The Best Car Insurance in Milwaukee

With 29.6 million personal auto policies in force, Allstate insures nearly 11 percent of private vehicles in the U.S.² The company has nearly 30 locations in Wisconsin, including four specifically in Milwaukee. We like it for its range of policy and coverage options, and its homeowner and student discounts.

Good Student Discount

Milwaukee is home to 11 colleges and universities, including the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Allstate’s student discount can help college students and their families save on auto insurance. To qualify, drivers must be unmarried, under the age of 25, and fulfill just one of the following requirements:

• Maintain at least a 2.7 GPA/B- grade average (most companies require a 3.0 GPA/B average)
• Complete the teenSMART online driver education program (offered to Allstate customers at just under $70, a $50 discount from the standard price)
• Attend school at least 100 miles away from where the car is garaged

Coverage for Rideshare Drivers

When you’re driving for Lyft, Uber, DoorDash, Grubhub, or a similar delivery service, the rideshare company’s insurance doesn’t kick in until you’ve picked up a passenger or order. During the period when you’re waiting to match with a ride or en route to a pickup, your personal auto insurance doesn’t provide coverage, leaving a potential gap in your protection.

Allstate’s rideshare coverage, called Ride for Hire, bridges this gap by protecting you when neither the TNC policy nor your personal policy would be applicable. It also covers the high TNC policy deductibles, offering financial protection of up to $2,500.

Save Money With Pay-Per-Mile Insurance

Oftentimes, living in the city means less driving, whether that’s because you take public transportation, bike, or walk. If you drive fewer than 10,000 miles per year, you might save money with a pay-per-mile auto insurance plan. The following groups tend to drive less than average:

• Stay-at-home parents
• People who commute on public transportation
• Retirees
• People who work from home (or near home)

Wisconsin is one of 21 states in which Allstate offers its pay-per-mile option, Milewise. With Milewise, you pay a base daily rate for auto insurance, plus a per-mile rate. For example, if your daily base rate is $1.50, your per-mile rate is $0.07, and you drive 10 miles, your cost for that day would be $2.20. Allstate tracks your mileage with a device you plug into your car, paired with its mobile app.

A few details to note:

• Allstate won’t charge you for more than 250 miles per day, so if you go on a road trip, you won’t pay for mileage over this daily limit.
• The same coverage and claims support is available with Milewise as a traditional Allstate policy.
• If you have multiple vehicles on the same policy, you can choose which to designate as pay-per-mile and which to designate as traditional unlimited mileage.

Guided Solutions is an insurance broker that specializes in helping customers shop for multiple types of insurance, including car insurance. For those who want to compare multiple options in the Milwaukee auto insurance market, Guided Solutions is a good choice. The company is part of Baldwin Risk Partners, an insurance distribution holding company.

Insurance Broker Services

An auto insurance broker is a professional intermediary who helps individuals find car insurance policies by comparing offerings from various insurance companies and providing personalized recommendations based on their needs and preferences.

It’s a particularly good option for those with complicated insurance needs who require specialized policies and coverage options — for example, business owners, frequent travelers, luxury vehicle drivers, and residents of high-risk areas.

Additionally, one of the best ways to save on auto insurance is to compare quotes from multiple companies (usually at least three). Guided Solutions helps take the legwork out of this process by gathering quotes for you.

Here’s how it works:

1. You share details about yourself and your vehicle, such as your name, address, and the make and model of your car.
2. Guided Solutions shops for coverage that meet your needs, and a representative reaches out to explain your options.
3. You pick the policy of your choosing, and Guided Solutions helps you purchase it. From then on, you work directly with the insurance company for billing, claims, etc.

Work With a Live Broker

Guided Solutions stands out in that you will work with a human broker rather than a bot or an algorithm. Working with a human broker offers a personalized touch that algorithms often can’t replicate. Brokers provide expert guidance tailored to specific situations, understanding nuances that algorithms might miss. They can address complex insurance needs, offer customized solutions, and provide advice on coverage options.

Human brokers also excel in explaining intricate policy details and guiding customers through the often-confusing insurance landscape. Their ability to provide individualized attention and human empathy makes them an excellent choice for those seeking comprehensive, tailored insurance solutions and a more nuanced understanding of their coverage.

Multiple Policy Options

In addition to cars, Guided Solutions helps customers shop for insurance for the following types of vehicles:

• Motorcycles
• Boats
• RVs
• ATVs and UTVs
• Golf carts

Furthermore, Guided Solutions extends its expertise beyond vehicles. For homeowners, renters, and condo owners, the company offers tailored insurance plans that safeguard your residence and personal belongings against unforeseen events. In the face of rising climate-related risks, Guided Solutions also offers comprehensive flood insurance, ensuring that your property is shielded against flood damages.

Founded in 1922, State Farm is the largest auto insurance provider in the country. Its low rates, track record for customer satisfaction, and easy claims process make it a good choice for Milwaukeeans who want to purchase full coverage. The company also has strong ratings for customer satisfaction and financial strength.

Full Coverage at Good Rates

With an average annual rate of $1,380 ($115 monthly) for full coverage in Milwaukee, State Farm is one of the most affordable, most widely available providers in the city.

State Farm offers the following coverages:

• Bodily injury and property damage liability
• Collision and comprehensive
• Rental reimbursement and travel expenses
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist
• Medical payments
• Emergency roadside assistance
• Rideshare protection
• Classic car

A larger population translates into higher rates of accidents and theft; in fact, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation reports that more crashes occur in Milwaukee County than anywhere else in the state.⁶ That’s why, depending on your financial situation and the value of your car, purchasing full coverage is usually a wise move. In the event of an accident, it covers not only the other party’s losses, but also injuries and damages to you, your passengers, and your vehicle. (Unlike full coverage, liability pays for the other party’s losses only.)

Range of Discounts

One of the best ways to lower your auto insurance premium is to apply discounts. State Farm offers the following discounts to customers in Wisconsin, including MIlwaukee:

RV and Boat Insurance

For those times you need to get out of the city and spend a little time in nature, Wisconsin’s State Park system is home to over 6,000 campsites.⁷ State Farm offers coverage for RVs, boats, and more so you can enjoy your leisure with peace of mind.

State Farm sells insurance for recreational vehicles, such as travel/camper trailers, offering protection in case of fire, storms, theft, collision, and other risks. This includes the following:

• Bodily injury to you or someone else caused while towing your trailer (extended from towing vehicle liability coverage)
• Damage to your trailer sustains in an accident
• Theft, fire, vandalism, and other covered losses, even if you’re storing your trailer
• Emergency roadside service in the event of a breakdown
• Option to add personal articles policy to protect items such as cameras, bicycles, fishing equipment, golf clubs, and jewelry in your trailer

For those who enjoy taking their recreation onto waters like Lake Michigan, State Farm insures the following types of boats:

• Runabouts/sport boats
• Cruisers/yachts
• Sailboats
• Bass/fishing boats
• Jet skis
• Houseboats
• Kayaks/canoes

Purchasing this coverage will protect your boat from potential damage and loss due to common risks like sinking, fire, storms, theft, and collisions. Typically, the coverage includes the boat hull, its motor(s), specified boat equipment, and the trailer if you specifically request it.

Thousands of active service members and their families live in Milwaukee, and about 5 percent of Milwaukee’s residents are veterans.⁸ USAA sells financial services, including auto insurance, to individuals affiliated with the U.S. military and is known for having good rates. We also like it for its exceptional customer satisfaction and claims-handling scores.

High-Quality Coverage and Customer Satisfaction

With an average annual cost of $834 for full coverage in Milwaukee (about $70 monthly), USAA is often the cheapest option for insurance in the city. It offers the following auto insurance coverage options:

USAA consistently holds the highest ratings from J.D. Power for customer satisfaction, indicating that USAA customers are happy with the company’s:

• Billing process and policy information
• Claims process
• Customer service interactions
• Policy offerings
• Prices

Usage-Based Option

USAA offers usage-based insurance in 15 states, including Wisconsin. It works with Noblr, a USAA company, to issue these policies.

All drivers will need to download and set up the app on their smartphone. Each month, you’ll pay a fixed rate, plus a variable rate depending on the following factors:

• Mileage
• Braking and accelerating behavior
• Phone use behind the wheel (hands-free is OK)
• Late-night driving

You can get the following coverage with a usage-based policy. Additional options may be available. Check with your USAA agent.

• Bodily injury
• Property damage
• Uninsured motorist bodily injury
• Comprehensive
• Collision
• Rental car reimbursement
• Roadside assistance

Many Policy Offerings

In addition to auto insurance, USAA also sells policies to protect other types of vehicles, including:

• Motorcycles
• ATVs
• RVs and motorhomes
• Boats and other personal watercraft
• Classic and collector cars
• Bicycles and e-bikes
• Aircraft (including commercial drones)

Additionally, you can save up to 10 percent when you insure both your car and property with USAA. The company offers the following types of property insurance:

• Renters, home, mobile home, and condo
• Rental property (for landlords)
• Valuable personal property
• Flood
• Umbrella
• Farm and ranch
• Collectibles
• Windstorm
• High-value home