Best Car Insurance in Michigan for Seniors

amie-clark
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Michigan boasts some of the highest auto insurance premiums in the nation, with minimum coverage costing $195 per month on average. This is why it’s important for seniors and others on fixed incomes to find a good deal that provides robust coverage for their vehicles.

We reviewed numerous plans based on their premiums, discounts, deductibles, the strength of the company, and more to find the 5 providers we believe offer older adults the best options in auto insurance in the state. Continue reading to learn how to lower your monthly auto insurance premiums or increase your coverage with these 5 providers.

FYI: To learn more about the best auto insurance for seniors, read our guide to the best auto insurance providers for seniors.

The Best Car Insurance for Seniors in Florida

How We Chose

To find the best auto insurance providers for seniors in Michigan, we looked for the following:

1. The Hartford/AARP

What We Like Most:
  • Tailored to senior drivers
  • Diverse coverage options
  • Unique add-ons like RecoverCare
  • Robust discounts

Overview

The Hartford offers auto insurance to seniors through a partnership with the AARP, so you have to be a member to get a quote and buy a policy. Based on the company’s unique benefits and numerous discounts, however, we recommend that eligible drivers explore its services and get a quote to see how it compares.

Discounts through The Hartford include deals for homeowners, new vehicle owners, car safety features, and people who choose to pay their policy yearly rather than monthly. The Hartford’s unique benefits include new car replacement, legal assistance, and repair assurance. It also has a RecoverCare program, which is a unique service tailored to seniors that helps drivers in the event of an injury. RecoverCare provides services such as lawn care, living care, snow removal, and more to help injured drivers get back on their feet.

How to Get a Quote

The Hartford has a straightforward online quoting process that requires your AARP membership ID. After you log in to The Hartford, you can input your information, starting with your name, address, and email. You’ll then need to fill in information about your car and current insurance plan’s coverage, as well as your Social Security number.

The Hartford’s online quote will give you a chance to view some discounts, but your eligibility may not be clear from the application. Take advantage of The Hartford’s personalized agent service for AARP members to find out your eligibility for discounts.

To learn more about this provider, read our AARP auto insurance review.

Pros
  • Unique benefits available
  • Personalized services tailored to AARP members
  • Robust discount program
  • Competitive coverage
Cons
  • Limited to AARP members
  • Higher-than-average premiums

2. Travelers

Travelers Car Insurance Logo
4.3 / 5
What We Like Most:
  • Great claims-review process
  • Numerous coverage options
  • Competitive premiums
  • Large service network

Overview

Travelers auto insurance is one of the largest auto insurance providers in the nation, with a huge network that scores consistently high for its efficient claims process. The company offers standard insurance plans with numerous add-ons, including gap insurance that protects drivers who have a car on loan, ride-share insurance, car replacement, and a responsible driver plan.

In addition to its plans, Travelers offers numerous discounts, including for insuring multiple vehicles, bundling multiple policy types, owning a home, driving safely, owning a hybrid, owning a new car, paying up front or electronically, and completing a driving safety course. Travelers tracks your driving speed with IntelliDrive and may even offer a discount for slower driving.

The main downside to Travelers is its low customer-service ratings. Many customers say they had trouble reaching an agent who could help them.

How to Get a Quote

Travelers does not have an online quoting system for Michigan drivers, which may contribute to its lower-than-average customer reviews. When you visit the company’s website and begin the quoting process, you’ll reach a page showing the customer-service number to call for a Michigan agent who can help you get a quote.

They will ask you for identifying information such as your address and Social Security number, your car’s details, and your current insurance coverage. Remember to ask about your eligibility for discounts.

Pros
  • Unique discounts
  • Large network provider
  • Efficient claims process
  • Numerous plan options
Cons
  • Lower-than-average customer-service ratings
  • No ride-share insurance in Michigan

3. Auto-Owners

Auto owners logo
4.2 / 5
What We Like Most:
  • Bundling discount options
  • Good customer reviews
  • Personalized policy options
  • High financial-strength ranking

Overview

If you look up Auto-Owners car insurance online, you’ll notice its high customer ratings. The insurance provider is based in Michigan and serves only 26 states, but it has a high financial-strength rating. For Michigan drivers, it gives the bigger industry names some serious competition.

Auto-Owners policies feature deductible benefits for drivers who bundle home and auto insurance. In crashes involving two Auto-Owners-protected drivers, the company also waives the collision deductible. Accidents in a rental car are also covered by Auto-Owners.

In addition to standard liability, roadside assistance, collision, and comprehensive coverage, Auto-Owners offers other packages as add-ons. They include additional expenses insurance, which covers rental car costs and even food and travel costs during car repairs. It also offers gap coverage, diminished value coverage for damaged cars, and accident forgiveness. Finally, it has a Personal Automobile Plus package, which offers perks such as theft coverage and cell phone insurance to eligible drivers.

How to Get a Quote

Auto-Owners does not offer an online quoting system. By visiting its website, you can get in contact with a local agent who can help you sign up for a free quote. You’ll just need to have your address, car, Social Security, and current insurance information handy.

Look at the package options on the Auto-Owners website to get an idea of the coverage you need. Remember to ask the agent about any discounts you could be eligible for.

Pros
  • Comprehensive discounts
  • Roadside assistance and rideshare programs
  • Bundling options
  • Vanishing deductible
Cons
  • High premiums for some drivers
  • Low customer loyalty

4. Nationwide

Nationwide Logo
4.5 / 5
What We Like Most:
  • High customer-service scores
  • Great reputation for customer loyalty and claims processing
  • Comprehensive coverage
  • Multiple add-ons and benefits packages

Overview

Nationwide is well known for its high customer-service ratings and strong customer loyalty. People who buy Nationwide auto insurance tend to stick with it, which could be because of its competitive rates, numerous package add-ons, or reputation for an efficient claims process.

Nationwide’s auto insurance perks include a vanishing deductible, gap insurance for totaled or stolen vehicles or vehicles still on a lease, accident forgiveness, and a total loss deductible waiver. That lets Nationwide waive your plan deductible if your car is totaled. Uniquely, it also has what it calls the On Your Side Review, which allows policyholders to get a free assessment from an agent once a year to review plan benefits and re-evaluate their eligibility for discounts.

For minimum coverage, Nationwide is more expensive than the national average — especially for drivers with a DUI. Its benefits and discounts, however, may outweigh the premiums on a case-by-case basis.

How to Get a Quote

In the personal section of the Nationwide website, you can type your ZIP code in the box that says “Car insurance quotes by state” and click “Start your quote.” Since Nationwide offers auto, homeowners, renters, condo, powersports, and term life insurance, you can select all the types you’d like to bundle before starting the application since it will affect the quoting process.

From there, you’ll input identifying information, as well as information about your car, current policy, and living situation. You can also visit Nationwide’s “Contact Us” page to get in contact with a local agent.

Pros
  • Great reviews for customer-service claims
  • High customer loyalty
  • Robust coverage add-ons
  • Diverse discounts available
Cons
  • High rates for minimum coverage
  • High rates for drivers convicted of a DUI

5. Geico

Geico Logo
4.4 / 5
Call for best price:
(855) 933-2095
What We Like Most:
  • Easy-to-use online quotes
  • High customer loyalty and satisfaction ratings
  • Competitive prices
  • Federal employee discounts

Overview

Geico is often touted for its affordability against other providers. In Michigan, as in the rest of the country, it often provides some of the most competitive auto insurance rates, especially for drivers with poor credit. Drivers with a DUI should look elsewhere, since Geico often hikes their rates above the national average. Everyone else, however, should keep them on their shortlist.

Geico’s coverage options include comprehensive, liability, property, collision, and underinsured or uninsured plans. It also offers numerous discounts for safety equipment, such as antilock brakes and airbags, an accident-free driving record (five years), seat belts, driving a new car, taking a course on defensive driving, bundling home insurance, and insuring multiple vehicles. It doesn’t, however, offer ride-share insurance.

Geico uniquely offers discounts for active and retired military service members, National Guard members, federal employees, and emergency responders. It also offers mechanical breakdown coverage, which repairs damage to a leased or new car in the event of an accident.

How to Get a Quote

Geico features the easiest quoting system of the providers we reviewed. Its website makes it easy to compare quotes with different benefits and options without restarting the application. Visit Geico’s website to start the process by inputting your ZIP code, name, and address.

Like other applications, Geico will need to know about your car, including its safety features, to determine your eligibility for discounts. It will also need to know about your living situation, occupation (current or former), and current insurance plan.

The trade-off to Geico’s efficient online quoting process is that it doesn’t have as many local agents readily available as some other providers. You may have to work a little harder to get in-person help.

Pros
  • Unique discounts for federal employees
  • Mechanical breakdown coverage
  • High customer-service ratings
  • Competitive premiums
Cons
  • High rates for drivers with a DUI
  • No ride-share insurance

Bottom Line

The best car insurance in Michigan helps you mitigate the high cost of the state average for auto coverage while not mitigating your policy benefits. The providers we reviewed have variable prices depending on your driving record and other conditions, but they share a wide range of personalized plans and options for discounted rates.

Remember to check your eligibility for discounts while assessing a provider, since they can drastically change your monthly rates. Use the online quoting options when available or speak to a local representative to learn what you can expect to pay from the listed providers and choose the best car insurance for your needs.

To learn more about auto insurance for seniors, read our helpful guides.