What is Wisconsin’s mandatory auto insurance coverage?

Gary

Milwaukee, WI

Wisconsin’s financial responsibility law is intended to make sure that all licensed drivers in Wisconsin are liable for the damages that may arise from getting into an accident to which they are found to be at fault. This financial responsibility may come in the form of a vehicle liability insurance policy, certificate of self-insurance, surety/guarantee bond, or personal funds.

If you decide to satisfy the required financial responsibility by getting a vehicle liability insurance policy, you have to abide by the state-mandated minimum coverage requirements. Your policy must be able to cover 25 thousand dollars for the injuries or death of one person, 50 thousand dollars for the injuries or death of two or more persons for a single incident, and 10 thousand dollars for property damage and vehicle repair. The policy must also have uninsured motorist coverage worth 25 thousand dollars/50 thousand dollars to cover bodily injuries only.

If you feel the need to protect your assets, you may opt to get coverage that is beyond the required minimum set by the state. Your additional coverage will depend on your needs; therefore make sure that you get the appropriate policy for you. You may also check for deductibles that are applicable to your policy. Deductibles are additional payments that you make to pay for the damages. Your payment plus the payment made by the insurance company compose the total amount for a certain portion of the claim. To better understand this add-on and your other options, try seeking advice from different insurance agents.

I was caught driving without insurance and was required to obtain an SR22 in Wisconsin. What do I do? Where can I get the cheapest SR22?

Gian

Appleton, WI

As you probably know, driving without insurance is liable to be punished by law in Wisconsin. If you get suspended on this violation, you need to secure yourself of another type of insurance called as SR22 Wisconsin. An SR22 is needed to lift your suspended license and reinstate your driving privileges in Wisconsin.

Even though it is in the law, we are never obliged to spend a lot just for an SR22 alone. There are several ways to obtain a low cost SR22 Wisconsin. In order for us to save from our premiums, we must take the opportunity to shop around for the cheapest SR22 deal that fits our budget.

Insurance rates differ from one insurance company to another. An insurance company may only offer their cheapest deal if you meet their expectations to qualify. Therefore looking for the cheapest insurance policy seems not to be the case then. A cheaper insurance policy would all depend on the qualifications and needs of the motorist.

Insurance companies are typically competing against each other with their insurance deals. This is a good opportunity for us consumers to take advantage of their rates. However, we must still be careful with the cheap SR22 packages that they are offering if they really contain the coverage that we are really need.

Be a wise consumer by checking carefully not only with the price but as well as with the policies written on your coverage. It might be a cheap coverage but their limit might be too low. Like for an example, instead of gaining extra savings on your premium, you might end up paying more because you have already exceeded beyond the coverage limit.

I am currently under my parent’s car insurance policy. I cant afford to get car insurance yet on my own since I am only 18 years old.. I live with my parents in Wisconsin but they are planning to move in Illinois. Can I stay on their auto insurance if I wont be living in the same household? I have my own vehicle.

Kenosha WI

Peters

No, it is not likely that your parent’s insurance policy will be able to continue to have you and your vehicle if they move out of state. The state of Illinois has different auto insurance liability requirements than the state of WI so that is one problem that may arise but also most all insurance companies will not cover an individual and the vehicle that is not part of the household. Since your vehicle will be garaged in Kenosha Wisconsin and not at the address of your parents then an insurance provider will not usually allow you or your vehicle to be covered on your parent’s insurance policy once they move, especially to a different state.

You can check if there are ways in which to lower the car insurance premium. You can look for car insurance discounts such as safety features on your vehicle for one. Other ways in which to obtain discounts may be taking a driver improvement course or safety course, some insurance company lower car insurance rates if you take approved traffic class. In addition if you are going to school and maintaining good grades some insurance companies give good student discounts.

I received a speeding ticket in New York. My automobile is registered and insured in Wisconsin. Will this speeding ticket affect my driving record and auto insurance?

Joey

Appleton, WI

If you are convicted of this speeding offense in the state of New York then their courts will likely notify the Wisconsin Department of Transportation of the speeding ticket.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation states that they do receive in from out of state courts information on Wisconsin licensed motorists and traffic violation convictions. According to the Wisconsin DOT though that no points are assessed for violations of traffic offenses from out of state but the conviction is placed on your WI driver record.

You can contact your insurance agent in Appleton WI about your insurance company’s rating system or you may contact your state’s insurance regulator since insurers must file their insurance rates with this state entity.

I am required to carry an sr22 and I just want to know if this will cover just myself or anyone who uses my vehicle?

Justin

Thank you for asking Justin.

Typically, car insurance follows the motor vehicle first and the driver second. There are financial liability laws in most states so the motorist should also have had car insurance or they will end up with a conviction for driving with no insurance and have their license suspended or revoked until they get an SR22 or the financial responsibility certificate.

Normally, an SR22 is only liability insurance so it will likely cover the motor vehicle struck and damaged but not the at-fault vehicle’s damages.

To be certain what your specific SR22 policy covers contact your insurance company. They will be able to give you more information on what the sr22 covers.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

I was driving in Green Bay Wisconsin WI on a restricted driver’s license by DUI. I was driving outside my restrictions. I crashed my car due to a road hazard so will my insurance pay for damages even though I was not driving to/from work as mandates by my restricted license provisions?

Sarrah

Green Bay, WI

The insurance company’s provisions and/or exclusions will determine if this is covered under your policy. Exclusions on a Personal Auto Policy can be different for every carries and state, so you better review your policy:

Some typical exclusion follows:
-committing a high misdemeanor or felony, or seeking to avoid lawful apprehension or arrest by a police officer; or
-acting with specific intent to cause injury or damage to himself or others;
-operating or “occupying” an “auto” without the permission of the owner of the “auto” or name insured under the policy insuring that “auto”.
-War (declared or undeclared);
-Civil war;
-Insurrection;
-Rebellion or revolution;
-Any act or condition incident to any of the above resulting from radioactive, toxic, explosive, or other hazardous properties of nuclear material.
-and other specified on each policy…

Based on the typical exclusions listed, it seems like you will have coverage afforded unless there are other exclusions listed on your policy.

Do I still need to carry an SR-22 insurance to get an occupational license in Wisconsin if I already have full car insurance?

Harry

Janesville, WI

In the state of WI, proof of financial responsibility should set a liability insurance in the amounts of at least $25,000 and $50,000 for personal injury or death and $10,000 for property damage. This proof of insurance is filed by obtaining an SR-22 certificate issued by an insurance company licensed to do business in WI. Substitutions, such as a bond from an insurance company or a cash deposit of $60,000 posted with the WI Department of Transportation (DOT) will be accepted in some cases.

An SR-22 is required by the state in order to obtain an occupational license or to reinstate a driver’s license after operating privileges or vehicle registration has been revoked. You can have more auto insurance than what the state requires as a proof of insurance but you will still need your insurer to file the SR-22 since it is a requirement for obtaining an occupational license. So even though you have full coverage, it does not matter since it is mandated by your state law.

I would suggest contacting WI DOT for more information on what is needed to get an occupational license in Janesville, Wisconsin. You will need to obtain new auto insurance coverages through an insurance carrier who does work with SR22s if your current insurance provider does not file the SR-22 form.