Wisconsin law gives auto and home insurers a short window at the start of a new policy to cancel with at least 10 days' written notice. After that period, midterm cancellation is limited to listed grounds, and a nonrenewal generally requires at least 60 days' notice, with the reason, before the policy expires.

Those timing rules come from section 631.36 of the Wisconsin statutes and from the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance publication on terminations and cancellations (PI-024). If a notice looks short, read the dates against those official rules.

How does cancellation work on a new policy?

Section 631.36 addresses cancellation and nonrenewal of insurance contracts. For a new policy that has been in effect less than 60 days at the time notice is mailed or delivered, the insurer may cancel without the midterm-grounds limits that apply later. No cancellation is effective until at least 10 days after first-class mailing or delivery of written notice.

OCI's consumer fact sheet sometimes describes this early period in slightly different everyday wording, such as the first 59 days or the first 60 days. The statute's test is whether the policy has been in effect less than 60 days at the time the notice is mailed or delivered, and the 10-day notice still applies. Use the statutory test if a company's letter and a fact-sheet phrase seem to differ, and ask a licensed local agent or OCI to review the dates.

What about midterm cancellation after that period?

After that early period, section 631.36(2)(a) allows midterm cancellation for failure to pay the premium when due, or on grounds stated in the policy that fall within these categories: material misrepresentation; a substantial change in the risk assumed, except to the extent the insurer should reasonably have foreseen it; substantial breaches of contractual duties, conditions, or warranties; or attainment of the age specified as the terminal age for coverage.

OCI's consumer page emphasizes that, with few exceptions, midterm cancellation is for nonpayment. Both statements can be true in practice: nonpayment is the ground most consumers see, and the statute also lists those other grounds when they are stated in the policy. Midterm notice is at least 10 days after first-class mailing or delivery of written notice.

Typically there is no required grace period for auto or home beyond what the policy itself provides. If a premium is due, confirm the due date and any policy grace language in writing. Anti-discrimination rules also apply. Insurers may not cancel or refuse to issue or renew auto coverage solely because of age, sex, residence, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, marital status, or occupation, among other rules in section 632.35 and related insurance rules.

How much notice is required for a nonrenewal?

For nonrenewal, the insurer must give at least 60 days' notice before expiration, with the reason. For a homeowner or auto policy, the nonrenewal notice must tell the insured how to apply to the Wisconsin Insurance Plan (property) or the Wisconsin Automobile Insurance Plan (auto).

If the insurer fails to give the 60-day nonrenewal notice, it must continue coverage under the prior terms and premium for the term of the policy or one year, whichever is less. If the policy is nonrenewed solely because the agent's contract ended, the insurer must continue coverage if the insured requests in writing before expiration and meets eligibility.

Renewal on altered terms generally requires 60 days' notice, but 45 days for personal lines property and casualty. A rate increase of less than 25% as the only change is excepted from that altered-terms notice rule. For anniversary cancellation of an indefinite or multi-year term, notice is at least 60 days before the anniversary.

If standard auto insurers will not write the risk, OCI's auto frequently asked questions state that you may be insured through the Wisconsin Automobile Insurance Plan. You may apply through any licensed property and casualty agent. For general information, OCI lists the plan at 20700 Swenson Drive, Suite 100, Waukesha, Wisconsin 53186, and at 1-800-827-5964. The property residual market is the Wisconsin Insurance Plan, which is a different program.

FAQ

How much notice is required for a midterm cancellation?

Written notice must be given so that the cancellation is not effective until at least 10 days after first-class mailing or delivery, both in the early period of a new policy and for a later midterm cancellation under section 631.36.

How much notice is required for a nonrenewal?

At least 60 days before expiration, with the reason. A homeowner or auto nonrenewal notice must also explain how to apply to the residual market for that line.

Can an insurer cancel midterm for any reason after the first 60 days?

No. After the early period, midterm cancellation is limited to the grounds in section 631.36(2)(a), including nonpayment and the other listed grounds when they are stated in the policy.

What if the insurer misses the 60-day nonrenewal notice?

The insurer must continue coverage under the prior terms and premium for the term of the policy or one year, whichever is less.

If a cancellation or nonrenewal notice has you unsure about timing or about residual-market options, talk with a licensed local agent and, if needed, contact the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance.

Sources: Wisconsin Statutes section 631.36; Office of the Commissioner of Insurance, Terminations and Cancellations (PI-024); Office of the Commissioner of Insurance, Auto Insurance Frequently Asked Questions (PI-233).

Wisconsin requires auto liability insurance of at least $25,000 for bodily injury to one person, $50,000 for bodily injury to two or more people, and $10,000 for property damage. The Office of the Commissioner of Insurance also requires uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.

Those floors are easy to mix up with other states that use a $25,000 property-damage figure. In Wisconsin the property-damage minimum is $10,000.

What do the required coverages pay?

The Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) publishes these figures in its auto insurance frequently asked questions (publication PI-233). Bodily injury liability pays people you injure, or the family of someone who dies, if you are responsible for a crash. The first number is the most the policy will pay for one person. The second is the most it will pay for everyone hurt in that accident, combined. Property damage liability pays for damage you cause to someone else's car or other property, up to $10,000 at the legal minimum.

Those minimums are floors, not a suggestion of how much coverage is enough for every household. If a claim exceeds your limits, you can be personally responsible for the rest. A licensed local agent can quote higher split limits or a single-limit policy, and, if you have a house or savings to protect, an umbrella policy.

Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage is also required. OCI states that required UM is $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident, for bodily injury only. It applies if you are hit by an uninsured driver or a hit-and-run driver. It also covers you and your family if you are hurt as pedestrians. It does not pay for property damage to your own vehicle. Collision coverage, if you buy it, is the coverage that can repair or replace your vehicle after a crash. OCI also notes that your insurer may pursue the other driver after it pays a UM claim.

Underinsured motorist coverage is a separate, optional product. Medical payments coverage is also offered and may be declined. Both are covered in a companion article so this one can stay focused on the required floors.

Who needs a policy, and how do you show coverage?

Wisconsin's required auto coverages apply to a motor vehicle liability policy. Most households meet the rule by buying a policy from a licensed insurer that includes at least 25/50/10 liability and the required UM limits. A lender may also require collision, comprehensive, or higher liability limits as a condition of a loan. Forced or lender-placed coverage, if a lender buys it after a lapse, may protect the lender more than it protects you.

OCI's auto frequently asked questions also explain other optional coverages that are not part of the legal minimum but often matter in Wisconsin. Comprehensive coverage, sometimes called "other than collision," pays for fire, vandalism, water, hail, glass breakage, wind, falling objects, civil commotion, theft, and hitting a bird or an animal. OCI notes that hitting a deer is a relatively frequent type of accident in Wisconsin and that most policies treat an animal strike as a comprehensive claim, not a collision claim. Comprehensive also covers flood damage to a vehicle. Collision covers colliding with an object or overturning.

If you only carry collision and skip comprehensive, flood damage and an animal strike are not paid under collision. Talk with a licensed local agent about whether comprehensive belongs on the policy, especially if you park outside or drive rural roads.

Keep the declarations page and the current insurance card, printed or electronic, where you can find them quickly. If an officer, a claims person, or a lender asks for proof, you will want the current limits in writing. If coverage lapses, a lender can force-place a policy, and you can face a gap in protection until a new policy is in force.

The Wisconsin Automobile Insurance Plan is a residual market for drivers who cannot find coverage in the standard market after trying several companies. You apply through any licensed property and casualty agent. That plan is a last-resort option, not a substitute for shopping the standard market first.

FAQ

What are Wisconsin's auto liability minimums?

OCI lists $25,000 for bodily injury to one person, $50,000 for bodily injury to two or more people, and $10,000 for property damage. That 25/50/10 split is the current consumer figure on OCI's auto frequently asked questions page.

Is uninsured motorist coverage required in Wisconsin?

Yes. OCI states that required uninsured motorist coverage is $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident, for bodily injury only. It does not cover damage to your own vehicle.

Does required uninsured motorist coverage pay if I am hit as a pedestrian?

Yes. OCI explains that the required UM coverage also covers you and your family if you are hurt as pedestrians when an uninsured or hit-and-run driver is involved.

Is Wisconsin's property-damage minimum $25,000?

No. The official OCI figure is $10,000 for property damage. The bodily injury figures are $25,000 and $50,000. Confirm current limits with a licensed local agent before you buy or renew.

If your limits, a lapse, or a quote has you unsure about the next step, talk with a licensed local agent who can review your policy and Wisconsin's current required coverages.

Sources: Office of the Commissioner of Insurance, Auto Insurance Frequently Asked Questions (PI-233); Office of the Commissioner of Insurance, Terminations and Cancellations (PI-024).

Flood coverage for a Wisconsin home is purchased as a separate policy, often through the National Flood Insurance Program, and can be bought from any licensed property or casualty agent. There is usually a 30-day waiting period after you apply and pay the premium.

Those two rules come from the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance. Do not assume a homeowners policy automatically includes a flood policy, and do not assume collision coverage will pay for a flooded car.

How do you buy flood insurance for a home in Wisconsin?

OCI's homeowners frequently asked questions (publication PI-232) say the best person to help you buy flood insurance is the agent or the insurance company that already writes your homeowners or automobile insurance. Flood insurance may be bought through any licensed property or casualty insurance agent in Wisconsin.

Some companies issue the Standard Flood Insurance Policy in partnership with the federal government. In those cases, the company handles premium billing, policy issuance, and loss adjustment on behalf of the federal government. Those companies are called Write Your Own insurers. If your agent or company is not in that program, you may be referred to another agent or company that is, or your agent may order the policy directly from the federal government.

OCI points consumers to the National Flood Insurance Program at floodsmart.gov and to FloodSmart@dhs.gov for more information about the federal program. A licensed local agent can also tell you whether a private flood policy is being offered in addition to, or instead of, a National Flood Insurance Program policy. Compare the policy form, the waiting period, and the building and contents limits in writing before you rely on either product.

When does a new flood policy take effect?

OCI states that you can purchase flood coverage at any time. There is a 30-day waiting period after you have applied and paid the premium before the policy goes into effect. OCI lists two exceptions:

• If the initial purchase of flood insurance is in connection with the making, increasing, extending, or renewing of a loan, there is no waiting period. The coverage becomes effective at the time of the loan, provided the application and payment of premium are made at or before loan closing.
• If the initial purchase of flood insurance is made during the 13-month period following the revision or update of a Flood Insurance Rate Map for the community, there is a one-day waiting period.

Those exceptions are narrow. If you are not closing a loan and your community's flood map was not just revised, plan on the 30-day wait. Buying coverage while water is already rising will not usually put a policy in force for that event. If you live near a river, a lake, or a low-lying street, it is worth asking an agent about flood insurance before a forecast turns into a claim.

Map revisions can change which houses sit in a high-risk zone and which lenders require a flood policy. Even if a lender does not require one, OCI's materials still describe flood insurance as a product you can buy at any time. Contents coverage and building coverage are often selected separately. Confirm both limits, the deductible, and whether a basement or a detached garage is treated as covered, uninsured, or limited under the form you are offered.

Does auto insurance cover a flooded vehicle?

Yes, if the auto policy includes comprehensive coverage. OCI's auto frequently asked questions state that comprehensive coverage, sometimes called "other than collision," pays for damage from fire, vandalism, water, hail, glass breakage, wind, falling objects, civil commotion, or hitting a bird or an animal. Comprehensive also pays if the vehicle or parts of it are stolen. "Flood damage to your vehicle is also covered if your automobile insurance policy includes comprehensive coverage," OCI writes. If you carry collision without comprehensive, you are not covered for flood damage.

Collision is for colliding with an object or overturning. A flood, standing water, or a storm surge is not a collision claim under that official description. If a lender required collision but you declined comprehensive, ask a licensed local agent to review the declarations page after a flood watch, not after the car is already sitting in water.

Forced or lender-placed auto coverage may protect the lender more than it protects you. Read that notice carefully if a lender has placed coverage after a lapse.

FAQ

Is there a waiting period for flood insurance?

Yes, in most cases. OCI states that there is a 30-day waiting period after you apply and pay the premium. Loan-related purchases and certain map-revision purchases have shorter waits as described above.

Can I buy flood insurance only from the federal government?

No. OCI says you may buy it through any licensed property or casualty agent in Wisconsin. Some companies write the Standard Flood Insurance Policy as Write Your Own insurers. Others may refer you or order a policy from the federal program.

Does collision coverage pay for a flooded car?

No. OCI states that flood damage to a vehicle is covered if the auto policy includes comprehensive coverage. Collision without comprehensive does not pay for flood damage.

Where can I read official consumer information on flood coverage?

Start with OCI's homeowners frequently asked questions at the PI-232 page, OCI's auto frequently asked questions at the PI-233 page, and the National Flood Insurance Program site at floodsmart.gov.

If you need a flood quote for a home or want to confirm whether comprehensive is on an auto policy, talk with a licensed local agent who can review the forms and current waiting-period rules.

Sources: Office of the Commissioner of Insurance, Homeowners Insurance Frequently Asked Questions (PI-232); Office of the Commissioner of Insurance, Auto Insurance Frequently Asked Questions (PI-233); National Flood Insurance Program.

If you have a problem with a Wisconsin insurance company or agent, contact the company or the agent first. If that does not resolve it, you can file a complaint with the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance online, by mail, by email, or by phone.

OCI is the state office that regulates insurers and can review consumer complaints. A complaint does not replace a lawsuit or a claims appraisal, but it is the official consumer path when a company or agent will not address a billing, claims, or service issue.

What should you try before you file?

OCI's consumer materials on terminations and cancellations, and its contact page, start with a practical step: talk with the company or the agent first. Ask for a supervisor if the first person you reach cannot help. Keep notes of the date, the person's name or department, and what you were told. Put a follow-up request in writing when the issue involves a denial, a cancellation, a nonrenewal, a premium dispute, or a claim payment.

Have these items ready before you file, because OCI's complaint intake will go faster if the facts are in one place:

• Your name, mailing address, phone number, and email address
• The policy number, claim number, and the name of the insurance company and the agent, if any
• Dates of the event, the claim, the notice, or the billing problem
• Copies of the declarations page, the denial or cancellation letter, estimates, photos, and your written requests to the company
• A short, factual summary of what happened and what you want the company to do

Do not send original titles, original policies, or original photographs if a copy will do. Keep a copy of everything you send.

How do you file with OCI?

OCI accepts complaints online and on a printed form. You can also call or email. Official contact details published by OCI include:

• Phone (Madison): (608) 266-0103
• Phone (statewide): (800) 236-8517
• Email: ocicomplaints@wisconsin.gov (include your name, phone number, and email address)
• Mail: Office of the Commissioner of Insurance, P.O. Box 7873, Madison, WI 53707-7873
• Street: 101 East Wilson St., Madison, WI 53703

OCI's public footer also lists (608) 266-3585. If a recorded menu or a form points you to one number over another, use the contact path on the current OCI contact page so your complaint reaches the complaints unit.

When you email, include your name, a phone number, and an email address, as OCI requests. When you mail a form, use the post office box unless a current form asks for a different address. The street address is useful if you are delivering a document in person, but confirm hours and any appointment rule before you travel.

A complaint can cover auto, home, life, health, and other lines that OCI regulates. If the issue is a midterm cancellation, a nonrenewal, or a notice that looks short, bring the notice and the policy effective dates. Wisconsin's cancellation and nonrenewal timing rules, including a 10-day midterm notice and a 60-day nonrenewal notice, are set in state law and explained in OCI publication PI-024. Those timing rules are a common subject of consumer complaints and are covered in a companion article.

OCI can review whether the company followed insurance law and can ask the company for a response. It cannot always order a company to pay a disputed claim the way a court can, and it does not replace your policy's appraisal, arbitration, or appeal language. If a deadline to sue or to demand appraisal is running, a complaint does not automatically pause that deadline. A licensed local agent or an attorney can help you track those policy deadlines while the complaint is pending.

If the complaint involves a cancelled or nonrenewed policy, attach the notice and a copy of the declarations page that shows the effective dates. Timing questions are easier to review when the mailed or delivered date is in the file. If you have already written to the company, include that letter and any response you received.

If the company is not licensed in Wisconsin, or the seller is not an insurance company, OCI may tell you that another office has jurisdiction. In that case, follow the referral and keep your records.

FAQ

Do I have to contact the insurance company before I file with OCI?

OCI's consumer materials ask you to contact the company or agent first. If that does not resolve the issue, file with OCI and include what you already tried.

What phone numbers does OCI publish for complaints?

OCI lists (608) 266-0103 in Madison and (800) 236-8517 statewide. Its public footer also lists (608) 266-3585. Use the current contact page if you are unsure which number to call.

Where do I mail a complaint?

Mail the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance, P.O. Box 7873, Madison, WI 53707-7873. The street address is 101 East Wilson St., Madison, WI 53703.

What should I include in an email complaint?

OCI asks you to include your name, phone number, and email address. Add the company name, policy or claim number, and a clear summary of the problem, and keep a copy of what you sent.

If a claim denial, a cancellation, or a billing dispute is still unresolved after you contacted the company, talk with a licensed local agent about the policy and, if needed, file with OCI using the official contacts above.

Sources: Office of the Commissioner of Insurance, Contact OCI; Office of the Commissioner of Insurance, Terminations and Cancellations (PI-024).

Wisconsin requires uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. Underinsured motorist coverage is not mandatory, though insurers must tell you it is available, and medical payments coverage must be offered, with a $1,000 minimum if you elect it.

Those three coverages are easy to confuse because the names sound alike. Each pays a different kind of loss, and only uninsured motorist coverage is required on the policy.

How does required uninsured motorist coverage work?

The Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) states that required uninsured motorist (UM) coverage is $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident, for bodily injury only. It applies if you are hit by an uninsured driver or a hit-and-run driver. It also covers you and your family if you are hurt as pedestrians. It does not pay for property damage to your vehicle. If the insurer pays a UM claim, OCI notes that it may then pursue the other driver.

You can ask a licensed local agent about higher UM limits than the legal minimum. The required 25/50 floor is not a cap on what you are allowed to buy. If a serious injury claim exceeds the other driver's coverage, or if the other driver has no insurance at all, higher UM limits can matter.

Is underinsured motorist coverage required?

No. OCI's auto frequently asked questions state that underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage is not mandatory. The insurer must give you notice that the coverage is available when the policy is delivered. You may reject it. If you request UIM, the minimum limits are $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident.

OCI describes how the amount payable is figured: "The maximum amount payable is the difference between the two limits," meaning the other driver's bodily injury liability limits and your UIM limits. In plain terms, if the at-fault driver's liability limits are lower than your UIM limits, UIM may pay the difference, up to your UIM limits, subject to the policy and the facts of the claim. That official wording is the rule to start from. Do not assume that Wisconsin stacks UIM on top of the other driver's limits in every case. Ask a licensed local agent to walk through how your policy would apply in a sample claim, because policy forms and the other driver's limits both matter.

UIM is optional, but the notice of availability is not a minor insert. Read that notice when a new policy or a renewal arrives. If you want the coverage, request it in writing and confirm the limits on the declarations page. If you do not want it, keep a record of the rejection so a later claim file is not unclear.

What about medical payments coverage?

OCI states that insurance companies must offer medical payments coverage, but you can decline it. If you elect medical payments coverage, the minimum limit is $1,000. Medical payments coverage is designed to help pay medical bills after a crash, often on a no-fault basis up to the limit you buy, according to the policy. It is separate from bodily injury liability, which pays other people when you are responsible, and separate from health insurance.

A $1,000 minimum is a floor, not a guess about hospital bills. If you elect the coverage, talk with a licensed local agent about a higher limit and about how medical payments would coordinate with health coverage and with UM or UIM after a serious injury.

If you already have a policy, pull out the declarations page and look for separate line items for UM, UIM, and medical payments. A package quote can bury a rejection or a minimum limit in a cluster of codes. If a line is missing, or if a limit is lower than you remember requesting, ask the insurer to confirm it in writing before a claim file is opened.

These optional coverages sit on top of the required 25/50/10 liability minimums and required UM. Collision and comprehensive, if you buy them, address damage to your own vehicle, including, for comprehensive, flood and hitting an animal. None of those physical-damage coverages replace medical payments, UM, or UIM.

FAQ

Is underinsured motorist coverage required in Wisconsin?

No. OCI states that UIM is not mandatory. The insurer must notify you that it is available when the policy is delivered, and you may reject it. If you request it, the minimum limits are $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident.

How much can underinsured motorist coverage pay?

OCI states that the maximum amount payable is the difference between the two limits: the other driver's bodily injury liability limits and your UIM limits. Ask a licensed local agent how that official rule would apply under your policy.

Can I decline medical payments coverage?

Yes. OCI states that insurers must offer medical payments coverage and that you can decline it. If you elect it, the minimum limit is $1,000.

Does required uninsured motorist coverage pay to repair my car?

No. Required UM is for bodily injury only. Damage to your own vehicle is a question for collision coverage, if you bought it, or for a claim against the other driver if that driver has property-damage liability.

If you are choosing UM, UIM, or medical payments limits, or you received a notice of UIM availability, talk with a licensed local agent who can review the declarations page and Wisconsin's current rules.

Sources: Office of the Commissioner of Insurance, Auto Insurance Frequently Asked Questions (PI-233).

The Wisconsin Insurance Plan is the residual property market for homeowners who cannot find coverage from standard insurers. The Office of the Commissioner of Insurance describes it as a risk-pooling arrangement and as homeowners insurance of last resort, with premiums that are higher than those charged by regular insurance companies.

You reach the plan after you have tried the standard market. It is not a first quote, and it is not a state insurance agency in the sense OCI uses when it describes the pool.

What is the Wisconsin Insurance Plan?

OCI's homeowners frequently asked questions (publication PI-232) state that if you try several insurers and cannot find coverage, you most likely can be insured through the Wisconsin Insurance Plan (WIP). WIP is a risk-pooling arrangement in which all companies selling property insurance in the state share the risk of property owners who have difficulty securing insurance from usual market sources. The premiums charged by WIP are higher than those charged by regular insurance companies. "WIP is homeowners insurance of last resort," OCI writes. "Consider WIP only if you cannot obtain insurance from any other insurance company."

That official wording is the starting point. The plan exists because some houses, locations, or claims histories are hard to place, not because it is a bargain alternative to a standard policy. Coverage through a residual market can also be more basic than a standard homeowners form. Ask a licensed local agent to compare the form, the deductible, and any limits in writing before you rely on a WIP policy as if it were a typical HO-3.

OCI's publication on terminations and cancellations (PI-024) also names the Wisconsin Insurance Plan in a different context. When a homeowner or auto policy is nonrenewed, the nonrenewal notice must tell the insured how to apply to the Wisconsin Insurance Plan for property, or to the Wisconsin Automobile Insurance Plan for auto. That notice requirement is one reason a residual-market name may appear in a letter even if you have not applied yet. Read the letter, then talk with a licensed local agent about whether a standard-market option still exists and, if it does not, how to apply to the residual market named in the notice.

WIP's consumer site is published at wisinsplan.com. If that site is temporarily unavailable, a licensed property agent and OCI are still the official paths described in OCI's consumer publications. Do not rely on unofficial blogs for coverage limits or eligibility rules. Ask the plan, the agent, or OCI for the current application steps and for a specimen form.

When does a residual property policy come up?

Common situations include a nonrenewal, a cancellation, a prior-claim history, or a house that several standard companies have declined. OCI's cancellation publication explains midterm cancellation and nonrenewal timing, including a 60-day nonrenewal notice for a homeowner or auto policy and a requirement that the notice explain how to apply to WIP or the Wisconsin Automobile Insurance Plan. If you received a short notice, or no notice, review those timing rules and consider an OCI complaint, as described in a companion article.

A residual-market policy can be a bridge while you improve insurability, complete repairs, or shop again. It can also be the only option for a time. Either way, keep looking at the standard market on renewal, because OCI describes WIP as last-resort coverage with higher premiums.

Flood insurance is a separate product. A residual homeowners policy, like many standard homeowners policies, is not a substitute for a National Flood Insurance Program policy or another flood form. If flood risk is part of why a standard company declined the house, ask the agent about a flood policy as well as about WIP.

The Wisconsin Automobile Insurance Plan is the residual market for auto insurance, not for a house. OCI's auto frequently asked questions say that if you have tried several companies and cannot find coverage, you may be insured through that plan, and you may apply through any licensed property and casualty agent. The plan's published address is 20700 Swenson Drive, Suite 100, Waukesha, Wisconsin 53186, and the published phone number is 1-800-827-5964. Do not send a homeowners application to the auto plan, or an auto application to WIP, by habit. Use the market named for that line of insurance.

FAQ

Is the Wisconsin Insurance Plan a regular homeowners company?

OCI describes WIP as a risk-pooling arrangement in which companies that sell property insurance in the state share the risk, and as homeowners insurance of last resort, with higher premiums than regular companies.

When should I consider the Wisconsin Insurance Plan?

OCI says to consider WIP only if you cannot obtain insurance from any other insurance company, after trying several insurers.

Will a nonrenewal notice mention the plan?

For a homeowner or auto policy, OCI states that a nonrenewal notice must tell you how to apply to the Wisconsin Insurance Plan (property) or the Wisconsin Automobile Insurance Plan (auto).

Is the Wisconsin Automobile Insurance Plan the same as WIP?

No. WIP is the residual property market. The Wisconsin Automobile Insurance Plan is the residual auto market. OCI describes both, and a nonrenewal notice should point you to the correct one.

If standard insurers have declined a Wisconsin home or you received a nonrenewal that names the residual market, talk with a licensed local agent about current eligibility and about whether any standard-market option remains.

Sources: Office of the Commissioner of Insurance, Homeowners Insurance Frequently Asked Questions (PI-232); Office of the Commissioner of Insurance, Terminations and Cancellations (PI-024); Office of the Commissioner of Insurance, Auto Insurance Frequently Asked Questions (PI-233); Wisconsin Insurance Plan.