LANSING, Mich. — With deer on the move and hunting season open, Michigan’s insurance regulator wants drivers to find out now, not after a crash, whether their auto policy will pay to fix a car that hits a deer.
The state Department of Insurance and Financial Services, known as DIFS, says many drivers assume they are covered when they are not. Damage from hitting an animal falls under comprehensive coverage, which is optional and is not included in a basic policy unless the driver adds it. Director Anita Fox said repair bills from these crashes often run into the thousands of dollars.
Comprehensive also pays for theft and for damage from fire, flooding, vandalism or falling objects. The department suggests reading policy documents or calling an agent to talk through coverage and cost before fall driving season peaks.
The numbers explain the timing. State Police counted more than 58,000 vehicle-deer crashes in Michigan in 2025, and about four in five happened on two-lane roads. Because deer move most around sunrise and sunset, crashes clustering from 8 to 9 a.m. and from 6 to 9 p.m. The state herd numbers close to 2 million animals, and October through December is one of the two busiest stretches of the year.
Safety officials say the worst outcomes usually come from swerving. Drivers who try to dodge a deer can lose control, roll over or hit a tree or another car, so the advice is to brake hard, hold the wheel with both hands and stay in the lane. If one deer crosses, others often follow.
After a crash, regulators advise pulling over with flashers on if possible, reporting it to police and the insurer, photographing the scene and damage, staying away from the animal and checking for leaks, loose parts or broken lights before driving on. Drivers with insurance complaints can reach the department at 833-ASK-DIFS between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Section: More Lansing MI crime news
Filed under: Lansing MI Public Safety News
