Insurance education • Michigan independent agency
Broad vs. Standard Collision Insurance in Michigan
Broad vs. standard collision insurance changes when your collision deductible applies after a Michigan auto accident. The difference can matter most when you are 50% or less at fault.
Broad form
Standard collision
Limited collision
Broad vs. standard collision: the short answer
Both broad-form and standard collision can pay for covered damage to your vehicle whether you caused the accident or not. The main difference is the deductible. With standard collision, the deductible applies on a covered collision claim regardless of fault. With broad-form collision, the deductible is generally waived when you are 50% or less at fault, but it applies when you are more than 50% at fault.
Why Broad vs. Standard Collision Insurance Matters
Michigan auto insurance works differently from what many drivers expect. The required no-fault coverages do not generally pay to repair your own moving vehicle after a crash. If you want your policy to pay for collision damage to your car, you usually need optional collision coverage.
That is where the type of collision coverage matters. Two drivers can both carry a $1,000 collision deductible and have very different out-of-pocket costs after the same not-at-fault crash. The driver with standard collision generally owes the deductible. The driver with broad-form collision may have the deductible waived when they are 50% or less at fault.
This becomes especially important when repair costs are high. Modern vehicles can have expensive sensors, cameras, headlights, body panels, and calibration requirements. A deductible that seemed minor when the policy was purchased can become frustrating when you are paying it after an accident you did not cause.
At Customers First Insurance Group, we do not look at collision coverage in isolation. We consider the vehicle value, whether it is financed or leased, the deductible you can comfortably absorb, the premium difference between collision options, and how the choice fits with comprehensive coverage, rental reimbursement, uninsured motorist coverage, and the rest of the Michigan auto policy.
The cheapest collision option is not automatically the best value
A lower premium can make sense if you understand the tradeoff. What matters is knowing exactly when your deductible applies and whether you are comfortable paying it after a loss.
Michigan’s Three Types of Collision Coverage
Broad-form collision
Broad-form collision pays for covered collision damage regardless of fault. If you are more than 50% at fault, you pay the deductible you selected. If you are 50% or less at fault, the deductible is generally waived.
Standard collision
Standard collision also pays for covered collision damage regardless of fault, but the selected deductible applies whether you were at fault or not.
Limited collision
Limited collision generally pays only when you are 50% or less at fault. Depending on the version selected, a deductible may apply. If you are more than 50% at fault, limited collision does not pay for your vehicle damage.
Michigan DIFS maintains a consumer guide to the three types of collision coverage.
Broad vs. Standard Collision Example
Assume your vehicle has $6,000 in covered collision damage and your policy has a $1,000 collision deductible.
If you are 50% or less at fault: broad-form collision would generally pay the covered repair amount without applying the $1,000 deductible. Standard collision would generally pay the covered repair amount less the $1,000 deductible.
If you are more than 50% at fault: both broad-form and standard collision would generally apply the $1,000 deductible.
This example is simplified. Fault determinations, total-loss valuation, policy language, deductibles, exclusions, and claim facts still control the actual settlement.
How Michigan Mini-Tort Fits Into the Collision Discussion
Michigan’s mini-tort law can allow a driver who is not more than 50% at fault to recover certain uninsured vehicle-damage amounts from an at-fault driver, subject to the current statutory limit and the facts of the accident. For accidents after July 1, 2020, the maximum increased to $3,000.
Mini-tort is not a substitute for collision coverage. It can involve fault, collection, and legal requirements, and it does not guarantee that all of your damage will be recovered.
For a deeper explanation, read our Michigan mini-tort guide.
Should You Choose Broad or Standard Collision?
Broad-form collision is often attractive for drivers who do not want to pay their deductible after a crash in which they are 50% or less at fault. Standard collision can cost less, but you retain the deductible even when the other driver caused the accident.
Before choosing, compare:
- The premium difference between broad and standard collision.
- Your collision deductible.
- The vehicle’s current value and repair costs.
- Whether the vehicle is financed or leased.
- How much out-of-pocket cost you could comfortably handle after a claim.
- Whether you have rental reimbursement and how long repairs could take.
For an older low-value vehicle, you may also want to compare the cost of collision coverage against the amount the insurer could realistically pay after a total loss.
Broad vs. Standard Collision Insurance FAQs
Does broad collision mean I never pay a deductible?
No. With broad-form collision, the deductible generally applies when you are more than 50% at fault. It is generally waived when you are 50% or less at fault.
Does standard collision pay if I caused the accident?
Yes, for a covered collision loss. Your selected deductible applies regardless of whether you were at fault.
Is broad collision required in Michigan?
No. Collision coverage itself is optional under Michigan law, although a lender or leasing company may require collision and comprehensive coverage on a financed or leased vehicle.
What happens if I have no collision coverage?
Except for specific situations such as damage to a properly parked vehicle, your required Michigan no-fault policy generally does not pay to repair your own car after a crash. Without collision coverage, you may be responsible for your own repair costs, subject to any recovery available under Michigan law.
Is hitting a deer a collision claim?
Animal strikes are generally handled under comprehensive coverage rather than collision coverage.
Can I choose a different collision deductible?
Insurers typically offer multiple deductible options. A higher deductible can reduce premium, but it increases the amount you may have to pay after a covered loss.
Choose the Deductible You Understand
Customers First Insurance Group helps Michigan drivers compare broad, standard, and limited collision alongside the rest of the auto policy—not just the premium.
Customers First Insurance Group. This article provides general educational information, not legal advice or a coverage determination. Michigan law, policy forms, fault determinations, deductibles, eligibility, and claim outcomes vary by facts and policy. Review current DIFS guidance and your policy with a licensed insurance professional.