Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Car insurance is affordable for Wisconsin drivers. The average driver pays $856 a year, less than the national average according to the Insurance Information Institute. But, that's not to say that there aren't still some ways to save if you're willing to put in a few minutes of work.
Shopping around for coverage is the best way to make sure you're getting the best price for you. Your premium, or the amount you'll pay for auto insurance coverage, depends on several factors, including things like your credit score, the type of car you drive, how many years of driving experience you have, and even where you live in Wisconsin.
Every company weighs these factors differently, so getting quotes from different companies and comparing them is the best way to find the most affordable policy for you.
The most popular car insurance companies in Wisconsin
The following are the most popular car insurance companies in Wisconsin, based on the percentage of insured Wisconsin drivers who use them:
| Companies | Market share (%) |
| Progressive | 19.77 |
| American Family Insurance | 18.56 |
| State Farm | 13.77 |
| GEICO | 4.83 |
| Allstate | 4.53 |
| Erie Insurance | 3.66 |
| ACUITY Mutual Insurance | 3.25 |
| West Bend Mutual Insurance | 3.01 |
| USAA* | 2.60 |
| Liberty Mutual | 2.39 |
| Auto-Owners Insurance | 2.03 |
| Farmers Insurance | 1.94 |
| Auto Club Insurance | 1.51 |
| SECURA Insurance | 1.37 |
| Grange Insurance | 1.34 |
| Wisconsin Mutual Insurance | 1.29 |
| Rural Mutual Insurance | 1.20 |
| MetLife | 0.86 |
| Travelers | 0.84 |
| The Hanover Insurance Group | 0.79 |
*USAA is only for active military, veterans, and their families.
Data from S&P Global Market Intelligence
The best car insurance in Wisconsin based on customer satisfaction
Customer satisfaction with car insurance providers may factor into your decision. According to J.D. Power, a consumer research company that surveys customers, these are the top car insurance companies in the North Central region (which includes Wisconsin):
- GEICO
- Indiana Farm Bureau
- Erie Insurance
- Auto-Owners Insurance
- Country Financial
- Westfield
- Grange Insurance
- Farmers
- Allstate
- Region Average
- State Farm
- Nationwide
- Travelers
- American Family
- Progressive
The best cheap car insurance in Wisconsin based on credit score
Consumer Reports compiled a list of all car insurance pricing formulas from all companies in every state. It used an average single adult driver to find the best pricing in each state, and found that three companies came out on top for three different credit levels. Here are the three best companies and their average price for coverage:
Drivers with excellent credit, FICO score 800-850, will see some of the best average rates on car insurance.
- USAA car insurance: $468 per year
- Mid-Century car insurance: $686 per year
- State Farm car insurance: $854 per year
Drivers with good credit, FICO score 670-739, will see the best coverage from these three companies, on average:
- USAA car insurance: $538 per year
- Mid-Century car insurance: $839 per year
- American Family car insurance: $952 per year
Those with poor credit, FICO score 300-579, will pay more for their car insurance, on average.
- USAA car insurance: $1,296 per year
- Mid-Century car insurance: $1,427 per year
- American Family car insurance: $1,731 per year
The best car insurance for drivers with a clean record
For a driver in Wisconsin age 25 or older with no accidents and one vehicle, the following companies provide the best average rates:
| Company | Average monthly insurance premium |
| State Farm | $95 |
| Liberty Mutual | $110 |
| Progressive | $112 |
| GEICO | $121 |
| Allstate | $128 |
| Esurance | $134 |
| Travelers | $146 |
| USAA* | $148 |
| American Family | $179 |
*USAA is only for active military, veterans, and their families.
Above data obtained from Savvy, based on 1,240 policyholders in the state of Wisconsin
Best car insurance for one or more accidents on record
For a driver in Wisconsin age 25 or older, with one or more accidents and one vehicle, the following companies provide the best average rates:
| Company | Average monthly insurance premium |
| GEICO | $98 |
| Allstate | $136 |
| Progressive | $138 |
| Esurance | $168 |
Above data obtained from Savvy, based on 1,240 policyholders in the state of Wisconsin
Wisconsin car insurance rates by city
Below is the estimated average annual premium of auto insurance policies per household in Wisconsin's most populous cities:
| City | Average annual insurance premium |
| Milwaukee | $1,124 |
| Madison | $1,257 |
| Green Bay | $1,169 |
| Kenosha | $1,227 |
| Racine | $1,123 |
| Appleton | $1,246 |
| Waukesha | $1,265 |
| Eau Claire | $1,151 |
| Oshkosh | $1,197 |
| Janesville | $1,208 |
| West Allis | $1,172 |
| La Crosse | $1,154 |
| Sheboygan | $1,183 |
| Wauwatosa | $1,309 |
| Fond du Lac | $1,202 |
| New Berlin | $1,333 |
| Wausau | $1,162 |
| Franklin | $1,343 |
| Brookfield | $1,416 |
| Menomonee Falls | $1,342 |
| Beloit | $1,138 |
| Greenfield | $1,204 |
| Oak Creek | $1,319 |
| Sun Prairie | $1,329 |
| Manitowoc | $1,159 |
| West Bend | $1,240 |
| Fitchburg | $1,311 |
| Mount Pleasant | $1,238 |
| Stevens Point | $1,170 |
| Neenah | $1,283 |
| Superior | $1,142 |
| Caledonia | $1,260 |
| Muskego | $1,383 |
| De Pere | $1,297 |
| Mequon | $1,435 |
| Watertown | $1,168 |
| Pleasant Prairie | $1,376 |
| Middleton | $1,361 |
| South Milwaukee | $1,220 |
| Germantown | $1,371 |
Data from S&P Global Market Intelligence
Who gets the best cheap car insurance in Wisconsin?
As the data above shows, your credit score is one of the bigger influences on the price you'll pay for coverage. But, there are many other factors that play into your premium, too. With every company considering them differently, it's critical to shop around.
If you want to get the best rate for you, you'll need to start by getting quotes from several different insurance companies. Once you have a few different quotes, you'll want to compare them and look for the policy that gives you the most coverage for your money by giving the most coverage types and the highest limits. Also look at the deductible, or the amount you'll pay out-of-pocket if you get into an accident.
The driver who gets the best deal in Wisconsin is the one who shops around for their coverage. Compare quotes and look beyond the premium to find the best-priced coverage for you.
Ronda Lee is an associate editor for insurance at Personal Finance Insider covering life, auto, homeowners, and renters insurance for consumers. She is also a licensed attorney who practiced litigation and insurance defense.