Kenosha Car Insurance

Kenosha is a great place to live as evidenced by the fact that 51% of the individuals who live there have moved from other areas and cities.

Recreational activities abound and the excellent school systems attract families to the area. Ample access to jobs as well as a lower cost of living also attract families with children to the area. The 2010 Census indicated that there were 166,426 people in the general area.

An impressive history of city planning since 1925 underlines the city's commitment to long-term planning for successful growth, an increase in jobs, and housing additions. Its location north of Chicago, halfway between Milwaukee and Chicago, makes this an outstanding location for families of all types.

Newcomers to the area need to be aware of the requirements for auto insurance imposed by the State of Wisconsin. A thorough knowledge of the research needed to obtain adequate, reliable insurance will help in the process of moving to a new community and adapting to it.

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Minimum Requirements for Auto Insurance in Wisconsin

State legislatures rather than the Federal government set requirements for automobile insurance.

Most states have a Department of Insurance responsible for licensing and overseeing insurance companies, insurance agencies, as well as the rates and licensing established for both.

It is illegal in any state to purchase insurance from an unlicensed insurer or agent; or for an unlicensed insurer or agent to sell insurance in the state.

The State of Wisconsin has a Commissioner of Insurance entrusted with the duties of overseeing insurance in the state. Their website is a useful source of information about insurance of all kinds in the state.

The State of Wisconsin requires the following liability limits to obtain a drivers license in the state.

• Bodily Injury Liability - $25,000 for one person
• Bodily Injury Liability - $50,000 for two or more people
• Property Damage Liability - $10,000
• Uninsured Motorists Coverage - $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident

Finding Automobile Insurance Companies

It's possible to find insurance companies by drifting through the Yellow Pages, but when you do, you know little or nothing about the quality of service provided by these companies, their financial stability, and the number of complaints they've acquired over the past year.

Service quality is important because you don't want to be in the middle of South Dakota with no cell-phone access and unable to determine who to contact after having run into a guy with a pickup who ran a stop sign.

Financial stability makes an insurance company stable even though they have a multiplicity of claims over a year, and complaints give you an idea of how the company is attending to business.

Asking friends, neighbors, and relatives about insurance companies can give you an idea of the selections in your area. Recognize that choosing a company solely due to advertising is only viable if you use other methods of checking your choice.

There are a number of online websites that will give you rating information as well as complaint details. Here are some of them:

• Insurance Commissioner for the State of Wisconsin.
• The National Association of Insurance Commissioners website
• Standard and Poor's Rating Services
• A. M. Best Rating Service

All of these services give reliable information with regard to insurance companies.

Recommended Insurance

State limits are ordinarily inadequate to protect your assets should you have an accident for which you are adjudged liable.

Wisconsin has a contributory negligence law in which the amount of negligence for each driver is assessed and recovery depends on the amount of negligence you may have exercised in an accident.

The traffic officer will investigate and help decide whether you or the other car should have stopped. If it is determined to be both, with each of you equally responsible, the damages will be split.

Adequate insurance is important because you may have to pay for property damage, medical expenses, lost wages, and even pain and suffering if you have caused injury to another person.

A lawsuit may take any asset you have, including home, savings, and future wages, so it is wise to protect yourself adequately.

Liability Insurance

Liability insurance pays for your responsibility to others for damage to property and body in an accident. The limits recommended are:

• Bodily Injury Liability - $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident
• Property Damage Liability - $50,000 per accident

Uninsured Motorist Coverage

Limits of $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident are recommended to pay for injury to you, your family, and others in the vehicle if you are hurt by an uninsured motorist.

Medical Payments

This coverage pays for medical expenses or funeral expenses incurred in an accident if they are riding in or driving your car. The limits now recommended are $10,000 and are for expenses not covered by health insurance.

Physical Damage Coverage for Your Own Car

Liability coverage does not pay for damage to your own vehicle. Physical damage coverage pays for damage to your own vehicle:

• Comprehensive coverage pays for such things as hitting an animal, fire, vandalism, water, hail, glass damage, wind, or civil commotion. This coverage is subject to a deductible that applies per occurrence.
• Collision coverage pays for just that – collision with another automobile or object whether or not it is your fault, subject to the deductible.

Deductibles are set as an agreement between you and the lender of the money to purchase the automobile. They vary from $100 per occurrence on up to $1000 per occurrence.

Even though you receive credit for higher deductibles, it is a good idea to examine how much you can afford to spare at one time to repair your vehicle.

Information Your Insurance Company Will Need for Quotes

When trying to get a quote for car insurance, you will need to provide companies with the following:

• Make, Model, and VIN number for each vehicle as well as usage
• Estimated number of miles driven
• Names, dates of birth, drivers license numbers and driving records for all drivers
• Limits of coverage you have chosen

Saving Money on Car Insurance

There are a number of ways to save money on car insurance, but a few of them are as follows:

• Drive safely and do not accumulate citations because they cost money
• Ask your insurer about discounts because some companies offer a multiplicity of them – from non-smoking discounts to accident and claim free discounts.
• Increase your deductibles – within reason
• Keep your credit record clean to obtain the best rates possible
• Obtain multiple quotes on your insurance – three are recommended
• Examine your insurance at least once a year to compare prices and determine needed coverage.

Ask that quotes be provided on paper to be able to compare prices and coverage adequately.

Keep these quotes in a file for next year to help in obtaining new quotes. Once you receive your new policy, read it carefully to determine your responsibilities as well as those of the insurance company.

Now that you've read all about car insurance in Kenosha, use our FREE quote tool below to receive car insurance rates from top companies in your area today!