Superior sits at the western tip of Lake Superior, across the St. Louis River from Duluth, Minnesota. Grain elevators, rail yards, and an oil refinery still shape the local economy more than any tech park does.

Car insurance in Superior runs an estimated $2,090 a year for full coverage, about 10% above the Wisconsin statewide average of $1,902. Unlike the affluent suburbs pulling their premiums down elsewhere in the state, Superior's numbers push the other way.

Twin Ports, Two States

Superior and Duluth together form the Twin Ports, the largest dry-bulk harbor on the Great Lakes, moving roughly 35 million short tons of cargo a year — iron ore, coal, and grain loaded onto lake freighters bound for the rest of the country. Superior handles the Wisconsin side of that traffic: rail yards, elevators, and dock facilities that keep heavy trucks and freight rail moving through the city year-round.

That industrial base means more commercial vehicle traffic sharing the same roads as everyday commuters, a factor insurers weigh differently than they would in a bedroom suburb with lighter freight movement.

Income Below the Line, Crime Above It

Median household income in Superior runs about $64,216, roughly 15% below the Wisconsin figure of $75,670. That's the main driver behind the city's above-average estimate — lower local income tracks with thinner coverage limits and more coverage gaps, both of which show up in local risk pricing.

Crime adds a smaller push in the same direction. Superior's overall crime rate runs about 14% above the national average, per 2026 NeighborhoodScout data, with property crime the larger share. Neither factor alone would move the needle much, but together they're enough to put Superior above the statewide norm rather than below it.

The Bridges and the Refinery

Two bridges carry Superior traffic into Duluth: the John A. Blatnik Bridge (I-535), opened in 1961 and now aging toward a planned replacement, and the newer Richard I. Bong Memorial Bridge (US 2). The Blatnik alone carries around 33,000 vehicles a day, and construction activity tied to its eventual replacement tends to raise fender-bender risk in the years it's underway.

Superior is also home to Wisconsin's only oil refinery, rebuilt for $1.2 billion after a 2018 explosion forced a citywide evacuation and didn't fully restart until 2023. It's a defining piece of the local economy and a reminder of the city's industrial character, even though personal auto premiums are priced off driving records and claims data rather than a single incident.

What Wisconsin Actually Requires

  • Minimum liability: 25/50/10 — $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, $10,000 property damage
  • Uninsured motorist: 25/50 bodily injury, mandatory statewide
  • Fault system: At-fault, modified comparative negligence with a 51% bar
  • Superior estimate: $2,090/yr full coverage, minimum liability from about $42/mo

Wisconsin's $10,000 property damage floor is thin everywhere, and a harbor city with heavy freight traffic is exactly the kind of place a multi-vehicle crash can blow past it. Our minimum vs. full coverage guide walks through when it makes sense to carry more.

Compare Quotes Before You Settle

An above-average citywide estimate doesn't mean every Superior driver pays more than the state norm — it means the local averages lean that way, and your own record can still land you well under it. The Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance is a solid resource for verifying a policy before you sign anything.

Get quotes from at least three carriers before renewing. Superior's income and crime numbers push the citywide average up, but they don't set your individual rate — your driving record and vehicle do that.