Unexpected policy cancellation—especially when a payment deadline sneaks up—can leave you in a bind and scrambling. In Michigan, many insurers offer an opportunity to revive your policy, but timing and requirements vary. Acting quickly helps you avoid coverage gaps, higher costs, and stress, as your agent at Great Lakes State Agency serving Okemos, MI, can confirm.

Reviving Your Policy

Most Michigan auto insurers provide a 10- to 15-day grace period after a missed premium due date. During this timeframe, you will pay the overdue balance and any late fees, and your coverage will resume as if nothing had happened. No new application is required. No lengthy underwriting. Just prompt payment.

Steps to Reinstate Your Policy

Collect your payment details—online receipts or mailed notices work fine—and contact your agent. Ask if your policy is still eligible for reinstatement under the grace period. Once you pay, confirm the effective date of coverage and request written proof. This record protects you in case of any future disputes or roadside incidents.

When the Grace Period Ends

If the grace period expires without payment, you’ll likely need to submit a new application. Insurers may require updated vehicle information, driving history, and possibly a deposit. Expect higher premiums and policy fees—after all, a lapse signals increased risk. You might also receive liability-only coverage until full underwriting clears.

The Importance of Continuous Coverage

A cancellation and late reinstatement can impact your insurance score, driving record, and future quotes—multiple lapses raise red flags and may result in surcharges or nonrenewal. Continuous coverage keeps rates steady and maintains your status with Michigan’s no-fault system.

Key takeaways—pay within the grace period to restore your original policy seamlessly; miss that window and you face new applications, higher premiums, and coverage gaps; continuous coverage is the surest path to affordable rates. Ready to get back on the road? Contact the Great Lakes State Agency serving Okemos, MI, today for fast, friendly reinstatement help.

Being a great host in your home means offering all the amenities that your houseguests need to feel comfortable. Many welcoming homeowners go the extra mile to make guests feel welcome, providing house slippers, a basket of goodies, chocolates, and similar treats. One of the most common tokens of generosity is allowing houseguests to use one of the family’s extra vehicles to get around town during their stay. However, your insurance representative at Great Lakes State Agency serving Okemos, MI, wants you to be aware of some important information before you hand over the keys.

When Your Insurance Covers a Houseguest

Most auto insurance policies include permissive use coverage, which means that if you permit someone to drive your car, they’re typically covered under your policy. This usually applies to short-term use, such as a visiting friend or family member borrowing your car for errands.

When Your Insurance May Not Apply

Your insurance may not cover a houseguest driving your vehicle. If the guest is a frequent driver during their visit, your insurer might require them to be listed on your policy. Coverage could be denied if your guest has a poor driving record or is an excluded driver on your policy.

How Claims Are Handled

In the event of an accident, your insurance may cover the damages first before the guest’s insurance applies. However, the driver’s insurance may provide secondary coverage if the damages exceed your limits.

Suppose you expect someone to drive your vehicle regularly. In that case, it’s best to check with your insurance representative at Great Lakes State Agency serving Okemos, MI, to ensure they’re covered before handing over the keys. Contact us to learn more.

When looking for a standard auto insurance policy at Great Lakes State Agency in Okemos, MI, we understand that you want the most coverage for your money. You want your family protected if an unfortunate incident occurs on the roadways. You want protection both physically and financially. Furthermore, we understand that our vehicles are the lifeline that connects us with the rest of the world, so when they are in any hazard or peril on the highways, we want to ensure that we can have the problem rectified without holding up the function and flow of our everyday lives.

Rental and Towing

When you have been in a car accident or suffer a breakdown on the road, it can throw a wrench in your plans. It delays and hinders your ability to get to work, run errands for the family, and take you from point A to point B.

Rental car coverage is designed to allow you to have a rental car supplied to you for a set time after your vehicle has been in a peril covered by your insurance policy. The coverage pays for a rental car while your car is in the repair shop being repaired.

Towing coverage comes in handy when you have been in an accident and need your car towed to a body shop or when it breaks down on the road and needs to be taken to a mechanic.

Though these coverages seem like common sense coverages, they don’t meet the standard on most insurance policies. Instead, they are usually available for clients who purchase comprehensive and collision (what most consider full coverage) for an extra fee. However, there may be some exceptions.

Reach out to us today.

Call us today at Great Lakes State Agency to discuss your options and see if we can’t find rental and towing coverages that keep your life moving forward, even when there are a few hiccups along the way. We are conveniently located in Okemos, MI, so contact us at (517) 394-4800.