- Michigan has different auto insurance requirements that require every driver to carry minimum levels of car insurance
- If you do get caught driving without insurance in Michigan, there are legal repercussions that you can experience
- Additionally, there are ways that your insurance policy and your driving record can be affected for years after
- It’s important to avoid an insurance policy lapse; this occurs when your policy is not renewed or the premiums paid on time
- When you are looking for coverage or thinking about switching coverage, make sure to consider quotes from multiple insurance providers before making your decision
Having car insurance is a requirement in almost every state, Michigan is not an exception to this. One of the primary benefits of carrying active car insurance is that your policy can help protect you in the event of a loss.
Additionally, your policy can help other parties recover if you are responsible for a loss. While you can choose to purchase different limits of coverage, Michigan has minimum levels of coverage that you must carry in order to meet legal requirements.
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Auto Insurance Laws and Requirements in Michigan
There are three main parts to the minimum insurance requirements in Michigan; these three pieces make up the most basic no-fault insurance policy.
These parts include:
- Personal injury protection (PIP)
- Property protection (PPI)
- Bodily injury and property damage liability (BI/PD) coverage
The minimum limits you will need to carry include $20,000 for PIP, $40,000 for PPI, and $10,000 for BI/PD; this is often called 20/40/10 coverage.
Law enforcement will often perform random checks of drivers on the road to find out if they carry active insurance coverage.
This can happen at checkpoints, during a traffic stop, or even when the officer is driving along the road. If you do not carry insurance coverage and are discovered, you may find yourself facing fines, misdemeanor charges, jail time, and license suspensions.
What happens if you’re caught driving without insurance?
As mentioned before, there are numerous consequences that you can encounter if you are caught driving without car insurance in Michigan. These consequences can include:
- A $200 to $500 fine
- Imprisonment for one year
- License suspension for 30 days (or until proof of insurance)
- A $25 service fee to the Secretary of State
There are several different insurance codes and regulations that may apply in different situations, which can vary from state to state. Make sure to understand how these regulations work in Michigan before getting behind the wheel.
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What are the effects of driving without insurance?
Driving any vehicle without valid insurance coverage can affect you in different ways; negative marks or blemishes on your driving record or an increase in your insurance costs are two of the most common events.
However, in some cases, you may be required to change from a standard insurance policy to a high-risk insurance policy.
Getting negative marks or pieces of information on your driving record can cause issues for you; these issues may be immediate or may come at a later date.
For instance, when you attempt to get insurance coverage through a future provider, you may find that your driving history can make it more difficult to find a provider willing to assume the risk; if they do, they may limit the coverage you can purchase.
Additionally, if you are caught driving without insurance, you may find yourself paying for it in the future when it comes to your insurance premiums. A lapse in your policy often means paying costs to reinstate coverage, which may lead to higher premiums to offset the risks associated with you as a driver.
High-risk insurance policies are a policy type that you may need to pursue if your risk factors are determined to be outside the realm of a traditional provider.
High-risk insurance policies are designed to group drivers with high-risk factors into coverage pools together; these policies often cost much more than a regular policy and the coverage you can choose is often limited.
Don’t Let Your Policy Lapse
The easiest way to avoid the negative consequences of driving without car insurance in Michigan is to keep your policy active and to carry the proper levels of coverage; when your policy lapses, you face increased risks of financial loss and legal consequences.
A policy lapse is traditionally a cancellation or termination of your car insurance policy due to the failure to pay premiums on time. When your policy lapses, you are often left without insurance coverage from a specific date; this date is normally provided in writing to give you a final chance to keep your policy in force.
If you go through the process of switching insurance providers, it’s important that you maintain active coverage through one of the providers during the process.
If you fail to keep one of the policies active during your switch, you could find that your coverage lapsed for a small period; this can leave you open to losses or legal consequences.
Preventing a policy lapse is often a simple process; paying your insurance premiums on time, avoiding high-risk behaviors, and providing accurate to your provider can all help prevent a lapse.
If you find that one provider is not meeting your needs or cannot handle the risk exposures you face, you may want to consider shopping around for car insurance coverage through another provider.
When you are shopping for insurance coverage in Michigan, there are benefits to getting quotes online and learning about your coverage options through online services. Many insurance companies offer insurance quotes online, which allow you to input your information to get a quote with ease.
You can compare multiple providers through online quotes to see what each offers and make the best choice to meet your needs.
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