Michigan auto insurance refund deadline has passed: What to do if you didn't get yours

The deadline for auto insurers to issue $400 per vehicle refunds passed last week, and if you haven't received yours, state officials said, you should ask your insurance company why.

It was unclear how many people were still waiting for refunds.

Auto insurance refunds have been a key talking point for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in recent months — in events and following a campaign promoting them — as she seeks a second four-year term in November.

On the deadline, May 9, Whitmer put out a news release with the reminder that "that today is the deadline" and instructions on what to do "if you are eligible for a refund but have not yet received it."

Step 1: Are you qualified?

To qualify, residents must have had a vehicle insured in Michigan last Oct. 31. The policy must meet the minimum insurance requirements for operating a vehicle on Michigan roads.

If you are eligible to receive a refund, a check should have been sent to you or direct deposited in your account by your insurance company — and not as a bill credit. You also should not have had to do anything to receive it.

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The refund is $400 per eligible car, motorcycle or RV and $80 per historical vehicle.

If you think you might be eligible but are unsure — or if you have an unusual situation — the state Department of Insurance and Financial Services has and online list of questions and answers for you to check.

Step 2: Call your insurer

If you changed insurance companies, contact the one that insured your vehicle on Oct. 31.

Ask whether your refund has been issued and verify your information with your company. Your check may have gone to the wrong address or you may have conflicting eligibility information.

But if you cannot reach a resolution with the insurance company, or if you were offered a refund in a form other than a paper check or direct deposit, the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services Director Anita Fox wants you to report it to the state.

Step 3: Contact the state

The Department of Insurance and Financial Services — DIFS, for short — will take your calls at 833-ASK-DIFS or 275-3437 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and help you with your claim.

You can also email DIFS at autoinsurance@michigan.gov.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan auto insurance refund: What to do if yours missed deadline