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

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; 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 (No-fault) and 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 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 walks through the trade-off.

Fines for driving uninsured or showing fake proof

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.

Wisconsin car insurance costs

Wisconsin is below the national average on both NAIC measures. Prices still differ a lot from driver to driver; reviewing your coverage once a year and asking about 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.