If you hit a deer in Michigan, the damage to your car is a comprehensive claim, not a collision claim: state law keeps comprehensive-type losses out of "collision damage," and DIFS lists animal strikes under comprehensive. Collision comes in only if you strike something else, and then your limited, standard or broad-form choice decides the payout. Michigan no-fault PIP covers injuries, but nothing in no-fault fixes your own car, so liability-only drivers pay for their own repairs.
It's a late-October morning on a two-lane township road, still dark, and a doe steps out of the fencerow. You brake, you hit her, and the grille folds. Once everyone is safe, the question most drivers ask is the one this guide answers: when you hit a deer in Michigan, does comprehensive or collision pay, and do you even carry the right one?
The answer turns on whether your car touched the deer, which collision form you picked, and whether you carry coverage for your own vehicle at all. Michigan no-fault adds a wrinkle: it pays for injuries but leaves the car to you.
Does Michigan Car Insurance Cover Deer Accidents?
Yes, if you carry comprehensive: Michigan treats a car-versus-deer strike as a comprehensive loss, and the state's insurance regulator calls that coverage optional, so plenty of drivers on the road this fall don't have it.
The Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) put it plainly in an October 15, 2026 release timed to hunting season. Director Anita Fox described coverage for a collision "with things other than another vehicle, such as a deer" as an optional coverage that won't be part of your standard policy unless you select it. Source: DIFS, Oct. 15, 2026.
Every Michigan policy must include personal injury protection, property protection insurance and residual liability, and none of them repairs the car you were driving. Comprehensive and collision do, and both are add-ons you choose.
Six things decide who pays after a deer crash:
Striking the animal points the claim to comprehensive.
A tree, guardrail, ditch or car brings collision into play.
Over 50% versus 50% or less changes collision payouts.
Limited, standard or broad form, chosen when you bought.
Comprehensive and collision each carry their own.
PIP handles injuries without regard to fault.
Why Is Hitting a Deer a Comprehensive Claim and Not Collision?
Because Michigan's insurance code defines collision damage to exclude losses that comprehensive normally covers, and the state regulator and the major carriers all file animal strikes on the comprehensive side.
The statutory anchor is MCL 500.3037(8)(a), which says "collision damage" "does not include losses customarily insured under comprehensive coverages." Source: MCL 500.3037. DIFS's Quick Facts sheet (FIS-PUB 0202A) then names what customarily sits under comprehensive: it "pays for your car if it is stolen or for repairs if it is hit by a falling object, collides with an animal, or is damaged in a fire, flood or by vandals." Source: DIFS Quick Facts.
Carriers say the same thing in their consumer material. Farmers' newsroom wrote in September 2026 that damage from hitting a deer or another animal is typically covered by comprehensive rather than collision, and Progressive's deer page puts vehicle damage from hitting a deer under comprehensive too. Your own policy wording still controls. Sources: Farmers, Sept. 8, 2026, Progressive.
Comprehensive is built for losses you can't steer around: hail, theft, a falling limb, an animal darting into your lane. Collision is for striking another vehicle or an object, or overturning. A deer lands on the comprehensive side, even though it felt exactly like a crash.
Does Michigan No-Fault Cover Hitting a Deer?
Partly: no-fault personal injury protection pays for injuries from a deer crash regardless of fault, but no-fault's property pieces, PPI and mini-tort, will not repair your own car.
PIP is the part that responds. Under MCL 500.3105, your insurer owes benefits for accidental bodily injury arising out of the use of a motor vehicle "without regard to fault," so a deer strike with no other car involved still qualifies. MCL 500.3107 lists what PIP pays: allowable medical expenses, most of your lost income for up to three years, and replacement services up to $20 a day. Sources: MCL 500.3105, MCL 500.3107.
Your medical limit is the PIP level chosen under MCL 500.3107c, or the opt-out under MCL 500.3107d or the $250,000-with-exclusions option under MCL 500.3109a. Michigan Auto Law's deer guide (updated October 15, 2026) adds that injured drivers can't recover pain-and-suffering damages, because there's no at-fault driver to pursue. Source: Michigan Auto Law.
PPI pays other people, not you. Property protection insurance covers up to $1 million of damage your car does to someone else's property, such as a fence, a mailbox or a building, under MCL 500.3121. But MCL 500.3123(1)(a) excludes vehicles and their contents, apart from a properly parked car, so PPI never pays to fix the vehicle you were driving.
Mini-tort has nobody to collect from. MCL 500.3135(3)(e) lets you recover up to $3,000 of vehicle damage your insurance doesn't cover, but subsection (4)(a) bars recovery by anyone more than 50% at fault, and the claim runs against another driver. A deer is not a driver, so mini-tort doesn't apply to a lone deer strike; that conclusion is our reading of the statute.
What about motorcyclists?
Riders are the hard case. The no-fault act says a motorcycle is not a "motor vehicle" (MCL 500.3101), and the motorcycle PIP priority rules in MCL 500.3114(5) cover an accident "that shows evidence of the involvement of a motor vehicle." Read together, a rider who hits a deer with no car or truck involved generally may not qualify for ordinary PIP.
That's our reading of the text, not settled law, so ask us about your situation. The stakes are real: 7 of the 14 people killed in Michigan deer crashes in 2024 were motorcycle riders, per Michigan Traffic Crash Facts. For PIP levels, the MCCA fee and who qualifies for each option, see our Michigan no-fault explainer.
How Do Michigan's Limited, Standard and Broad-Form Collision Options Treat a Deer Crash?
A clean deer strike never reaches your collision option; the choice matters only when the crash involves something besides the deer, and then your share of fault decides what limited, standard or broad form pays.
Michigan offers three collision forms, set out in MCL 500.3037. A 2019 DIFS chart (FIS-PUB 0202, written for pre-July 2020 policies but describing the same three forms the statute still requires) sorts collisions into two buckets: you were more than 50% at fault, which DIFS illustrates with "you hit a tree, a person, another vehicle," or 50% or less, such as being rear-ended or side-swiped. Source: DIFS FIS-PUB 0202.
| Collision form | You're more than 50% at fault | You're 50% or less at fault | Deer-season risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Limited | Insurer pays nothing; repairs are yours | Insurer pays, minus any deductible you chose | High |
| Standard | Insurer pays, minus your deductible | Insurer pays, minus your deductible | Moderate |
| Broad form | Insurer pays, minus your deductible | Insurer pays; no deductible | Lower |
| Direct deer strike | Paid under comprehensive, minus the comprehensive deductible, whichever collision form you carry | Comprehensive | |
| Liability only | No coverage for your own car in any of these cases | Highest | |
Note the highlighted row. Because section 3037(8)(a) carves comprehensive losses out of collision damage, a straight-on deer strike pays the same under all three forms. They diverge only when the car hits something other than the animal.
Michigan State Police advice is blunt: "Do not swerve!" (MSP). Miss the deer but hit a tree, and the loss is no longer comprehensive; DIFS's own example of being more than 50% at fault is hitting a tree, and limited collision pays nothing there. Our breakdown of how swerving changes a deer claim covers every version, including swerving into another car.
If the crash involves both the deer and something else, don't guess. The adjuster decides how the claim is classified based on what happened, so give your insurer a complete, accurate account.
What Happens If You Only Carry Liability When You Hit a Deer?
You pay for your own car: a liability-only Michigan policy still includes PIP, PPI and bodily injury liability, and none of those three repairs or replaces the vehicle you were driving.
"Liability-only" in Michigan really means the required no-fault package. That's PIP for injuries, PPI up to $1 million for other people's property, and residual bodily injury liability, which defaults to 250/500 unless you sign a form choosing as low as 50/100 under MCL 500.3009(5). None has a line item for your hood, radiator or headlights.
Our rundown of what Michigan requires you to carry lists each piece. Progressive puts it bluntly: if you only carry liability, you likely won't be covered for hitting a deer. Source: Progressive.
Ask one question: could you repair or replace this car from savings next week? If not, keep coverage for your own vehicle through deer season. If it's older and paid off, have us price it both ways first.
The injury side still works: PIP is part of every Michigan policy, so a liability-only driver hurt by a deer keeps the medical coverage chosen at purchase.
Which Deductible Applies After a Deer Hit, and How Should You Set It?
A direct deer strike uses your comprehensive deductible, a crash into something else uses your collision deductible, and the two are separate amounts you pick when you buy or renew the policy.
Comprehensive and collision each carry their own deductible, and they don't have to match. Progressive describes a typical comprehensive deductible range of $100 to $2,000. DIFS's Quick Facts put the trade-off simply: the larger the deductible, the lower the cost of your collision insurance. The same logic usually holds for comprehensive, though pricing varies by carrier. Sources: Progressive, DIFS Quick Facts.
One Michigan-specific rule is worth knowing. Under MCL 500.2118(2)(h), an insurer may look at your comprehensive claim history to require a comprehensive deductible of no more than $150, and may refuse to insure a driver who won't accept it. For the roadside steps, the police report and whether a deer claim can change your premium, use our step-by-step checklist for after you hit a deer.
Repair costs vary widely by vehicle, and no current Michigan average claim cost is published. DIFS noted in 2022 that repairs "can be $5,000 or even more," a warning about the high end, not a typical bill. Source: DIFS, Nov. 15, 2022.
Pick a comprehensive deductible you could pay in Michigan's worst deer month without a credit card.
What Changed for Michigan Deer Coverage This Season?
As of October 2026, the basic rules haven't flipped, but the state's guidance, the claims data and the collision statute's text are all newer than they were last fall.
- Fresh DIFS guidance. The October 15, 2026 release restates that deer coverage is optional. Source: DIFS.
- An amended collision statute. MCL 500.3037, the collision-forms statute, was amended by 2024 PA 224, effective October 17, 2025.
- New State Farm odds. State Farm's September 15, 2026 report (claims July 2025 to June 2026) ranks Michigan 5th, at 1 in 68; its 2025 report had Michigan 4th, at 1 in 61. Industry data; we aren't appointed with State Farm. Sources: State Farm 2026, State Farm 2025.
- A 2025 crash total. Michigan logged 58,271 deer crashes and 13 deaths in 2025, per WGRD citing Crash Facts (Aug. 11, 2026). Our detailed breakdowns use 2024 data.
- The clock change. Daylight saving time ends Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 2 a.m., per timeanddate.com.
How Should You Pick Deer Coverage Before the Peak Weeks?
Settle comprehensive, your collision form and both deductibles before November, because Michigan's deer crashes cluster in late fall and coverage added after a crash won't help with that crash.
The 2024 Crash Facts deer report counted 10,017 deer crashes in November and 9,428 in October, about a third of the year's 58,324 in two months, and the 6–9 a.m. and 6–9 p.m. windows held nearly half. Source: Michigan Traffic Crash Facts, 2024. Our deer-season timing guide for Calhoun County drivers breaks that down by time block and township.
Read your declarations page
Find the comprehensive and collision lines, each deductible, and the collision form.
Decide on comprehensive car by car
Keep it on any vehicle you couldn't replace from savings.
Choose a collision form you understand
Limited pays nothing when you're more than 50% at fault; standard and broad form pay minus the deductible in that case.
Size both deductibles for late fall
Set amounts you could cover in November without borrowing.
Confirm the injury side
Check your PIP medical level; riders, check motorcycle medical coverage.
Comparing carriers? Have each quote identical deductibles and the same collision form. Our Michigan auto coverage page shows what we write, or you can ask for a deer-season coverage check.
Terry Smith Agency is independent, with one office, in Battle Creek. We hold direct appointments with Farmers, Progressive, Bristol West (auto only) and Foremost, and reach other carriers through the Kraft Lake brokerage. Coverage terms differ by carrier and policy, and no article can promise how a claim will be paid.
What Else Do Drivers Ask About Deer Coverage in Michigan?
These five questions come up when drivers review deer coverage with us.
Is a deer crash covered if I carry only Michigan's minimum required coverage?
Your injuries are; your car isn't. Michigan's required package is personal injury protection, property protection insurance and residual liability. PIP pays medical bills, most lost wages and replacement services for the people it covers, whatever caused the crash. PPI pays for damage to other people's property up to $1 million, and liability defends you if someone sues.
Not one of those three repairs or replaces the vehicle you were driving. That job belongs to comprehensive, which DIFS describes as optional coverage that has to be selected. With only the required coverages, expect the repair bill to be yours.
If I already have comprehensive for deer, do I still need collision?
They insure different events, so comprehensive on its own leaves a gap. Comprehensive handles the deer strike itself, plus theft, fire, flood, vandalism and falling objects. It does not respond when your car strikes another vehicle or a fixed object, or when it rolls over. Those are collision losses.
That distinction bites in deer season because not every deer crash is a clean hit. If the car leaves the road and meets a guardrail or a tree, collision is what responds, and your limited, standard or broad-form choice sets the payout.
Do my passengers get no-fault benefits if we hit a deer?
Generally yes, through PIP, although which policy pays them depends on each passenger's own circumstances. Michigan's priority rules begin in MCL 500.3114(1): a PIP policy covers the named insured, a spouse and resident relatives. So a passenger who has a Michigan auto policy, or lives with someone who does, usually claims under that household's policy first.
Passengers without that coverage fall under the statute's later priority rules, which we would walk through case by case. Benefit levels follow the PIP medical choice on whichever policy pays, so two people in the same car can have different medical limits.
Does Michigan PIP pay a motorcycle rider who hits a deer?
Generally not in the ordinary way, and this is one to talk through with us. The no-fault act says a motorcycle is not a motor vehicle (MCL 500.3101), and the motorcycle PIP priority rules in MCL 500.3114(5) are written for accidents showing evidence of the involvement of a motor vehicle. A rider who strikes a deer with no car or truck involved may not meet that test.
That is our reading of the statute text, not a settled court ruling. Riders made up 7 of the 14 people killed in Michigan deer crashes in 2024, so confirm your medical coverage before fall riding.
What comprehensive deductible makes sense for deer season in Michigan?
There's no single right number, but there is a useful test: choose a comprehensive deductible you could pay in November without borrowing, since November leads the year in Michigan deer crashes. Progressive puts typical comprehensive deductibles between about $100 and $2,000, and a higher deductible usually trims the premium. Comprehensive and collision deductibles are set separately.
Michigan adds one twist. Under MCL 500.2118(2)(h), an insurer may use your comprehensive claim history to require a comprehensive deductible of no more than $150, and may decline a driver who refuses it.
The Bottom Line on Deer Crashes, Comprehensive and Collision in Michigan
Hitting a deer is a comprehensive claim in Michigan, striking something else is a collision claim, and no-fault PIP covers injuries either way but never the car.
So the work happens before the crash: comprehensive on every car you couldn't easily replace, a collision form you understand, and deductibles you could pay in November. We review deer-season coverage for Michigan drivers from our Battle Creek office at (269) 404-4049, or you can start a quote right here.
Related Questions: What Else Should You Know About Deer Damage?
Four shorter answers on topics next door to the comprehensive-versus-collision question.
Does comprehensive cover hitting animals other than deer? In general, yes. DIFS lists collision with an animal among comprehensive losses without limiting it to deer, and Farmers describes damage from hitting "a deer or another animal" as typically comprehensive. Your policy's wording still governs a turkey or coyote claim.
How many deer crashes happen in Calhoun County? The county logged 1,382 deer-involved crashes in 2024, about 30% of all its reported crashes, ranking 10th of Michigan's 83 counties, per the Crash Facts Calhoun County profile. That count has climbed every year since 2020's 936. In rural Convis and Albion Townships, deer were involved in most reported crashes.
How much do deer crashes cost Michigan drivers overall? DIFS has said Michiganders pay an average of $130 million each year for deer damage, citing a 2019 AAA study. That's a statewide total, not a per-claim number, and no current Michigan average claim cost is published. Source: DIFS, Dec. 1, 2023.
Is a windshield cracked by a deer a comprehensive claim? Glass broken by the deer's impact is part of the comprehensive loss. Some carriers attach a separate glass deductible: Farmers, for example, lists a $100 glass deductible ($0 in some states) and $0 for chip repairs, and notes not every coverage is offered everywhere. Ask how your own policy treats glass. Source: Farmers.
Prepared by Terry Smith, a licensed Michigan insurance agent, at Terry Smith Agency, 153 Columbia Ave E, Battle Creek, MI 49015, our only office. As of October 2026, coverage rules come from the Michigan Insurance Code and the DIFS publications linked above, and crash counts come from the 2024 Michigan Traffic Crash Facts reports, the newest with full breakdowns.
Carrier statements are each company's own guidance; your policy and insurer decide any outcome. General information, not legal advice.
Last reviewed by Terry Smith on October 26, 2026.