Few places are better for road-tripping than Wisconsin. With beautiful stretches of scenic highway, just hop in your car and let the road be your guide. Here at Lakeview Insurance – The Patrick Zuelsdorf Agency, we want you to be protected every mile along the way. As your local Port Washington area independent insurance agency, we can help you personalize an insurance policy that suits your needs nearly anywhere the road may take you.
Choosing Your Coverage Limits
Wisconsin requires all drivers to have car insurance that meets state requirements for liability protection. However, this low-limit coverage is usually too little to provide adequate protection in an accident. That is because when you get behind the wheel of a car, you are taking on a certain amount of risk not only for yourself and your vehicle but also for other drivers on the road. If you cause an accident that injures another person or damages their vehicle or other personal property, you can be held legally and financially liable. Likewise, if you total your own car, you could lose the entire investment you made when you purchased your vehicle.
That’s why we recommend purchasing auto insurance coverage limits that actually suit your needs – not just the ones that meet legal requirements. We can help you build and personalize a policy that provides enough coverage to protect you against the high cost of victim medical bills and defending yourself against a lawsuit. We can also include coverage for your own vehicle and any injuries to you and your passengers.
Car Insurance FAQs
How much auto insurance do I need in Wisconsin?
The Wisconsin minimum auto insurance requirements are designed to provide a small level of protection in the event you damage someone else’s property, or you cause harm to another person. In Wisconsin, drivers need a minimum of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for Bodily Injury Liability Coverage and $10,000 per accident for Property Damage Liability Coverage.
What is the best deductible?
The best deductible is what you can afford to pay out of pocket when you file an auto insurance claim. The higher the deductible, the lower your premium will be, and vice versa. A higher deductible means your accepting a more significant portion of the risk yourself. It is best not to take on more risk than you can afford.
What is “full coverage?”
There is no such thing as “full coverage” insurance. Full coverage auto insurance is a term that is used to suggest you have chosen protection that goes beyond the minimum coverage required by your State. It typically includes collision and comprehensive coverage, medical payment coverage, and uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.
How can I save money on my car insurance?
You can save money on your car insurance by avoiding moving violations, crashes, DUIs, and other incidents. By having a clean driving record, you may also qualify for a safe driver discount. Students may qualify for good student and student-away-at-school discounts. Your vehicle’s anti-theft devices and safety features may also provide more discounts. Paid-in-full, multi-car, and prior carrier discounts are also common.
How long does an auto accident affect my insurance?
A crash won’t impact your car insurance premiums forever. After about three to five years, your rates should recover. Exactly how long this takes will depend on the type of accident as well as the company you are insured with.
Is buying direct cheaper than buying through an agent?
Buying direct is not always cheaper than buying through an agent. You might think that cutting out the middleman would result in cheaper car insurance rates, but when it comes to insurance, this isn’t the case. In fact, an independent agent, one that represents many insurance companies, can often save you money.
What is the best auto insurance company?
The best auto insurance company differs per individual. No insurance company is objectively the best. It all depends on what you’re looking for. Do you want the best customer service, the broadest coverage, or the lowest rates? Or maybe you have unique coverage or underwriting needs? An agent can help you compare car insurance quotes from multiple insurance companies and find the right policy for your situation.
What is the best or cheapest auto insurance rate?
The best or cheapest auto insurance rate can be found by comparison shopping. Compare premiums as well as differences in coverage. An independent insurance agent can help. They can provide options from multiple carriers, along with the expert guidance you need to make a smart choice.
How do I switch to a new auto insurance company?
You can switch to a new auto insurance company at any time, but to avoid overpaying or violating state law, you do need to watch out for a couple of things. Car insurance policies are often sold for coverage periods of six months or one year. In some cases, you may be charged a fee if you decide to cancel your insurance policy early. You may also be entitled to a refund for the unused portion of the premium. You also want to make sure you have continuous coverage to avoid a coverage gap.
Types of Wisconsin Auto Insurance
Most Wisconsin auto insurance policies include many types of coverage, all of which work together to better protect you, your vehicle, and your income against potential losses. Some are required by law and others by lenders and lien-holders, but all of them are beneficial to policy-holders in the event of a loss.
Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability
When you are the at-fault driver in an accident, this type of coverage helps pay for your financial responsibility when a victim is injured or experiences property damage. It can cover the cost of defending yourself in court, as well as the cost of any judgments against you up to the limits of your policy. Since victim liability can include damages for medical bills, rehabilitation, property damages, lost wages, and more, we generally recommend choosing high limits to better safeguard your assets and future income against liquidation and garnishment.
Collision
When an accident leaves your vehicle totaled or damaged, your total loss or the bill for the repairs can total thousands of dollars. With collision insurance, you are covered for the damages, although any claims you make will be subject to your deductible. You can choose a low deductible that minimizes your out-of-pocket costs after an accident, or you can choose a high deductible in an effort to drive down the cost of your policy premiums.
Comprehensive
Your vehicle is also at risk when it’s not being driven. A tree could fall it in your drive-way, a wild animal could destroy the inside of it, or a storm could drop damaging hail on it, leaving you with a big bill for the damages. Comprehensive coverage protects against these types of non-collision events, covering repairs or providing a settlement in the event of a total loss. Like collision claims, any claims you make against your comprehensive coverage may also be subject to a deductible.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist
Sometimes drivers break the law and drive without liability insurance. If you are injured by one of those drivers, your uninsured motorist protection can help cover medical expenses for you and your passengers. Your policy can also include underinsured motorist protection, which help pay for excess damages when an at-fault driver’s insurance falls short of your needs.
Medical Payments
Medical payments coverage compensates you if you are injured in an accident, regardless of whether it was your fault or the fault of another driver. Although the coverage is usually limited to no more than a few thousand dollars, this could be enough to pay your health insurance deductible and get you on the road to recovery. Since it does not release another driver of liability, you can still pursue compensation from an at-fault driver’s insurance company despite receiving medical payments reimbursement from your own.
Roadside Assistance and Towing
No one plans to have a flat tire or lock their keys in their car, but accidents happen. Fortunately, your car insurance can include coverage for these types of unexpected events and help minimize your out-of-pocket costs if you need roadside assistance or towing.
Rental Car Coverage
If you are in a car accident that damages or destroys your vehicle, you may need to rent a car while you shop for a new car or wait for the body shop to finish the repairs. During that time, your policy can reimburse you for the cost of renting temporary transportation.
Save Money on Wisconsin Auto Insurance
When it comes to car insurance, having the right coverage is always the first priority, but that doesn’t mean you should pay more for the insurance protection you need. At Lakeview Insurance – The Patrick Zuelsdorf Agency, we help drivers like you find personalized insurance coverage at highly competitive rates by shopping and comparing options from multiple Wisconsin insurers. We can also search for the discounts you may be eligible for, such as:
- Low mileage discounts
- Good student discounts
- Student away at college discounts
- Claims-free discounts
- Safe driver discounts
- Multiple vehicle discounts
- Home and auto bundling discounts
- And more
To find out more about how an independent insurance agent can help you save on the car insurance you need, contact our office to request your free quote today. We look forward to serving you soon.
