New Auto Insurance Requirements Increase Rates for Many

Straight Answers and Facts

With the economy in severe recession, how were these requirements passed?

A.    Instead of having to stand on their own as separate bills, the requirements were buried in the state budget where they wouldn’t have their own hearings or votes. The only people asking for higher insurance rates were the lobbyists for the Trial Lawyers.

These issues have always been handled as separate bills. Normally, a committee that focuses on insurance issues would have hearings to allow real people to tell how this affects their family budget.

What will these new laws mean to my family?

A.    Higher costs for many and less choice for all. Wisconsin families enjoyed the 3rd lowest auto premiums in the country just a year ago. Now, because the state required our families to buy more insurance than any other state, our costs are rising.

I’ve heard about the higher minimum rates proposal. Is that what this is all about?

A.    Making our minimum rates the highest in the nation is only one of many changes that drive auto insurance costs up. You could pay more to insure a second car, insure against uninsured or underinsured motorists.

Can we roll back these costly requirements?

A.    YES! Assembly Bill 525 (PDF) and Senate Bill 386 (PDF) would roll back all of the new requirements and return the choice to you. Also, Senate Bill 646 (PDF), the Affordable Auto Insurance Act, has just been introduced to roll back many of the most costly requirements.

What can I do?

A.    Contact you legislators and tell them to roll back these requirements. A phone call works great. Just call the Legislative Hotline at 800-362-9472 to be connected to your own legislator. You can also write a letter or send an email by clicking our legislative contact site below.