Hit a Deer in Michigan? Your Car Insurance Might Not Cover It

There's a sound you never forget.

For me, it's the sound of hitting a deer while doing 72 miles an hour on the interstate.

deer standing in the middle of the road, the road is covered in a light dusting of snow and lined on either side by pine trees

Wasn't pretty. Almost missed it, too.

I managed to limp home, but my minivan had thousands of dollars in damage. And believe me, that's one driving experience I'd be perfectly happy never repeating.

Michigan Deer Crashes Are a Serious Fall Danger

The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services has a warning for drivers as deer activity picks up this fall.

More than 58,000 deer vs. car collisions happened in Michigan in 2025, according to state police. About 80% occurred on two-lane roads.

READ MORE: 2025 Michigan Car-Deer Accidents - A County-by-County Breakdown

Apparently, the deer I met didn't get that memo about staying off the interstate.

When Are Michigan Drivers Most Likely to Hit a Deer?

October through December is especially risky, with deer on the move and daylight getting shorter.

Here's something worth checking before you hear that awful thud.

Does Michigan Car Insurance Cover Hitting a Deer?

Damage from hitting a deer is generally covered by comprehensive insurance, not ordinary collision coverage.

And in Michigan, comprehensive is optional.

That means if you skipped it, you could be stuck paying for repairs yourself. Those repairs can easily run into the thousands.

What Should You Do If a Deer Runs Into the Road?

State officials recommend watching for deer around dusk and dawn, braking firmly instead of swerving, and checking carefully for damage before driving away from a crash.

READ MORE: How to Avoid Hitting a Deer on Michigan Roads This Fall

I'd suggest checking your insurance policy now, rather than finding out what it covers while standing beside a mangled front end.

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Trust me, at 72 miles an hour, Bambi can turn a perfectly good car into a very expensive lawn ornament.