Car insurance in Milwaukee: Cheapest insurance and average rates

Car insurance in Milwaukee costs $2,013 per year for full coverage – $168 monthly. USAA offers the cheapest car insurance policy at $89 per month.

Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, Milwaukee is a metro area of 1.8 million people. It ranks No. 32 in the nation among all U.S. cities. 

If you are moving to Milwaukee — or already live there — it is important to find the right car insurance policy. Fortunately, there are ways to get cheap car insurance in Milwaukee that will provide the coverage you need. Learn more about what a typical policy costs in Milwaukee and what you need to know if you are new to the city. 

How to find the best car insurance in Milwaukee 

With the right tools and a little work, you can find the best car insurance policy in Milwaukee that marries the coverage you need at a cost you can afford. 

Before shopping for car insurance, determine the type of policy you need, including the amount of coverage necessary to protect yourself. Get quotes from at least three companies comparing similar coverage limits and options and ask about any discounts you qualify for. It’s always best to buy as much coverage as you can afford.

Cheapest car insurance company in Milwaukee 

USAA provides the cheapest car insurance in Milwaukee, according to 2023 data. It costs an average of $1,063 annually to purchase a full-coverage policy from the insurer. The next cheapest car insurance companies are Travelers and Geico.

See other cheap car insurance rates in Milwaukee in the table below.

Average annual rates from insurers in Milwaukee 

How much is car insurance in Milwaukee per month?

Milwaukee residents can expect to pay an average of $168 per month in full coverage car insurance costs, or $46 per month for the state minimum coverage.

Of course, some drivers pay less than this average, while others pay more. Factors determining how much you pay for car insurance include the insurance company you choose and the coverage you need. 

Other factors — including your age and gender, car type and history of accidents and violations — also influence car insurance costs. See more rates in the table below.

Monthly rates for car insurance in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

How do rates in Milwaukee compare to other large cities in the U.S.?

The cost of coverage in Milwaukee is cheaper than in other major cities. Milwaukee drivers pay more than other Wisconsin drivers – the statewide rate is $1,664 annually, compared with Milwaukee’s $2,013.

See how much you can expect to pay for car insurance in several major U.S. cities in the table below.

Monthly full-coverage car insurance costs in major U.S. metropolitan areas

Here’s what you need to know when driving in Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee residents can expect to spend some time locked in traffic. But the situation isn’t too bad, and is in fact in line with what one might expect in a city of this size. 

In 2022, drivers in Milwaukee lost an average of 32 hours in traffic, according to INRIX, which looks at traffic patterns. That makes Milwaukee — which ranks at No. 32 in the U.S. in terms of population — the 28th most-congested city in the country. 

If you are driving in the Milwaukee area during rush hour, you can expect to spend an extra 10.5 minutes in traffic, according to the website CoPilot. That places Milwaukee at No. 67 among all cities in the nation when it comes to losing time due to rush hour. 

Other things to remember when driving around Milwaukee:

• Speed limits in Wisconsin are typically 35 mph on residential streets, and 65 on urban freeways. Signs should mark when speed limits vary from these standards. 
• There are no toll roads in Wisconsin, so you can travel throughout Milwaukee and other places without worrying about having to pay a fee. 
• Drivers are assessed demerit points for specific traffic violations. Once you accumulate 12 or more demerit points over the course of a year, your driving privilege will be suspended. 

How much car insurance do I need in Milwaukee?

Wisconsin law requires you to purchase a minimum amount of liability car insurance coverage. These amounts are: 

• $25,000 for the injury or death of one person
• $50,000 for the injury or death of more than one person
• $10,000 of coverage for property damage

This is often referred to as “25/50/10 coverage.”

However, these minimum levels of coverage will not be adequate for most drivers. Many drivers will prefer to carry much higher levels of liability coverage so they are better protected financially. In addition, liability insurance does not cover you or your car. 

That means drivers also might be interested in going beyond the minimums and protecting their own vehicles by purchasing insurance beyond the minimum, such as comprehensive and collision coverage. 

If you are unsure of how much coverage you need, consult with an insurance agent who can help. 

Average cost of car insurance in Milwaukee 

The average cost of full-coverage car insurance in Milwaukee is $2,013 annually. That compares to a statewide average of $1,664 and a nationwide average of $1,895. 

Annual average rates in Milwaukee for state minimum coverage and full coverage

How much does car insurance in Milwaukee cost with violations?

Violations like speeding tickets often cause a significant but manageable rise in rates. Other types of violations can make rates climb much higher. This is particularly true if you are convicted of a DUI. 

“Moving violations make you a higher insurance risk,” says Carole Walker, executive director of the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association. 

Even if you are guilty of a violation outside of Wisconsin, you can expect it to impact your insurance rates. 

“An out-of-state speeding ticket is generally shared by DMV databases, and insurers access those records in determining your car insurance rates,” Walker says. 

See rate increases in Milwaukee in the table below by violation.

Cheapest car insurance in Milwaukee by age

Your age will impact how much you pay for car insurance. The youngest drivers tend to pay the highest rates. The oldest drivers also are likely to pay more. See how much you can expect to pay by age in the table below.

Annual rates for state minimum and full coverage car insurance in Milwaukee, by age

Compare auto insurance rates in Milwaukee by ZIP code 

Where you live also plays a role in how much you pay for car insurance. Here are the Milwaukee area ZIP codes with the cheapest (53207, 53221 and 53209) and most expensive car insurance rates (53203, 53225 and 53233).

See the tables below for the cheapest and most expensive ZIP codes for car insurance in Milwaukee. 

Cheapest annual car insurance rates in Milwaukee, by ZIP code 

Most expensive annual car insurance rates in Milwaukee, by ZIP code 

Our recommendations: Car insurance for drivers in Milwaukee 

If low prices are your top focus when shopping for car insurance, USAA might be your best choice. It has the lowest average rates in our survey. However, it’s often a mistake to shop by price alone. Having the coverage you need is crucial, even if you have to pay a little more for it. 

Shopping around and gathering quotes from several insurance companies is the best way to get the coverage you need at the best price. 

A full coverage insurance policy with liability limits of 100/300/100 is the best option for most drivers. Consider increasing your liability limits as you accumulate wealth and your net worth increases. Purchasing as much car insurance as you can afford will give you peace of mind as you navigate the roads of Milwaukee.

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In 2024, Insure.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services to pull rates for a 40-year-old who has a 12-mile commute and drives a 2023 Honda Accord LX 10k miles annually. The hypothetical driver has full coverage, carrying policy limits of 100/300/100 with $500 deductibles for comprehensive and collision coverages. We analyzed 51,088,003 insurance quotes from 167 companies across 34,588 ZIP codes in every state and Washington, D.C.