Citizens Insurance Michigan Car Insurance Review [2024]

Is Citizens Insurance Michigan Right for Me?

Is Citizens Insurance right for me? 

Citizens Insurance carries the official name of Citizens Insurance Company of America.

Its headquarters are in Howell, MI, although it also operates out of several regional offices in the Midwest. The company is part of the Hanover Insurance Group, Inc.

Depending on your specific circumstances, finding cheap car insurance may not always be easy, with Citizens Insurance or another company. Where you live, your age, your driving record, and even your marital status can impact your rates.

If you’re still uncertain about what insurer may be right for you, you’re not alone. The market is vast, and there are many variations of price and policy options to sort through. A person, acting as a savvy insurance customer, will make sure they know all there is to know about an insurer before they sign up with them. Spend a small period of time getting familiar with the insurance carrier you’re interested in. Look at the customer reviews, the average cost of their policies, and what sort of market share they have. You’ll want a financially sturdy company. 

Obtaining insurance quotes is a great way to find the best options that are out there. Check out auto policy rates from Citizens Insurance and other companies by entering your ZIP code into our FREE tool above!

What is the size and scope of Citizens Insurance?

Citizens Insurance is one of the facets of the Hanover Insurance Group.

A.M. Best notes Citizens Insurance is in the financial size category of $1.5 to $2 billion.

The parent company was founded in 1852 as the Hanover Fire Insurance Company, according to the company website. The name came from its location, as it was established in Hanover Square in Manhattan.

In addition to Citizens Insurance Company of America, the Hanover Insurance Company is the parent to more than a dozen insurance companies and a financial services group.

The global reach is evident from its insurance company of Chaucer Holdings, PLC, which is based in London.

What comes included in a Citizens Insurance basic car insurance policy?

The state of Michigan requires a package of coverage known as no-fault insurance, according to the state Office of Insurance and Financial Regulation.

No-fault coverage is typically more generous in its benefits than the basic liability coverage required in other states, which may mean it is a bit more costly.

A no-fault policy takes care of all medical bills and rehab expenses with no limits according to the state office of insurance. It also covers loss of wages for up to three years and other benefits if you happen to be injured in an accident, even if the accident is your fault.

The catch is that drivers agree to give up their right to sue in the case of a car accident unless someone was killed or severely injured.

Citizens Insurance offers coverage that fits the state’s no-fault requirements, as well as other basic coverage.

The company, which cleverly calls your car insurance policy your car’s ‘most important accessory,’ offers packages under their Connections Auto Insurance program.

The program aims to allow you to fully customize your insurance policy to fit your needs. Various limits on liability insurance are available, as are several options for comprehensive and collision coverage.

As noted by the Indiana Department of Insurance, liability coverage consists of bodily injury and property damage liability.

Collision coverage covers the cost of damage to your vehicle due to a collision while comprehensive coverage takes care of the damage to your vehicle caused by events other than a collision. This may include:

• vandalism
• theft
• hail or storm damage
• other acts of nature

Situations such as theft or natural disasters can be financially unhinging for a vehicle owner. This is why it’s important to know what types of insurance are available. Other basics offered by the company include roadside assistance and reimbursement of transportation expenses if your car is inoperable due to an accident.

Medical payment coverage and personal injury protection are also available, types mentioned by the state department of insurance under the no-fault policy. You’ll have to check on what limit you’ll need, and what sort of price tag that will come with. 

Do I need additional coverage from Citizens Insurance?

Rather than simply calling additional coverage options by the basic term, Citizens Insurance calls them value-added endorsements, yet another example of clever copywriting.

The value-added endorsements include a range of options that extend your coverage, protection, and peace of mind.

Roadside assistance kicks off the list, with 24-hour emergency service if your car breaks down or is otherwise inoperable at any time of the day or night.

An option deemed as ultimate service comes next. The ultimate goes beyond someone being sent to help you by covering the cost of towing, labor, and car rental.

The company’s DriveSmart Advantage option comes with a slew of perks that include accident forgiveness and what the company calls new car replacement guard.

The latter covers the cost of your new car’s replacement if it’s totaled within one year or 15,000 miles from the time you bought or leased it.

The company will not deduct any depreciation from the reimbursement cost. One more DriveSmart Advantage perk is the deductible dividends option.

The company will automatically reduce your collision deductible with Disappearing Deductible car insurance coverage if you opt for the DriveSmart Advantage option. You can view it as an automatic discount, with the company website noting you could save up to $500 over a five-year period from this benefit alone.

Extended non-owned coverage is company option that gives you extra coverage for liability and medical payments. The reassurance plus endorsement covers accidental death and accidental air bag deployment.

The Travel Right option covers a portion of losses or pet injury costs when you are traveling and includes rental vehicle coverage.

A policyholder can upgrade that rental coverage with another endorsement known as the rental coverage upgrade.

Two more value-added endorsements include the Home Care Services and ACE, or Additional Customized Equipment options. The former reimburses up to $2,500 for essential services you may require while you’re recovering from an accident. The latter covers custom furnishings and electronics you may have added to your vehicle.

Are there any Citizens Insurance discounts?

This is another category that Citizens Insurance stocks with multiple options.

Some of the standard ones noted by the Illinois Department of Insurance include an anti-theft device discount, safety device discount, and good student discount. Citizens Insurance offers all three.

Others also mentioned by the Illinois DOI and offered by Citizens Insurance include the college student away from homeowners insurance discount and ones for completing select accident prevention courses.

Citizens Insurance also offers discounts for insuring more than one vehicle with the company and paying in full for a new auto policy.

What are the pros of Citizens Insurance?

The company starts its list of pros with a strong rating from A.M. Best.

The company rates a strong A for excellent in the financial strength category.

Citizens Insurance’s parent company, The Hanover Insurance Group, also received a positive rating from A.M. Best.

The very wide range of optional coverage, or value-added endorsements, is an asset to the company.

Two especially notable types of coverage not always found with other companies are the Home Services option and Travel Right’s Pet Protection.

The company website is stocked with useful information that goes beyond insurance types and offerings. A few examples include a guide that explains what do to in case of an accident and a link to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety where visitors may find loads of useful information.

What are the cons of Citizens Insurance?

While the options are wide for optional coverage, anything you add to the policy that goes beyond the basics is most likely going to increase costs. One more con may be the company website, which is not specifically tailored to motorists.

Although the main office of Citizens Insurance of America is located in Michigan, all the information regarding auto policy availability is on the Hanover Insurance site.

Because each state has its own laws, the options may also vary to meet the requirements or some options may simply not be available in every state.

Are there other ways to save money with Citizens Insurance?

Insuring both your home and car with Citizens Insurance result in money off, although the company calls it credits rather than a discount.

Another money-saving feature of insuring both your car and home includes a single loss deductible. This means that if both are damaged at the same time you are only required to pay only the higher deductible of the two to reimburse you for the damage.

How you pay your bills with Citizens Insurance can also save you money.

As already noted, the company offers a reduced rate if you pay your bill in full, rather than breaking it down into monthly premium payments. This option, however, seems to only apply for new auto insurance policies in their first year.

You can save continuously by opting for an electronic funds transfer every month, which allows the company to withdraw the premium cost directly from your bank account. The company website says you can save up to $50 by avoiding the installment fees if you sign up for the automatic withdrawal option.

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