You have most likely seen the ads from auto insurance companies like Progressive, Nationwide, and GEICO that claim enormous savings. So drivers should just choose any of them, right?
It’s not that easy, however, as there are many unknown factors such as citations or tickets, the amount of liability insurance you need, and the annual mileage you drive, that all impact the cost of coverage. This article delves into the best ways to maintain low rates and hopefully give you enough understanding to have a solid foundation to find cheaper car insurance.
For drivers with no prior coverage, one of the big criteria that are looked at to help calculate insurance cost is where you keep your vehicle. Areas with increased crime or more people are more likely to have higher rates, whereas areas that tend to be more rural tend to receive slightly lower rates.
The following table ranks the highest-priced areas in Wisconsin for uninsured drivers in which to buy car insurance. Milwaukee comes in at #1 with the yearly price of $1,396 for the average insured, which is around $116 monthly.
| Rank | City | Annual Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Milwaukee | $1,396 |
| 2 | Wauwatosa | $1,319 |
| 3 | West Allis | $1,234 |
| 4 | Kenosha | $1,218 |
| 5 | Racine | $1,217 |
| 6 | Greenfield | $1,168 |
| 7 | Oak Creek | $1,166 |
| 8 | Franklin | $1,151 |
| 9 | Beloit | $1,130 |
| 10 | Eau Claire | $1,091 |
| 11 | Wausau | $1,079 |
| 12 | Madison | $1,072 |
| 13 | Brookfield | $1,067 |
| 14 | New Berlin | $1,060 |
| 15 | Menomonee Falls | $1,057 |
| 16 | Waukesha | $1,034 |
| 17 | La Crosse | $1,033 |
| 18 | Janesville | $1,011 |
| 19 | West Bend | $1,007 |
| 20 | Manitowoc | $997 |
| Compare Prices Now Go | ||
Price information shown is estimated as the vehicle garaging location can raise or lower insurance rates significantly.
The make and model of vehicle you are insuring is probably the most important factor that determines whether or not you can buy the most economical auto insurance for uninsured drivers. Vehicles with reasonable performance levels, an excellent safety record, or a low likelihood of having liability claims will cost substantially less to insure than higher performance models.
The information below ranks insurance prices for a selection of the most budget-friendly vehicles to insure in Wisconsin.
| Make, Model, and Trim Level | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Ford Escape XLT 2WD | $1,732 |
| Ford Explorer XLT 4WD | $1,941 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan SE | $1,950 |
| Toyota RAV4 2WD | $2,045 |
| Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid | $2,053 |
| Chevrolet Silverado LS Regular Cab 2WD | $2,051 |
| Ford Focus SES 4-Dr Sedan | $2,114 |
| Honda CR-V EX 2WD | $2,123 |
| Hyundai Elantra GLS 4-Dr Sedan | $2,153 |
| Toyota Camry SE | $2,161 |
| Toyota Prius | $2,195 |
| Hyundai Sonata GLS 4-Dr Sedan | $2,202 |
| Ford Edge SEL 2WD | $2,302 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LS AWD | $2,344 |
| Nissan Altima 2.5 S 2-Dr Coupe | $2,354 |
| Kia Optima SX | $2,344 |
| Ford Fusion S 4-Dr Sedan | $2,353 |
| GMC Sierra 2500HD SLE Crew Cab 2WD | $2,452 |
| Ford F-250 XL Super Cab Harley Turbo Diesel 2WD | $2,490 |
| Dodge Ram Crew Cab Laramie 4WD | $2,497 |
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Prices above based on single female driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Wisconsin minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, multi-policy, homeowner, claim-free, and safe-driver. Price estimates do not factor in the specific area where the vehicle is garaged which can increase or decrease prices considerably.
Looking at the data, we can presume that vehicles like the Ford Escape, Ford Explorer, and Dodge Grand Caravan will be some of the more affordable vehicles to insure for drivers with no prior coverage.
Finding good, budget insurance is not always easy, and deciding which companies quote the lowest-priced insurance rates for uninsured drivers will require even more rate comparisons. Each insurance company has a proprietary formula for determining prices, so let’s begin by taking a look at the overall cheapest insurance companies in Milwaukee.
It’s important that readers know that Milwaukee insurance rates are based on many factors that control your annual premium. Improving your credit score, buying higher coverage limits, or getting a reckless driving citation can cause premium changes resulting in some companies being cheaper than competitors.
Find the Cheapest Car Insurance in Wisconsin
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | USAA | $604 |
| 2 | Partners Mutual | $614 |
| 3 | Erie | $717 |
| 4 | Rockford Mutual | $724 |
| 5 | Pekin Insurance | $745 |
| 6 | Integrity Mutual | $762 |
| 7 | Nationwide | $768 |
| 8 | Rural Mutual Insurance | $779 |
| 9 | Western National | $801 |
| 10 | Travelers | $828 |
| 11 | West Bend Mutual | $899 |
| 12 | The Hartford | $912 |
| 13 | State Farm | $923 |
| 14 | General Casualty | $926 |
| 15 | Auto Club Group | $948 |
| 16 | Farmers | $1,141 |
| 17 | Auto-Owners | $1,148 |
| 18 | Progressive | $1,152 |
| 19 | American Family | $1,159 |
| 20 | GEICO | $1,190 |
| Get Personalized Rates Go | ||
USAA offers some of the best car insurance rates in Milwaukee at around $604 per year. Partners Mutual, Erie, Rockford Mutual, and Pekin Insurance are also some of the most economical Milwaukee, WI auto insurance companies.
As the rates illustrate above, if you are a customer of Partners Mutual and switched to USAA, you might achieve an annual premium reduction of approximately $10. Policyholders with Erie may save as much as $113 a year, and Rockford Mutual insureds might reduce prices by as much as $120 a year.
Bear in mind that those estimates are averages across all drivers and vehicles in Wisconsin and do not factor in a vehicle location for uninsured drivers. So the company that is best suited for you may not even be in the list above. That points out the importance of why you need to get rate quotes using your own specific driver information and vehicle.
How accidents and tickets impact rates
In a perfect world, the ideal way to obtain cheap insurance premiums in Milwaukee for drivers with no prior coverage is to be a careful driver and have a clean driving record. The diagram below shows how violations and fender-benders can drive up insurance costs for different age groups of insureds. The costs are based on a married female driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, $1,000 deductibles, and no discounts are applied to the premium.
The chart shows that the average cost of car insurance per year with no accidents or violations is $751. Factor in one speeding ticket and the average cost increases to $873, an increase of $123 each year. Now add two accidents along with the one speeding ticket and the yearly cost of insurance for uninsured drivers jumps again to an average of $2,040. That’s an increase of $1,290, or $107 per month, just for not being attentive to the road!
Buying coverage from the top auto insurance company can be difficult considering how many different companies insure vehicles in Milwaukee. The company ratings shown next could help you pick which auto insurance companies to look at shopping prices with.
These rankings include large, nationwide insurance companies, so companies with more of a regional focus are not included in these rankings. To compare prices from these top-rated insurers and more, follow this link.
Top 10 Large Auto Insurance Companies Overall in Milwaukee
- USAA
- 21st Century
- GEICO
- Nationwide
- AAA Insurance
- Liberty Mutual
- Safeco Insurance
- State Farm
- Travelers
- American Family
The diagram below illustrates how your choice of deductibles can increase or decrease insurance costs when trying to find cheap insurance for uninsured drivers. The premium estimates are based on a married female driver, comprehensive and collision coverage, and no additional discounts are factored in.
A 40-year-old driver could reduce rates by $188 a year by changing their physical damage coverage from a $100 deductible to a $500 deductible, or save $284 by selecting a $1,000 deductible. Young drivers, like the Age 20 chart data, could save $466 every year by choosing larger deductibles on their policy. If you do decide to increase your deductibles, it is essential to have plenty of money set aside to allow you to cover the extra out-of-pocket expense, which deters some drivers from choosing higher deductibles.
Here’s why you should shop around
Milwaukee insurance rates are impacted by many things that may substantially change the price you have to pay for coverage. Simply improving your credit, buying a home instead of renting, or having an accident can cause premium changes that can now make some companies cheaper than competitors. Additionally, companies amend premium rates multiple times each year as an adjustment for underwriting gains or losses. Higher than normal claims may result in additional price hikes, while lower claim levels may result in lower-priced Milwaukee car insurance rates.
To illustrate this point, the chart below shows the companies that have the cheapest car insurance in Milwaukee, WI for a 30-year-old female driver with no accidents, a clean driving record, and a good credit history. If we compare prices based on her personal risk profile, USAA quotes the best car insurance rates in Milwaukee at $902 per year. This is $259 less than the average policy premium paid by Wisconsin drivers of $1,161. Partners Mutual, Erie, Pekin Insurance, and Nationwide are the rest of the cheapest Milwaukee, WI auto insurance companies.
The example below compares rates after we give the driver from the first rate comparison a chargeable accident, less-than-perfect credit, and a speeding citation. Because each insurer has their own formula to determine rates, comparing insurance quotes may now present a different list of affordable companies as shown below.
Rockford Mutual now has the best price in Milwaukee, WI with Western National, Integrity Mutual, Travelers, and Partners Mutual completing the list. This example demonstrates why consumers need to compare many different companies to get affordable insurance rates for uninsured drivers.
Auto insurance prices are determined by many factors and can increase or decrease at any time, so the cheapest company three years ago may now cost much more than other companies.