According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, over 100,000 auto accidents take place on Wisconsin streets and highways each year. If you were in an accident tomorrow, how comfortable are you that your current auto insurance policy would sufficiently cover you?
At Homewood Insurance, we’ll take the time to inform you of your options and tailor an auto insurance policy for you from our bank of trusted insurance companies. We can also review your current policy and identify any potential gaps in coverage. Getting to know you and your unique needs allows us to hand-pick a policy that works with your budget – providing you with a level of coverage that matches your comfort level.
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, personal injury protection or 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.
What do standard auto insurance policies include?
Collision
Collision coverage can help repair or replace your vehicle if it’s involved in an accident. Collision can also help cover your car if it’s hit by another vehicle while parked. A deductible is the amount you pay before this coverage kicks in. The higher the deductible you choose, the less you typically will pay for a policy.
Comprehensive
Comprehensive coverage may help repair or replace your vehicle if it’s damaged by something other than an auto accident. This could include fire, theft, hitting an animal on the road, vandalism, or natural disasters. As like Collision coverage, you have a choice of deductibles to choose from.
Bodily Injury Liability
Bodily injury liability, or sometimes referred to as BI, is the coverage that helps protect you from financial loss if you’re at-fault in an auto accident. Bodily injury liability can help cover damages for injuries caused by the accident to another person or people. It can also help cover legal defense costs if the accident results in a lawsuit. In Wisconsin you must carry a minimum of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident, although we recommend much higher limits in most situations.
Property Damage Liability
Similar to bodily injury liability coverage, property damage liability coverage may help replace or repair damage done to someone else’s property as a result of an accident you’re at-fault for. This could include a vehicle, fence, mailbox, building, or even someone’s house. It can also help cover legal defense costs if the accident results in a lawsuit. As like Bodily Injury, Wisconsin Law requires you carry at least $10,000 in Property Damage Liability coverage.
Uninsured/Underinsured Coverage
Even though it’s the law in Wisconsin for drivers to carry insurance, many still don’t, or they don’t carry enough. By adding uninsured or underinsured coverage to your policy, it can help protect yourself from medical bills, loss of income and future wages, and defense costs should you be involved in an accident when the other driver is at fault and not carrying adequate auto insurance coverage.
Other Coverages
Other important coverages, like rental car reimbursement and roadside assistance can typically be added to your auto insurance policy. We’ll inform you of all your options and get you out on the road with a policy that has you covered when you need it most.
Will I qualify for any discounts?
You might! Many of the policies we offer provide drivers with discounts. We’ll take the time to go over a list of discounts with you and determine if you qualify.
- Safe driver discounts
- Good student discounts
- Multi-policy discounts
- Student in college discount
- Multi-vehicle discounts
- Military discounts
- Paid-in-full discounts
- Loyalty discounts
- Low-mileage discounts
We know insurance, we know Wisconsin, and we want to get to know you. Schedule an appointment for a one-on-one meeting where we will assess your unique insurance needs. You’ll leave knowing you’re in good hands with an agency that’s on your side.
