CheapestCar InsuranceWisconsinThe Cheapest Car Insurance in Wisconsin (November 2023)
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AAA offers the overall cheapest car insurance for drivers in Wisconsin. American Family also comes out on top for the cheapest insurance for certain types of drivers.
If you’re looking for options that balance cost and quality service, we found the companies that provide the best car insurance in Wisconsin.
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Cheapest Minimum Liability Car Insurance in Wisconsin (November 2023)
On average, MoneyGeek found that the cheapest car insurance for a minimum coverage policy is from:
- AAA: $188 per year
- Erie: $243 per year
Dairyland is the most expensive car insurance company for minimum coverage, with an average annual cost of $771.
Auto insurance that meets the state law’s minimum insurance requirements only offers bodily injury liability, property damage liability and uninsured motorist coverage.
A minimum coverage policy only covers the cost of injuries or damages that you cause to others, but it doesn’t cover damages to your car. Consider getting comprehensive and collision insurance, also known as full coverage, if you want broader protection that will cover damages to your vehicle.
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Cheapest Full Coverage Car Insurance in Wisconsin (November 2023)
Based on our extensive research, the cheapest full coverage car insurance providers in Wisconsin are, on average:
- AAA: $445 per year
- West Bend Mutual: $556 per year
Dairyland is the most expensive insurer for full coverage, charging $2,176 per year on average.
Adding comprehensive and collision coverage to your policy increases your annual premium. For instance, AAA’s full coverage option is around $257 more than its minimum coverage option.
Full coverage car insurance offers better financial protection. It not only covers damages due to on-road accidents but also off-road incidents.
Your actual rates depend on how much car insurance you need. MoneyGeek’s sample full coverage policy has the following liability limits:
- $100,000 bodily injury per person
- $300,000 bodily injury per accident
- $100,000 property damage per accident
If you’re looking for ways to lower your premiums, you may consider lowering your liability limits, removing your comprehensive and collision coverage or raising your deductible. However, this will expose you to greater financial risks in the event of an accident.
How to Compare Cheap Wisconsin Car Insurance Quotes Online
Many auto insurance companies provide personalized quotes on their websites for free. However, completing the form can take up to 15 minutes. You’ll also have to repeat this process several times so you can compare quotes from multiple companies and find out the cheapest option.
MoneyGeek’s car insurance calculator can do the heavy lifting for you. Our free online tool helps you pick the most affordable insurer and gives you a quick estimate that is customized to your personal driver profile. You’ll get all these without having to provide specific personal information. It’s a great place to start your search.
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Cheapest Car Insurance in Wisconsin by Age (November 2023)
Age is one of the biggest factors affecting car insurance rates in Wisconsin. MoneyGeek found that Nationwide, American Family and AAA offer the cheapest options on average, depending on what age group you and your family belong to.
CHEAPEST CAR INSURANCE COMPANIES BY AGE
Cheapest for teens: Nationwide
Cheapest for young adults: American Family
Cheapest for seniors: AAA
Cheapest Car Insurance in Wisconsin for Teens and Their Families (November 2023)
On average, the cheapest car insurance companies for teens on their parent’s policy in Wisconsin are:
- Nationwide: $1,258 per year for male teens and $1,148 per year for female teens
- GEICO: $1,477 per year for male teens and $1,379 per year for female teens
Kemper charges the highest premiums for teens on their parent’s policy, at average rates of $6,693 and $5,418 for male and female drivers, respectively.
Car insurance rates for teens significantly decrease as they age. In Wisconsin, GEICO ($1,091) offers the cheapest car insurance rates for 19-year-old males.
Generally, teen drivers pay lower premiums if they’re added to a parent’s policy vs. buying their own policy. For instance, the average 16-year-old Wisconsin male driver might have to pay $5,599 per year if they buy their own policy. Being added to a parent’s policy brings the cost down to around $2,396, which is a $3,203 difference.
MONEYGEEK EXPERT TIP
On average, car insurance rates for male teens tend to be significantly more expensive than for female teens. This rate difference is not as notable when drivers reach their 20s and beyond.
Many insurance providers offer discounts for young drivers. According to our research, GEICO, Kemper, Nationwide, State Farm, Allstate, Auto-Owners Insurance, Farmers, Progressive and Travelers provide discounts for students with good grades. But Allstate, Auto-Owners Insurance, Farmers, Progressive and Travelers also provide distant student discounts.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Wisconsin for Young Adults (November 2023)
On average, we found that the cheapest car insurance providers for Wisconsin drivers in their 20s are:
- American Family: $681 per year
- AAA: $700 per year
Dairyland charges the highest car insurance rates for young adults at $2,884 per year, on average.
Drivers in their 20s typically pay more for car insurance compared with middle-aged drivers. For example, the cheapest insurer, American Family, charges roughly $113 more each year to a 25-year-old driver than a 40-year-old driver for a full coverage policy.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Wisconsin for Seniors (November 2023)
The cheapest car insurance providers for senior drivers in Wisconsin are, on average:
- AAA: $505 per year
- American Family: $598 per year
Dairyland is the most expensive insurer for seniors, at approximately $2,144 per year.
Depending on the insurer, seniors sometimes pay slightly more than middle-aged drivers. For instance, AAA is the cheapest insurer for 40-year-old drivers and charges a 65-year-old Wisconsin driver $60 more for the same coverage.
Additionally, most insurers tend to charge higher car insurance rates to drivers in their 70s and 80s.
Senior drivers might be able to take advantage of discounts. For example, Allstate, American Family, Farmers, GEICO and Kemper provide senior discounts. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that companies providing senior discounts automatically have the lowest rates. Age is just one of several factors that are used to calculate premiums.
Cheapest Car Insurance for Higher Risk Drivers (November 2023)
A traffic violation could cause your premiums to skyrocket. Insurers often view drivers with a history of violations as riskier to insure and more likely to file a claim. American Family is the most affordable insurance provider for drivers with at-fault accidents and DUIs on their record, whereas AAA is the cheapest option for those with speeding tickets.
AAA and American Family also offer the lowest rates for drivers with poor credit and sports cars, respectively.
CHEAPEST CAR INSURANCE COMPANIES FOR HIGHER RISK DRIVERS
Cheapest after a ticket: AAA ($690 per year)
Cheapest after an accident: American Family ($637 per year)
Cheapest after a DUI: American Family ($758 per year)
Cheapest for poor credit: AAA ($571 per year)
Cheapest for sports cars: American Family ($595 per year)
Cheapest Car Insurance in Wisconsin After a Ticket
On average, Wisconsin drivers with a speeding ticket will find the lowest premiums for a full coverage policy from these companies:
- AAA: $690 per year
- Erie: $694 per year
Dairyland is the most expensive insurer, charging approximately $3,640 per year.
On average, you might pay $297 more on your car insurance after getting a ticket.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Wisconsin After an Accident
These insurers charge the lowest average full coverage rates to Wisconsin drivers with an at-fault accident on their driving records:
- American Family: $637 per year
- AAA: $748 per year
A full coverage policy from Dairyland is the most expensive option at approximately $3,952 per year.
We found that an at-fault accident could increase your premiums by up to $479.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Wisconsin After a DUI
On average, the following insurers are the cheapest options for full coverage car insurance if you have a DUI on your driving record:
- American Family: $758 per year
- Erie: $1,016 per year
At around $3,121 per year, Dairyland is the most expensive insurer for drivers with a DUI.
We found that drivers with a DUI are charged approximately $495 more per year.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Wisconsin for Drivers With Poor Credit (November 2023)
On average, these companies offer the cheapest car insurance rates to drivers with poor credit:
- AAA: $571 per year
- American Family: $637 per year
State Farm has the highest rates at an average annual premium of approximately $6,004 for a full coverage policy.
Generally, insurers consider those with lower credit scores as riskier to insure and charge them higher rates. We found that, on average, Wisconsin drivers with credit scores of 580 and below are charged $655 more than those with credit scores above 750.
Auto insurance providers found that those with lower credit scores are more likely to file claims and charge them higher rates. Although using credit scores as a basis for calculating premiums isn’t legal in all states, it is allowed in Wisconsin.
You can reduce your insurance rate by improving your credit score over time. You can also compare rates from multiple insurers and take advantage of common discounts.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Wisconsin for Sports Cars (November 2023)
The car insurance companies offering the cheapest full coverage rates for drivers with sports cars are, on average:
- American Family: $595 per year
- Travelers: $706 per year
At approximately $2,610 per year, Dairyland is the least affordable company for sports car drivers.
Generally, sports cars are more expensive to insure because they have higher repair and replacement costs compared with standard vehicles. For example, drivers with a Ford Mustang pay $268 more than those with a Toyota Camry LE.
MoneyGeek used a Ford Mustang as its sample sports car in this study. Your actual rate can differ greatly depending on the car model. Typically, luxury cars, electric cars and sports cars are more costly to insure compared with other model types. This might not always be true in Wisconsin, so it’s best to always compare quotes from multiple providers.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Wisconsin for Military Drivers (November 2023)
The cheapest car insurance provider for active military members and veterans is AAA, at an average rate of $445 per year.
USAA, which tailors its policies to military members and veterans, is the second best option. Its policies are available in all U.S. states and cost an average of $570 per year.
AAA
- $445 per year
- Ranks first out of 19 insurers for affordability
AAA is the ideal choice for drivers with a military background. There are also additional discounts to further lower your insurance costs, such as through bundling your car, insuring multiple cars and having an anti-theft system.
Cheapest Car Insurance in Wisconsin by City
The city where you live impacts the cost of your car insurance. Drivers who live in neighborhoods with higher rates of vandalism, theft or accidents are typically charged higher premiums because of the greater likelihood that they’ll file a claim.
For example, based on our study, Green Bay has the cheapest rates at roughly $368 per year from AAA for full coverage insurance. In Milwaukee, the most expensive city, the same AAA policy costs more, at an average of $559 per year.
Use our table below to see how average car insurance rates differ per city.
Car Insurance in Wisconsin: What You Need to Know
Most states, including Wisconsin, require bodily injury liability (BIL) and property damage liability (PDL). In addition to these coverages, Wisconsin state law also requires uninsured motorist coverage.
Wisconsin Car Insurance Requirements
Wisconsin requires drivers to purchase a car insurance policy that meets the minimum limit of coverage. This includes bodily injury liability, property damage liability and uninsured motorist coverage.
A minimum coverage policy might be cheaper, but it exposes you to greater financial risks. We recommend getting as much liability coverage as you can afford.
Wisconsin state law will require you to purchase SR-22 insurance if you have severe violations. This may increase your coverage requirements.
Bodily Injury Liability
Drivers must carry $25,000 in bodily injury liability per person and $50,000 in bodily injury liability per accident. This covers the cost of medical bills in an accident where you’re at fault. Getting the minimum coverage might not be a good idea, especially considering the rising cost of health care and with surgeries easily reaching tens of thousands of dollars. You’ll have to pay anything over the limits out of your own pocket.
Property Damage Liability
All auto insurance policies must have $10,000 in property damage liability per accident. Paying just this minimum limit means that you'll have to pay for any costs over $10,000 if you're at fault in an accident that damages another person's property.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Drivers are required to have $25,000 in uninsured motorist coverage per person and $50,000 in uninsured motorist coverage per accident. This covers the cost of any injuries that you or your passengers might suffer in an accident with an uninsured driver.
MoneyGeek recommends purchasing bodily injury liability insurance of at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident and property damage coverage of at least $100,000 per accident.
If you financed your car, you’re likely required to have comprehensive and collision insurance on your policy.
Collision insurance covers the cost of repairing your vehicle in the event of a crash or accident. Comprehensive insurance pays for the cost of repairing your car if it is damaged in off-road incidents.
Comprehensive and collision coverages are a good idea if you have an expensive car.
Car Insurance Alternatives in Wisconsin
If you’re unable to get auto insurance for any reason, Wisconsin’s Financial Responsibility Law permits other alternatives to satisfy the required financial responsibility. These are:
Certificate of self-insurance: You may apply as a self-insurer if you have more than 25 cars registered under your name. You also need to provide proof of financial ability to cover any potential accident claims for each vehicle. This means you’ll need lots of extra cash in reserve to cover damages to your car and another person’s car and property, as well as possible lawsuits.
Surety bonds: A surety bond requires a company to pay its financial obligations in the event of an accident. Surety bonds cost only a percentage of the bond total, which makes them a cheap alternative to traditional auto insurance.
Personal funds: You must provide proof that you have enough funds that you don’t use for business or other personal purposes to cover your financial responsibility.
FAQs About Car Insurance in Wisconsin
Wisconsin residents who are looking for car insurance options commonly have concerns about cost and service quality. Our answers to the frequently asked questions are a good starting point for learning more.
Expert Advice on Finding Cheap Car Insurance in Wisconsin
To help you find credible and accurate insight on car insurance in Wisconsin, MoneyGeek received expert advice from trusted professionals. The perspectives and opinions expressed are those of the individual contributor.
- What are the key factors drivers in Wisconsin should look for when searching for the best auto insurance coverage?
- What steps can drivers in Wisconsin take to find affordable car insurance?
Greg Kuhlemeyer
Professor of Business Finance at Carroll University
Bob Dummer
Insurance Agent at P&C Insurance Services
Sahar Bahmani
Professor of Finance at the University of Wisconsin, Parkside
Sampath Kumar
Professor of Marketing for the Austin E. Cofrin School of Business at UW-Green Bay
Yongqing Wang
Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
About Mark Fitzpatrick
sources
- Insurance Information Institute. "What Is Covered by Collision and Comprehensive Auto Insurance?." Accessed December 13, 2022.
- Ready Wisconsin. "Flooding." Accessed December 15, 2022.
- State of Wisconsin Department of Transportation. "Self-Insurance Certificate Application." Accessed December 15, 2022.
- Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance. "Consumer’s Guide to Auto Insurance." Accessed December 15, 2022.
- Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance. "Frequently Asked Questions – Automobile Insurance." Accessed December 15, 2022.