What is SR-22?
If your Wisconsin driver’s license has been revoked by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) you will need an SR-22 Insurance Certificate before WisDOT will reinstate your driver’s license. The SR-22 Insurance Certificate is proof that you have obtained and paid for liability insurance coverage. Once you are eligible to have your license reinstated, WisDOT will require this proof of insurance document for three years.

How to get an SR-22 Insurance Certificate
Tell your Wisconsin automobile insurance agent or company that you need an SR-22 Insurance Certificate. Your agent or company will file the necessary proof of insurance documents with WisDOT after you have paid the insurance premium. For more information on licensing requirements in Wisconsin , go to the reinstating a license and proof of insurance requirements in Wisconsin , go to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation website.

Auto insurance underwriting factors

Experience & Driving Record
There are many variables that affect how much an individual pays for automobile insurance. Your age, number of years of driving experience, your own history of accidents, claims and moving traffic violations are just a few of the factors affecting your insurance rates.
How You Use Your Car
Where you live, how far you drive to and from work each day, your annual mileage, the type of car you own and the coverages you choose are other important factors. Are you married or single? If you live with other licensed drivers, their driving records will also be used to determine how much you pay for car insurance.
Credit
Many companies consider your credit insurance score to be an indicator of how likely you will be to file an auto insurance claim.
Do You Qualify for Discounts?
Insurance companies also reward safe drivers and long time customers with discounts. Young drivers with a good academic record may qualify for a good student discount. You may also qualify for a discount if you combine other types of insurance with the same company, such as auto, home or renters insurance.

How to Find a Good Agent
A good insurance agent adds value to your insurance policy and may save you money in the long run. Ask friends, relatives and neighbors for agent and company recommendations.
The Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner’s Office can assist you in verifying whether someone is a properly licensed agent. Other factors that may be important to you include where the agent’s office is located and the agency’s office hours.
Insurance agents fall into two broad categories; independent agents and direct-writing agents. Independent agents represent many different insurance companies and direct-writing agents write business for only a single company. Contact BOTH types of agents when you are shopping for coverage and value. Before you purchase, however, it is wise to research the company or firm with which you are considering doing business. To confirm whether a company is licensed to write business in Wisconsin , contact the Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner’s Office

Auto Insurance Coverage:  Terms and Definitions

Required Coverages in Wisconsin
Liability insurance

Pays for injury to another person or persons, or damage to another person’s property for which you are legally liable. Bodily injury liability coverage pays the medical costs of others, and your legal defense costs, if your car injures or kills someone. Minimum limits effective 01-01-2010 are $50,000 (per person) and $100,000 (per accident).

Property damage liability

Pays the claims against you if you damage someone else’s car or property. Minimum limit effective 01-01-2010 is $15,000.

Medical payments coverage

Pays medical expenses without regard to fault. This coverage pays medical and funeral expenses for you and your passengers. Minimum limit effective 11-01-2009 is $10,000.

Uninsured motorists (UM) coverage

Pays medical expenses for you and passengers in your car when injury has been caused by an uninsured driver. This coverage applies to bodily injury damages only. Injuries to the insured caused by a hit-and-run driver are also covered. Uninsured motorist coverage WILL NOT pay for repairing damage to property (such as your car) caused by an uninsured driver. Minimum limits effective 11-01-2009 are $100,000 (per person) and $300,000 (per accident).

Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage

Underinsured motorist coverage means coverage for the protection of persons insured under that coverage who are legally entitled to recover damages for bodily injury, death, sickness, or disease from owners or operators of underinsured motor vehicles.

An underinsured motor vehicle means a motor vehicle to which all of the following apply:

• The motor vehicle is involved in an accident with a person who has underinsured motorist coverage
• A bodily injury liability insurance policy applies to the motor vehicle at the time of the accident
• and the limits under the bodily injury liability insurance policy are less than the amount needed to fully compensate the insured for his or her damages. If another insured driver has lower liability limits than your UIM damages, your policy will pay the difference between the two limits. Minimum limits effective 11-01-2009 are $100,000 (per person) and $300,000 (per accident).

 

 

Optional Coverages

Collision

An optional auto insurance coverage that pays for damage to your car caused by colliding with another vehicle or object. This coverage is frequently required if you have a car loan.

Comprehensive

An optional auto insurance coverage that pays for damage to your car for losses caused by fire, theft, vandalism, falling objects, flood, hail or other types of damage caused by something other than a collision. Damage from striking a deer happens often in Wisconsin . Damage caused by hitting an animal is covered under comprehensive, not collision, insurance.

Other Than Collision

Same as Comprehensive

 

 

Nine Tips for Saving on Auto Insurance

1. Shop Around Prices vary from company to company. Get at least three price quotes by calling local insurance agents and checking on the Internet.
2. Compare Insurance Costs Before You Buy a Car Insurance. Costs are based on the value of the car you are insuring, the cost of repairing your vehicle, its safety record and the likelihood of theft. To help you decide what car to buy, check current reports provided by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
3. Increase Your Deductible Deductibles are the amount you pay before your insurance policy kicks in. By increasing your deductible from say $200 to $500, you could substantially lower your auto insurance premium.
4. Drop Coverage on Older Cars Do you know how much your car is worth? A good rule of thumb is if your car is worth less than ten times the annual premium, it may be cost effective to drop the collision and/or comprehensive coverages from your policy. Check used car valuation guides such as Kelley’s Blue Book or others, and review your coverage at renewal time with your insurance agent
5. Combine Auto Insurance with Property Insurance Many insurance companies provide a discount for carrying two or more policies with them. Consider combining your auto policy and your home or renters insurance with the same company.
6. Maintain Good Credit Record Insurance companies are increasingly using credit information to price auto insurance policies. Protect your credit standing by paying bills on time and keeping your credit balances low. Check your credit record on a regular basis and have errors corrected promptly.
7. Avoid Duplicate Coverage If you belong to a road service club, you may not need towing coverage on your auto policy.
8. Low Mileage Discounts If your annual mileage is less than the average driver, you may qualify for a low mileage discount. Drivers who car pool may also qualify for a discount.
9. Ask About Other Discounts Accident-free drivers, good students and long time policyholders are often rewarded with discounts by their insurance companies. Ask your agent about available discounts.