Michigan Auto Law warns college parents and snowbirds about out-of-state insurance rules

By AI, Created 11:39 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Michigan Auto Law is warning Michigan drivers who send children to college out of state or spend winters in another state to check non-resident insurance and registration rules before they drive. The firm says failing to comply can lead to tickets, fines, jail time and financial exposure after a crash.

Why it matters: - Michigan drivers who spend extended time outside the state can face insurance and registration problems that create legal and financial risk. - A crash in another state can trigger costs for medical bills, lost wages and vehicle damage if coverage does not match local requirements. - College parents and snowbirds are the two groups Michigan Auto Law says are most likely to get caught off guard.

What happened: - Michigan Auto Law issued guidance on April 29, 2026, for Michigan residents driving out of state. - Steven Gursten, attorney and owner of Michigan Auto Law, said drivers should understand non-resident insurance rules in the states where they will be driving. - Gursten said Michigan residents who drive Michigan-registered vehicles in another state for an extended period may be required to insure and register those vehicles there. - The firm pointed to a Detroit TV report about parents of Michigan students attending out-of-state colleges learning they may need new auto insurance policies in those states. - The same issue can affect Michigan residents who winter in warmer states as “snowbirds.”

The details: - Many states require non-residents who drive there for more than 30 days to keep insurance that complies with local law and to register their vehicles. - Michigan law requires a non-resident who drives a vehicle in the state for more than 30 total days in a calendar year to maintain a valid Michigan No-Fault auto insurance policy on the vehicle. (MCL 500.3102(1)) - Michigan law also requires a vehicle to be registered in Michigan if a non-resident drives it in the state for more than 90 days. (MCL 257.243(4)) - Gursten said the consequences of ignoring those rules can be both legally and financially devastating. - Penalties can include tickets. - Penalties can include fines of $500 or more. - Penalties can include a misdemeanor charge punishable by up to one year in jail. - A driver may face personal financial liability after a crash, even if the driver was not at fault, if other people have medical expenses, lost wages or other damages. - A driver may lose the right to sue for pain and suffering, recover No-Fault benefits or seek compensation for vehicle damage. - A Michigan No-Fault policy’s “broadening” clause may provide some coverage for an out-of-state crash. - Those provisions may not satisfy another state’s non-resident insurance rules. - Policy language may refer to those provisions as “Out of State Coverage” or “Financial Responsibility and Compulsory Insurance Laws.”

Between the lines: - The warning reflects a common gap between where a driver lives and where that driver is legally insured. - Students away at school may still be treated as part of a Michigan household for some coverage purposes, but that does not automatically solve another state’s registration or insurance rules. - The key risk is assuming a Michigan policy follows the driver unchanged across state lines.

What’s next: - Michigan Auto Law is urging drivers to check the insurance rules for non-residents in the state where a student will attend college or where a driver will spend the winter. - Drivers should also confirm the vehicle registration rules in that state. - Drivers should review how a Michigan policy applies to out-of-state crashes, including liability coverage. - Drivers should determine whether a college student still qualifies as a “resident relative” for No-Fault benefits while attending school out of state. If so, the student may still be eligible for medical expenses and lost wages after an out-of-state crash. (MCL 500.3111) - More information about Michigan Auto Law is available on the firm’s website.