How Much Does Car Insurance Cost for Active Military in Michigan?

How Much Does Car Insurance Cost for Active Military in Michigan?

The type of vehicle requiring insurance is one of the largest factors when consumers are trying to find cheap auto insurance for active military in Michigan. Vehicles with limited speed and performance, good crash test ratings, or a positive history of liability claims will cost quite a bit less to insure than adrenaline junky models.

The information below showcases auto insurance prices for a handful of the most budget-friendly vehicles to buy coverage for.

Car Insurance Rates for Popular Cars in Michigan
Make, Model, and Trim Level Annual Cost Semi-Annual Cost Monthly Cost
Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid $1,818 $909 $152
Ford Focus SEL 4-Dr Sedan $1,882 $941 $157
Ford Fusion Sport 4-Dr Sedan $1,968 $984 $164
Honda Accord EX 4-Dr Sedan $1,534 $767 $128
Hyundai Sonata GLS 4-Dr Sedan $1,934 $967 $161
Kia Optima EX $2,084 $1,042 $174
Nissan Altima 3.5 SR 2-Dr Coupe $2,190 $1,095 $183
Toyota Corolla LE $1,926 $963 $161
Volkswagen Jetta SE 2.5 Station Wagon $1,836 $918 $153
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Data variables include married female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and Michigan minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include safe-driver, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, homeowner, and claim-free. Table data does not factor in specific location information which can change prices substantially.

Auto Insurance Rates for Popular SUVs and Crossovers in Michigan
Make, Model, and Trim Level Annual Cost Semi-Annual Cost Monthly Cost
Chevrolet Traverse LT 2WD $1,620 $810 $135
Ford Escape XLS 2WD $1,534 $767 $128
Ford Expedition SSV 2WD $1,578 $789 $132
Ford Explorer Limited AWD $1,860 $930 $155
GMC Acadia SLE AWD $1,818 $909 $152
GMC Terrain SLE 2WD $1,686 $843 $141
Honda CR-V EX-L 4WD $1,578 $789 $132
Honda Pilot EX 2WD $1,752 $876 $146
Hyundai Tucson GLS 4WD $1,710 $855 $143
Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4WD $1,818 $909 $152
Jeep Patriot Sport 2WD $1,666 $833 $139
Jeep Wrangler Sahara 4WD 2-Dr $1,710 $855 $143
Lexus RX 350 2WD $2,234 $1,117 $186
Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited 4WD $2,012 $1,006 $168
Toyota RAV4 Limited 4WD $1,818 $909 $152
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Cost estimates assume married female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and Michigan minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include claim-free, multi-policy, safe-driver, homeowner, and multi-vehicle. Price information does not factor in Michigan location which can change insurance rates greatly.

Auto Insurance Rates for Popular Pickup Trucks in Michigan
Make, Model, and Trim Level Annual Cost Semi-Annual Cost Monthly Cost
Chevrolet Silverado Crew Cab Hybrid 2WD $2,074 $1,037 $173
Dodge Ram 2500 Mega Cab SLT 4WD $2,128 $1,064 $177
Dodge Ram 3500 Crew Cab SLT 2WD $2,160 $1,080 $180
Dodge Ram Quad Cab Laramie 4WD $2,234 $1,117 $186
Ford F-150 XLT Regular Cab 2WD $1,666 $833 $139
Ford F-250 Lariat Crew Cab Turbo Diesel 4WD $2,380 $1,190 $198
GMC Canyon SLE Ext Cab 4WD $1,710 $855 $143
GMC Sierra SLT Extended Cab 2WD $1,968 $984 $164
Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4WD $1,818 $909 $152
Toyota Tundra SR/5 Crew Max 2WD $1,934 $967 $161
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Price data assumes married female driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $500 deductibles, and Michigan minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, claim-free, multi-policy, safe-driver, and multi-vehicle. Rate information does not factor in specific location information which can affect coverage rates noticeably.

One of the many factors that help determine the amount you pay each year for auto insurance is where you keep your car in Michigan. Areas with more people or higher crime rates like Detroit, Southfield, and Flint tend to pay slightly more, whereas areas with fewer weather claims and lower vehicle theft rates profit from lower rates.

The next table ranks the most expensive cities in Michigan for active military to buy auto insurance in.

Most expensive Michigan cities for auto insurance
Rank City Annual Premium
1 Detroit $5,009
2 Dearborn $4,123
3 Southfield $3,980
4 Pontiac $3,567
5 Flint $3,337
6 Warren $3,322
7 Dearborn Heights $3,239
8 Taylor $3,116
9 Sterling Heights $2,954
10 Westland $2,850
11 St. Clair Shores $2,792
12 Livonia $2,688
13 Farmington Hills $2,676
14 Troy $2,614
15 Royal Oak $2,562
16 Rochester Hills $2,542
17 Saginaw $2,507
18 Lansing $2,463
19 Novi $2,439
20 Battle Creek $2,354
21 Grand Rapids $2,252
22 Kentwood $2,206
23 Wyoming $2,195
24 Kalamazoo $2,192
25 Ann Arbor $2,149
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Rate information is approximated as the garaging address in Michigan can raise or lower auto insurance rates substantially.

Full coverage or liability only

Finding cheap auto insurance for active military in Michigan is the goal of the majority of vehicle owners, and one great way to buy cheaper insurance is to buy liability only. The information below illustrates the comparison of insurance prices with full physical damage coverage compared to only buying the minimum liability limits required in Michigan. The premiums are based on a clean driving record, no claims, $250 deductibles, marital status is single, and no discounts are taken into consideration.

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Averaged out for all age groups, physical damage insurance costs $3,603 per year more than just buying liability insurance. A very common question is if you should buy full coverage at all. There is no set guideline that works best for making the decision to drop physical damage insurance, but there is a general school of thought. If the annual cost of comprehensive and collision coverage is 10% or more of any settlement you would receive from your insurance company, then you might want to think about dropping full coverage.

For example, let’s assume your vehicle’s replacement cost is $10,000 and you have $1,000 full coverage deductibles. If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, the most your company would pay you is $9,000 after paying the physical damage deductible. If you are currently paying more than $900 a year to have full coverage, then you may want to consider only buying liability coverage.

There are a few situations where removing full coverage is not financially feasible. If you still owe a portion of the original loan, you must maintain physical damage coverage as part of the loan conditions. Also, if you cannot afford to purchase a different vehicle if your current one is totaled, you should keep full coverage.

How accidents and violations affect rates

The easiest method to maintain cheap auto insurance rates in Michigan for military personnel is to be a careful driver and avoid traffic citations and accidents. The illustration below demonstrates how traffic citations and accidents influence car insurance rates for different age categories. The premium estimates are based on a married male driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $250 deductibles, and no discounts are factored in.

google.charts.setOnLoadCallback(drawVioqcibChart);function drawVioqcibChart() {var data = google.visualization.arrayToDataTable([[‘Age of Insured’, ‘No Violations or Accidents’, ‘One Speeding Ticket and No Accidents’, ‘One Speeding Ticket and Two Accidents’],[‘Age 20’, 5907,6409,10631],[‘Age 30’, 3103,3605,7825],[‘Age 40’, 2971,3479,7697],[‘Age 50’, 2719,3217,7437],[‘Age 60’, 2665,3169,7389],[‘Age 70’, 3055,3559,7779]]);var options = {title: ‘Effect of Tickets and Accidents on Michigan Auto Insurance Prices’,titleTextStyle: {color: ‘#333’, fontSize: 17, bold: true},width: ‘100%’,height: 600,’chartArea’: {left:100,top:50,’width’: ‘100%’, ‘height’: ‘70%’},legend: {position: ‘bottom’,textStyle: {fontSize: 12}},colors:[‘#b2da64′,’#eed355′,’#e39e71’],hAxis: {title: ‘Annual Auto Insurance Cost for Average Vehicle in Michigan’,minValue: 0,format: ‘$###,###’},vAxis: {title: ‘Age of Insured’}};var formatter = new google.visualization.NumberFormat({fractionDigits: 0,prefix: ‘$’});formatter.format(data,1);formatter.format(data,2);formatter.format(data,3);var chart = new google.visualization.BarChart(document.getElementById(‘qcibvio’));chart.draw(data, options);}

The data charted above shows the average cost of car insurance in Michigan per year with a clean driving record and no accidents is $3,403. Add in one speeding ticket and the average cost surges to $3,906, an increase of $503 each year. Then add two accidents along with the one speeding ticket and the yearly cost of auto insurance for active military increases to an average of $8,126. That’s an increase of $4,723, or $394 per month, just for being a careless driver!

Ideas to find budget-friendly insurance for active military

The list below details some of the better thrifty solutions that can help Michigan drivers buy the cheapest coverage.

  • Maintain a safe distance and avoid accidents
  • Bundle home and auto and save
  • Safe vehicles cost less to insure
  • Do not get tickets
  • Do not file small claims
  • Shop around once a year for cheaper rates

That last tip is very necessary, as was stressed in this article. Insurance prices can change significantly in a year, so don’t be tentative to buy a policy from a new company if you find a cheaper price. Many consumers stick with the same company and that’s fine, but it’s not recommended if that loyalty ends up costing hundreds every year. Spend a few minutes and shop around to find cheaper auto insurance for active military.