Two of the most misunderstood parts of a Michigan auto policy are comprehensive and collision coverage. Both are optional — but skipping them means paying out-of-pocket for repairs or replacement if something happens to your vehicle.
Collision Coverage
Collision covers damage to your vehicle when you hit something — another car, a guardrail, a tree, a pothole. It doesn't matter whose fault the accident was; collision pays for your repairs (minus your deductible).
Examples of What Collision Covers:
- Rear-ending another vehicle
- Sliding into a tree on an icy Michigan road
- Hitting a pothole that damages your suspension
- Backing into a pole at a parking lot
Comprehensive Coverage
Comprehensive covers damage to your vehicle from anything other than a collision — including theft, weather, vandalism, and animal strikes (which are especially relevant in West Michigan with all our deer).
Examples of What Comprehensive Covers:
- Deer strike (extremely common in Kent, Newaygo, and Ottawa counties)
- Hail damage
- Falling tree branch in a storm
- Theft of the entire vehicle
- Broken windshield from a rock
- Vandalism
- Flood damage
- Fire
Do You Need Both?
If you have a loan or lease on your vehicle, your lender almost always requires both. If you own your car outright, the question becomes whether the coverage is worth the premium.
Rule of Thumb
If your vehicle is worth less than $3,000, dropping comp and collision may make sense. Above that, the coverage typically pays for itself the first time you have a claim.
Choosing Your Deductible
Farmers Insurance deductible options: $100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000, and $1,500.
Higher deductible = lower premium. The right choice depends on:
- How much cash you can comfortably pay out-of-pocket
- How much you're saving in premium by raising the deductible
Generally, raising your deductible from $500 to $1,000 saves $80-150/year in Michigan — and going to $1,500 saves even more. The right choice depends on your emergency fund and how much premium reduction you get at each tier.
Special Michigan Add-Ons
- Glass Deductible Waiver — $0 deductible on windshield replacement
- Declining Deductible — your deductible drops $100/year for every year without a claim
- Accident Forgiveness — first at-fault accident doesn't raise your rate
Get a Quote with Coverage Options
Knight Family Agency will quote you side-by-side with different deductible options so you can see the trade-off in real dollars. Fill out our quote form and we'll send a detailed comparison.
Get a Free Michigan Auto Insurance Quote
Local Farmers Insurance agent in Belding, MI. Most clients save $1,200+ per year.