Insurance for Northern Michigan, from people who live here.
Lind & Birch is a family-owned independent insurance agency in Traverse City. Since 1987 we’ve compared home, auto and small-business coverage from several carriers for families and businesses across Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties. A licensed agent calls you back the same business day.
Family-owned since1987
Six local people in one Traverse City office. No call center.
Home, cottage, auto and business insurance, compared across 14 carriers.
Get a quote or call (231) 555-0148- Licensed in Michigan
- 14 carriers compared
- English & Spanish
- Same-day call-back
Why an independent agency
We work for you, not for one insurance company.
A captive agent can only offer one company’s prices. We’re independent, so when your renewal goes up, we shop it, and when you have a claim, you call someone who knows your name. Our help is free: the carrier pays us, and your premium is the same.
Opened by Margaret Lind above a hardware store.
Regional and national carriers we can quote for you.
People in one Traverse City office. No call center.
A licensed agent calls you back on any business day.
What we insure
We start with what you own and how you live up here, then shop the carriers. No one-size package, no pressure.
- Auto insuranceMichigan no-fault choices explained in plain English, then priced across carriers.
- Home & cottage insuranceYear-round homes and lake cottages that sit empty all winter. Ice dams, frozen pipes, backup.
- Business insuranceRestaurants, wineries, shops, marinas and trades. BOP, workers’ comp, liquor liability.
- Boat & umbrella insuranceBoats, docks and lifts, umbrella liability, RVs and snowmobiles, often with the same carrier.
Northern Michigan, specifically
Up here, insurance has to handle January.
We’ve seen the claims that come with lake-effect winters, empty cottages and tourist season, and we set up your coverage with them in mind.
Lake-effect winters
Ice dams, roof load and frozen pipes. We check your water-damage and backup coverage before the first storm, not after.
Cottages that sit empty
Many policies limit coverage when a home is vacant. We match the policy to how you really use the place.
Deer on every back road
Hitting a deer is usually a comprehensive claim, not collision. We make sure that deductible makes sense.
A tourist-season economy
Seasonal staff, liquor liability, short-term rentals and agritourism, covered the way this region earns.
- Traverse City
- Suttons Bay →
- Elk Rapids
- Interlochen
- Kingsley
- Leland
- Williamsburg
When you call, one of us picks up.
Six people, one office. Every licensed agent’s Michigan license number is listed, so you can verify it with the state.
Erik Lind
Principal Agent & Owner
Dana Birch
Partner · Commercial Lines
Luis Ortega
Personal Lines Agent
Hannah Kowalczyk
Account Manager
14 carriers, one call.
On a live site, carrier names appear here as text first. A logo is added only after that carrier approves it in writing.
- Carrier 01
- Carrier 02
- Carrier 03
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- Carrier 05
- Carrier 06
- Carrier 07
- Carrier 08
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- Carrier 11
- Carrier 12
- Carrier 13
- Carrier 14
What our neighbors say, straight from Google.
Real reviews appear here, pulled from the agency’s Google Business Profile and linked to the source, unedited. How we handle reviews
Real Google review appears here
Questions people ask us first
Short answers. If yours isn’t here, call us. That’s literally the job.
What is an independent insurance agent, and why use one in Traverse City?
An independent agent is licensed to sell policies from several insurance companies, not just one. That means we can compare home, auto and business coverage side by side and move you to a different carrier at renewal if your price jumps, without you starting over with a stranger.
Does it cost more to buy insurance through an agent?
No. Our help is free to you. We’re paid a commission by the insurance company you choose, which is already built into the policy price, so you’d pay the same premium buying direct from that same carrier.
Which towns does Lind & Birch serve?
Our office is in Traverse City, and we insure families and businesses across Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties, including Suttons Bay, Elk Rapids, Interlochen, Kingsley, Leland and Williamsburg. We’re licensed in Michigan and can meet by phone, video or in person.
How fast can I get a quote?
Most personal quotes take one phone call or a three-minute form. A licensed agent calls you back the same business day with options from the carriers that fit you. Business quotes can take a few days because underwriters review them.
Can you insure my home, cars, cottage and boat together?
Yes. Bundling is often where people save the most, and having one agent for everything means fewer gaps. We’ll quote it bundled and unbundled so you can see the real difference.