Anamarie Waite, Car Insurance Writer
@anamarie.waite
You can get car insurance discounts in Wisconsin based on how you drive, the car you own, and your relationship with your insurance company. In Wisconsin, car insurance companies are allowed to consider factors like employment, residential, and marital status when setting premiums. That means there are also discounts available for being married, owning a home, or being affiliated with certain employers or educational institutions.
Almost anyone can get a discount on car insurance in Wisconsin because most insurance companies make it easy to qualify for a variety of savings. Wisconsin insurers typically offer discounts that fall into one of three categories—policy discounts, driver discounts, and vehicle discounts.
Policy discounts typically reward customer behavior that is desirable to the insurance company. For example, most Wisconsin drivers can save by registering for paperless billing or getting both home and auto policies from the same company. Driver discounts are available to Wisconsin residents who are lower-risk to insure, like those with clean driving records. And vehicle discounts help drivers save if their car has certain safety features or anti-theft systems.
Car Insurance Discounts in Wisconsin
| Discount | How It Works | Potential Savings |
| Customer Loyalty | Insurance companies reward long-term customers with lower rates. | Up to 10% |
| Good Driver | Drivers with a clean record and no claims history save on insurance. | 10% to 30% |
| Driver Education | Older drivers who refresh their skills with an approved defensive driving course get reduced rates. | 5% to 10% |
| Continuously Insured | Drivers who have been insured for 6 months or more save on insurance. | 5% to 25% |
| Billing and Payments | If you pay for your policy in full, set up automatic payments, pay online, or go paperless, you can save. | 2% to 25% |
| Policy Bundling | Insure multiple vehicles or get different policy types (like home and auto) from the same company can earn a discount. | 1% to 12% |
| Good Student | Young drivers with a “B” average or higher are eligible for discounts. | 5% to 20% |
| Usage-Based | Some insurance companies offer discounts for drivers who are willing to have their driving habits monitored by an electronic device attached to your car and/or your smartphone. | 1% to 30% |
| Safety Features | Cars featuring multiple airbags, anti-lock brakes, daytime running lights, and other safety add-ons can save on car insurance. | 2% to 30% |
| Anti-Theft Systems | Car alarms, LoJack, steering wheel locks, or other anti-theft features can make comprehensive coverage more affordable. | 5% to 25% |
Remember, discounts vary among different insurance companies, so it’s always best to contact the provider directly to determine which discounts you qualify for.
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Car insurance in Wisconsin is actually not very expensive compared to the national average, thanks to its mostly rural setting and competitive insurance market. In Wisconsin, you can expect to pay around $3,138 per year for full coverage car insurance, compared to the national average of $4,211 per year. Car insurance in Wisconsin is less expensive than the national average, which is around $4,211 per year for full coverage and about $1,407 per year for minimum coverage.
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read full answerWhat is the minimum insurance requirement in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin car insurance laws require $25,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per person, up to $50,000 per accident, as well as $10,000 of property damage liability coverage.
Bodily injury liability insurance pays for any injuries that you accidentally cause with your car, while property damage liability coverage helps pay for any material assets that you damage while driving, like another person’s car or mailbox. Your insurance company pays up to the limit specified by...
read full answerWhat is the penalty for driving without insurance in Wisconsin?
The penalties for driving without insurance in Wisconsin can include fines up to $500, fines and the suspension of license and registration. Penalties for repeat offenses may be even harsher. You can avoid these consequences by meeting Wisconsin's minimum car insurance requirements.
Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in Wisconsin
| Type of Offense | License and/or Registration Suspended? | Car Impounded? | Jail Time? | SR-22 Required? | Maximum Fines & Fees |
| No Proof of Insurance (Can Prove Coverage Later) | No | No | No | No | 10 |
| 1st Offense With No Coverage | Yes, both | No | No | Yes | up to $500 |
| Repeat Offense (No Coverage) | Yes, both | No | No | Yes | up to $500 |
Not having car insurance and not being able to prove that you have it are two different violations. If you have insurance but cannot prove it when you get pulled over or at the scene of an accident, you are guilty of an "administrative violation", similar to a seat-belt ticket. In Wisconsin, your citation might be dismissed if you can provide the court with proof of valid insurance for the date of the citation on or before your court date.
Driving without car insurance at all is much more serious, and the penalties are more severe. In addition to the legal consequences, you can also expect your car insurance premium to go up.
You can avoid these consequences by meeting Wisconsin's minimum car insurance requirements.
Required Car Insurance in Wisconsin
- $25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person
- $50,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per accident
- $10,000 in property damage liability coverage per accident
- $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in uninsured motorist coverage
The key to maintaining the minimum amount of coverage required by Wisconsin is to find a policy you can afford. If your coverage has already lapsed, start by comparing quotes from the insurance companies WalletHub's analysis identified as having the best post-lapse rates.
Best Car Insurance in Wisconsin After a Lapse in Coverage
Drivers in Wisconsin pay an average of $925 per year to maintain the minimum amount of coverage. That's nothing compared to the consequences of driving without insurance, especially if you get into an accident.
What Happens If You Get Into a Car Accident Without Insurance in Wisconsin?
1. If you get into an accident: all penalties will apply.
If you get into an accident while driving without insurance in Wisconsin, you will incur the penalties for driving without insurance no matter who is at fault. Driving uninsured can make it difficult to be compensated for damages if you are not at fault and can have long-lasting and life-changing consequences if you are at fault.
2. If the accident is your fault: you'll have to pay for all the damages out of your own pocket.
In addition to the legal consequences of driving without insurance, you could easily be responsible for tens of thousands of dollars or more in damages to your vehicle, the other driver's car repairs and hospital bills, and your own medical care. You could face mounting debt or even bankruptcy, especially if the other driver doesn't carry uninsured motorist coverage or personal injury protection.
3. Even if you were not at fault or only partially at fault, there will be other consequences.
Driving uninsured doesn't negate the other driver's fault entirely, but you're almost certainly going to be penalized and unable to recover everything you would be entitled to if you had insurance. In at-fault states such as Wisconsin, the driver who caused the accident is usually responsible for damage to your car and any medical treatment you may need. However, Wisconsin uses a modified comparative negligence system, which means you may not be able to recover all the costs associated with the accident if you are found even partially responsible for causing it. This would leave you to cover these costs out of pocket if you were uninsured at the time.
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