Car insurance · Wisconsin
Car insurance requirements in Wisconsin
Liability 25/50/10 plus uninsured motorist 25/50. Claims system: fault-based claims.
Verified summaryAll Wisconsin insurance topics
Requirements
Minimum car insurance requirements in Wisconsin
| Coverage | Requirement in Wisconsin |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $25,000 for injury or death of one person / $50,000 for two or more people |
| Property damage liability | $10,000 for property damage |
| Injury protection | Not listed as required. Insurers must offer medical payments, which you can decline. If you elect it, the minimum is $1,000 |
| Uninsured / underinsured motorist | Uninsured motorist: $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident, for bodily injury only. Required |
What the law requires you to carry
- Bodily injury: at least $25,000 for injury or death of one person and $50,000 for two or more people
- Property damage: at least $10,000
- Uninsured motorist coverage with a minimum of $25,000 for one person and $50,000 for two or more people, for bodily injury only
- Or, in limited situations, another accepted security such as a surety bond, personal funds or a certificate of self-insurance
Uninsured drivers
Uninsured motorist coverage in Wisconsin
Uninsured motorist: $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident, for bodily injury only. Required.
- Underinsured motorist coverage is not mandatory. Notice that it is available must come with your policy, and you may reject it. If you request it, minimum limits of $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident are required.
Optional coverage
Coverage you can add in Wisconsin
- Underinsured motorist (not mandatory)
- Medical payments (must be offered)
- Collision
- Comprehensive
- Higher limits
Penalties
Penalties for driving without insurance in Wisconsin
Wisconsin's financial responsibility requirement falls under the Department of Transportation, Division of Motor Vehicles. Penalties are set by Wisconsin law, so confirm current penalties with the Wisconsin DMV.
Good to know
Other things to know in Wisconsin
- Wisconsin has a comparative negligence law. You can recover damages only if your negligence is not greater than the other party's, and your damages are reduced by your share of fault.
- Hitting a deer is a relatively frequent Wisconsin accident. The Commissioner notes that most policies cover hitting an animal under comprehensive coverage, not collision.
- If you have a loan on the vehicle, the lender will require insurance and will most likely require comprehensive and collision coverage. If your policy lapses, the lender can buy forced coverage and add the cost to your loan. That coverage protects only the lender and costs much more.
- Auto policies have no required grace period. If the premium is not received by the due date, the policy automatically terminates.
- If you cannot find coverage after trying several insurers, you may be insured through the Wisconsin Automobile Insurance Plan: 1-800-827-5964.
General information only. It is not legal advice. Rules change, so confirm with the official sources listed below.
Contacts
Who to contact in Wisconsin
- Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance
- Website: oci.wi.gov
- Contact page
- Phone: 1-800-236-8517 (OCI complaints line. Main office: (608) 266-3585)
- NAIC directory of state insurance departments
Sources
Where this summary comes from
Reviewed 2026-10. Check each source for the current rule.
Keep reading
Guides that explain these coverages
- Minimum car insurance requirements by state
- Which States Require Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
- No-Fault vs. At-Fault Car Insurance: Which States Use Which
- States That Raised Minimum Car Insurance Limits Since 2018
- Liability coverage explained
- Collision vs. comprehensive coverage
- What affects your car insurance rate
- After an accident: what to do and what to expect
More about Wisconsin.
Home insurance resources and the health marketplace for Wisconsin are on its overview page.