Your Vehicle, Your Coverage
Michigan auto insurance is more complicated than most states. Between the 2019 no-fault reform, PIP choices, and the MCCA fee, there’s a lot to sort through. Marcus Schirr Insurance Group helps Rochester and Southeast Michigan drivers find the right coverage through our partnership with Farm Bureau Financial Services.
Understanding Michigan’s No-Fault Auto Insurance
Michigan is a no-fault state: your own auto insurance pays your medical bills after an accident, no matter who caused it. The trade-off is that Michigan requires coverages most states don’t, and the 2019 reform added several PIP choice levels.
Every Michigan auto policy is required to include:
- Bodily injury and property damage liability coverage to pay medical expenses to others if they are hurt in an accident.
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) for medical costs after an accident.
- Property Protection Insurance (PPI) of up to $1 million for damage you cause to other people’s property in Michigan.
PIP is where most drivers get stuck. Michigan offers six PIP levels, from unlimited lifetime medical coverage to a full opt-out for drivers with qualifying health coverage, and not everyone is eligible for the cheaper ones. Marcus walks each client through which level fits their health coverage, household, and budget.
Common Michigan Auto Insurance Questions
Here are the questions Michigan drivers actually ask us. If yours isn’t on the list, give us a call.
Cars & SUVs
Coverage for sedans, SUVs, and family vehicles, with options for liability, collision, comprehensive, and rental reimbursement. We help you decide whether full coverage makes sense or whether liability-only is the right call for an older car.
RVs & Motorhomes
Coverage for Class A, B, and C motorhomes and travel trailers. Roadside Assistance through Farm Bureau Member’s Choice includes up to $500 for emergency service on RVs and farm-truck tractor/trailers.
Trucks & Pickups
Personal and work-use truck coverage, including options for towing, equipment, and modifications.
Classic & Collector Cars
Cruising the streets in a classic car needs a different kind of policy than a daily driver. We help collector owners set up agreed-value coverage and mileage-based discounts that protect what you’ve invested.
Motorcycles
Michigan motorcycle coverage has its own rules, especially around PIP and seasonal storage. We help riders set up policies that account for Michigan’s short riding season and the state’s specific motorcycle laws.
Farm Trucks
Farm Bureau is one of the few carriers built around farm vehicle coverage, and Marcus can help you structure policies for farm trucks, equipment haulers, and operations of any size.
Roadside Assistance
When your vehicle won’t start, you don’t want to be flipping through a binder. Emergency Roadside Assistance through Farm Bureau Member’s Choice gives you one number to call and a network that covers all 50 states and Canada.
Marcus can provide service that algorithms and call centers can’t, like contacting Roadside Assistance on your behalf if you’re not in a position to make the call yourself.
24/7 Dispatch Across the U.S. and Canada
If your car, motorcycle, RV, or pickup truck breaks down anywhere in the U.S. or Canada, call 1-800-226-6383. A 24/7 dispatch service sends help from our network of towing and road-service professionals.
No Out-of-Pocket Cost at In-Network Providers
In many cases, you won’t pay anything out of pocket when you use in-network providers. Emergency Roadside Assistance coverage includes up to $100 for emergency service nationwide ($500 for farm truck tractor/trailers and RVs).
Nationwide Network of Service Providers
No matter where you have trouble, help is on the way. We work with a network of providers that can assist in all 50 states.
Marcus can provide service that algorithms and call centers can’t, like contacting Roadside Assistance on your behalf if you’re not in a position to make the call yourself.
Common Michigan Auto Insurance Questions
Here are the questions Michigan drivers actually ask us. If yours isn’t on the list, give us a call.
Do I still need PIP if I have good health insurance?
Maybe. If your health plan covers auto accident injuries and meets Michigan’s “qualified health coverage” standards, you may be eligible to choose a lower PIP level or opt out entirely. Most plans don’t qualify, so verify before you change anything. Marcus reviews your health coverage with you before recommending a PIP level.
What is PLPD and is it enough?
PLPD stands for Personal Liability and Property Damage. It’s the minimum legal coverage in Michigan: liability, PIP, and PPI. It does not include collision or comprehensive, so if you total your own car or hit a deer, you’re paying out of pocket. For most drivers with a financed or newer vehicle, PLPD alone isn’t enough.
What's the difference between the 50/100/10 minimum and the 250/500/10 default?
Those are bodily injury and property damage liability limits. The 50/100/10 minimum is the lowest legal level. The 250/500/10 default is what your policy starts at if you don’t make a choice. We talk through which limits make sense based on your assets and risk.
Do I need full coverage on an older car?
Not always. If your car is worth less than a few thousand dollars and you can pay to replace it out of pocket, dropping collision and comprehensive can save real money. Marcus helps run that math for your specific vehicle.
What happens if I hit a deer?
Deer collisions are covered under comprehensive (not collision) in Michigan. If you don’t carry comprehensive, the repair is on you. Deer claims are common in Oakland County, especially in fall.
Is the MCCA fee separate from my premium?
The MCCA fee is built into your auto premium and goes to the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association, which covers medical costs above $635,000 for unlimited-PIP policies. The fee changes annually.
How do I file an auto claim?
Call Marcus directly or use the Farm Bureau claims line. We walk you through the process from the first call to the final repair, including coordinating with adjusters and shops.
Michigan Auto Insurance Discounts
We offer a range of discounts to help Michigan drivers save. Most clients qualify for more than one, and Marcus reviews every available discount when building your quote.
Multi-Policy Discount: Bundle your car and home insurance and save time and money. You’ll have one policy, one premium, and one deductible across your covered possessions through Farm Bureau Member’s Choice.
Multiple-Vehicle Discount: If you insure more than one car in your household, you could earn lower rates for each vehicle.
Claim-Free Discount: Avoid accidents and have fewer claims, and you could be rewarded with the Claim-Free discount. Eligibility varies by state.
Safe Young Driver Discount: Drivers under age 25 who complete the Young Driver Safety program are eligible to earn this discount.
Low Mileage Discount: If you drive 7,500 miles or less annually, you may qualify.
Good Student Discount: Students maintaining strong grades can earn a discount on premiums.
Driven to Safety Discount: A safe-driving behavior discount for qualifying drivers.
Civil Servant Discount: After helping others all day, shopping for auto insurance can be an expensive afterthought. We offer a Civil Servant discount as a thank-you to those who serve their communities.
Continued In-Force Credit: Clients who continue to renew their Farm Bureau Member’s Choice policies are rewarded with loyalty credit.
Discount eligibility varies. Talk to Marcus to find out which apply to you.
Choosing the Right Auto Insurance in Michigan
Picking auto coverage isn’t just about price. The cheapest premium today can turn into a five-figure problem after a serious accident. When we build a policy with you, we walk through:
- Liability Limits: How much bodily injury and property damage coverage you need based on your assets.
- PIP Coverage Level: Which of Michigan’s six PIP options fits your health coverage and risk tolerance.
- Collision & Comprehensive: Whether full coverage makes sense for your vehicle’s value and loan status.
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist: Coverage that matters more than people realize, given the rate of uninsured drivers in Michigan.
- Deductibles: Higher deductibles lower your premium but raise your out-of-pocket cost after a claim.
- Local Driving Conditions: Winter driving, pothole damage, and deer collisions are real Michigan considerations.
- Discounts & Bundling: Combining auto with home or other policies often saves more than shopping rates alone.
- Local Support: When something goes wrong, you want a person who knows your file, not a call center.
Why Choose Marcus Schirr Insurance Group?
- Local, personal guidance for Southeast Michigan homeowners.
- Coverage tailored to your property type and lifestyle.
- Clear explanations of complex policies and coverage options.
- Trusted partnership with Farm Bureau Financial Services in Michigan.
We help you choose the right insurance so you can have confidence that your home, belongings, and family are protected.