I already have auto insurance in Michigan. Is it advisable to change companies if I find one that has better average car insurance rates?

Phil

Detroit MI

Some people claim that switching to different companies saves money since you get lower average car insurance rates. Hopefully after reading this, you’ll understand what to do before changing insurance companies.

Before changing insurance companies in Michigan, get a good estimate on what it will cost you in the long run. There are insurance companies that tell you they will give you this rate but it doesn’t last until the end of your insurance policy. In the end, you get to pay a whole lot more. Study the policies well. Compute how much they cost not only when you buy them but also in the days and even years to come.

Studying policies will also inform you of the possible increases in your insurance. If there are any other things that you need to know then make sure that you do. Switching policies entail a lot of things and costs is just one part of it.

Here’s another thing that you need to look out for when changing policies. Make sure that there are no fees. If you change companies suddenly and unexpectedly, your present insurer could charge you fees for that. What this means is that when you plan to go to a different company, ask your current one what happens if you do. Changing companies may mean low average car insurance rates but the extra fees will balance it out.

Don’t think for a second that changing insurance policies simply means paying different fees. It’s not. Further, don’t be drawn into the mindset that just because a deal looks promising, it is the best deal out there for you. Remember, if its too good to be true, it probably isn’t.

In order to avail the most of what your insurance policy has to offer, get all the data or information so that you will know how much it costs. Being covered is a good practice, but always take advantage when you can to get the average car insurance rates that you want.

I am planning to move to Michigan from Arizona and I would like to know if my car insurance will be cheaper in Grand Rapids, Michigan?

Harold

Grand Rapids, MI

Auto insurance coverages are different in Arizona and Michigan. Lets start with the state of Arizona.

Arizona law requires that all automobiles driven in roadways needs to be covered with liability insurance with an insurance carrier licensed to do business in the state of Arizona. The minimum liability insurance in the state of Arizona is 15/30/10 and this means $15,000 for bodily injury liability per person up to $30,000 per accident and $10,000 for property damage liability.

In the state of Michigan, the car insurance coverage that needs to be purchased are Personal Injury Protection (PIP), Property Protection (PPI) and Residual Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability Insurance (BI/PD). The Residual bodily injury and property damage liability (BI/PD) pays if you are found at fault, for any damages caused by a car accident up to the limits of your car insurance policy.

In Michigan, the minimum liability limits that needs to be purchased is 20/40/10. This coverage means $20,000 per person up to $40,000 per accident and $10,000 for property damage liability. You have the option to purchase Residual bodily injury and property damage liability (BI/PD) for additional coverage.

It will still depend on different factors whether your car insurance rate is cheaper in Grand Rapids, Michigan than in Arizona. You can get car insurance quote here to have an idea what your car insurance rate will be when you move to Grand Rapids, Michigan. Good luck!

I’m thinking of buying a used car, and I’m afraid that the car’s previous owner might not be telling me the whole truth about everything the car gone through. He’s planning on moving to the West Coast, and I live here in Grand Rapids, Michigan, so there’s no way of reaching him if anything happens. Is there any way to get his car insurance records? I just want to make sure.

Herbert

Grand Rapids, MI

I’m sure that trying to get a person’s insurance records would constitute an illegal act according to state and federal laws. I wouldn’t want anybody trying to get information about me. I’m sure you wouldn’t that, too. I would consider that an invasion of my privacy. Besides, even if you call the previous owner’s auto insurance company, they’d have no valid reason to give it to you because their obligation is to the previous owner, not to you. As soon as he sells his car, the car insurance company’s responsibility already ends there. But if he’s planning to move to the West Coast, chances are is he may have already terminated his car insurance policy before selling it to you. Some car insurance companies may be able to help you, though, if you explain thoroughly the reason why you want the records. Yours is a legitimate reason, I think. If you are lucky, you may be able to have the previous owner’s coverage and whatever claims he may have made photocopied. Just make sure you ask for information about the car that you’re going to buy and not any other cars that the previous owner may have owned when he was still living there in Grand Rapids, MI.