As a new driver in the Rochester Hills, MI area, staying safe on the road should be your top priority.

Here are some essential, safe driving tips for new drivers from us at Guy Hurley McNeil to help you stay safe and avoid accidents: 

1. Follow the speed limit – Stick to the posted speed limits, especially in residential and school zones. Speeding is one of the leading causes of car accidents, so obeying the law is essential. 

2. Avoid distractions – Put away your cell phone while driving and stay focused on the road. Distractions such as talking or texting on your phone can take your attention away from driving, leading to an accident. 

3. Wear your seatbelt – Always wear your seatbelt when driving, as it will significantly reduce the risk of injury or death in an accident. 

4. Pay attention to other drivers – Be aware of what other drivers are doing and give them plenty of space to maneuver safely. This can help you anticipate their actions and avoid potential accidents. 

5. Drive defensively – Always drive defensively by not assuming other drivers will always follow the rules of the road or drive safely all the time. Being proactive and taking extra precautions when on the roads can help keep you and others safer driving. 

By following these tips, you should be able to stay safer while out on the roads as a new driver! For more tips, give us at Guy Hurley McNeil a call today. We are proud to serve the Rochester Hills, MI area and would be happy to help you find an insurance policy to meet your needs and budget.

In the summer of 2020, Michigan lawmakers passed bills aimed at auto insurance reform. This bill was designed to change the way the no-fault laws operated in Michigan regarding auto insurance and help residents of Michigan save on their auto insurance policies. Some of the reform went into place immediately in 2020, while other bits of the reform were slowly rolled out and went into effect a year later in 2021. To this day, many Michigan residents are not fully aware of the auto insurance reform and how it impacts their auto insurance. As we at Guy Hurley McNeil, auto insurance providers in the greater Rochester Hills, MI region, explain more about auto insurance reform in Michigan. 

Why Was There a Push for Auto Insurance Reform? 

The state of Michigan had the highest auto insurance costs in the nation, costing Michigan drivers a lot of money. A lot of the reason for these high costs is that insurance providers were subject to paying out high expenses in catastrophic accidents that resulted in major injuries. The theory was that insurance companies could reduce auto insurance premiums by reforming what insurance companies had to pay for in accidents and placing limits on payouts. 

Did Auto Insurance Reform Work? 

Auto insurance reform has caused the cost of auto insurance policies to drop by about 20 percent in Michigan since the reform happened. However, auto insurance policies are now very complex in the state of Michigan, and there is a lot of complexity about billing and what insurance companies have to cover, and at what expense. As such, insurance rates have not dropped as much as state lawmakers had hoped. 

Auto insurance reform has led to consumers having many questions about their auto insurance policies. If you have questions about your policy or are in the market for a new policy, the team at Guy Hurley McNeil, serving the greater Rochester Hills, MI area, would love to help you. Contact us today to get started. 

It’s no secret that car insurance can be expensive. But how much do you need? How can you get the best rates? In this blog post, we’ll answer all of those questions and more. We’ll help you determine how much car insurance you need, learn about the factors that affect rates and find ways to save money on your premiums. So whether you’re shopping for car insurance for the first time or just looking to save a few bucks, read on for tips and advice that will help you get the coverage you need at a price you can afford.

Let’s talk about how to determine how much car insurance you need. The first thing to remember is that there is no one-size-fits-all answer here. Every driver has unique needs and circumstances, and the coverage you need will depend on several factors, including where you live, how much you drive, and the type of car you own.

One helpful rule of thumb is considering the combined value of your home, property, and car. If it exceeds a certain amount (for example, $100,000), you’ll likely need more extensive coverage to protect yourself in case of an accident or other loss.

Another critical factor to consider is your record as a driver. If you have a history of accidents or moving violations, insurance companies may consider you a higher risk – and that means you’ll likely have to pay more for coverage. On the other hand, if you have a clean driving record, you may qualify for lower rates.

If you have any questions or want to explore your options, please give us at Guy Hurley McNeil a call today. We proudly serve the Rochester Hills, MI area.

Getting auto insurance coverage is one of the most important things you need to do as a vehicle owner. It’s important to do your research to understand auto insurance and choose the right policy.

At Guy Hurley McNeil, we offer auto insurance coverage to motorists in the Rochester Hills, MI area. The following are three things you should know about auto insurance as a Michigan driver.

Liability coverage on your auto insurance policy is required by law.

The most important reason why you need auto insurance is that it is required by law so that you can drive legally.

You must carry liability coverage to meet the requirements of your state’s DMV requirements. Failing to carry the liability coverage required in your state can lead to severe penalties. 

Your driving record can impact your auto insurance costs.

If you want to save money on your auto insurance, you should focus on avoiding driving infractions. If you have a lot of infractions, such as speeding tickets and moving violations, on your record, you can expect auto insurance to be more expensive. 

A higher deductible can reduce your premium costs.

Motorists need to understand the relationship between deductible amounts and premium costs on auto insurance policies.

If you choose a higher deductible, you’ll have to pay more to get coverage if you need to file a claim. However, you’ll also generally enjoy lower monthly premiums if you choose a higher deductible. A lower deductible amount usually means higher monthly premium costs. 

Contact us at Guy Hurley McNeil to learn more about auto insurance. We can help you meet your auto insurance needs in Rochester Hills, MI.

Auto insurance is a necessary component for driving in Rochester Hills, MI. The lack of insurance is a misdemeanor in the state, which means you could be fined, go to jail, or lose your license. So, you must obtain a policy immediately. Here are the minimum liability levels.

Michigan Injury Liability Coverage

According to the Guy Hurley McNeil Agency, you need bodily liability insurance to cover claims against you for injuries related to an auto accident. Minimal coverage must equal $250,000 or more for each individual. In addition, it has to cover $500,000 per accident. If you don’t make a selection during the initial signup process, the insurance agency defaults to the limits of $250,000/$500,000.

Under Michigan law, you have the choice to select lower bodily liability limits as long as you sign a form understanding the consequences. However, if you injure someone in Rochester Hills, MI, or another area in the state, you could face seizure of assets and the garnishment of your wages. 

Michigan Collision Liability Coverage

Michigan doesn’t require drivers to have collision coverage in their auto insurance policy. Thus, the following could occur if you decline to purchase the liability package:

1. Repairs are out-of-pocket when you get into a single-person accident (you’re the only party involved).
2. If another vehicle causes an accident, you only receive $1,100 toward repairs as part of a mini-tort. 

For these reasons, adding collision liability coverage is recommended to keep your car on the road.

Do you have further questions related to Michigan’s auto insurance minimums? If so, reach out to the Guy Hurley McNeil team for more information. 

There have been many changes in the insurance sector over the last couple of decades, and one of the segments that has experienced tremendous reforms is auto insurance. Auto insurance is poised to undergo more extreme changes soon, thanks to the fast-evolving environment. As a car owner in Rochester Hills, MI, here are the auto insurance reforms that you should expect in the future.

A Reduction in Premiums and Cost of Insurance

Autonomous vehicles are already catching on momentum, and they will soon be the norm thanks to improved autonomous technology. Autonomous cars are perceived to be safer than standard vehicles because of the numerous driver-assist and safety technologies. At Guy Hurley McNeil, we believe that drivers will experience up to a 26% reduction in the premiums and the cost of their insurance due to this improved safety.

A Reduction in Claims Denials

Most auto insurance claims that insurers deny are turned down based on a lack of sufficient evidence supporting the car owner’s claim. However, moving into the feature, most vehicles will be fitted with multiple cameras that record what’s happening around the car at all times. The captured footage will be irrefutable evidence for car owners making claims on theft or accident compensation. This means they will likely get compensated, and there will be reduced claims denials.

An Increase in Damage Severity

Although autonomous vehicles will reduce the likelihood of accidents, the accidents will cause more severe damage to the cars. This is because, in the future, cars will have more sensors like radar mounted on their bumpers to enable autonomous driving. Damage to the front bumper resulting from an accident will also mean damage to the radar, resulting in more expensive repairs. Those with lean coverage will feel the pinch of the increased damage severity and the associated high repair cost the most because they have to pay for most repairs out of pocket.

Contact Guy Hurley McNeil to get the best auto insurance deal in Rochester Hills, MI.

If you are a motorist in Michigan or any other state, you need to stay in touch with the state requirements to ensure you don’t fall on the wrong side of the law. In Michigan, for instance, there was an update of car insurance laws in 2020 that you need to know about. At Guy Hurley McNeil in Rochester Hills, MI, we take a deep dive to help you understand how the reforms affect you.

Michigan auto insurance reform

Until 2020, the Michigan law required motorists to purchase unlimited Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance. This coverage gave the injured optimal protection by covering medical expenses, partial wages lost, and final costs.

While this coverage favored the victims, it had its downside. The insurance companies faced expensive claims, fraud, and legal suits from medical providers. Insurance companies raised car insurance rates to ensure that their costs were covered, making Michigan one of the most expensive states to insure vehicles.

After long debates between drivers and lawmakers on reducing car insurance rates, change finally came on July 2, 2020. Here are some of the reforms introduced:

• There were new PIP insurance coverage options — motorists could either keep the unlimited PIP coverages or opt for lower coverages with greater discounts.
• Increased liability coverage — previously, drivers needed to maintain a minimum of $20,000 for one person killed and twice the amount for multiple persons killed in a road accident. Today, motorists must carry $250,000 for one person killed and twice the amount for multiple persons. However, drivers can apply to reduce the amounts to $50,000 and $100,000, respectively.

If you need to learn more about Michigan car insurance in Rochester Hills, MI, don’t hesitate to contact Guy Hurley McNeil for more information. Our work is not to sell you coverages only. We educate you about the policy you are interested in so that you can have sufficient information to make an informed decision.

 

Michigan no-fault auto insurance reform is confusing a lot of Michigan drivers. These are changes to auto insurance laws that every driver should be aware of so that you can get the best coverage for your needs.

At Guy Hurley McNeil, we can help Rochester Hills, MI drivers to decode Michigan no-fault auto insurance reform so that you can keep your coverage up to date. 

Follow this guide for some tips on what Michigan no-fault auto insurance reform means.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

PIP coverage is the coverage you get for damages after an accident that goes beyond medical and includes lost wages and pain and suffering. Unlimited PIP insurance is no longer available. 

There are coverage selections for drivers on Medicaid, and not on Medicaid. If you have Medicare, you can now choose to opt out of PIP protection.

Attendant Care

Auto insurance companies will no longer offer attendant care for more than 56 hours weekly. If you are in an accident and require home care afterwards, you will not get coverage for family-provided care for more than 56 hours a week. 

If the care is provided by a nurse or practitioner, this does not apply.

Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA)

Reform here indicates that the MCCA will continue paying for the health care costs of accident victims in a catastrophic accident, but only if you selected unlimited no-fault PIP medical coverage.

Bodily Injury Liability

This reform has increased the limits on bodily injury liability.  You will be permitted to purchase lower limits of bodily injury liability for third party car insurance.

Get Help Understanding Changes

These are just a few of the changes that have come to Michigan’s no-fault auto insurance reform. We can help you understand them all. At Guy Hurley McNeil, we want Rochester Hills, MI drivers to have the coverage they need, without paying too much. Call us for a quote today.

Governor Whitmer changed the way auto insurance is practiced in the state of Michigan in an unprecedented way. Anyone purchasing an auto insurance policy after July 2020 will benefit from maintaining the best coverage options at a lower cost and enjoy unparalleled consumer protections. Guy Hurley McNeil has analyzed the changes and presents the following summary of the benefits.

1. The what that insurance companies set their rates has changed.

Insurance companies can no longer count applicants’ sex, marital status, and what zip code they reside in to set the insurance rates. Other non-driving factors that no longer apply are the applicant’s education, occupation, and credit score.

2. A new Fraud Investigation Unit was established to reduce insurance fraud.

Fraudulent insurance claims drive up the premiums for everyone. The Fraud Investigation Unit will work with law enforcement to deter anyone from submitting fraudulent claims, thereby reducing fraudulent claims burden on the system.

3. Consumer’s who lapsed their policies will not be penalized.

The new law prohibits insurers from charging reinstatement fees or increase premiums because the driver did not pay their insurance premium for a period of time. This amnesty needs to be redeemed by applying for insurance coverage before January 1, 2022.

4. Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) needs to approve insurer’s rates.

Before an insurance company sets new rates and policies that will be charged to the consumers, they need to obtain approval from DIFS.

5. Increased Fines and Penalties.

The reformed plan sets much higher fines for insurance companies and their agents if they violate the law in any way.

If you are about to purchase a new auto insurance policy, chat the Guy Hurley McNeil in Rochester Hills, MI, and let him help you choose the policy that regards all the above benefits and provides the most value to your unique circumstances.

Those that are in the Rochester Hills, MI area are going to want to own a car to get around the area. This typically also requires that you have auto insurance. When looking for a new auto insurance plan here, it is important to consider the recent Michigan auto insurance reform. This reform included notable changes to law and coverage options in the state.

Prior Personal Injury Protection Requirements

Similar to other states, those that want to drive a car in Michigan need to have liability insurance. This state also included a requirement to have Personal Injury Protection, or PIP, the coverage that ultimately provides unlimited insurance coverage if someone is injured in an accident. While this provides great coverage, it can also be expensive to have as there is ultimately not a cap on what coverage can be provided in a bad accident. This has made auto coverage expensive for many drivers.

Reformed Personal Injury Protection

A big change with the Michigan insurance law is that there are now insurance policy caps when it comes to PIP. When a car owner has selected a new policy, there will have several PIP insurance caps to choose from and the legal requirement for coverage has been lowered considerably. Those that are going to build a new plan will be able to choose a PIP that provides them with comfort and allows for premiums that fit within their budget.

If you would like to get an auto insurance plan in the Rochester Hills, MI area, it would be a good idea for you to work with Guy Hurley McNeil. The team with Guy Hurley McNeil understands the laws around auto insurance in Michigan and can help to explain to you how insurance reform impacts your requirements and help you build an ideal plan.