Best Cheap Car Insurance in Wisconsin for 2019

Auto Insurance

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When it comes to getting cheap car insurance in Wisconsin, fortune favors the persistent. Insurance companies may offer different rates for the exact same type of policy, so comparing as many prices as possible is smart.

Your rates will also hinge on your driving history, credit score and other personal factors. To help you find the best prices, NerdWallet looked at rates from the nine largest insurers in the state and found the three lowest options for several driver types.

Cheapest for good drivers

American Family was the cheapest auto insurance carrier we found for drivers in Wisconsin with clean credit and driving histories, at $62 per month, on average. State Farm and West Bend also make the list, with all three cheapest average prices within $10 per month of one another.

Insurer Average price Get your rate
*West Bend Mutual is not rated because there is not enough data to evaluate it against larger companies.

4.0NerdWallet rating


$743/year

$62/month

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4.0NerdWallet rating


$796/year

$66/month

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NerdWallet rating: Not rated*


$862/year

$72/month

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For this calculation, NerdWallet averaged rates for 40-year-old men and women with a clean driving record and good credit. With the exception of age, a large portion of drivers are closest to this profile, which carries standard “full coverage” insurance, including state-required coverage.

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Cheapest for drivers with poor credit

For Wisconsin drivers with spotty credit histories, West Bend was the cheapest auto insurer we found, at $95 per month, on average. American Family and Acuity complete the list for drivers with poor credit.

Insurer Average price Get your rate
*Acuity and West Bend Mutual are not rated because there is not enough data to evaluate them against larger companies.

NerdWallet rating: Not rated*


$1,145/year

$95/month

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4.0NerdWallet rating


$1,306/year

$109/month

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NerdWallet rating: Not rated*


$1,362/year

$113/month

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Poor credit can have a bigger effect on car insurance premiums than even a DUI conviction or a recent accident. To calculate these figures, NerdWallet averaged rates for 40-year-olds with a clean driving record, poor credit as reported to their insurer, and standard “full coverage” insurance.

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Cheapest for drivers with one at-fault crash

American Family was the cheapest auto insurance company we found in Wisconsin for drivers with a recent accident on their records, at $65 per month, on average. State Farm and West Bend round out the cheapest three.

Insurer Average price Get your rate
*West Bend Mutual is not rated because there is not enough data to evaluate it against larger companies.

4.0NerdWallet rating


$782/year

$65/month

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4.0NerdWallet rating


$941/year

$78/month

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NerdWallet rating: Not rated*


$1,228/year

$102/month

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To get these figures, we averaged rates for 40-year-olds with one recent at-fault crash and the typical “full coverage” insurance. Your rates will remain high for three to five years after you cause an accident or have a moving violation. If you fall into this category, be sure to shop for new insurance rates just after the three-year and five-year anniversaries of your infraction.

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Cheapest for low-mileage drivers

For Wisconsinites who clock few annual miles, American Family was the cheapest auto insurance carrier we found, at an average rate of $57 per month. State Farm came in a close second, and West Bend was third-cheapest.

Insurer Average price Get your rate
*West Bend Mutual is not rated because there is not enough data to evaluate it against larger companies.

4.0NerdWallet rating


$688/year

$57/month

Get a quote

4.0NerdWallet rating


$712/year

$59/month

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NerdWallet rating: Not rated*


$847/year

$71/month

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Whether you’re retired, work at home or often use public transportation, you may be able to get cheaper car insurance simply because you drive less. The rates above are for 40-year-olds with typical “full coverage” insurance and a clean driving record who drive 5,000 miles per year instead of the standard 12,000.

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Cheapest for minimum coverage

West Bend was the cheapest insurer we found for minimum auto coverage in Wisconsin, at $25 per month, on average. State Farm and Acuity come in second- and third-cheapest, respectively.

Insurer Average price Get your rate
*Acuity and West Bend Mutual are not rated because there is not enough data to evaluate them against larger companies.

NerdWallet rating: Not rated*


$302/year

$25/month

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4.0NerdWallet rating


$324/year

$27/month

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NerdWallet rating: Not rated*


$378/year

$31/month

Get a quote

We calculated these numbers by averaging rates for 40-year-old good drivers who have only the minimum mandatory insurance in their state. Such light coverage isn’t typically recommended, since it might not cover all the bills resulting from a car accident, but it’s better than nothing — especially if you can’t afford much more.

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Minimum required auto insurance in WIsconsin

Wisconsin requires drivers to carry liability insurance and uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage (UMBI) in the following amounts:

  • $25,000 bodily injury liability per person.
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident.
  • $10,000 property damage liability per accident.
  • $25,000 UMBI per person.
  • $50,000 UMBI per accident.

Liability insurance kicks in to cover others’ property damage and injury treatment, up to your limit, if you cause an accident.

If you’re ever struck by a driver who lacks car insurance, UMBI will cover your injuries plus those of your passengers, also up to your limit.

Keep in mind that the required amounts of insurance may not be enough to fully cover others’ damages or your own. In most cases, it’s wise to choose limits above the legal minimum and consider adding common optional coverages such as collision and comprehensive insurance.

See more state required car insurance.

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Alternative Wisconsin car insurance

If you’re unable to purchase auto insurance on the voluntary market because of DUIs, at-fault accidents, poor credit or other circumstances, you can apply for coverage through the Wisconsin Automobile Insurance Plan.

For more help sorting through the companies in your area and finding the most competitive car insurance rates, try NerdWallet’s car insurance comparison tool.

Here’s a summary of where you’ll find the cheapest insurance, by category:

Cheapest car insurance in Wisconsin for 2019

Category Cheapest option
Good drivers American Family
Drivers with poor credit West Bend
Drivers with one at-fault crash American Family
Low-mileage drivers American Family
Minimum coverage West Bend

Methodology

For our base-profile driver with good credit and a clean driving history, NerdWallet averaged rates from the largest insurers for 40-year-old men and women in 20 ZIP codes. The policy includes:

  • $100,000 bodily injury liability coverage per person.
  • $300,000 bodily injury liability coverage per crash.
  • $50,000 property damage liability coverage per crash.
  • $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per person.
  • $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per crash.
  • Collision coverage with $1,000 deductible.
  • Comprehensive coverage with $1,000 deductible.

We used the same assumptions for all other driver profiles, with the following exceptions:

  • For drivers with poor credit, we adjusted the credit tier from “good” to “poor.”
  • For drivers with one at-fault crash, we added a single at-fault crash.
  • For low-mileage drivers, we adjusted the miles driven from 12,000 per year to 5,000.
  • For drivers with minimum coverage, we adjusted the numbers above to reflect minimum required coverage by law in the state.

We used a 2015 Toyota Camry in all cases. These are rates generated through Quadrant Information Services. Your own rates will be different.

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