Cheapest and Best Car Insurance in Sterling Heights, MI (2024)

Finding the cheapest and best insurance in Sterling Heights, Michigan, depends on coverage choices and driver specifics. GEICO stands out for both full coverage and families with teens. For minimum coverage, Travelers leads. Exceptional customer service comes from Chubb, which also ranks as the best overall combining price and service, fitting various preferences and coverage needs.

Travelers is the cheapest option in Sterling Heights for cheapest car insurance. Here are the two most affordable providers:

• Travelers: $475 per year
• Westfield: $557 per year

Hanover has the most expensive minimum coverage policy in Sterling Heights, with an annual premium of $2,351. This variance underscores the benefit of comparing car insurance rates to ensure cost savings.

State Minimum Liability Requirements

In Michigan, from Sterling Heights to Lake Superior, state law mandates the minimum car insurance coverage one must carry. Here's what's required:

• $50,000 bodily injury per person
  
• $100,000 bodily injury per accident
  
• $10,000 property damage liability per accident
  
• Unlimited personal injury protection (PIP) per person
  

If you're involved in an accident and are at fault, your policy covers up to $50,000 for injuries to one person, and a total of $100,000 for all injuries per accident. Should the actual costs exceed these limits, the difference would come out of your pocket, affirming the importance of opting for coverage that aligns with your needs and risks.

GEICO is the cheapest option for cheapest full coverage car insurance in Sterling Heights.

• GEICO: $1,306 per year
• Travelers: $1,473 per year

Hanover has the most expensive full coverage policy at $4,452 annually. This $3,146 difference between the cheapest and the priciest option underscores the importance of shopping around. Full coverage policies cost more because they provide comprehensive and collision insurance, protecting against a range of incidents beyond collisions.

Do You Need Full Coverage in Michigan?

A full coverage policy includes coverage for damage to your own vehicle in the form of comprehensive and collision coverages. It usually also includes increased liability limits.

• Collision Insurance: This provides coverage for your vehicle in the event of a collision, whether with another vehicle or a stationary object like a tree or light pole. It also covers rollover accidents and pothole damage.

• Comprehensive Insurance: This coverage insures your vehicle against various types of damage not caused by collisions, including theft, vandalism, fires, natural disasters and being struck by an animal like a deer.

If you have a new vehicle, it's wise to opt for full coverage insurance for more robust financial protection. If you're leasing or have a car loan, you are typically required to carry full coverage insurance.

On the other hand, owners of older vehicles may find that the extra cost — which can amount to several hundred dollars more per year — is not justified by the value of the vehicle. When deciding how much car insurance coverage you need, consider your ideal balance: more extensive coverage comes with higher premiums, but getting less coverage means you may pay more out of pocket if you need to file a claim.

For those seeking the cheapest company for drivers with a poor driving record in Sterling Heights, premiums are most competitive with:

• Speeding Ticket: **Chubb **($1,668 per year)
• At-fault accident: **Chubb **($1,668 per year)
• DUI: Chubb ($1,668 per year)

Conversely, Hanover presents the highest rates for drivers after an infraction. The disparity in rates illustrates how significantly the type of driving offense impacts insurance costs.

Insurance premiums in Sterling Heights, as in other cities, escalate with the severity of driving offenses due to the greater risk they pose to insurers. Individuals with driving infractions should diligently compare insurance rates as they stand to benefit significantly from the potential savings this practice offers.

GEICO offers the cheapest car insurance for teens in Sterling Heights. Here are the two most affordable providers:

• GEICO: $2,975 per year for female teens and $2,975 per year for male teens
• Auto-Owners: $4,284 per year for female teens and $4,284 per year for male teens

These rates reflect the annual cost to cover a family combination of two parents and a teenager in Sterling Heights. Among the compared companies, State Farm has the most expensive policy for teen drivers, with family annual premiums reaching $12,953 for both female and male teens. This shows the importance of comparing rates. Teenagers are considered high-risk drivers, so finding affordable coverage can significantly impact a family's finances.

In Sterling Heights, as in other places, the cost disparity between individual and joint family car insurance for teens is stark. On average, teens purchasing insurance independently face a hefty annual premium of $9,728, while joining a family plan lowers the average cost significantly to $6,560.

High individual premiums stem from insurers viewing teens as high-risk drivers due to their inexperience. This risk factor also contributes to the challenge teens may face in securing a policy on their own, making family plans both a more economical and accessible option for young drivers looking to insure their ride.

MoneyGeek found that USAA is the cheapest option in Sterling Heights for full coverage car insurance for military backgrounds.

• USAA: $1,084 per year
• GEICO: $1,306 per year

Not only is USAA the most affordable car insurance provider for those with a military background in Sterling Heights, but it also specifically tailors its service to the needs of active duty military members. USAA's combination of low cost and specialized military services stands out.

In Sterling Heights, comparing car insurance rates is a key strategy for cost savings. However, the process is often cumbersome, potentially requiring over an hour to examine rates from three or more companies.

MoneyGeek's car insurance calculator can help you streamline this process. By inputting details like age, driving history, credit score and preferred coverage, you can instantly receive rate estimates.

Finding the best auto insurance for you hinges on what you prioritize — be it superior service, cost, coverage, or other aspects.

• Best overall: Chubb (MoneyGeek score 94 out of 100)
• Best for service: Chubb (MoneyGeek score 93 out of 100)
• Best cheap: Chubb (MoneyGeek score 93 out of 100)

Chubb emerges as the standout in Sterling Heights, delivering the best overall value, service, and affordability. Chubb's consistency across the board means customers do not have to compromise between quality service and financial practicality.

Chubb offers the best car isurance in Sterling Heights.

• Chubb: MoneyGeek score of 94 out of 100 ($1,668 per year)
• Westfield: MoneyGeek score of 86 out of 100 ($1,755 per year)

Chubb stands out in Sterling Heights with a MoneyGeek score that places it significantly ahead, especially in customer satisfaction and claims experience, which are the largest contributors to its overall rating. This score is reflective of a full coverage policy, which offers more comprehensive protection for drivers.

Chubb is the best option for sterling customer service in car insurance for residents of Sterling Heights. This top-ranking is based on customer satisfaction, claims handling and coverage options, without taking rates into consideration

• Chubb: MoneyGeek score of 93 out of 100 ($1,668 per year)
• Westfield: MoneyGeek score of 86 out of 100 ($1,755 per year)

Chubb stands out chiefly due to its exceptional customer satisfaction and claims handling scores. Its focus on comprehensive coverage options further cements its position.

Chubb is the best option in Sterling Heights for consumers seeking affordable yet reliable car insurance. With a well-rounded approach to scoring, MoneyGeek's assessment places significant weight on affordability but ensures that claims handling and customer satisfaction remain important factors.

• Chubb: MoneyGeek score of 93 out of 100 ($718 per year)
• Westfield: MoneyGeek score of 89 out of 100 ($557 per year)

Chubb distinguishes itself not only with the highest MoneyGeek score but also in customer satisfaction and claims handling, contributing heavily to its lead position. This score is indicative of a minimum coverage policy.

In Sterling Heights, the average car insurance cost is $2,159. This amount is slightly below the average car insurance cost in Michigan, which is $2,316. Michigan's average cost surpasses the national average of car insurance by $535.

Car insurance premiums are determined by myriad factors, location being one of the paramount elements influencing rates. Insurers consider the frequency of accidents, thefts and vandalism, together with the density of traffic in different regions, to estimate the potential risk and calculate premiums accordingly.

Ann Arbor claims the title for the cheapest premium in the state at $1,361, while Detroit presents as the most expensive at $3,987. This difference underscores the impact location has on insurance costs. Moreover, rates in non-urban zones, where traffic density diminishes, tend to be comparatively lower still.