Wisconsin auto insurance

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Moving and grooving with Wisconsin auto insurance

With nearly 5.9 million residents, Wisconsin is the 20th most populous state in the union. The majority of Wisconsinites live near the shore of Lake Michigan, including in its largest city, Milwaukee. While both Milwaukee and Madison, the capital, score high marks for public transportation, many of the state’s residents rely on vehicles to get around. This can be risky since the Badger State ranks in the top five states with DUI citations and speeding tickets, according to a recent study. With these numbers, it’s not hard to see why having good Wisconsin auto insurance is critical.

Driving in America’s Dairyland

Wisconsin is nicknamed “America’s Dairyland” because it’s the nation’s largest producer of cheese products and second-largest producer of our milk and butter. Tourism is also a large part of the state’s economy, so you can imagine that well running ground transportation is important for Wisconsin. A closer look at some of Wisconsin’s road-related facts also highlights the importance of driving with insurance coverage.

Consider these statistics:

• Wisconsin ranks in the top 15 states for total miles of roadway with about 240,000 miles.

• It ranks 19th in total lane distance per person — that’s 217 feet or 0.041 miles per person.

• There are over 112,000 miles of public roadway.

• The Wisconsin Department of Transportation manages almost 12,000 miles of highway and 4,600 bridges.

Whether you live in a major city or out in the state’s rural areas, you’ll likely operate a vehicle to make your way around Wisconsin.

Exploring Wisconsin crash statistics

The transportation department tracks auto accident statistics over a six-year period. Between 2015 and 2020, the following trends were observed:

• Although the total number of crashes has decreased, the number of fatal crashes increased from 513 to 540.

• Alcohol-related accidents increased from 5,174 to 6,050.

• Drug-related accidents rose from 815 to 2,250.

• Hit-and-run collisions increased from 13,559 to 18,480.

Wisconsin has seen a reduction in other types of accidents in the same time period, including those related to speeding or involving pedestrians and bicyclists. If you find yourself in an accident with only the minimum required Wisconsin car insurance, can you afford to pay for medical bills and vehicle damage out-of-pocket?

Understanding Wisconsin auto insurance requirements

Wisconsin requires drivers to carry auto liability insurance. Although personal funds and certain other types of security can be used, most drivers don’t have thousands of dollars to pay for the possible injuries, deaths and property damage resulting from a car crash. Driving without car insurance may result in a fine of up to $500 and suspension of driving privileges. And showing fraudulent proof of insurance can cost up to $5,000.

Wisconsin requires drivers to carry 25/50/10 Liability Coverage as follows:

• $25,000 for the injury or death of one person.

• $50,000 for the injury or death of two or more people.

• $10,000 for Property Damage.

By law, drivers are also required to carry Uninsured Motorist coverage at a minimum of $25,000 per person or $50,000 for two or more people. Uninsured Motorist coverage will pay if an uninsured motorist seriously injures you or a member of your household.

VIU by HUB helps you find Wisconsin auto insurance quotes for policies that meet the state’s liability requirements.

Exploring additional coverages

Drivers in Wisconsin should have an auto insurance policy that provides financial protection in the event they cause an accident. The minimum required liability limit of $10,000 might seem like a lot of money for Property Damage, but what if you’re at fault for a collision that totals a brand-new car? If an accident injures several people, the limits in a liability policy may come up short. In addition to helping you choose the right liability limits, a VIU by HUB Advisor can assists you with considering some optional coverages that can be included in your auto insurance:

• Collision Coverage: This pays for repairing or replacing your vehicle after collisions with other objects, including other cars and structures, even if you’re at fault.

• Comprehensive Coverage: This pays for other types of damage or losses to your automobile that are not collisions, including fire, theft, vandalism, falling objects and hitting animals, among others. Deer accidents are frequent in Wisconsin, so look for Wisconsin auto insurance quotes that include Comprehensive Coverage.

• Medical Payments: This pays for some medical bills and funeral expenses for anyone injured in an accident, including passengers. Typically, this coverage applies to costs not covered by health insurance.

• Underinsured Motorist: Distinct from Uninsured Motorist coverage, this coverage adds protection for Bodily Injury if the at-fault driver’s coverage is lower than your coverage. While this isn’t mandatory, if you opt for this coverage, the minimum limits are $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident.

If you lease or finance your vehicle, your lender may require you to buy one or more of these coverages.

Paying for auto insurance

Wisconsinites will pay an average of $1,215 per year for full coverage. This is about 30% below the national average, as Wisconsin is one of the 10 least expensive states for auto insurance premiums. What you’ll pay depends on several factors:

• Location: Drivers in Milwaukee, Madison and Kenosha tend to pay more than drivers in rural areas.

• Age: Drivers in the 18 to 25 age range usually have higher premiums.

• Driving record: Speeding, accidents and DUIs on your record result in significantly higher premiums.

Other factors include marital status, credit score, available discounts and your deductible if you purchase comprehensive or collision coverages. The deductible is what you pay out of pocket when you make a claim. Generally, the higher your deductible, the lower your premium. VIU by HUB is here to help you explore Wisconsin auto insurance quotes and see which discounts and coverage limits work for you.

This information is intended for general informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal advice.