Wisconsin car insurance: minimums, SR-22 rules and costs
Last updated: November 12, 2026
Wisconsin drivers must carry at least $25,000/$50,000 of bodily injury liability and $10,000 of property damage liability, plus uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. In 2023, insured drivers in Wisconsin spent an average of $921.55 on car insurance, 28% below the national average of $1,281.60, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). That makes Wisconsin the 7th least expensive of the 50 states and D.C. by that measure.
Minimum car insurance required in Wisconsin
| Coverage | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability, per person | $25,000 |
| Bodily injury liability, per accident | $50,000 |
| Property damage liability, per accident | $10,000 |
| Uninsured motorist (UM) | Required |
You'll often see this written as 25/50/10. The first two numbers are the bodily injury limits in thousands of dollars (per person and per accident), and the last is property damage. Those amounts are the most the policy pays for injuries and damage you cause to others. Anything above them can come back to you personally.
Is Wisconsin a no-fault state?
No. Wisconsin isn't one of the 12 no-fault states listed by the Insurance Information Institute, so the driver who causes a crash, and their insurer, is generally responsible for the other people's injuries and damage. That's why the liability limits above matter so much.
SR-22 rules in Wisconsin
Wisconsin's DMV requires an SR22 certificate to get an occupational license during a suspension or revocation, to reinstate after a revocation, to reinstate after a damage-judgment or uninsured-motorist suspension, and for drivers under 18 who don't have a sponsor.
It must be on file for three years from the date you're eligible to reinstate. An SR22 isn't required after a revocation if the only reason was a first-offense OWI or not complying with a driver safety plan. A $60,000 cash deposit or a bond can substitute in some cases.
Read more: what an SR-22 is and how it works.
What drives car insurance costs in Wisconsin
Average spending in Wisconsin rose 20% from 2019 to 2023, compared with 19% nationwide. Here's average annual spending per insured vehicle, from the NAIC:
| Year | Wisconsin average | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $767.65 | $1,075.08 |
| 2020 | $747.67 | $1,047.76 |
| 2021 | $758.42 | $1,060.23 |
| 2022 | $810.44 | $1,124.45 |
| 2023 | $921.55 | $1,281.60 |
The NAIC's "average expenditure" is total written premium divided by insured vehicles. It isn't a quote, and your own price depends on your driver profile and the coverage you choose.
- Uninsured drivers. An estimated 15.6% of drivers in Wisconsin were uninsured in 2023, higher than the national estimate of 15.4%. That's the 16th highest rate among the 50 states and D.C. When more drivers are uninsured, insured drivers' own uninsured motorist coverage pays more claims, which pushes up its price.
- Crash deaths. Wisconsin recorded 595 motor vehicle crash deaths in 2024, or 0.86 per 100 million miles driven, lower than the U.S. rate of 1.19 (the 7th lowest of the 50 states and D.C.). Severe crashes drive up bodily injury claim costs.
- Where and how crashes happen. In 2024, 57% of Wisconsin's crash deaths happened in rural areas (U.S.: 41%), 32% involved speeding (U.S.: 29%), and 10% of those killed were pedestrians (U.S.: 18%).
Ways to save on car insurance in Wisconsin
- Compare at least three quotes. Insurers weigh the same facts differently, so prices for the same driver in Wisconsin can vary widely. More ways to lower your bill.
- Don't drop uninsured motorist coverage to save money. With roughly 1 in 6 drivers in Wisconsin uninsured, it's what pays your injury bills if one of them hits you. How UM coverage works.
- Shop at every renewal. Prices in Wisconsin rose faster than the national average from 2019 to 2023, so a renewal increase is a good reason to compare.
- Keep comprehensive if your car is worth it. Most crash deaths in Wisconsin happen on rural roads, where animal strikes and long distances are common. Comprehensive covers hitting an animal; collision covers crashes. Comprehensive vs. collision.
- Ask about discounts. Common ones include safe driver, multi-car, bundling, paying in full, good student and usage-based programs. They're not always applied automatically.
See other states in our car insurance guides by state.
Sources
- Insurance Information Institute, Automobile Financial Responsibility Limits and Enforcement by State (as of July 2024)
- NAIC, 2023 Auto Insurance Database Average Premium Supplement (June 2025), Table 4: average expenditure
- Insurance Information Institute, Background on: No-fault auto insurance
- Wisconsin DMV, SR22 certificate (proof of insurance/financial responsibility)
- Insurance Information Institute / Insurance Research Council, Facts + Statistics: Uninsured motorists (2023 estimates)
- IIHS-HLDI, Fatality Facts 2024: State by state
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DriveCheaper may be paid by companies shown on this site. How we make money. This page is general information, not insurance or legal advice. Laws and prices change, so confirm details with your insurer or your state's insurance department or DMV.