Car Insurance for High-Risk Drivers in Wisconsin (2024)

Insurance companies use many characteristics to classify someone as a high-risk driver. Factors include a poor driving record, bad credit, age, and even the type of car you drive or the area you live in. If you’ve previously filed a claim or given your insurer any reason to believe you’re more likely to file a claim, it may consider you a high-risk driver.

High-risk drivers generally pay higher insurance premiums than other drivers. You may even have trouble getting an insurance policy in general.

Despite this, high-risk drivers must have insurance in Wisconsin. Shopping around for the best policy, comparing rates, and taking steps to reduce your risk level is the best way to secure affordable coverage.

Best Wisconsin auto insurance companies for high-risk drivers, by violation

While no technical definition of a high-risk driver exists, an insurance company may classify you as high risk if it believes it’s taking on extra risk by insuring you. High-risk drivers can include people with violations on their driving record, drivers with poor credit history, or drivers with limited experience.

High-risk drivers tend to pay more for auto insurance, but the amount they’ll pay can depend on many factors. In general, the more risk factors you have, the higher your insurance premiums will be. Drivers with the fewest risk factors — or none at all — pay the lowest premiums.

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Best car insurance for Wisconsin high-risk drivers with an at-fault accident

If you’re responsible for a car accident in Wisconsin, your insurance premiums will increase. Insurify data shows that an at-fault accident can increase rates by an average of 26%. 

Wisconsin drivers with at-fault accidents pay average insurance rates of $225 per month for full coverage and $98 for minimum coverage, according to Insurify data. The table below shows the cheapest insurance companies for someone with an at-fault accident in Wisconsin.

Best car insurance rates for high-risk drivers in Wisconsin with a DUI

Driving under the influence (DUI) is among the most serious driving offenses. A DUI conviction in Wisconsin usually results in revocation of your driver’s license.^[3] Once you can legally drive again, you’ll need an SR-22 certificate and will likely pay more for insurance. Additionally, because a DUI stays on your driving record longer than most violations, it may affect your insurance rates longer.

Drivers with a DUI pay average rates of $110 per month for liability insurance compared to drivers with a clean record, who pay $62 per month for coverage.

You can see the cheapest insurance companies for drivers with DUIs in Wisconsin in the table below.

Best auto insurance for Wisconsin high-risk drivers with speeding tickets

A speeding ticket is another driving violation that can increase your insurance premiums. As with other violations, your rate increase will depend on the severity of the incident and your driving record.

Wisconsin drivers with a speeding ticket have an average liability rate of $98 per month and an average full-coverage rate of $225. 

See the table below to learn about the cheapest insurance companies for high-risk drivers with speeding tickets in Wisconsin.

Cheapest Wisconsin car insurance companies for high-risk drivers with poor credit

Wisconsin allows insurance companies to use your credit history as a determining factor when setting insurance premiums. Insurers include credit history as a risk factor because they consider drivers with poor credit more likely to file an insurance claim.^[4] Drivers with good or excellent credit generally get cheaper insurance rates, while drivers with poor credit pay higher rates.

In Wisconsin, drivers with poor credit history pay an average of $124 per month compared to drivers with an excellent credit history, who pay $81 per month. 

The table below shows the cheapest car insurance companies for high-risk drivers with poor credit in Wisconsin.

Factors that determine high-risk status in Wisconsin

Insurance companies generally consider you a high-risk driver if you have any characteristics that could make you more likely to file a claim. And because of the increased chances of filing a claim, you’ll likely pay higher premiums.

Several key factors indicate a driver’s risk and may classify you as a high-risk driver. Those factors include:

• Traffic violations and tickets: Insurance companies view traffic violations or tickets as higher risk. Wisconsin uses a point system in which each violation adds a certain number of points to your driving record. The more points you have, the higher a risk insurers will consider you. Once you reach 12 points, you lose your driving privileges.^[2]

• Accidents and claims: Previous accidents or insurance claims can contribute to your status as a high-risk driver in Wisconsin. Causing an accident or filing a claim costs your insurance company money and indicates you’re more likely to file a claim again. Even though Wisconsin is a “fault” state — meaning the at-fault driver in an accident is responsible for the damages — you could still see your insurance premiums increase after an accident where you weren’t the responsible party.

• Credit and financial history: Insurers use your credit history as an indication of risk as a driver. The lower your credit, the higher your perceived risk. Because credit falls across a broad spectrum, the effect on your insurance premiums may vary.

• Age and driving experience: Age is another factor insurance companies consider when assessing a driver’s risk.^[5] Younger drivers are more likely to engage in risky driving habits and have fatal accidents. On the other hand, insurers consider older drivers with many years of experience as lower risk.

• Vehicle type and usage: It may surprise you to learn that the car you drive can make you a higher or lower-risk driver.^[5] Some vehicles may have fewer safety features, be easier to steal, or be more expensive to repair, which can increase your risk as a driver. Your vehicle usage can also affect your premiums since frequent drivers are statistically more likely to have accidents.

How to find affordable car insurance for high-risk drivers in Wisconsin

If you’re a high-risk driver, you can unfortunately expect to pay more for auto insurance, even if those risk factors are outside of your control. But you can do some things to find the most affordable car insurance policy:

• Shop for insurance quotes. The most important way to save money on your insurance rates is to shop around for quotes. Insurance premiums vary considerably from one insurance company to the next, even for the same driver. Get quotes from at least three companies to ensure you get the best rate. You can shop around with different insurance companies individually, use an online comparison site, or enlist the help of an independent insurance agent.

• Seek out discounts. Even if you’re a high-risk driver, you could still qualify for one or more discounts. Common discounts include driving a safe vehicle, being a good student, or even taking a defensive driving course. Most insurers display a list of their discounts on their website, but speak to an agent to check what you qualify for.

• Bundle your policies. Bundling policies is one of the most common insurance discounts. For example, you can save money by bundling your car insurance policy with your homeowners, renters, or life insurance.

• Choose the right policy. Build your insurance policy in a way that helps you get the lowest premiums. Consider your coverage types and amounts. While it’s important to have the state-minimum coverage, you can reduce your premiums by lowering certain coverage limits or getting rid of some coverage altogether, like choosing a liability plan over a full-coverage plan. Additionally, you can lower your premiums by increasing your deductible, but be aware that you’re on the hook financially for the deductible amount if you get into an accident.

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How to improve your driving record and lower your car insurance rates in Wisconsin

Besides the immediate steps you can take to lower your insurance premiums, you can also use longer-term strategies to improve your driving record and lower your future rates.

• Drive safely. Driving safely truly is the best way to improve your driving record and lower your premiums for the long term. It can help you avoid accidents, speeding tickets, and other violations that can increase your rates. Additionally, many insurers offer savings for safe driving habits, either through a usage-based telematics program or by going a certain number of years violation-free.

• Take a defensive driving course. Taking a defensive driving course can have short-term and long-term benefits. Many insurers offer discounts for drivers who take a safety course. Additionally, Wisconsin law allows you to remove points from your driving record when you complete a traffic safety course. This can help you reinstate your license if it’s been suspended from having too many points on your record.^[6]

• Seek legal help. If you commit a traffic violation that could increase your premiums, consider seeking legal help. Arguing your case in court could help you have certain violations thrown out or reduce the effect on your driving record.

• Improve your credit. If insurers consider you a high-risk driver because of your poor credit history, improving your credit can reduce your insurance premiums. Some of the most effective ways to improve your credit are to pay your bills on time and reduce your credit utilization by paying down your revolving debt balances.

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