Is Auto Insurance in Michigan Mandatory?
Reader’s Question:
I have a drivers license in Michigan but my question is, do I need to get car insurance as well?
Maria
Detroit MI
According to Michigan car insurance laws, you are required to have no-fault insurance certificate in your car or carry it with you when you operate a vehicle. Failure to provide proof of car insurance when asked by a police officer will result to suspension of your drivers license. Until proof of car insurance is shown, your drivers license will remain suspended. You may also be required to prove that your car is insured for not less than 6 months and pay the fine of $50.
When you borrow a car, it is best to make sure that the car that you are driving is insured and you are listed on the policy to abide the Michigan car insurance laws. So if you live in a household with automobiles hat you occasionally or frequently drive, you will need to be listed on that policy you the coverage will be extended to you. If you so not have a car but want to be covered when you operate other people’s vehicles, you can get non owners insurance policy instead.
A non owners insurance policy provide liability protection to drivers who are at fault in an accident but do not own a car. Non-owners policies can typically include Liability, Medical Payments, and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverages.
If I Hit a Parked Car Will it Affect My Insurance Points?
Reader’s Question:
Will I get points on my insurance if I accidentally hit a car in a parking lot in the state of Michigan? Does this also apply to other states?
James
Michigan
The law of Michigan Vehicle Code assigns a corresponding points to each traffic violation based on the state’s point
system. These points, which are placed on the driving record after the driver is convicted for this moving violation, remains on the driver’s record for two years from the conviction date.
Note that the point system used to your driving record is different from the point system used by insurance companies for determining rate. The point system used by insurance companies is based on the Michigan Insurance laws. We can therefore say that point system varies from one state to another depending on the state’s laws.
According to the auto insurance eligibility fact sheet of the Michigan Financial and Insurance Services, he equivalent point is 3 if you are at-fault by more than 50% in the first accident. The succeeding accidents here you are still at-fault by more than 50% is equivalent to 4.
Your insurance provider can give you more information on the impact of this accident to your insurance rates.
Driving With Expired Auto Insurance Michigan – What Happens?
Reader’s Question:
What will happen if I get pulled over with an expired insurance in St. Clair Shores City, Michigan?
Paula
St. Clair Shores, MI
Hi, Paula! If you get pulled over with an expired car insurance in St. Clair Shores City, MI, you would likely be cited for either driving without insurance or not showing proof of insurance.
If you were insured at the time of the ticket, but you do not have the current insurance card on you, then you must show proof of this to the court and pay an administrative fee to have the ticket dismissed. To be sure, just contact the court listed on your citation to see what penalties you could be facing.
Michigan residents who own passenger vehicles, light trucks and vans must have a Michigan no-fault insurance before registering their vehicle, according to the Michigan Secretary of State (SOS). Michigan decrees necessitate that you keep your no-fault insurance certificate and carry it with you whenever you go driving. And if you’re unable to show proof of insurance to a police officer, the court may order the Secretary of State to suspend your driver’s license. Also, your vehicle’s license plate will not be renewed, transferred or replaced until you can provide proof of insurance. A $500 fine plus a jail term is also possible if you get convicted of driving without the mandatory MI car insurance.
But these are just a few of the possible penalties for driving with an expired insurance. So to be doubly sure, I suggest that you contact the court listed on your ticket to find out more about your specific situation and what penalties you may be facing in court.
Tags: auto insurance, driving without insurance
My Car Was Burned and is a Total Loss Now?
Reader’s Question:
I live in Detroit, Michigan, Last night somebody burned my car and it was a total loss, I just want to know if it is true that I can get five hundred dollars from my car insurance company with mini tort?
James
Detroit, MI
The mini-tort or the limited property damage liability, provision of the no-fault law creates another case in which you can sue or be sued. If you are 50% or more at fault in a crash and damages to the other party’s vehicle are not completely covered by his or her auto insurance, then under the mini tort you may be sued and may have to pay up to $500 in damages- meaning you may sue the other motorist for damages to your vehicle which are not covered by your car insurance if the other motorist is 50% or more at fault.
Since your vehicle was burned and not damaged in a vehicular accident where there is another motorist to be found at-fault, and therefore no one to sue for the mini-tort amount of $500.
For your vehicle to be covered by your insurance company at all you would need comprehensive coverage on your car insurance policy. Your vehicle being burned should fall under this comprehensive coverage to cover your vehicle for vandalism and fire.
How To Register A Car In Michigan
Reader’s Question:
What are the process in registering a vehicle in the state of Michigan?
Edward
Burton, MI
Every car must be registered before it can be driven on the public roadways. A registration lasts for 1 year and in most states, usually expired on your birthday.
In the state of Michigan when you purchase a new car, you have fifteen days to go to any Department of State branch office, present them with the proof of car ownership and proper ID, and pay any tax and titling fees to obtain your title.
Then to register your car and obtain the license plates, you have to show a valid Michigan no-fault insurance certificate for the car. If you already have your license plates and want to transfer them to your new car, just bring in your plates, proof of auto insurance is only required if you changed insurance carriers since the last renewal.
You may contact any local Michigan Department of State branch office to obtain more details regarding this. If you need an insurance quote for your new car, you may begin here.
Penalties For Driving Without Insurance in Michigan
Reader’s Question:
I know that if you get caught driving without auto insurance in Michigan you have to appear in court . I just want to know what happens in court and what should I be expecting? I live in Kalamazoo, MI.
Albert
Kalamazoo, MI
I cannot tell you exactly what to expect in court but you may want to contact the clerk of the court to check what may happen there or an attorney familiar with court procedure. I can give you information about what penalties you may be facing.
If you are unable to provide proof of insurance, therefore driving without insurance, you may be found guilty of a civil infraction. The court may order your license suspended for thirty days or until you can show proof of no-fault coverage on your car. You may also be fined up to $500, put in jail for a year or both.
18 Year Old – Young Driver Car Insurance in Michigan
Reader’s Question:
My 18 year old daughter lives at home and drives my vehicle that has full coverage. We have another vehicle with just PLPD. I’m the only person insured on them. Will my daughter be covered if she is not listed as driver? I’m in Redford, Michigan, a ‘no fault’ state. I was just thinking why I should have to list her if I’m already paying full coverage on the car and the older vehicle is insured. As long as, I pay my auto insurance and the vehicles are in my name, is it really necessary to list my teenage daughter on my policy as a driver?
Jane
Redford, MI
Right now, your cars are insured. However, they are insured for you – not your teen daughter. You will need to add your daughter as driver on your car insurance policy, or you run the risk of having your insurance company deny a claim for an accident. Insurance providers want you to list all of the household members who will be driving your cars. Insurance carriers also want you to list as drivers on your insurance policy those people who do not live with you but will be driving your cars on a regular basis. If they do not live in your household and they occasionally drive your cars, you may not have to list them to your insurance policy. The reason to add your teenage daughter (and other drivers) is it permits the insurance carrier know who will be driving your car(s) and permit them to collect the proper car insurance rate.
Physical damage coverage consists of comprehensive and collision coverage. Collision insurance generally covers damage to your car caused by collision with another object or by upset. Comprehensive insurance on the other hand covers damage to your car from vandalism, glass or theft breakage.) Most lien holders require physical damage coverage if you are leasing or financing your car. Also coverage is just that…coverage. It is not permission for a person to drive. Also, if your teen daughter is going to be driving your car(s), I suggest that you call your insurance provider in Redford MI as soon as possible to add your daughter on to your policy as a driver.
16 Year Old Teen Driver Auto Insurance In Michigan
Reader’s Question:
I live in Michigan. My 16 year old daughter is buying a car. Can it be titled under her name alone?
Tim
Pontiac, MI
The Department of State for Michigan states that there is no age requirement for titling a car in Michigan.
It is unlawful though to knowingly sell a car to an emancipated teen or minor without written permission from a parent or guardian. A consent document completed by the parent or guardian of the minor at the time of the sell is needed by the seller. By law, the seller is required to keep this consent form by parent or guardian for three years.
Your daughter will also need a parent or guardian to sign on any other legal papers such as an insurance policy while she is still a teen or minor.
Non Owner Auto Insurance in Michigan
Reader’s Question:
Are you required to carry some type of car insurance in the state of Michigan if you have a driver license, even if you don’t own a vehicle? Is that what non-owner insurance is?
Rachel
Flint, MI
The Michigan Secretary of State states that the owners of passenger vehicles, vans, and light trucks must purchase Michigan no-fault insurance before registering their car. Out-of-state insurance policies can’t be used to meet Michigan insurance requirements for registering a car.
You are required by the Michigan law to keep your Michigan no-fault insurance certificate in your car or carry it with you when you operate a vehicle. If you can’t show proof of insurance to a police officer, the court may order the Secretary of State to suspend your driver license. Until proof of insurance is provided, the Secretary of State will not renew, transfer, or replace your car’s license plate. You may be required to show proof that the vehicle is insured for not less than 6 months and pay $50, plus any other fees required by Michigan law. The license plate may also be canceled if proof of insurance is not shown.
Can 17 Year Old Teen Driver Get Their Own Auto Insurance In Michigan?
Reader’s Question:
Can a 17 year old teenager in the state of Michigan maintain auto insurance under their own names?
Jerome
Detroit, MI
The Department of State for Michigan state that there is no age restriction for titling a car in Michigan and no minimum age for getting auto insurance.
A Michigan insurance law called the Essential Insurance Act guarantees that home and car insurance will be available to all eligible citizens in Michigan. The law states that you are eligible for car insurance if you have a vehicle registered in Michigan or have a valid (not suspended or revoked) Michigan driver’s license.
If you are 17 year old teenager, and therefore still a minor, you will also need a parent or guardian to sign on any other legal papers such as an insurance policy since insurance providers normally will not permit you to sign by yourself until you are 18 and considered an adult. So the insurance policy may be under your own name at seventeen but with the consent of an adult since they may be held liable for your actions as a teenager if you fail to fulfill your obligations.
Loading ...