State Rep. Jennifer Wortz (R-Quincy) this week unveiled a bill package to give Michigan drivers more affordable options for auto insurance requirements. 

House Bills 5886-5889, also sponsored by Rep. Nancy Jenkins-Arno (R-Rollin Township) and Rep. Joe Tate (D-Detroit), will align Michigan’s auto insurance coverage requirements more closely with other states. Under current law, Michigan requires drivers to carry $250,000 in PIP coverage, the highest minimum in the country. The bills would expand flexibility and reduce costs by allowing insurers to offer any level of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage statewide, including extending the current PIP opt-out system to all drivers. The package would also eliminate the requirement for drivers to reselect lower coverage limits at every policy renewal, allowing them to maintain their chosen plan automatically. 

“Michiganders continue to face some of the highest auto insurance costs in the nation, even after the 2019 no-fault reforms that were supposed to provide relief,” said Wortz. “People across the state are overwhelmed by their everyday bills. Protecting drivers and giving them adequate care is a top priority, but requiring people who reside here to buy five times more personal injury coverage than any other state is not reasonable.” 

Wortz also highlighted Michigan’s high bodily injury liability limits of $50,000/$100,000, tied for the highest nationwide. HB 5888 would lower the required bodily injury coverage to $25,000/$50,000, bringing Michigan in line with the most common standard in other states. 

“If our state wants to convince people to stay here and make Michigan their home, we need to compete with our neighboring states that have significantly lower costs,” Wortz continued. “The requirement that we pay double or triple the cost of a standard policy in other states is completely absurd. You’re driving away the people you’re trying to protect.” 

HB 5886-5889 were referred to the House Committee on Insurance for further consideration.