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.
Car Accident Without A Drivers License in Michigan
Reader’s Question:
I was a passenger involved in a car accident. I do not have a driver’s license nor own a car so I don’t have insurance and am curious to know who pays my lost wages as well as my outrageous medical expenses?
Jerry
Livonia, MI
I’m sorry to hear about your accident Gerry. To figure out what insurance company is responsible for your medical expenses and lost wages will depend on what state you reside and the type of insurance they require motorists to carry. The main differences depends if your state is a no-fault state or not. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is generally used in a no-fault state for a situation like this.
Since you live in Michigan, which is a no-fault state, if you are injured as a passenger in a car crash typically your own car insurance would pay your benefits. But in a situation like yours where you do not have car insurance you would collect the benefits from the insurance company that covered any vehicle owned by a relative that you live with. If you did not have coverage that way either, then you would have to collect from the insurance company covering the car or driver in which you were riding.
Since you are in a state without no-fault laws you typically would be able to put your injury claims through the at-fault person’s bodily injury liability policy. If you want to find out your state’s insurance laws, you can contact your state’s insurance regulatory body.
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