State guide
Car Insurance in Wisconsin
Updated August 2026
Wisconsin is one of the less expensive states in the country to insure a car — average annual expenditure was $810 in 2022 against a countrywide $1,127, per the NAIC. The law behind that market: 25/50/10 minimum liability limits ($25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, $10,000 property damage) under Wis. Stat. § 344.62, plus mandatory uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage of $25,000/$50,000 on every policy.
Low average premiums don't mean uniform premiums. Carriers in Wisconsin price the same driver differently enough that the cheap-state advantage only materializes if you actually compare — and the $10,000 property damage floor, one of the lowest anywhere, is worth raising for the price of a few dollars a month, which is exactly the kind of difference quotes reveal.
| Coverage | Required minimum |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability (per person) | $25,000 |
| Bodily injury liability (per accident) | $50,000 |
| Property damage liability | $10,000 |
| PIP / medical | Not required (at-fault state) |
| Additional requirements | Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage required: $25,000/$50,000; underinsured motorist coverage is optional |
| No-fault state | No |
| SR-22 used | Yes |
Source: Wis. Stat. § 344.62; Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance
Average annual expenditure for auto insurance in Wisconsin was $810 in 2022 — well below the countrywide figure of $1,127 in the same report. (NAIC 2022 Auto Insurance Database Average Premium Supplement)
What Wisconsin requires
Every Wisconsin auto policy carries at least 25/50/10 in liability limits and $25,000/$50,000 of uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage — the UM piece is mandatory and covers only bodily injury, not vehicle damage. Underinsured motorist coverage is optional: insurers must notify you it's available when the policy is delivered, but you can reject it.
Nationally, 15.4% of drivers were uninsured in 2023, per the Insurance Research Council, which is the gap the mandatory UM coverage exists to fill. The optional UIM layer handles the quieter problem of drivers who carry exactly the low minimums.
Comparative negligence: fault is often shared
Wisconsin is an at-fault state, but the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance notes that responsibility for a crash is frequently shared — each driver is assigned a percentage of negligence, and what you can recover is reduced by your share.
That mechanic cuts both ways: even a driver who is mostly not at fault can end up owing something through their liability coverage, and a serious two-car crash can put both policies in play. It's one more reason the minimums are a floor rather than a target.
SR-22s in Wisconsin
Wisconsin uses SR-22 filings. After certain suspensions and revocations — and as a condition of an occupational license, the limited driving permit many Wisconsin drivers use after an OWI — the DMV requires the actual SR-22 certificate from your insurer; a regular proof-of-insurance card doesn't qualify. Insurers price the underlying violation very differently, so this is the segment of drivers for whom comparing quotes changes the outcome most.
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Frequently asked questions
What car insurance is required in Wisconsin?+
Liability coverage of at least $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, and $10,000 property damage (25/50/10), per Wis. Stat. § 344.62 — plus uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage of $25,000/$50,000 on every policy.
Is uninsured motorist coverage required in Wisconsin?+
Yes — uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident is mandatory. Underinsured motorist coverage is optional; insurers must notify you of its availability, and you may reject it.
Is Wisconsin a no-fault state?+
No. Wisconsin is an at-fault state using comparative negligence: fault is assigned by percentage, and recovery is reduced by your own share of the negligence. PIP is not required.
Does Wisconsin use SR-22s?+
Yes. The Wisconsin DMV requires an SR-22 certificate — filed by your insurance company — to reinstate driving privileges after certain suspensions and to qualify for an occupational license. A standard insurance card or summary is not accepted in its place.
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