Whether you call it auto insurance, vehicle coverage or car insurance, in Wisconsin, it's mandatory.

Effective June 1, 2010, Wisconsin law requires that all motorists have insurance. A good rule of thumb is that you get at least the minimum Bodily Injury Liability limits of $50,000 per injured person up to a total of $100,000 per accident. And you should also have Property Damage Liability coverage with a minimum limit of $15,000. This basic coverage is often referred to as 50/100/15 coverage with 100/300 UM limits.

Mays Insurance Agency has always strived for excellence to our friends & clients. Although the state minimum for liability limits are lower now and this may be a good option for some; we feel that each of our clients' needs are individually assessed and may change several times throughout our service to them. We welcome that dialogue and feel very comfortable discussing this. Most importantly, we believe that most people may need more coverage than the state minimum requirements before, or after the law changes.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage

• can pay for bodily injury to an insured who is injured by an uninsured motorist, a hit-and-run driver, or a driver whose insurance company becomes insolvent
  
  
• some states offer coverage for property damage as part of the uninsured motorist coverage
  
  
• usually when property damage is added there's a deductible
  
  
• Underinsured motorist coverage applies when a negligent driver has liability limits that are insufficient to pay for damages
  
  
• must be added to the policy as a supplement to the uninsured motorist coverage.
  The coverage must be added to all automobiles listed on the policy for the same limit as the Uninsured Motorist Coverage
  
  The two coverages are mutually exclusive and do not overlap or duplicate each other. An insured can collect under one coverage or the other depending on the situation, but not under both. If this coverage is selected in Wisconsin, specific limits are mandatory. 

Insurance for physical damage to your vehicle

Collision Coverage
This coverage provides protection against damage to your auto or non-owned auto or a collision with another vehicle or object. Collision losses are paid regardless of who’s found at fault in the accident.

Comprehensive or Other Than Collision (OTC) Coverage
This coverage provides protection against any loss or damage to your car resulting from loss Other Than Collision (OTC), or a loss specifically excluded. OTC coverage would pay in the event of

• a car fire
• damage caused by striking an animal
• glass damage or breakage
• theft
  
  This coverage may also provide for supplemental payments for towing and/or transportation and rental car reimbursement expenses.

Extended Transportation Expense Coverage (Rental Reimbursement)
This coverage applies when a covered auto or non-owned auto is withdrawn from use more than twenty-four hours due to a loss, excluding theft.  This coverage pays for up to the stated amount for expenses in renting a vehicle. The coverage usually carries a per-day limit and a maximum amount limit.

Towing and Labor Coverage (Roadside Assistance)
This coverage pays for towing and labor cost each time a covered auto or non-owned auto is disabled, up to the stated amount. Many companies vary coverage when purchased.

Insuring your car is never as simple as it may seem. Give us a call and our insurance professionals can answer all your questions: 262.763.2408

NOTICE: Effective November 1, 2011 Wisconsin Act 14 will apply to all new and renewal auto policies written in Wisconsin. This law effectively repeals the earlier law that amended the minimum limits of liability by increasing those limits. Following Act 14, which is current law:

Date: July 15, 2011
To: All Insurers Authorized to Write Property & Casualty Business in Wisconsin
From: Theodore K. Nickel, Commissioner of Insurance
Subject: Newly Enacted Legislation-2011 Wisconsin Act 14 (AB 4)-Motor Vehicle Insurance

This bulletin contains a summary of the provisions of 2011 Wisconsin Act 14 (AB 4) which apply to motor vehicle insurance policies that are newly issued or renewed on or after November 1, 2011. Please review the actual statutory language in order to determine how it affects you or your company. Copies of any legislation are available from Legislative Documents, 1 East Main Street, Madison, WI 53703, (608) 266-2400 or through the Legislature's Web site at http://legis.wisconsin.gov.

Sections 344.01 (2) (d), 344.15 (1), 344.33 (2), and 344.55 (1), Wis. Stat., decrease the motor vehicle liability minimum limits to the following: [s. 344.01 (2) (am) repealed]

• 25,000 because of bodily injury to or death of one person in any one accident and, subject to such limit for one person, in the amount of $50,000 because of bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in any one accident, and $10,000 because of injury to or destruction of property of others in any one accident.

The mandatory insurance requirements under Subchapter VI of Chapter 344, Wis. Stat., have not changed.

Insurance Law Changes:

Subchapter IV of Chapter 632, Wis. Stat., is amended as follows:

1. A definition of "commercial liability insurance" has been added to mirror s. Ins 6.77 (3) (am), Wis. Adm. Code. [s. 632.32 (2) (ac)]
2. A definition of "phantom motor vehicle" has been added. [s. 632.32 (2) (bh)]
3. The definition of "underinsured motor vehicle" has been repealed. [s. 632.32 (2) (e) repealed]
4. A governmental vehicle, as defined, is exempted from the definition of an "uninsured motor vehicle". [s. 632.32 (2) (g)]
5. The definition of an "uninsured motor vehicle" has been changed to include conditions for accidents involving a phantom motor vehicle. [s. 632.32 (2) (g) 2]
   a. A phantom motor vehicle is an uninsured motor vehicle, if all of the following apply:
   The facts of the accident are corroborated by competent evidence that is provided by someone other than the insured or any other person.
   b. Within 72 hours after the accident, the insured or someone on behalf of the insured reports the accident to a police, peace, or judicial office or to the department of transportation.
   c. Within 30 days after the accident occurs, the insured or someone on behalf of the insured files with the insurer a statement under oath.
6. Uninsured Motorist coverage limits have decreased to a minimum of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. [s. 632.32 (4) (a) 1]
7. Underinsured Motorist coverage is no longer mandatory. Coverage limits have been decreased to a minimum of $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident. Notice of coverage availability is required with the delivery of the policy. Coverage may be rejected. [s. 632.32 (4m) // s. 632.32 (4) (a) 2m repealed]
8. Minimum Medical Payments coverage limits have been decreased to at least $1,000 per person. Coverage may be rejected. [s. 632.32 (4) (a) 2 // formerly s. 632.32 (4) (a) 3m]
9. Umbrella or excess liability policies that insure, with respect to a motor vehicle, against loss resulting from liability imposed by law for bodily injury or death of a person arising out of the ownership, maintenance or use of a motor vehicle are no longer required to offer Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist coverage. [s. 632.32 (4r) repealed]
10. Stacking of Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist limits, up to 3 motor vehicles, is no longer required. Anti-stacking language is allowed. [s. 632.32 (5) (f) and (g) // s. 632.32 (6) (d) and (e) repealed]
11. Stacking of Medical Payments limits, up to 3 motor vehicles, for a person who was not using a motor vehicle at the time of an accident is no longer required. [s. 632.32 (6) (f) repealed]
12. A policy may provide that the limits under the policy for Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist coverage for bodily injury or death resulting from any one accident may be reduced by: [s. 632.32 (5) (i) // s. 632.32 (6) (g) repealed]
    a. Amounts paid by or on behalf of any person or organization that may be legally responsible for the bodily injury or death for which the payment is made;
    b. Amounts paid or payable under any worker's compensation law; and
    c. Amounts paid or payable under any disability benefits laws.
13. An insurer is no longer prohibited from placing an applicant or insured in a high-risk category on the basis that the applicant or insured has not previously had motor vehicle insurance. [s. 632.355 repealed]

It should also be noted that the above provisions, where applicable, do result in a renewal with altered terms. Notification requirements under s. 631.36 (5), Wis. Stat., apply because the provisions are on less favorable terms, as contemplated under the statute for such notice.