Updated
What is liability car insurance?
Liability car insurance helps pay for other people’s injuries and damages if you or someone driving your car causes an accident. Bodily injury liability coverage helps pay the injured party’s medical bills, lost wages, and legal fees, up to your policy limits. Property damage liability coverage helps pay to repair or replace the other driver’s car.
Wisconsin requires drivers to have $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability coverage, and $10,000 of property damage liability coverage.[1] You also need $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident of uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. The state doesn’t require proof of insurance to register your vehicle.[2]
Wisconsin also doesn’t require full-coverage car insurance. But you may want to consider it. Full coverage usually includes comprehensive and collision coverage options to help pay for your injuries and vehicle repairs.
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Cheapest liability car insurance in Wisconsin
The average cost of car insurance in Wisconsin is $57 per month for liability-only coverage and $125 per month for full-coverage. But your monthly rate may differ based on a variety of factors, like your age, driving history, and ZIP code.
The following table highlights the cheapest car insurance quotes for liability-only coverage in Wisconsin.
Insurance Company | Average Monthly Quote: Liability Only |
|---|---|
| USAA | $29 |
| Auto-Owners | $30 |
| State Farm | $30 |
| Certainly | $40 |
| Erie | $40 |
| American Family | $43 |
| GEICO | $44 |
| First Chicago | $46 |
| Chubb | $50 |
| Progressive | $51 |
| GAINSCO | $57 |
| Allstate | $58 |
| Farmers | $58 |
| Safeco | $58 |
| Direct Auto | $59 |
| The General | $63 |
| Dairyland | $68 |
| National General | $68 |
| Bristol West | $70 |
| Liberty Mutual | $70 |
| Travelers | $76 |
| Root | $89 |
| State Auto | $114 |
Minimum liability car insurance requirements in Wisconsin
Like most states, Wisconsin requires drivers to have car insurance. The table below lists the minimum coverage requirements in Wisconsin.
Coverage Type | Minimum Liability Insurance Requirement | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident | The injured party’s medical expenses, lost wages, and related legal fees |
| Property damage liability | $10,000 per accident | Damaged physical property, including vehicles, road signs, buildings, and telephone poles |
| Uninsured motorist liability | $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident | Injury or damage caused by an uninsured driver, including a hit-and-run |
Keep in mind that Wisconsin’s minimum requirements don’t cover your vehicle. If you scrape a parked car in the State Street Campus Garage in Madison, your policy would pay only for the other vehicle’s repairs. Collision insurance covers your car repairs.
Is minimum liability coverage enough in Wisconsin?
Although minimum liability coverage meets Wisconsin’s auto insurance requirements, it may not be enough coverage in a severe car accident. Injuries and damage you cause could easily exceed the state’s minimum limits. You’d have to pay out of pocket for any amount your policy doesn’t cover.
For example, say you were driving in Milwaukee, swerved to avoid a deer, and collided with someone’s fence. If replacement costs exceed $10,000, you’d be responsible for the difference. That could mean thousands of dollars in materials and labor.
Full-coverage car insurance provides additional financial protection for you and your vehicle. Here are some scenarios where full coverage would be useful:
You rear-end someone. Your collision coverage pays for your vehicle repairs, minus your deductible.
A flash flood damages your vehicle. Comprehensive coverage pays for severe weather damage, including floodwater damage.
You financed or leased your car. Many lenders and leasing companies require full coverage.
Penalties for driving without liability insurance in Wisconsin
Failure to provide proof of insurance in Wisconsin can result in fines of up to $500. If you try to pass off fake insurance as real coverage, you could pay up to $5,000 in fines.
If you cause an accident and can’t prove you have insurance, you’ll receive a suspension notice from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WDOT).[3] You can prove your insurance was active at the time, cover the cost of the claim, or request a hearing.
If you don’t respond within 41 days, you risk a one-year license and registration suspension. Wisconsin won’t reinstate them until you either respond to the notice or serve the one-year suspension.
To reinstate your license, you must have an active car insurance policy and file an SR-22 certificate with the Wisconsin Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV).[4]
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How to find cheap liability car insurance in Wisconsin
Use the tips below to find the cheapest liability car insurance in Wisconsin:
Maintain a clean driving record. You’ll usually pay higher car insurance rates after an operating while intoxicated (OWI) conviction.
Ask about discounts. Many insurers offer discounts for setting up auto pay, going paperless, bundling policies, and completing a defensive driving course. Roughly 11% of Wisconsin drivers own multiple vehicles, according to Insurify data, and they could benefit from a multi-car discount.
Compare rates. While some insurance companies offer loyalty discounts, comparison shopping helps you get the best rates for the coverage you need. Check rates with several Wisconsin car insurance companies at every policy renewal to make sure you have the cheapest coverage.
Liability car insurance in Wisconsin FAQs
Below, we answer common car insurance questions from Wisconsin drivers looking for cheap liability car insurance.
What is the minimum amount of liability insurance required in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin requires all drivers to have $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability coverage, and $10,000 of property damage liability coverage. You also need $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident of uninsured motorist (UM) coverage.
Does Wisconsin require uninsured motorist coverage?
Yes. Wisconsin requires drivers to have $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident of uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. UM helps if a driver without enough insurance hits you or if you’re the victim of a hit-and-run.
What company has the cheapest car insurance in Wisconsin?
USAA offers the cheapest car insurance rates in Wisconsin, with liability policies avearing $29 per month. State Farm and Auto-Owners also offer affordable coverage in the Badger State.
Can you meet Wisconsin’s minimum insurance requirement without buying a liability policy?
Yes. You can meet Wisconsin’s minimum insurance requirement without buying a liability policy. Without a policy, you must post a $60,000 bond or cash deposit, or submit a self-insurance certificate.
Sources
- Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance. "Frequently Asked Questions – Automobile Insurance."
- Wisconsin Department of Transportation. "Minimum insurance requirements."
- Wisconsin Department of Transportation. "Safety responsibility law: Uninsured motorists."
- Wisconsin Department of Transportation. "SR22 Certificate (proof of insurance/financial responsibility)."
Methodology
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 250 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 500+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.
Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).
Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:
- Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
- Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
- No additional coverage
- Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
- Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible
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