5k Ratings
Driving violations are serious, especially if you lose your license for some time. Like many other states, to reinstate your license, Wisconsin requires you to obtain Wisconsin SR-22 insurance coverage.
SR-22 insurance proves to the state that you are following their insurance laws and can legally drive on their roads. Getting hit with an SR-22 requirement is severe but not unusual in insurance.
You want to make sure your SR-22 certificate is filed correctly to avoid receiving further penalties. The guide below will help outline the ins and outs of SR-22 coverage for Wisconsin drivers.
What is Wisconsin SR-22 insurance?
SR-22 insurance doesn’t provide you with coverage but proves to the state that you carry liability insurance.
Commonly referred to as a Certificate of Financial Responsibility, SR22 insurance lets the state of Wisconsin know you carry at least the minimum liability insurance required for all drivers.
The SR-22 form is filed through your insurance company and passed along to The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) to prove you comply with the Wisconsin insurance laws.
An SR-22 certificate is typically required after committing a major traffic violation, but reasonings vary. Filing the form is a necessary step in reobtaining your driver’s license should it be suspended for some time.

Enter your ZIP code below to view quotes for the cheapest Auto Insurance Rates.
Who needs SR-22 insurance in Wisconsin?
Thankfully, only some drivers in Wisconsin need to carry SR22 insurance. An SR-22 certificate in WI is only necessary if you are convicted of a major traffic violation or are mandated to have it by a court.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation will notify you if you are required to carry SR22 insurance. Wisconsin typically requires an SR-22 insurance filing or proof of insurance when a driver must reinstate their suspended license. However, some other scenarios may require SR-22 forms.
In Wisconsin, you could be asked to carry SR22 insurance if one or more of the following instances applies to you:
- OWI conviction
- Driving under the age of 18 without a sponsor
- Need an occupational license
- Driving without auto insurance
- High-risk driving history
- Multiple traffic violations
- Reckless driving conviction
Wisconsin Minimum Auto insurance requirements
SR-22 insurance proves to the state of Wisconsin that you carry at least the mandatory minimum amount of auto insurance and are not uninsured.
Consider increasing your liability limits when shopping for insurance in WI. However, for an SR22 filing, you only need to carry the minimum coverage required by Wisconsin law.
Wisconsin Minimum Liability insurance
- $25,000 for bodily injury coverage per person
- $50,000 for bodily injury coverage per accident
- $10,000 for property damage coverage per accident
Your insurance company may offer other types of coverage in WI. However, you typically can opt out of them. At the very least, to be considered a legal driver in Wisconsin, you need to meet their liability insurance requirements.
However, it should be noted that liability insurance only protects the other driver in a car accident. You must purchase auto policy add-ons like collision coverage and personal injury protection (PIP) to get coverage for yourself and your car. It is also highly recommended that you increase your liability coverage limits beyond the minimum limit.
How long must you carry SR-22 insurance in Wisconsin?
How long you are required to carry SR22 insurance in Wisconsin may vary depending on the circumstances of your driving violation.
On average, the Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles requires SR-22s to be carried and maintained for at least three years. More severe convictions, like being caught driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, can result in you having to maintain the SR22 for longer than average. Whatever the situation is with you, your filing period will begin when your license can be reinstated or a date decided by a court.
Staying on top of your car insurance premiums is essential, as doing so keeps your SR22 certificate active in WI. Suppose you cancel your auto insurance policy or let your coverage lapse. In that case, your insurance company must notify the Wisconsin Department of Transportation or WisDOT.
Letting your policy lapse can result in a drivers license suspension. You will also have to go through the SR-22 filing process again, including paying any fees associated with the form. Letting your car insurance lapse runs the risk of being dropped by your vehicle insurance provider, and finding new coverage can be challenging.
There is a good chance you will be considered a high-risk driver, and insurers are not too keen on offering such drivers coverage.
How much does SR-22 insurance in Wisconsin cost?
In Wisconsin, drivers pay around $1,500 annually for SR-22 insurance. These averages stem from typical car insurance rates following an OWI conviction, one of the most common reasons for an SR-22 filing requirement. What an insurance company quotes, you can easily be above or below this average auto insurance cost.
The cost of SR-22 insurance in WI depends a lot on the circumstances surrounding your conviction and what insurance company you are with. It would be best if you also remember that SR-22 filings come with a fee.
Your insurance provider can charge anywhere from $15 to $50 to file an SR22 electronically. The filing fee is all on top of the fines and costs the state of Wisconsin requires after driving violations.
Finding affordable SR-22 insurance in Wisconsin
To get affordable auto insurance coverage in Wisconsin, you should shop around and gather quotes from various insurance providers. Consulting with local Wisconsin insurers and national providers can help you understand the insurance rates and policies on the market.
Every insurance company offers free quotes online, over the phone, and through their apps, making comparing quotes relatively easy. During your search, analyze any auto policy you come across to find the best coverage that fits nicely into your budget.
It’s also important to be honest with insurance companies when gathering quotes. You must own up to your driving record, even if it’s not as appealing as you want. Insurance companies are bound to find out about any infraction you fail to mention. If they catch you in a lie, they will certainly cancel your coverage.
After shopping around for coverage, if you believe you have found the lowest rate possible, given your driving record, remember to contact your insurance agent to see if there are any discounts you qualify for. There may not be many, but there is no harm in asking.
Non-owner SR-22 insurance in Wisconsin
Having to file an SR-22 form is necessary when it comes to getting your driver’s license reinstated following receiving a traffic violation. Even if you do not own the vehicle you were driving when the incident occurred, you must file an non-owners SR-22 certificate.
If you don’t own a car but still have an SR22 insurance requirement to fulfill, you will need non-owner SR-22 insurance.
A non-owner insurance policy provides you with the appropriate liability coverage mandated for drivers in Wisconsin and completes your SR-22 financial responsibility. The state of Wisconsin wants to ensure that you are insured and can cover damages and injuries in some capacity should you end up causing a car accident.
Anyone with a valid Wisconsin driver’s license must carry insurance, regardless of car ownership status. Non-owner car insurance is also one of the market’s most affordable car insurance policies. But stay calm about that.
To qualify for this type of policy in WI, you cannot have regular access to a vehicle. This type of policy is ideal for people who frequently rent or borrow cars. Everyone who gets behind the wheel of a vehicle needs to have insurance.
A non-owner car insurance policy can help you get the appropriate coverage while fulfilling your SR-22 responsibility.
OWI and DUI convictions in Wisconsin
An OWI conviction is one of the most severe driving violations you can commit. Even if it is your first offense, it comes with a series of penalties, like increasing your car insurance premiums and being hit with an SR22 filing requirement.
However, your car insurance company is one of many things you will have to worry about after an OWI. Without fail, an OWI will always result in license suspension. Outside of getting the proper SR-22 paperwork filed, there are more consequences for OWI offenders in Wisconsin.
Breath alcohol ignition interlock device (BAIID) requirements in Wisconsin
If a first-time offender is found to have a BAC of more than 0.15, then an ignition interlock device, IID, will be installed on their car. So, their vehicle will only start if they have a BAC reading of 0.02 or less, which is complete sobriety. At the same time, commercial vehicles in Wisconsin are given a legal limit of 0.04 BAC for the driver. Often, an interlock device installation is required to reinstate a suspended license.
SR-22 insurance quotes in Wisconsin
We are here to help drivers get an SR-22 certificate and the necessary insurance coverage. We understand that things can happen to good people, so having the appropriate team to assist you in correcting driving mistakes is critical.
The most straightforward approach to address an SR-22 Insurance requirement is to contact us as soon as possible for a quote. A driver should always have coverage on their car to avoid any additional obstacles. Contact our customer service staff or visit any of our locations nationwide..
Whether you Live in Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha, Eau Claire, La Crosse, Racine, or Badger, Insurance Navy™ is here to help get you coverage.
Get an instant quote for SR-22 insurance in Wisconsin
Save Money by Comparing Car Insurance Quotes from Top Providers
Also, you can get free car insurance quotes for SR-22 insurance coverage online and begin getting Insurance Navy coverage.
Read more about SR-22 from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT)