New Poll Finds That Only One in Four Michigan Drivers Completely Trusts Auto Insurance Companies to Pay for Care Covered by Premiums

LANSING, Mich.—(April 23, 2025)—A newly released statewide poll has found that only one in four Michigan drivers completely trusts their auto insurance companies to cover their care in full and on time should they get into a serious accident—even though they pay for that care through their premiums. 

"These alarming poll results confirm what we've been hearing directly from Michigan drivers: that there's a profound crisis of confidence in our auto insurance system,” said Tim Hoste, CPAN president. “When only one in four Michigan motorists believe their insurance company will actually deliver on its promises following an accident, we're witnessing the complete erosion of the social contract between insurers and the public. This poll underscores the urgent need for reforms that restore trust and ensure Michigan drivers receive the care they're legally entitled to after paying premiums for years.” 

Conducted in March by Marketing Resource Group, the poll of 602 Michigan likely voters found that 25.1 percent of responders have no trust in their auto insurance company to pay for needed care. The poll additionally found that 13.5 percent of respondents do not completely trust their insurance company to pay their claim and another 9.5 percent said they didn’t know if they could trust their insurer.

Only 26.1 percent of respondents said they completely trusted their insurer to pay in full and on time. 

Doug Heller, longtime advisor to CPAN and the Director of Insurance at the Consumer Federation of America, of which CPAN is a member, said the poll shows that lawmakers could do more to better protect consumers.

“If only one in four residents trusted the airlines to fly safely, lawmakers would swiftly take action,” Heller said. “If only one in four people trusted that our milk supply was safe, there would be an overhaul of our food safety system. The fact that only one in four Michigan drivers trust that our insurance companies will fulfill their promise to take care of us after a crash demands immediate attention and reform.” 

The poll, which was conducted March 24-28, is yet another reflection of the upheaval caused by Michigan’s 2019 no-fault reform package, which cut reimbursement for catastrophic care by nearly 50 percent. Because of the cut, long-term care providers are losing millions of dollars every year and can no longer afford to take new patients. A study by the nonprofit public health institute MPHI found that as of April 2022, the reimbursement cut had led to more than 7,000 patient discharges, the loss of more than 4,000 health care jobs, and the closure of 24 businesses. And most tragically, at least 15 people have died.