart Student Discount for Teen Drivers

The average cost of auto insurance for teens is 258 percent higher than the national average, at $3,751 per year. Teens, who lack driving experience, get into accidents more often than any other age group. Luckily, Allstate has a smart student discount you can apply to reduce the cost of insurance for any teenagers, college students, or students under 25 listed on your policy.

Unmarried students under the age of 25 who meet the requirements (an average grade of B-, GPA of 2.7 or above, successful completion of the teenSMART driver education program, or attendance at school at least 100 miles away from car storage) receive discounts on their insurance policies.

Benefits of a Large Insurance Company

Allstate is one of the largest insurance companies in the country. The pros of selecting a large insurance company include financial stability and excellent customer service. Allstate ranked at 847 out of 1,000 on J.D. Power’s North Central Overall Customer Satisfaction Index Rating, the fourth-highest in the region and above its region average of 838.

Allstate maintains an A+ rating for its financial strength from AM Best. The Superior rating affirms Allstate’s balance sheet strength and operating performance.

PIP Coverage for the Whole Family

Allstate’s PIP coverage extends to the person named on the policy, their spouse, and relatives of either person who lives in the household. Children or relatives who no longer live with you, or partners of people who live together but are not married, don’t receive coverage under your PIP coverage automatically. However, your Allstate agent can provide options for nonrelative household members.

Methodology

We chose the best auto insurance providers in Michigan based on state-specific factors and a three-pronged research methodology:

  • Company information: We thoroughly researched each company’s car insurance offerings, focusing on the required coverages in Michigan and discounts to reduce the burden of auto insurance costs in the expensive state. We took into account financial strength ratings from AM Best, where applicable, analyzing the financial solvency of each auto insurance company to ensure your coverage is provided by a financially stable company.
  • Proprietary data: We collect and analyze millions of data points about insurance providers, including customer success rates in Michigan. Information about auto insurance options and demographic factors in Michigan helps determine the providers we included on this list. We’ve performed this data analysis so you can compare policy options in one place.
  • Institutional knowledge: After more than 20 years of analyzing the auto insurance industry, we’ve amassed a wealth of knowledge about each insurance provider’s strengths and weaknesses. Paul Ford, the President of Insurance at Centerfield, AutoInsurance.com’s parent company, has spent nearly three decades working in the insurance industry, with tenures at Canadian Access, Inslogic, Capital One Insurance Services, NetQuote, Bankrate, and Datalot. We leverage Paul’s extensive knowledge of car insurance to help customers find their perfect policies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are Michigan auto insurance rates so high?

Michigan auto insurance rates are high due to the state’s no-fault insurance laws, which require drivers to have between $50,000 and unlimited personal injury protection (PIP), and a number of other factors, including a high percentage of uninsured or underinsured drivers and costly medical expenses.

When does Michigan auto insurance reform take effect?

Michigan’s no-fault personal injury protection options went into effect in 2020. As of July 2, 2020, Michigan law requires drivers to have at least $50,000 of coverage limits for bodily injury liability insurance per person, $100,000 per accident, $10,000 of property damage liability coverage, $1 million in property protection insurance (PPI) and between $50,000 and unlimited personal injury protection (PIP).

What is the average cost of car insurance in Michigan?

In 2020, people in Michigan spent an average of $1,419 per year on car insurance, which is 35 percent more than the national average of $1,047, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Only Louisiana and New York had higher insurance rates than Michigan.

Though this is the average, the actual range falls from $948 to over $10,000, depending on your situation. Compare quotes to find the insurance companies in Michigan with the lowest average rates for full-coverage car insurance.

How can I save on Michigan car insurance?

There are many ways to save on car insurance in Michigan:

  1. Reduce your PIP coverage based on the new options available.
  2. Ask for a higher deductible on your insurance plan.
  3. Inquire about discounts.
  4. Consider switching auto insurance providers if you’ve exhausted other options.

Citations

  1. Usage-Based Auto Insurance Takes Center Stage as Satisfaction Flatlines, J.D. Power Finds. J.D. Power. (2022, Jun 13).
    https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2022-us-auto-insurance-study

  2. From Detroit to Grand Rapids, get the auto coverage you need in Michigan. USAA. (2023).
    https://www.usaa.com/inet/wc/michigan-car-insurance?akredirect=true

  3. Michigan Cities with State Farm® Insurance Agents. State Farm. (2023).
    https://www.statefarm.com/local/michigan

  4. Michigan’s Auto Insurance Law Has Changed. Department of Insurance and Financial Services. (2020).
    https://www.michigan.gov/-/media/Project/Websites/difs/Publication/Auto/Auto_Insurance_Guide.pdf?rev=5e970c4aed3c4599bdd08a4706a44cbd

  5. 2019/2020 Auto Insurance Database Report. National Association of Insurance Commissioners. (2023, Jan).
    https://content.naic.org/sites/default/files/publication-aut-pb-auto-insurance-database.pdf

  6. What Car Insurance Discounts Does AAA Provide? AutomoBlog. (2023, Apr 14).
    https://www.automoblog.net/research/insurance/what-car-insurance-discounts-does-aaa-provide/

  7. AAA Life Insurance Company. AM Best. (2023).
    https://ratings.ambest.com/CompanyProfile.aspx

  8. One in Eight Drivers Uninsured: $13 Billion Spent in 2016 to Protect Against Uninsured and Underinsured Drivers. Insurance Research Council. (2021, Mar 22).
    https://www.insurance-research.org/sites/default/files/downloads/UM%20NR%20032221.pdf