Wisconsin Ranks Sixth for DUIs Per 1,000 Drivers

A Lending Tree analysis places Wisconsin among the states with the highest rates of driving under the influence.

Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Substance Abuse

Wisconsin Ranks Sixth for DUIs Per 1,000 Drivers

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Lending Tree released a report ranking Wisconsin sixth in the nation for DUIs per 1,000 drivers. The analysis compared states on accidents, DUIs, speeding-related incidents, and general citations.

Why it matters

The ranking gives Wisconsin residents a comparative view of impaired driving risk across states. It also shows that five of the top 10 DUI rates are concentrated in the Midwest.

Wisconsin had 1.8 DUIs per 1,000 drivers, sixth nationally, while North Dakota recorded 2.0 and Iowa and California 1.9 per 1,000 residents. Lending Tree's methodology does not address whether enforcement levels or reporting practices account for the differences.

The players

Lending Tree

Lending Tree is a consumer finance marketplace that publishes data-driven rankings and reports on driving and financial topics.

The details

Lending Tree ranked states by best and worst drivers using rates of accidents, DUIs, speeding-related incidents, and general citations. In Wisconsin, a DUI is referred to as an OWI, and it entails operating a vehicle with a blood or breath alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher.

Lending Tree's report on Wisconsin's DUI ranking was published on November 12, 2026.

Regional Context

Wisconsin's position within Lending Tree's national comparison places it among a Midwest cluster in which five of the top 10 DUI rates appear. Wisconsin's accident rate of 16.4 per 1,000 drivers ranked 30th of 51, showing its DUI ranking is not mirrored across other driving-risk measures.

Drivers in Wisconsin face a sixth-place DUI ranking that reflects a 0.08 blood or breath alcohol threshold for a standard DUI and 0.02 for repeat offenders. Residents planning trips after drinking can use rideshare or designated drivers to avoid penalties.

The takeaway

Because Wisconsin's DUI ranking is set against all other states, residents can use the 0.08 and 0.02 thresholds to plan safer travel. Choosing a sober driver before drinking is the most direct step to avoid a DUI charge.