# Wisconsin car insurance: what a policy must include, UIM and MedPay options and costs

> Wisconsin car insurance must include liability and uninsured motorist coverage. See the minimums, the UIM and MedPay options, fines and average costs.

Canonical page: https://statecover-guide.com/location/wisconsin/  
Last reviewed: October 28, 2026 by the StateCover Guide editorial team  
General information, not legal or insurance advice.

## Quick answer

A Wisconsin car insurance policy must include liability coverage of at least $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident and $10,000 for property damage, plus uninsured motorist coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. Underinsured motorist and medical payments coverage are optional, but each has a minimum if you buy it. Wisconsin drivers spent an average of $922.41 a year per insured vehicle in 2023, below the national $1,281.

## Key facts

| Fact | Wisconsin |
|---|---|
| Liability minimum | $25,000 / $50,000 bodily injury, $10,000 property damage |
| Uninsured motorist | Required: $25,000/$50,000 (bodily injury only) |
| Underinsured motorist | Optional (insurers must give notice it is available); if bought, at least $50,000/$100,000 |
| Medical payments | Must be offered; can be declined (at least $1,000 if bought) |
| PIP | Not required |
| Fault system | At-fault |
| Fine for driving uninsured | Forfeiture of up to $500 |
| Estimated uninsured drivers (2023) | 15.6% (US: 15.4%) |
| Average spent per insured vehicle (2023) | $922.41 a year, about $77 a month |
| Regulator | [Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI)](https://oci.wi.gov/Pages/Consumers/AutoInsurance.aspx), 800-236-8517 (complaints); 608-266-3585 |
| Registration | [Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Division of Motor Vehicles](https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/online-srvcs/external/dmv.aspx) |

## What a Wisconsin policy must include

The Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) lists two required parts of every Wisconsin auto policy:

1. **Liability coverage**, which pays other people when you cause a crash: $25,000 for one person's injuries, $50,000 for everyone injured, and $10,000 for property damage.
2. **Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage**, which pays for your injuries when a driver with no insurance causes the crash: at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.

Wisconsin's required UM minimum covers bodily injury only. It does not promise to fix your car after an uninsured driver hits you. For that, drivers usually rely on [collision coverage](https://statecover-guide.com/coverage/collision/); check your own policy, since what is included varies.

A small number of drivers meet the law another way, with a bond, personal funds or a self-insurance certificate, but for almost everyone the answer is a policy. Wisconsin is an at-fault state, so the driver who causes a crash is responsible for the other people's losses. Neighboring [Minnesota](https://statecover-guide.com/location/minnesota/) (No-fault) and [Michigan](https://statecover-guide.com/location/michigan/) (No-fault) work very differently, which matters if you move or commute.

## Underinsured motorist coverage: optional, with a higher floor

Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage is not mandatory in Wisconsin, but your insurer must tell you it is available when it delivers your policy. If you do buy it, the minimum is $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident, higher than the liability minimum.

UIM pays when the at-fault driver has insurance but not enough. For example, if a driver with a $25,000 per-person limit injures you and your medical bills and lost wages total $70,000, their insurer pays up to its limit. Your UIM coverage can pay toward the rest, up to your UIM limit and subject to the policy's terms. How UIM payments interact with what the other driver's insurer pays depends on your policy language, so read that section or ask your agent. Our [uninsured motorist coverage guide](https://statecover-guide.com/coverage/uninsured-motorist/) explains the basics.

UIM is also a hedge against the uninsured problem. Wisconsin's uninsured estimate of 15.6% is slightly above the national 15.4%, so the chance of being hit by someone with little or no coverage is real.

## Medical payments coverage in Wisconsin

Insurers must offer medical payments coverage, often called MedPay, and you can decline it. The rule in full: Must be offered; can be declined (at least $1,000 if bought). Wisconsin does not require PIP.

MedPay pays medical bills for you and your passengers after a crash, whoever caused it, up to the limit you choose. It can cover health insurance deductibles and copays, and it pays passengers who may have no health coverage of their own. If you have a low-deductible health plan and rarely carry passengers, the value is smaller. The [medical payments coverage guide](https://statecover-guide.com/coverage/medical-payments/) walks through the trade-off.

## Fines for driving uninsured or showing fake proof

| Violation | Penalty under Wisconsin Statutes 344.65 |
|---|---|
| Driving without the required insurance | Forfeiture of up to $500 |
| Showing fraudulent, false or invalid proof of insurance | Forfeiture of up to $5,000 |

The forfeiture is only part of the cost. An uninsured driver who causes a crash is personally responsible for the damage, and a gap in coverage can raise the price of your next policy. See [what a lapse does to your premium](https://statecover-guide.com/blog/car-insurance-lapse/).

## Wisconsin car insurance costs

| Measure (2023) | Wisconsin | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Average spent per insured vehicle | $922.41 | $1,281 |
| Average liability + collision + comprehensive premium | $999.99 | $1,438 |

Wisconsin is below the national average on both NAIC measures. Prices still differ a lot from driver to driver; [reviewing your coverage](https://statecover-guide.com/saving/reviewing-your-coverage/) once a year and asking about [discounts](https://statecover-guide.com/saving/discounts/) are the usual starting points.

## Wisconsin crash data

IIHS data for 2024 show 595 crash deaths in Wisconsin. The rates are below the national figures: 10.0 deaths per 100,000 people (US: 11.5) and 0.86 per 100 million miles driven (US: 1.19). Two shares are higher than nationally: speeding was involved in 32% of deaths (US: 29%), and 57% happened on rural roads (US: 41%). Winter roads and deer add to rural risk; see [winter driving and car insurance](https://statecover-guide.com/blog/winter-driving-and-car-insurance/).

## FAQ

### Is underinsured motorist coverage required in Wisconsin?

No. Insurers must give notice that it is available, but you can decline it. If you buy it, the minimum is $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident.

### Does Wisconsin's required uninsured motorist coverage pay for my car?

The required UM minimum is for bodily injury only. Damage to your car from an uninsured driver is usually paid through collision coverage, if you carry it. Check your declarations page for what your policy includes.

### What is the penalty for driving without insurance in Wisconsin?

A forfeiture of up to $500. Showing false or invalid proof of insurance can cost up to $5,000.

### Is Wisconsin a no-fault state?

No. Wisconsin is an at-fault state and does not require PIP. The driver who causes a crash is responsible for the other people's injuries and damage. See [no-fault vs at-fault states](https://statecover-guide.com/blog/no-fault-vs-at-fault-states/).

### Is car insurance cheap in Wisconsin?

Compared with the country as a whole, yes. Wisconsin drivers spent $922.41 per insured vehicle in 2023, against $1,281 nationally.

## Sources

- [Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance, Auto Insurance FAQs](https://oci.wi.gov/Pages/Consumers/PI-233.aspx) — required coverages, UIM and MedPay minimums
- [Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance, Auto and Vehicle](https://oci.wi.gov/Pages/Consumers/AutoInsurance.aspx) — consumer guidance
- [Wisconsin Legislature, Statutes chapter 344 subchapter VI](https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/344/vi/62) — insurance requirement and forfeitures
- [NAIC, 2022/2023 Auto Insurance Database Report](https://content.naic.org/sites/default/files/publication-aut-pb-auto-insurance-database.pdf) — average costs
- [Insurance Information Institute, Facts + Statistics: Uninsured motorists](https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-uninsured-motorists) — uninsured estimates
- [IIHS, Fatality Facts 2024: State by state](https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/fatality-statistics/detail/state-by-state) — crash death data
- [Insurance Information Institute, Background on: No-fault auto insurance](https://www.iii.org/article/background-on-no-fault-auto-insurance), as of October 28, 2026
- [Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance, Home](https://oci.wi.gov/Pages/Homepage.aspx), as of October 28, 2026
- [NAIC, 2022/2023 Auto Insurance Database Report](https://content.naic.org/article/naic-releases-20222023-auto-insurance-database-report), as of February 13, 2026
- [Insurance Research Council, Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists: 2017–2023 (press release)](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250220231032/en), as of February 20, 2025