LANSING, Mich. — Hitting a deer this fall could leave a Michigan driver with a repair bill the insurer will not touch, and the state agency that regulates auto insurance wants motorists to find that out now rather than on the side of the road.
The Department of Insurance and Financial Services is telling drivers to call their agent or carrier and confirm what their policy actually covers. Damage from striking an animal falls under comprehensive coverage, which is optional in Michigan and is not part of a policy unless the driver chose it.
Comprehensive also pays when a car is stolen or is damaged by fire, flood, vandalism or a falling object. Department Director Anita Fox said in the agency release that repairs after a deer strike can run into the thousands of dollars.
The risk is not small. Michigan State Police counted upward of 58,000 crashes involving deer in 2025, most of them on two-lane roads around dawn and dusk.
The state herd numbers nearly 2 million deer, and the animals move most in two stretches, April into June and October into December, according to the state highway safety office. Hunting season, cooler nights and shorter days all push deer onto roads in the fall.
Safety officials say the worst crashes usually happen when a driver jerks the wheel. Brake hard and hold your lane, they advise, because swerving can send a car into oncoming traffic, a tree or a rollover. When one deer crosses, expect more, since deer tend to travel in a line, one after another.
After a crash, the agency suggests getting off the road if possible and turning on the flashers, then reporting it to the nearest police agency and to the insurer. Photos of the road, the vehicle and any injuries help with a claim. Drivers should keep away from the deer, which may only be stunned, and check for fluid leaks, loose parts, damaged tires or a hood that will not latch before driving on.
Drivers with questions or complaints about a policy can reach the department at 833-ASK-DIFS on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Section: More Novi MI crime news
Filed under: Novi MI Traffic News
