St. Joseph Car Insurance
The roads in St. Joseph, MI are not as heavily trafficked and congested as roads in larger cities might be. However, some roads like Main Street, Broad Street, and Lake Boulevard do see their fair share of cars. Sharing the roads with other motorists and driving through the ice and sleet in the wintertime can increase your risk of being in an accident. Fortunately, if you have a suitable St. Joseph auto insurance policy, you do not need to worry about your finances in the wake of a collision.
When you compare policies and rates from an assortment of reputable insurance companies, you can save a lot of money on your premiums. Comparison shopping is easy with the help of an independent insurance agent in our network. These agents are free to work with several insurance providers, so they can help you gather, review and compare competitively-priced St. Joseph car insurance quotes. Find an agent near you to get started.
- National average cost per year: $1,311
- Michigan average cost per year: $2,476
- #1 most expensive auto premium in U.S.
Michigan’s car insurance rates are the highest in the country. This makes the benefits of comparison shopping even more apparent. The insurance companies you contact base your rates on age, driving record, home ZIP code, credit score, and the vehicle being insured – among other considerations. All insurance providers have their own proprietary methods for calculating rates, so the companies you contact are each likely to offer you St. Joseph car insurance coverage at a different rate. That is why comparing quotes puts you at an advantage.
Michigan Car Insurance Requirements
- Bodily injury liability: required
- Property damage liability: required
- Personal injury protection (PIP): required
- Uninsured motorist coverage: not required
- Minimum liability limits: 20/40/10: Coverage up to $40,000 for all persons injured in an accident, subject to a limit of $20,000 per individual, and $10,000 coverage for property damage
While the minimum coverage amounts required by the state may be sufficient to protect your finances in a typical motor vehicle collision, a serious accident that results in significant injuries or property damage can easily exceed these limits. In that case, you need to make up the difference out of pocket. To protect your assets and finances, you may, therefore, want to consider purchasing higher liability limits with your policy.
Failure to carry car insurance that meets or exceeds Michigan’s minimum coverage requirements can result in fines of between $200 and $750, the loss of your driver’s license for up to 30 days and possible incarceration. Additionally, you can be sued if you are responsible for an accident while driving without coverage.
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Number of Uninsured Motorists in Michigan
- Number of uninsured U.S. drivers: 12.6%
- Number of uninsured Michigan drivers: 21.0%
Although driving without insurance in Michigan is illegal, approximately one in every five drivers on this state’s roads is driving without coverage. This puts you at risk because if one of these uninsured drivers is at fault for a collision with your vehicle, that person is responsible for covering your damage as well as any necessary medical treatments. Unfortunately, it can often be difficult, if not impossible, to collect this money – especially if the offending driver has no assets to go after.
For this reason, it is a very good idea to include uninsured motorist coverage as part of your St. Joseph car insurance. When you have this type of optional coverage, your insurance company covers your losses and then attempts to collect reimbursement from the responsible driver. This insurance also covers damage and injuries that may result if you are involved in a collision with a hit-and-run driver.
Number of Auto Thefts in Michigan
- National number of thefts per 1,000 vehicles: 2.94
- Michigan number of thefts per 1,000 vehicles: 3.33
The auto theft rate in Michigan is higher than the national average; but in St. Joseph, the theft rate is significantly lower than the national average. In recent years, there were only two auto thefts reported in this city. That equates to 0.24 thefts per 1,000 cars – well below the national average. This is something that insurance companies take into consideration when calculating your car insurance rates.
If your car is stolen, your St. Joseph auto insurance company only compensates you for your loss if your policy includes optional comprehensive, or “other than collision,” coverage. This insurance covers noncollision-related damage, such as that caused by property crimes, falling objects, flooding, and fires so long as it is not caused by a vehicular accident.
Find the Best St. Joseph Car Insurance Policy
If you bought your auto insurance policy without first taking the time to compare rates from a few competing insurance companies, chances are good that you are needlessly paying more than you have to for your coverage. Savvy car owners in St. Joseph understand this, so they turn to independent agents in our network for assistance when they are shopping for competitively priced policies.
Our Agents make comparison shopping easy by contacting insurance companies on your behalf to get customized quotes. They can quickly provide you with policies and rates from a variety of highly-rated insurance companies so you can choose the coverage that offers you the best value for your money.
Find an agent with an office near you today to learn more about your St. Joseph car insurance options.