Located in the Midwest US in the Great Lakes region, Michigan is known for its great climate. It's a great place to own a home – but don't skimp on having comprehensive Michigan home insurance.
Trying to find a good Michigan home insurance policy is like finding a needle in a haystack. The research team at Way.com has broken down everything you need to know in this review of Michigan home insurance.
Key Takeaways
- Michiganers pay an average of $1235 per year for homeowner's insurance (roughly $103/month)
- The average home insurance premium in Michigan is 19% lesser than the national average of $1520 per year.
- The lowest home insurance rate in Michigan starts at $257/year.
Michigan home insurance: What you need to know
Finding affordable Michigan home insurance is a must if you own a home in the Great Lake State. Though you won't have as high premiums as the 'Tornado Alley' states, there are still significant hazards you must protect your home against. High-speed winds, cold blizzards, heavy rainfall – all of these could wreak havoc on your home!
Any damage your home incurs can be compensated if you have comprehensive Michigan home insurance coverage. There's a lot to consider when hunting for a policy, which can vary based on:
- The type of residence (primary, secondary, or seasonal)
- Number of full-time residents
- Built up area in sq ft
- Year built
- Number of rooms and stories
- Building material
- History of home insurance claims
The average Michigan citizen pays nearly $1235/year as premiums on home insurance. While this isn't as high as the hurricane-prone states like Texas and Louisiana, it's still a hefty amount to pay! We highly recommend you have a good home insurance policy in place, even though it is not mandatory like auto insurance.
What does a homeowners insurance policy cover?
There are multiple coverages under a standard homeowners insurance policy, all of which help you reduce financial loss if your home is damaged. Usually, this will cover financial losses arising from theft, burglary, fire, natural hazards, and more. Further coverages will protect you against other issues like sinkholes, rodents, bird infestations, etc.
Here are the broad categories of coverages included in Michigan home insurance:
- Dwelling protection: Covers any external damage to your home based on a predefined list of hazards that are clearly mentioned in the policy. Dwelling protection also covers secondary buildings like garages and decks.
- Liability protection: If a visitor injures themselves on your property, you may have to potentially pay for their medical bills, lost wages, and for legal fees if they sue you. Liability insurance covers all of this.
- Other structures protection: Your home will likely have related structures like fences, detached garages, barns, and more, which may need protection from unforeseen circumstances.
- Personal property protection: This coverage protects your personal belongings like furniture, clothing, accessories, electronics, and jewelry.
- Medical payments to others: It takes care of minor medical claims made by those not living in your home, first aid costs, ambulance charges, etc.
- Additional living expenses: In certain situations, you may have to move from your home due to repair work or extreme weather. This coverage helps pay for your hotel stay, restaurant meals, and other necessary services, including storage.
What is not covered by a typical homeowners insurance policy in Michigan?
Though it varies based on the insurer, typical Michigan home insurance policies do not cover:
- Flooding
- Sinkholes
- Earthquakes
- Losses due to power outage
- General wear and tear
- Vermin and pest infestations
- Purposeful loss
- Damage due to war
You can purchase additional insurance to cover the following situations:
- Tree removal: Winds and blizzards can often uproot trees which can then fall and damage your property
- Debris coverage: Covers the cost of removing debris that can damage your property
- Flood insurance: Covers damages arising from floods caused due to storms and blizzards in Michigan
The cheapest home insurance companies in Michigan
According to our research, Auto Owners Insurance provides the cheapest Michigan home insurance with an annual rate of just $257. Frankenmuth ($535/year) and Meemic ($640/year) offer the next cheapest rates.
Take a look at some of the popular companies and their average annual rates below:
| Insurer | Average annual rate |
|---|---|
| Auto Owners Insurance | $257 |
| Frankenmuth | $535 |
| Meemic | $640 |
| Allstate | $659 |
| AAA | $670 |
| Farmers | $863 |
| Chubb | $1024 |
| USAA | $1260 |
| Hanover | $2750 |
| Farm Bureau | $3083 |
However, the cheapest companies need not always provide the best coverage. To ensure you're not short-changed, always choose a home insurance policy after comparing different companies and the features they offer.
The best homeowners insurance in Michigan for those with claims history
If you've filed a claim recently, then home insurance companies might see you as a slightly riskier applicant. This could result in higher premiums overall. Our research found that Westfield provided the cheapest rates at $1143/year.
| Insurer | Average annual rate |
|---|---|
| Westfield | $1143 |
| State Farm | $1286 |
| Fremont Insurance | $1454 |
| Cincinnati Insurance | $1866 |
| Frankenmuth | $1873 |
The best homeowners insurance in Michigan for newer homes
A new home is not likely to sustain any damage to its utilities or its structural foundations as soon as an older home. For this reason, it will cost lesser to insure. Both Westfield and Fremont Insurance offer cheap home insurance at $720 and $730 respectively.
| Insurer | Average annual rate |
|---|---|
| Westfield | $720 |
| Fremont | $730 |
| State Farm | $734 |
| USAA* (military members) | $749 |
| Cincinnati Insurance | $963 |
Average cost of homeowners insurance in Michigan by credit score
Your credit score directly factors into the kind of home insurance premium you qualify for. Having a credit score above 700 can help you qualify for lower insurance rates in Michigan. Here are the broad estimates of how much you can expect to pay based on your credit score:
| Credit Score Type | Average annual rate |
|---|---|
| Excellent | $1790 |
| Good | $2333 |
| Fair | $3016 |
| Below Fair | $4405 |
| Poor | $9182 |
The best homeowners insurance in Michigan for those with poor credit
Typically, the lower your credit score, the riskier you will appear to home insurance companies. However, it's not impossible for you to get a good Michigan home insurance rate. Several companies offer decent home insurance rates even for applicants with bad credit.
Take a look at the average rates given to some poor credit applicants below:
| Insurer | Average annual rate |
|---|---|
| Auto Owners Insurance | $1854 |
| USAA | $2807 |
| Chubb | $3220 |
| State Farm | $5739 |
| Allstate | $7425 |
The best homeowners insurance in Michigan for pool owners
Having a house with a pool can be an expensive affair. Maintaining and cleaning a pool can cost quite a lot, which is why it is included in your insurance premium as well. Given the snowfall and blizzards in Michigan, it will add a lot to your insurance premium.
The following companies offer good rates for pool owners in Michigan:
| Insurer | Average annual rate |
|---|---|
| Chubb | $1670 |
| USAA | $1765 |
| State Farm | $2545 |
| Farmers | $2685 |
| Allstate | $3490 |
The best homeowners insurance in Michigan based on dwelling coverage
You can always sign up for higher dwelling coverage in order to protect your home. However, the insurance company will pay out a larger amount only if you are ready to pay a higher premium.
Here are the average Michigan home insurance rates based on dwelling coverage:
| Coverage level | Average annual rate |
|---|---|
| $100,000 Dwelling | $1420 |
| $250,000 Dwelling | $2320 |
| $500,000 Dwelling | $4117 |
| $750,000 Dwelling | $5872 |
Michigan homeowners insurance costs by city
Though the average cost of home insurance in Michigan is $1235/year, it could vary depending on where you are located. Within cities, home insurance can change depending on the ZIP code, crime rate, number of claims filed in the neighborhood, and more.
Here are the average home insurance rates in Michigan cities.
| City | Annual Average Rate |
|---|---|
| Acme | $1,209 |
| Addison | $1,238 |
| Adrian | $1,103 |
| Afton | $1,232 |
| Ahmeek | $1,150 |
| Alanson | $1,113 |
| Alba | $1,209 |
| Albion | $1,269 |
| Alden | $1,186 |
Home Insurance Discounts in Michigan
When shopping around for policies, try comparing different discounts offered by companies and choosing one that gives you more bang for your buck. However, not all companies offer every kind of discount, so ensure you ask your insurance agent if any are applicable.
Some popular home insurance companies and their discounts are given below:
| Insurer | Bundling Discounts | Loyalty Discounts | Protective Devices Discounts | Claim-free Discounts | New Home Credit Discounts | Military Discounts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Farm | Y | N | N | N | N | N |
| Allstate | Y | N | Y | Y | N | N |
| Amica | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | N |
| USAA | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y |
| Lemonade | Y | Y | Y | N | N | N |
Comparing Common Features Across Top Insurance Companies
Are you planning to buy the best homeowners insurance in Michigan? Then here are some features you must look into.
| Insurer | Other Structures Coverage | Identity Theft Protection | Valuable Possessions | Water Backup | Dwelling /Personal Property Replacement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty Mutual | Yes | Optional | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| State Farm | Yes | Optional | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Allstate | Yes | Optional | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Amica | Yes | Optional | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| USAA | Yes | Yes | Optional | No | Yes |
Common Causes of Home Insurance Claims in Michigan
Michigan lies in the Great Lakes region in the American Midwest and so has a continental type of climate. While it is pretty pleasant during some months of the year, the nearness to the Great Lakes can result in quite a lot of rainfall and other extreme weather.
The major causes of home insurance claims in Michigan include:
- Winter storms: Michigan winters can become quite cold, overcast, and windy. Winter storms can even develop into heavy blizzards and sever snowfall.
- Wildfires: Michigan sees between 10,000 and 12,000 minor to large-scale wildfires every year. Most of them are created by human error and careless burning of debris.
- Floods: Heavy rainfall and overflowing into low-lying areas can cause damage to many homes in the region. FEMA estimates that floods have caused a combined financial loss of $1.8 billion in the past few years.
- Thunderstorms: Northern Michigan often sees heavy thunderstorms with thunder and lightning, which can wreak havoc on homes.
- Tornadoes: Though not as common as the 'Tornado Alley' state, Michigan has still seen nearly 100 tornadoes in the last 10 years. Severe winds and gusts storms can cause debris to come crashing into your home/
It is necessary to buy a comprehensive, disaster-proof home insurance policy that covers all the risks associated with living in a state like Michigan.
Natural disaster coverage in Michigan
Do homeowners insurance cover tornadoes in Michigan?
In Michigan, most standard home insurance policies cover tornado damage. The insurance industry classifies all tornadoes as windstorms, which are covered under your typical insurance policy. However, read the fine print of your policy to ensure it covers both interior and exterior losses.
In certain situations, interior damage may only be protected when it results from exterior damage, such as a broken window. The average level of coverage for detached buildings is 10% of the value of the insured home.
Does homeowners insurance cover hurricanes in Michigan?
Yes, the majority of house insurance providers in Michigan are required to pay for storm damage if the National Weather Service classifies the storm as a hurricane. However, 'tropical storm' damage won't be covered; in order to recover financial losses, you might need to purchase additional windstorm insurance.
Does homeowners insurance cover floods in Michigan?
Even if it is a result from a hurricane or tropical storm, flood insurance is typically not covered by homeowner's insurance in Michigan. We advise obtaining supplemental insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (or a private flood insurance provider). Through the NFIP, insurance typically costs around $700 per year.
Factors that affect home insurance rates in Michigan
Are you planning to buy Michigan home insurance? Then consider these factors before buying one!
- Your location: The cost of homeowners insurance in Michigan is greater for homes in high-crime zones and hurricane-prone regions.
- Rebuild rate: Your home insurance rate may be affected by building supplies and labor costs in your neighborhood.
- Age/condition: Insurance for newer, well-maintained properties is lower than for older ones.
- Claims history: Homeowners with a history of making house insurance claims frequently face higher insurance premiums.
- Credit history: Your credit score is a criterion that many insurance companies consider. Premiums for homeowners with bad credit are frequently higher.
- Dog breed: Be ready to pay a higher Michigan home insurance cost if you buy a dog that your insurance company classifies as a 'dangerous breed.'
Tips for Buying Homeowners Insurance
- Assess your rebuilding costs: Ask your insurance agent or a reliable builder how much it would cost to rebuild your house using local labor and fair material rates. You should have at least this coverage for your home, if not more.
- Review the advantage of replacement cost over actual cash value: Think about getting replacement cost coverage for your house and possessions. You'll obtain the money you need to buy new ones to replace your old ones. You will receive a depreciated amount if you use actual cash value.
- Consider add-on coverage for your expensive items: Consider scheduling personal property for high-value things like expensive gadgets, sports, or musical instruments, as well as antiquities, if you have any. You can fully compensate them with this coverage.
- Evaluate your liability coverage needs: Find out how much liability insurance you require. Choose at least $300,000 or a sum that would cover the potential loss in the event of a lawsuit.
- Assess coverage gaps: Some house insurers provide extra benefits, like greater limits for landscaping items like trees and shrubs. I provide coverage in the case they get damaged in a covered incident or assistance with paying for damage from water or sewer backups.
- Check financial ratings: Verify the financial strength rankings by organizations like AM Best and Standard & Poor's. You may not be eligible for a mortgage from some firms unless your insurer has a financial strength rating of at least 'A.'
- Ask for discounts: Make sure you're taking advantage of all the discounts you qualify for. For instance, you might be eligible for a discount if your home has particular security measures or if you have your home and auto insurance from the same provider.
- Compare quotes from multiple insurance companies: The cost of a single Michigan home insurance policy might vary greatly amongst insurance providers. You won't know how much you might save if you don't compare prices.
How to Get Michigan Home Insurance with Way.com
Way.com is on a mission to simplify the home insurance process by getting you the best quotes in the shortest possible time! The average home insurance cost in Michigan costs you around $1235/year, but finding a policy with good, comprehensive coverage can often take a lot of time. Don't fret - Way.com can help you find, compare, and buy the best home insurance policies in Michigan.
Through the Way.com website or app, you can find the most affordable Michigan home insurance rates and get free quotes. Furthermore, our Michigan insurance agents can help you understand the state's complex laws, insurance terms, and discounts!
Home Insurance Data Methodology
The home insurance rates published in this guide are based on the results of research completed by Way.com’s data team. Using a mix of public and internal data, we analyzed millions of rate averages across U.S. ZIP codes.
Quotes are typically based on a full coverage policy average unless otherwise noted within the content.
These rates were publicly sourced from insurer filings and should be used for comparative purposes only — your own quotes will differ. Given this, it’s important to go through our insurance steps form to find how much you can save with way.com
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the best cheap home insurance company in Michigan?
According to our research, Auto Owners Insurance, Frankenmuth, and Meemic offer the cheapest home insurance rates in Michigan.
How much is homeowners insurance in Michigan?
The average home insurance rate in Michigan is around $1235/year. However, this could vary based on your credit score, the city you are in, the neighborhood, ZIP code, and more.
Does Michigan require any special homeowners insurance coverage?
No, unlike auto insurance, homeowner's insurance in Michigan is not mandatory. If you take a standard insurance policy, it will cover everything from dwelling coverage, liability protection, medical payments protections, other structures protection, etc.
Since Michigan also sees a few extreme weather events every year, you can also take other special insurance like flood insurance, tree removal coverage, debris coverage, and more.
Does Michigan require flood insurance?
Michigan lies in the Great Lakes region and receives heavy precipitation in certain months in the form of thunderstorms. If your home is in a low-lying area, we recommend you get flood insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program or a private provider.
Does homeowners insurance cover mold in Michigan?
Mold may be covered in some home insurance policies but not in others. Usually, mold removal is covered if it is caused by something covered in the policy. If you feel that mold is a concern in your house, ask your agent to clarify the details before signing on.
How much is homeowners insurance in Michigan per month?
The average home insurance rate in Michigan is around $1235/year.
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