If you get a DUI in Wisconsin, your auto insurance policy is going to get more expensive — it's just a question of how much you'll end up paying.
How will a DUI affect car insurance in Wisconsin?
In Wisconsin, a DUI violation will lift your annual car insurance cost by an average value of $442. That’s 149% less than the national mean rate increase after a DUI.
CAR INSURANCE AFTER A DUI IN WISCONSIN — AVERAGE ANNUAL PENALTY
| Area | Avg. Annual Rate — no DUI | Avg. Annual Rate — with DUI | Avg. Increase After DUI |
| Wisconsin | $1,181 | $1,622 | +37% |
| United States | $1,548 | $2,556 | +65% |
How to find car insurance in Wisconsin with a DUI violation
Getting reasonable auto insurance in the wake of a DUI conviction is not easy. In fact, a DUI often brings about a larger cost increase than any single driving transgression — more than reckless driving, racing, or an at-fault accident. Wisconsin is a comparatively benign area in which to commit a DUI: its insurance rate hikes are among the US' least costly.
Cheap car insurance after a DUI in Wisconsin
If you are convicted of a DUI or DWI offense in Wisconsin, it’s important to consider each of your insurance choices carefully. Car insurance prices in the wake of a DUI can vary substantially depending on the company. For example, the best cheap car insurer with a DUI in Wisconsin, State Farm, advertises annual premiums 44% less than the state mean insurance rate with a DUI violation. The second-cheapest insurer for car insurance with a DUI in Wisconsin is Erie, while the most expensive insurer is Acuity, with prices 45% above average.
CAR INSURANCE RATES WITH DUI IN WISCONSIN — BY INSURER
| Insurance Company | Avg. Annual Rate — After DUI |
| State Farm | $914 |
| Erie | $1,176 |
| American Family | $1,202 |
| GEICO | $1,424 |
| Progressive | $1,694 |
| West Bend Mutual | $1,786 |
| Allstate | $1,943 |
There is no auto insurer in particular that provides affordable DUI auto insurance. The most effective way to limit your losses in the wake of a DUI violation is to assess your options.
Compare car insurance quotes online or contact an insurance professional to weigh your choices and find a cost-effective DUI insurance policy.
Learn more about car insurance and DUIs.
Wisconsin OWI/DUI laws
Wisconsin considers a driver to be operating while intoxicated, or OWI, when their blood alcohol concentration measures 0.08% or higher. Commercial drivers are OWI if their BAC reads 0.04% or higher.
Drivers under 21 years old are guilty of an underage OWI if they have any measurable BAC in Wisconsin.
OWI penalties in Wisconsin
The OWI lookback period in Wisconsin is 10 years for a second offense. There is a lifetime lookback period for any subsequent OWI offenses.
OWI offenders in Wisconsin face harsher penalties than described below for any OWI resulting in bodily injury or death or OWI with a minor under 16 years old in the car.
All OWI offenses include an OWI surcharge of $435, in addition to the fines below.
First-time OWI offenses in Wisconsin lead to:
- $150 to $300 in fines
- License revocation for six to nine months
For a second OWI in which there are no prior convictions within the last 10 years, penalties are:
- $150 to $300 in fines
- License revocation for six to nine months
- Requires the installation and use of an ignition interlock device or attendance in a 24/7 sobriety program for one year
Penalties for a second OWI in Wisconsin within 10 years of a prior conviction are:
- Five days to six months in jail
- $350 to $1,110 in fines
- License revocation for 12 to 18 months
- Requires the installation and use of an IID or attendance in a 24/7 sobriety program for one year to 18 months
Third-time OWI offenders in Wisconsin are subject to:
- 45 days to one year in jail
- $600 to $2,000 in fines
- License revocation for two to three years
- Requires the installation and use of an IID or attendance in a 24/7 sobriety program for one to three years
A fourth OWI offense in Wisconsin is a class H felony and results in:
- Six months to 10 years in jail
- $600 to $25,000 in fines
- License revocation for two to three years
- Requires the installation and use of an IID or attendance in a 24/7 sobriety program for one to three years
Fines are:
- Doubled if the offender's BAC is between 0.17% and 0.199%
- Tripled if the offender's BAC is between 0.20% and 0.249%
- Quadrupled if the offender's BAC is 0.25% or higher
OWI penalties for underage drinkers in Wisconsin
Those under the age of 21 are considered OWI in Wisconsin with any detectable level of alcohol in their system. Multiple offenses within a year will subject them to harsher penalties and fines. In addition, a BAC of 0.08% or higher will result in underage offenders being charged as if they were adults.
A first-time OWI offense in Wisconsin leads to:
- Up to $500 in fines
- License suspension for up to 30 to 90 days
- Possible requirement to complete alcohol assessment, education, or treatment
A second underage OWI within a year results in:
- Up to $500 in fines
- Mandatory license suspension for up to a year
- Possible requirement to complete alcohol assessment, education, or treatment
Three or more underage OWI offenses in Wisconsin within one year may lead to:
- $500 to $1,000 in fines
- Mandatory license suspension for up to two years
- Possible requirement to complete alcohol assessment, education, or treatment
Sources and references:
https://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/safety/education/drunk-drv/owi-penchrt.pdf
https://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/safety/education/drunk-drv/owi-youth-penchrt.pdf
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