Each year the Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Services (OFIS) conducts a survey of auto insurance companies to find out what they charge for different policies in different areas around the state. This rate survey is designed to show how much rates can vary from company to company and to help you find the coverage you want at the best possible rate. Companies represented in the guide are only those that are subject to Michigan's Essential Insurance Act, which was passed by the legislature in 1979. This Act is designed to make auto insurance available to all eligible Michigan citizens. It also allows companies to set their own rates without the prior approval of the Commissioner of Financial and Insurance Services. This means that a company can change its rates quickly to respond to the demands of the marketplace. Because there are varying factors that affect what you pay for your insurance, it is not possible to show a rate for every situation. We have instead chosen four examples to represent various insurance purchasers and asked insurance companies to provide a rate for each example in the territories listed as of March 1, 2007.