Wisconsin requires at least $25,000 of bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 per accident and $10,000 of property damage liability, often written as 25/50/10, plus uninsured motorist coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. Insurers also have to tell you about underinsured motorist coverage and offer medical payments coverage, but both are optional.
Driving uninsured in Wisconsin can bring a forfeiture of up to $500. A crash without insurance can cost you much more, including a suspension of your license and every vehicle registration in your name.
Key Takeaways
- Wisconsin requires 25/50/10 liability coverage plus uninsured motorist coverage of 25/50 for bodily injury.
- Underinsured motorist coverage is optional, with a 50/100 minimum if you buy it. Medical payments coverage must be offered, but you can decline it.
- Driving uninsured can bring a forfeiture of up to $500, and not carrying proof can cost $10. You can show proof on your phone.
- After an uninsured crash with an injury or at least $1,000 of property damage, WisDOT can suspend your license and all your registrations unless you meet one of its options, and reinstating takes an SR22 for three years.
Wisconsin Minimum Car Insurance at a Glance
| Coverage | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability | $10,000 per accident |
| Uninsured motorist | $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident, for bodily injury only |
| Underinsured motorist | Optional. If you buy it, at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident. |
| Medical payments | Must be offered, at least $1,000 per person. You can reject it. |
| Collision and comprehensive | Not required by law, but usually required by lenders and lessors |
The Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) lists these limits in its auto insurance FAQ. Under Wis. Stat. 344.62, you can’t drive on a Wisconsin highway unless the owner or driver has a liability policy in effect. A Legislative Council brief notes a few alternatives, including a bond filed with the Department of Transportation, a self-insurance certificate and a $60,000 deposit of cash or securities. RateFrog’s guide to liability limits explains how the numbers work.
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage in Wisconsin
Under Wis. Stat. 632.32, every policy has to include uninsured motorist (UM) coverage of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident, and the OCI says it covers bodily injury only.
Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage is optional, but your insurer has to give you notice that it’s available when it delivers the policy. The OCI says UIM pays up to the amount you buy when the at-fault driver’s bodily injury limits are lower than your UIM limits. Wisconsin law also lets policies:
- Reduce UM and UIM limits by amounts paid by or for the person responsible for the injury
- Prevent you from stacking limits across several vehicles or policies
For example, if your policy has a reducing clause, you carry $100,000 of UIM and the at-fault driver’s insurer pays $25,000, your UIM can pay up to $75,000. Some older articles say Wisconsin bans reducing clauses or requires stacking. Those rules came from a 2009 law, and a 2011 law reversed them. RateFrog’s guide to uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage explains how these coverages work.
Medical Payments Coverage
Insurers must offer medical payments coverage of at least $1,000 per person, but the named insured can reject it. The OCI puts it this way: insurers “must offer this coverage to you, but you can decline it.”
Proof of Insurance in Wisconsin
Wis. Stat. 344.62 requires you to have proof of insurance with you while driving. It can be printed or shown on your phone, and the officer may not view anything on the device except the proof. If you’re cited for not having proof but can later show you were insured at the time, you can’t be convicted of that charge. RateFrog’s guide to getting proof of insurance fast can help if you need a card right away.
Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in Wisconsin
Under Wis. Stat. 344.65, driving without insurance can bring a forfeiture of up to $500, and failing to carry proof of insurance carries a $10 forfeiture. Under the same section, faking proof of insurance can bring a forfeiture of up to $5,000.
A Crash Without Insurance
Wisconsin’s Safety Responsibility Law applies to every driver and owner involved in a crash that causes an injury, a death or at least $1,000 of property damage. According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), you can meet its requirements by:
- Proving that liability insurance was in effect at the time of the crash
- Posting a security deposit with WisDOT to cover the claims
- Entering into an installment agreement to pay the claims
- Submitting a release of liability showing you settled with the other party
You can also request a hearing. If you don’t meet one of these options, WisDOT says the driver’s license is suspended, along with all vehicle registrations of the registered owner, and under Wis. Stat. 344.14 the suspension happens immediately after the deadline passes. To reinstate, you’ll need to file an SR22 and keep it for three years. RateFrog’s guide to what happens when insurance lapses covers the broader risks.
SR22 Filings in Wisconsin
According to WisDOT, you need an SR22 in several situations, including getting an occupational license during a suspension or revocation, reinstating after a revocation, and reinstating after a damage judgment or a safety responsibility suspension. It isn’t required after a revocation if the only reason was noncompliance with a driver safety plan or a first-offense OWI. WisDOT says the insurance “must be filed for three years from the date you are eligible to reinstate your driving privileges.” RateFrog’s SR-22 guide explains how filings work.
If You Can’t Find Coverage
The Wisconsin Automobile Insurance Plan (WAIP) describes itself in its FAQ as “a service for people who can’t get automobile coverage anywhere else at any price.” Any licensed agent can quote and submit an application, and the carrier assigned to you handles any SR-22 filing. The plan’s own website and the OCI list its phone number as 800-827-5964.
How Wisconsin Insurers Set Rates
The OCI says drivers are classified by factors that include age and gender, marital status, where the car is garaged, driving record, the car’s make and model, prior insurance coverage and annual miles driven. On credit, the OCI’s position is that insurers shouldn’t use credit information as the sole reason to refuse an application, cancel a new policy in its first 60 days or nonrenew a policy. RateFrog’s guide to the factors that affect car insurance rates covers the rest.
Cancellation Rules
Under Wis. Stat. 631.36, a midterm cancellation isn’t effective until at least 10 days after your insurer mails or delivers written notice. That rule doesn’t apply to a new policy that has been in effect for less than 60 days. Nonrenewal notices have to be mailed or delivered at least 60 days before the policy expires, and the OCI’s consumer guide says cancellation notices must state the facts behind the decision with reasonable precision. RateFrog’s guide to car insurance grace periods explains what usually happens when a payment is late.
Is Wisconsin’s Minimum Coverage Enough?
A $10,000 property damage limit doesn’t go far if you damage a newer car, and injury claims can pass $25,000 per person. If a claim is more than your limits, you could owe the rest. Because UIM and medical payments are optional, it’s worth pricing them before you decline. RateFrog’s guide to how much car insurance you need can help you choose, and you can compare car insurance quotes at several coverage levels.
Where to Get Help
The Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance takes calls at 1-800-236-8517 or 608-266-0103 and accepts complaints online through its complaint page. For license and registration suspensions, contact WisDOT.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage Required in Wisconsin?
Yes. Every policy needs uninsured motorist coverage of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury. Underinsured motorist coverage is optional.
What Is the Penalty for Driving Without Insurance in Wisconsin?
A forfeiture of up to $500. Failing to carry proof of insurance is a separate $10 forfeiture, and you can’t be convicted of it if you later show you were insured.
What Happens If I Crash Without Insurance in Wisconsin?
If the crash causes an injury or at least $1,000 of property damage, WisDOT can suspend your license and all your registrations unless you prove coverage, post security, set up payments or settle the claims. Reinstating requires an SR22 for three years.
Can I Show Proof of Insurance on My Phone in Wisconsin?
Yes. Wisconsin law accepts electronic proof, and the officer may not look at anything else on your device.
Sources
- Wisconsin OCI: Auto Insurance FAQ (PI-233)
- Wisconsin OCI: Consumer’s Guide to Auto Insurance (PI-057)
- Wisconsin Legislative Council: Auto Insurance Issue Brief (2024)
- Wis. Stat. 344.62
- Wis. Stat. 344.65
- Wis. Stat. 344.14
- Wis. Stat. 632.32
- Wis. Stat. 631.36
- WisDOT: Safety Responsibility Law
- WisDOT: SR22 Proof of Insurance
- Wisconsin Automobile Insurance Plan: FAQ
- Wisconsin OCI: File a Complaint