- All drivers in Wisconsin must have the state minimum liability insurance and have proof of valid car insurance at all times
- Drivers can choose to add optional auto insurance coverage options such as collision, comprehensive, roadside assistance, and personal injury protection
- Car insurance rates are dependent on many factors, including the driver’s age, gender, driving record, credit score, and type of vehicle being insured
- You can find the best rates on car insurance by shopping around and comparing different insurance companies before purchasing a policy
In the state of Wisconsin, all drivers are required by law to have valid insurance, as well as proof of insurance.
Not only is insurance required by law, but it’s very important for protecting yourself and others financially in the case of an accident. This guide will provide you with everything you need to know about insurance coverage in Wisconsin, as well as tips to finding the best deals on auto insurance.
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Auto Insurance Laws in Wisconsin
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Each state has their own requirements for auto insurance. If you get pulled over in Wisconsin and don’t have at least the state’s minimum liability insurance, you could be fined and your car may be impounded.
Liability insurance is coverage you purchase in order to prove you are financially prepared, at any time, to take care of the cost of damages to another driver for an accident you cause.
Wisconsin’s minimum coverage requirements are:
- $25,000 for bodily injury of one person
- $50,000 for bodily injury of two or more people
- $10,000 for property damage, per accident
- Uninsured Motorist coverage ($25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident)
These minimum amounts are what is typically referred to as liability insurance.
If you cause an accident, the insurance company will cover up to the amount you have on your policy. So if you happen to cause damage to another vehicle for around $8,000, and have a limit of $10,000, your insurance will fully cover it.
If the damage were to exceed $10,000, you would be responsible for all costs over that amount.
The bodily injury limits are for taking care of medical bills for the driver and passengers injured in the accident you are liable for. It does not cover your own medical costs. Uninsured motorist coverage goes towards covering your medical costs if the other driver is at-fault but doesn’t have insurance.
You must have uninsured motorist coverage as well as the minimum liability coverage for bodily injury and property damage.
In addition to having a current auto insurance policy, you must have proof of insurance at all times. Failure to do so could mean fines and penalties. You should always keep a copy of your policy card in your vehicle along with your vehicle registration.
Be sure to switch out your ID card with the new one whenever your policy expires. Also keep in mind that many insurance companies allow you to download apps for your phone that will give you quick access to your Insurance ID card.
Additional Coverage Options
All drivers have the option to purchase higher liability limits. This is a good idea for anyone who would like to provide themselves and loved you extra financial protection.
Along with liability, there are quite a few other items to add to your policy so you can be fully covered in the unfortunate event of an accident. These add-on coverage options can cover your vehicle repairs covered even if the accident is your fault.
Basic Policy
There are six items in a basic auto insurance policy. This includes the minimum required bodily injury liability, property damage liability, and uninsured motorist coverage mentioned earlier. In addition to this coverage, basic coverage consists of:
– Collision
Having this on your policy will cover the cost to repair your vehicle in an accident that occurs while you or someone else is driving the vehicle. If you have collision coverage, you will be asked to choose a deductible — such as $250, $500, or $1,000.
This is an amount you agree to pay toward the repair of your vehicle for each collision claim. So if you get in an accident, your insurance company will pay for all the repairs minus your deductible amount. You pay this deductible to the repair shop.
– Comprehensive
This coverage is what will take care of the repairs to your vehicle for anything other than a collision with another car or object.
Theft, vandalism, hail storm damage, and are a few of many examples of damage that will be covered by your policy. You will also have a deductible for these types of damages. Comprehensive deductibles range from about $100 to $300.
– Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Like with uninsured motorist coverage, underinsured motorist will protect both you and the driver who hit your vehicle.
The difference is that the at-fault driver does have liability insurance, but the problem arises when the cost to repair your vehicle exceeds their liability limits. This will allow the insurance company to cover repair costs without the need to go after the at-fault driver for the additional funds.
– Personal Injury Protection
This coverage will take care of medical bills to you and passengers resulting from injury in an accident. It can also cover your wages if you’ve had to miss work to deal with accident injury.
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Add-Ons for Coverage
There are even more add-ons that could help you save in the future if you get into an accident. Offers may vary from company to company, but some common ones include:
- Rental Reimbursement – The insurance company will pay for or reimburse you for the cost of a rental car while your vehicle is being repaired.
- Glass Coverage – Your insurance will cover replacing a windshield, for example, if it shatters or is due for a replacement. It will also cover back glass, quarter glass, and your sunroof.
- Gap Insurance – If you are leasing or financing your vehicle, and it is deemed a total loss after an accident, gap insurance will cover what you still owe on your vehicle.
Factors that Influence Your Insurance Rates
There are several different ways insurance companies will determine your auto insurance premium amount.
You may also notice that the price may rise every six months or so. Though there are ways you can help keep your rates as low as possible, some factors are out of your control.
Factors out of your control include age and gender. Insurance companies will likely give higher rates to younger and less experienced drivers. When it comes to gender, men are statistically more likely to get into more accidents than women.
If one or both of these factors are against you, don’t stress too much. Things you can do have control over are your driving record, the type of vehicle you drive, and your credit score.
Discounts
Another option for getting the lowest rates possible is to take advantage of any discounts that could apply to you. Auto insurance companies give discounts for a number of items, including:
- Good Student Discount – If you are a student with at least a B average, you can get a discount from some insurance companies.
- Safe Driving Discount – A clean driving record can get you great discounts.
- Experienced Driver Discount – If you’ve been driving for a number of years, that may garner you a specific discount.
- Multi-Policy Discount – You can get a discount for having multiple vehicles on your policy.
- Driver Training Discount – If you take a driver training course, you can get money off your premium.
Shopping Around for the Cheapest Rates
The thought of searching for the cheapest car insurance rates in Wisconsin can feel like a daunting task. Luckily, it’s more simple than you think.
You can quickly and easily compare insurance rates online by providing some basic information about yourself, your vehicle(s), and your driving history. From there you can see an estimate of how much your premium would be for specific insurance companies.
Before you choose a policy based on pricing, do some research on the insurance company.
You can check out JD Power for information on highly rated insurance companies, and find out which company you’d most like to work with. Though some companies may offer the cheapest rates, they might not have very strong customer satisfaction ratings.
Once you’ve decided which insurance company you’d like to purchase from, as well at what coverage you’d like to include in your policy, you can pull up the original quote they provided and continue filling out your information. Once purchased, you will be covered under the policy by the next business day. It’s that simple.
As you compare insurance rates, be sure to fully understand which coverage options will most help you and family members to drive legally and safely. Don’t choose a policy based off of price alone.
Make sure you are purchasing a policy from an insurance company you can trust, and consider purchasing more than just liability insurance. Doing so can help you in the long-run.
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