Best car insurance in Wisconsin for 2025

Our 2025 Bankrate Score for auto insurance considers key variables that our insurance editorial team determined impact policyholders’ experiences with an insurance company. These factors include a robust assessment of each company’s cost of coverage, product availability, financial strength ratings, online capabilities and customer and claims support accessibility. We grouped these factors into three essential categories — cost and ratings, coverage and savings, and support — which we then weighted in a tiered approach. 

Each category was assigned a metric to determine performance, and the weighted sum adds up to a company’s total Bankrate Score — out of 5 points. Our scoring model provides a comprehensive view, indicating when companies excel across several key areas and highlighting where they fall short.

• Tier 1 (Cost & ratings): To determine how well auto insurance companies satisfy these priorities, our team analyzed quoted premiums from Quadrant Information Services (if available), as well as any of the latest third-party agency ratings from J.D. Power, AM Best, Demotech and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). 
• Tier 2 (Coverage & savings): We assessed companies’ coverage options and availability to help policyholders find a provider that balances cost with coverage. Additionally, we evaluated the discount options listed on each company’s website.
• Tier 3 (Support): To encompass the many ways an auto insurance company can support policyholders, we analyzed avenues of customer accessibility along with community support. This analysis incorporated additional financial strength ratings from S&P and Moody’s and factored in a company’s corporate sustainability efforts.

Tier scores are unweighted to show the company's true score in each category out of a possible five points.

Like most states, Wisconsin car insurance laws require drivers to carry minimum liability insurance. By default, you have to purchase at least the state’s mandated minimums. However, many insurance experts recommend purchasing more than the minimum insurance limits to offer more financial protection in the case of a covered incident. If you are unsure how much car insurance is right for you, talking with a licensed agent could offer some clarity.

Although Wisconsin requires only liability and uninsured motorist insurance, individual lenders or lienholders will require you to purchase full coverage auto insurance. That’s because liability insurance does not include financial protections for damage to your car. By requiring a policy with comprehensive and collision coverage, the lender is protecting their asset. Gap insurance may be required for the same reason, but even if it’s not, you might want to consider it. This type of insurance helps cover the difference between a vehicle’s depreciated value and your loan balance should the vehicle be stolen and unrecoverable or totaled in a covered incident.

The amounts and types of car insurance you really need to keep your assets safe may exceed the requirements set forth by the state of Wisconsin and your lender. For example, if you own a home or have assets that exceed Wisconsin’s minimum coverage requirements, you can protect your finances by purchasing enough liability insurance to cover your assets. Additionally, if you only have access to one vehicle and cannot go without, it may be worth adding coverage like rental car reimbursement and roadside assistance to your auto policy to provide coverage if your vehicle breaks down or you need another car to drive while yours is being repaired after a covered claim.

Your car insurance premiums consider several variables, including your driving record, vehicle type, age, gender, credit rating and ZIP code. As a result, the cheapest car insurance for one driver may not be the most affordable for another. Not only are rates highly individualized, but they vary by company. Using our regularly updated list of the current cheapest car insurance in Wisconsin as a starting point, drivers can request free estimates from several insurers to see which may be the cheapest for them. When considering new carriers, it can be wise also to compare any available discounts on offer to see how that may affect your premium.

Yes. Before you can legally drive in Wisconsin, you’ll need to purchase as least the minimum liability coverage, which include:

• $25,000 for injury or death per person
• $50,000 for injury or death per accident 
• $10,000 for property damage. 
• $25,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
• $50,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident

In Wisconsin, when obtaining a driver's license or registering a vehicle, proof of insurance is not mandatory. However, there are instances where the DMV might request such proof, particularly if it's a prerequisite for reinstating a driver's license after suspension or revocation. It's advisable to be prepared with your insurance information in case it's requested. Always consult with DMV guidelines to ensure compliance.

Wisconsin is one of the cheaper states for car insurance based on average rates, but your auto insurance rates may be high  for a variety of reasons, including your driving record, vehicle type or age. Wisconsin's average rates, $1,935 for full coverage and $446 for minimum, are below the national averages of $2,670 for full and $773 for minimum. Drivers in large cities, like Milwaukee, will likely pay more for coverage as populated areas generally have higher costs of living and more congested roadways.