DAY, J.
This is a review of a court of appeals' decision1 which affirmed the judgment of the circuit court for Oneida County, the Honorable Robert E. Kinney, presiding. The circuit court granted General Casualty Company of Wisconsin's motion for summary judgment and declaratory relief, dismissing the Keanes' complaint with prejudice. The circuit court found that General Casualty, Keane's insurer, was not liable to the Keanes for uninsured motorist benefits for damages resulting from Patrick J. Keane's death, caused by a collision in Wisconsin with a vehicle owned and operated by Walter R. Moore, Jr., a Michigan resident who was insured by Auto-Owners Insurance Company at the time of the accident. The issue is whether Moore's automobile liability policy provided $25,000 of coverage, per person, for bodily injury at the time of the accident, so that Moore was not "uninsured" as that term is defined in General Casualty’s policy. We conclude that Moore was not "uninsured" and that General Casualty is not liable to the Keanes for uninsured motorist benefits.
At the time of the accident, Keane had two policies issued by General Casualty Company of Wisconsin. One policy covered the car in the accident. The other policy covered another vehicle Keane owned. Both vehicles were garaged in Wisconsin. Both policies contained $60,000 of uninsured motorist coverage.
The Keane policy provided for uninsured motorist coverage if damage caused by another vehicle having coverage for bodily injury was less than the amount [542]*542required by the Wisconsin statutes. Keane's policy defined an uninsured vehicle as:
a land motor vehicle or trailer of any type:
1. To which no bodily injury liability bond or policy applies at the time of the accident.
2. To which a bodily injury liability bond or policy applies at the time of the accident but its limit for bodily injury liability is less than the minimum limit for bodily injury liability specified by the financial responsibility law of the state in which your covered auto is principally garaged.
There is no claim that Keane's auto was not principally garaged in Wisconsin. It is also agreed that the minimum limit for bodily injury liability under sec. 344.15(1), Stats. 1987-88,2 of Wisconsin's financial responsibility law is $25,000 for one person.
Moore's policy, written in Michigan, had only a $20,000 bodily injury limit for one person. However, the Moore policy with Auto-Owners also had an extraterritorial clause which provided:
20. FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY LAWS; COMPULSORY INSURANCE LAWS. Such insur-[543]*543anee as is afforded by this policy under Coverages A and B [A is bodily injury, B is property damage liability] shall comply with the provisions of the motor vehicle financial responsibility law of any state or province to the extent of the coverage and limits of liability required by such law. Where a motor vehicle compulsory insurance law or any similar law requires a non-resident to maintain insurance with respect to the operation or use of a motor vehicle in such state or province and such insurance requirements are greater than the insurance provided by this policy, the limits of the Company's liability and the kinds of coverage afforded shall be as set forth in such law. (Emphasis added.)
We conclude that the extraterritorial clause increased Moore's liability limit to $25,000. Therefore, Moore was not uninsured, and General Casualty is not liable to the Keanes for uninsured motorist benefits.
The facts of the case are undisputed. On February 4, 1988, Keane was driving north on Highway 17 in Oneida County, Wisconsin. Moore was driving south on Highway 17 at the same time. The Keane vehicle and the Moore vehicle collided in Keane's lane, resulting in Keane's death. Gene and Darlene Keane, Patrick Keane's parents, brought a wrongful death action against Moore, pursuant to section 895.04(1), Stats. 1987-883 for $2,555,000 in damages. Moore does not dispute the claim that the Keanes sustained damages substantially greater than $20,000. Auto-Owners determined that sections 344.33(2),4 and 344.14(2)(a)5 Stats. [544]*5441987-88 of Wisconsin's financial responsibility law requires $25,000 of liability coverage for bodily injury to one person. Auto-Owners concluded their extraterritorial clause increased Moore's policy limit to $25,000 for the accident with Keane and tendered this amount to the Keanes.
The Keanes rejected the $25,000. They claim that Wisconsin's financial responsibility law does not require $25,000 of coverage. In fact, they argue, Wisconsin does not require liability insurance of any limit. The Keanes contend that Section 344.33(2), Stats., which Auto-Owners relied on in increasing its liability limit, only requires $25,000 of coverage for proof of financial responsibility for the future.
The Keanes claim that the $25,000 limit is only required if Moore had already been in an accident and had a judgment in excess of $500 against him or as a condition precedent to reinstatement of an operating [545]*545privilege revoked under ch. 343. Sections 344.246 and 344.29, Stats. 1987-88.7 In order to drive in Wisconsin again, Moore would have to pay the judgment and show proof of financial responsibility for the future. Section 344.26(1), Stats.8 If his motor vehicle liability policy were to be used as proof of financial responsibility for the future, it would have to provide $25,000 of coverage, per person, for bodily injury or death. Section 344.33(2), Stats. The Keanes contend that only then does the Auto-Owners' extraterritorial clause apply.
Additionally, the Keanes argue that sec. 344.14(2)(a), Stats., which Auto-Owners also relied on, applies only after an accident and after a motorist is [546]*546required to post a bond or show proof of $25,000 of coverage. The Keanes claim that since the Department of Transportation has not required Moore to show proof of financial responsibility for the future, the extraterritorial clause in his policy has not gone into effect. They contend Moore still had only $20,000 of coverage at the time of the accident.
The Keanes claim that the minimum liability limit for bodily injury "specified" by Wisconsin's financial responsibility law is $25,000. They direct the court to Chapter 344 of the Wisconsin Statutes, but do not cite a specific section. The Keanes argue that since Wisconsin's financial responsibility law does not require ownership of liability insurance with a $25,000 limit, Moore had only $20,000 of coverage at the time of the accident. But since Wisconsin's financial responsibility law "specifies" the $25,000 limit for a bond or policy which applies at the time of the accident, and Moore does not have this limit in his policy, he is "uninsured."
On this basis, the Keanes argue that they should collect $120,000 of uninsured motorist benefits from General Casualty; $60,000 from each of Keane's insured automobiles. Welch v. State Farm Mut. Auto Ins. Co., 122 Wis. 2d 172, 178, 361 N.W.2d 680 (1985).
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DAY, J.
This is a review of a court of appeals' decision1 which affirmed the judgment of the circuit court for Oneida County, the Honorable Robert E. Kinney, presiding. The circuit court granted General Casualty Company of Wisconsin's motion for summary judgment and declaratory relief, dismissing the Keanes' complaint with prejudice. The circuit court found that General Casualty, Keane's insurer, was not liable to the Keanes for uninsured motorist benefits for damages resulting from Patrick J. Keane's death, caused by a collision in Wisconsin with a vehicle owned and operated by Walter R. Moore, Jr., a Michigan resident who was insured by Auto-Owners Insurance Company at the time of the accident. The issue is whether Moore's automobile liability policy provided $25,000 of coverage, per person, for bodily injury at the time of the accident, so that Moore was not "uninsured" as that term is defined in General Casualty’s policy. We conclude that Moore was not "uninsured" and that General Casualty is not liable to the Keanes for uninsured motorist benefits.
At the time of the accident, Keane had two policies issued by General Casualty Company of Wisconsin. One policy covered the car in the accident. The other policy covered another vehicle Keane owned. Both vehicles were garaged in Wisconsin. Both policies contained $60,000 of uninsured motorist coverage.
The Keane policy provided for uninsured motorist coverage if damage caused by another vehicle having coverage for bodily injury was less than the amount [542]*542required by the Wisconsin statutes. Keane's policy defined an uninsured vehicle as:
a land motor vehicle or trailer of any type:
1. To which no bodily injury liability bond or policy applies at the time of the accident.
2. To which a bodily injury liability bond or policy applies at the time of the accident but its limit for bodily injury liability is less than the minimum limit for bodily injury liability specified by the financial responsibility law of the state in which your covered auto is principally garaged.
There is no claim that Keane's auto was not principally garaged in Wisconsin. It is also agreed that the minimum limit for bodily injury liability under sec. 344.15(1), Stats. 1987-88,2 of Wisconsin's financial responsibility law is $25,000 for one person.
Moore's policy, written in Michigan, had only a $20,000 bodily injury limit for one person. However, the Moore policy with Auto-Owners also had an extraterritorial clause which provided:
20. FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY LAWS; COMPULSORY INSURANCE LAWS. Such insur-[543]*543anee as is afforded by this policy under Coverages A and B [A is bodily injury, B is property damage liability] shall comply with the provisions of the motor vehicle financial responsibility law of any state or province to the extent of the coverage and limits of liability required by such law. Where a motor vehicle compulsory insurance law or any similar law requires a non-resident to maintain insurance with respect to the operation or use of a motor vehicle in such state or province and such insurance requirements are greater than the insurance provided by this policy, the limits of the Company's liability and the kinds of coverage afforded shall be as set forth in such law. (Emphasis added.)
We conclude that the extraterritorial clause increased Moore's liability limit to $25,000. Therefore, Moore was not uninsured, and General Casualty is not liable to the Keanes for uninsured motorist benefits.
The facts of the case are undisputed. On February 4, 1988, Keane was driving north on Highway 17 in Oneida County, Wisconsin. Moore was driving south on Highway 17 at the same time. The Keane vehicle and the Moore vehicle collided in Keane's lane, resulting in Keane's death. Gene and Darlene Keane, Patrick Keane's parents, brought a wrongful death action against Moore, pursuant to section 895.04(1), Stats. 1987-883 for $2,555,000 in damages. Moore does not dispute the claim that the Keanes sustained damages substantially greater than $20,000. Auto-Owners determined that sections 344.33(2),4 and 344.14(2)(a)5 Stats. [544]*5441987-88 of Wisconsin's financial responsibility law requires $25,000 of liability coverage for bodily injury to one person. Auto-Owners concluded their extraterritorial clause increased Moore's policy limit to $25,000 for the accident with Keane and tendered this amount to the Keanes.
The Keanes rejected the $25,000. They claim that Wisconsin's financial responsibility law does not require $25,000 of coverage. In fact, they argue, Wisconsin does not require liability insurance of any limit. The Keanes contend that Section 344.33(2), Stats., which Auto-Owners relied on in increasing its liability limit, only requires $25,000 of coverage for proof of financial responsibility for the future.
The Keanes claim that the $25,000 limit is only required if Moore had already been in an accident and had a judgment in excess of $500 against him or as a condition precedent to reinstatement of an operating [545]*545privilege revoked under ch. 343. Sections 344.246 and 344.29, Stats. 1987-88.7 In order to drive in Wisconsin again, Moore would have to pay the judgment and show proof of financial responsibility for the future. Section 344.26(1), Stats.8 If his motor vehicle liability policy were to be used as proof of financial responsibility for the future, it would have to provide $25,000 of coverage, per person, for bodily injury or death. Section 344.33(2), Stats. The Keanes contend that only then does the Auto-Owners' extraterritorial clause apply.
Additionally, the Keanes argue that sec. 344.14(2)(a), Stats., which Auto-Owners also relied on, applies only after an accident and after a motorist is [546]*546required to post a bond or show proof of $25,000 of coverage. The Keanes claim that since the Department of Transportation has not required Moore to show proof of financial responsibility for the future, the extraterritorial clause in his policy has not gone into effect. They contend Moore still had only $20,000 of coverage at the time of the accident.
The Keanes claim that the minimum liability limit for bodily injury "specified" by Wisconsin's financial responsibility law is $25,000. They direct the court to Chapter 344 of the Wisconsin Statutes, but do not cite a specific section. The Keanes argue that since Wisconsin's financial responsibility law does not require ownership of liability insurance with a $25,000 limit, Moore had only $20,000 of coverage at the time of the accident. But since Wisconsin's financial responsibility law "specifies" the $25,000 limit for a bond or policy which applies at the time of the accident, and Moore does not have this limit in his policy, he is "uninsured."
On this basis, the Keanes argue that they should collect $120,000 of uninsured motorist benefits from General Casualty; $60,000 from each of Keane's insured automobiles. Welch v. State Farm Mut. Auto Ins. Co., 122 Wis. 2d 172, 178, 361 N.W.2d 680 (1985). General Casualty argues that if Moore is held to be uninsured, its liability should be limited to the difference between the tortfeasor's limit and the statutory minimum of $25,000 prescribed by section 632.32(4)(a), Stats. 1987-88.9 [547]*547Therefore, General Casualty should only have to pay $5,000 (i.e., the difference between $20,000 and $25,000). Because we hold that Moore was not uninsured, we do not reach either of these questions.
Auto-Owners liability limit depends on the meaning of its extraterritorial clause. The interpretation of an insurance policy is a question of law. Blackhawk Prod. v. Chicago Ins., 144 Wis. 2d 68, 77, 423 N.W.2d 521 (1988); Kraemer Bros. v. United States Fire Ins. Co., 89 Wis. 2d 555, 562, 278 N.W.2d 857, 869 (1979). This court owes no deference to the circuit court's interpretation of the policy. Blackhawk, 144 Wis. 2d at 77.
Specifically, "the extent of coverage and limits of liability required" by Wisconsin's financial responsibility law controls Auto-Owners limit of liability to the Keanes. Wisconsin's financial responsibility law is found in Chapter 344 of the Wisconsin Statutes. The law is divided into two parts. The first part is Security for Past Accidents.10 See secs. 344.12 to 344.22, Stats. 1987-88. Its purpose is to provide security for the payment of damages for past accidents. Pinkerton v. United Services Automobile Assoc., 5 Wis. 2d 54, 56, 92 N.W.2d 256 [548]*548(1958). If security is not provided, the state may revoke the motorist's driving privileges. Section 344.13(3).11 The second part of the law is Proof of Financial Responsibility for the Future.12 See secs. 344.24 to 344.41. Its purpose is to provide proof of financial responsibility for future driving privileges in Wisconsin as a condition precedent to reinstatement of a revoked operating privilege. Section 344.24, Stats.
The Keanes argue that Wisconsin's Financial Responsibility Act only applies in a prospective manner. That is, Moore's limit of liability will only increase after an accident because the law does not apply at the time of the accident. They cite several Wisconsin cases in support of this proposition.
In Havlik, 272 Wis. 2d 71, 74 N.W.2d 798 (1956), this court upheld an exclusion clause in an automobile liability policy stating the policy does not apply to any bodily injury suffered by the insured. The insured then attempted to show that a policy containing such an exclusion is ambiguous when the financial responsibility [549]*549law is read into the policy. Id. at 74. The policy contained a clause stating that it "shall comply with. . . the motor vehicle Financial Responsibility Law of any state or province ... to the extent of the coverage and limits of liability required by such law." Id. at 73. Section 85.09(17), Stats. 1955,13 the financial responsibility law in Havlik, referred to furnishing proof of financial responsibility for the future. Id. at 74. But since the insured had not previously been in an accident and was not required to show proof of financial responsibility for the future, the policy did not have to conform to the financial responsibility law. Id.
The financial responsibility law applied prospectively in Havlik because, given the clause's literal meaning, the policy had to comply with the "financial responsibility law." At the time Havlik was decided, the "financial responsibility law" only referred to furnishing proof of financial responsibility for the future. Section 85.09(17), Stats. 1955. Section 85.09(17), was repealed in 1957 to create Chapter 344, which contains Security for [550]*550Past Accidents and Proof of Financial Responsibility for the Future. Chapter 260, Laws of 1957.
In a similar case, Knight v. Heritage Mut. Ins. Co., 71 Wis. 2d 821, 239 N.W.2d 348 (1976), this court held that a family exclusion clause in a motor vehicle liability policy issued in Illinois to an Illinois resident was effective in Wisconsin. In an attempt to invalidate the exclusion, however, the petitioner, Heritage Mutual, noted the following clause in the policy:
When certified as proof of future financial responsibility under any motor vehicle financial responsibility law . . . this policy shall comply with such law if applicable, to the extent of the coverage and limits required thereby . . ..
Id. at 825.
Heritage Mutual argued that when the motor vehicle financial responsibility law was read into the policy, the family exclusion clause became ineffective.14 Id. However, the court found that the policy in Knight "did not involve future financial responsibility." Id. at 826. Therefore, the "policy did not have to conform to Wisconsin law." Id.
The policies in Havlik and Knight specifically referred to compliance with laws of financial responsibility for the future. The policy in Havlik referred to the "financial responsibility law" which, at the time Havlik was decided, concerned furnishing proof of financial responsibility for the future. Section 85.09(17), Stats. 1955. The policy in Knight referred to certification of a policy as proof of "future financial responsibility." 71 Wis. 2d at 825.
[551]*551The insurance clause in the present case does not refer to proof of financial responsibility for the future or certification for such proof. It merely refers to "the financial responsibility law" and that which is required by such law. Therefore, the policy must meet the coverage and limits of liability required by Wisconsin's financial responsibility law.
The first part of the financial responsibility law, Security for Past Accidents, applies to accidents which result in bodily injury or death, or property damage greater than $500. Section 344.12, Stats. 1987-1988.15 Once this type of accident occurs, the Department of Transportation examines the accident report to determine the amount of security needed to satisfy a possible judgment for deunages. Section 344.13(1), Stats. Within ninety days after receiving the accident report and determining the amount of the security deposit, the Department shall notify each person from whom a security deposit is required.16 Section 344.13(3). An order of suspension for failure to make the security deposit is to be incorporated into the notice.. Id. If the security is not deposited in the correct amount and within the time specified in the notice, the order for suspension will take effect. Section 344.14(1), Stats.17
[552]*552An individual who ha& an insurance policy or bond in effect at the time of the accident does not have to file a security deposit. Section 344.14(2), Stats. However, for vehicles registered in Wisconsin, the policy or bond must either be issued by an insurer "authorized to do an automobile liability or surety business in this state," or the policy or bond must be subject to a $25,000 limit, per person, for bodily injury or death. Section 344.15(1), Stats.
For vehicles that are not registered in Wisconsin, the policy or bond must meet the same $25,000 limit, or it must meet the liability limit of the equivalent law in the state in which it was issued. Section 344.15(2)(a), Stats.18 This limit must be sufficient to cover the estimated damages of the accident. Id.
[553]*553Since Moore was in an accident resulting in Keane's death, he is within the purview of Security for Past Accidents. Section 344.12, Stats. Moore's policy, if used as security for a past accident, must either contain the $25,000 limit, or the $20,000 limit in the policy must be sufficient to cover the Keanes' damages. Section 344.15(2)(a), Stats. Since both parties agree that the damages are greater than $20,000, Moore's policy must provide the $25,000 limit if it is used to satisfy the Security for Past Accidents section of Wisconsin's financial responsibility law.
The other section of the financial responsibility law, Proof of Financial Responsibility for the Future, applies in all cases where a person is required to furnish such proof to prevent license revocation. Section 344.29, Stats. This section of the law takes effect after a judgment for damages in excess of $500 for a motor vehicle accident has been entered against the driver or as "a condition precedent to reinstatement of an operating privilege revoked under ch. 343." Sections 344.25 to 344.29, Stats. However, since the record does not show that such a judgment has been entered against Moore or that Moore has had his license revoked under ch. 343, we need not be concerned with financial responsibility for the future. The policy does not have to conform to the law before the law applies to the insured.
The Keanes cite Schanche v. Estate of Alvarez, 368 F. Supp. 543 (E.D. Wis. 1973) in support of their contention that Wisconsin does not require any motor vehicle liability insurance or any limits of liability. Since no coverage or limits are required, they argue, the extraterritorial clause in Auto-Owners' policy does not go into effect to raise Moore's limits of liability.
[554]*554In Schanche, the court refused to increase an Oregon motorist's liability coverage to the limit specified in section 344.15(1), Stats. (1973). 368 F. Supp. at 544. In 1973, when Schanche was decided, the Wisconsin liability limit for bodily injury or death was $15,000 per person. Schanche, 369 F. Supp. at 544. Mr. Alvarez, the Oregon motorist, had only $10,000 of coverage per person. Id. The court stated that the out-of-state policy provided, " 'policy terms which conflict with Wisconsin Statutes are amended to conform with such statutes.' " Id. The court held that there was no "conflict" because section 344.15(1), Stats., did not require drivers to carry automobile insurance. Id. Moreover, section 344.15(2), 1973, exempted policies on out-of-state vehicles from complying with Wisconsin law if those policies, among other things, met the minimum liability limit of the state of issuance. Id. The Oregon motorist's policy met this limit. Id.
As correctly stated in Schanche, Wisconsin does not require drivers to carry automobile insurance. Id. Ours is not a compulsory insurance state. But for policies issued, Chapter 632, Subchapter IV, of the Wisconsin Statutes governs automobile and motor vehicle insurance policy requirements; and "[i]n Wisconsin, liability coverage currently cannot be issued for less than $25,000. Section 344.33, Stats." Wood v. American Fam. Mut. Ins., 148 Wis. 2d 639, 653, 436 N.W.2d 594, 600 (1989).
Additionally, section 344.15, Stats., requires $25,000 of coverage for bodily injury or death when that coverage is used as security for a past accident. The case before us is one where the motorist must provide security for a past accident. Since the extraterritorial clause in Auto-Owners' policy is to comply with that which is required by Wisconsin's financial responsibility law, we conclude [555]*555that Moore's bodily injury liability limit for the accident with Keane is $25,000.
If we were to apply the financial responsibility law prospectively, as the Keanes contend, the extraterritorial clause would go into effect only if Moore had already been in an accident. Consequently, the victim's only recourse of recovery would be to seek to satisfy the judgment from the out-of-state motorist, or to seek uninsured motorist benefits from its own insurer, providing the victim even has automobile liability insurance. See G. Couch, Couch on Insurance 2d section 45:721 (Rev. ed. 1981).
The higher limit of liability must apply, not only from the standpoint of the victim, but also from the standpoint of a reasonable insured. The words of an insurance policy are to be construed in accordance with how a reasonable insured would interpret the policy. Kremers-Urban Co. v. American Employers Ins., 119 Wis. 2d 722, 735, 351 N.W.2d 156 (1984). We find that a reasonable insured, owning a policy containing the extraterritorial clause that appears in this case, would expect the policy to comply with the financial responsibility law of any other state or province. That is, if the financial responsibility law requires a minimum limit of liability for a policy used as security for a past accident, the insured's policy meets that limit.
A reasonable insured under Moore's policy would expect that its extraterritorial clause meant that if he was involved in an accident in Wisconsin causing damages in excess of $20,000, that Auto-Owners would provide coverage of $25,000 and that his license would not therefore, be revoked. That is what Auto-Owners did.
General Casualty cites as compelling Amick v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., 455 A.2d 793 (R.1.1983). In that case, [556]*556the Rhode Island Supreme Court held that an extraterritorial clause extended limits of an automobile liability policy to $25,000, the minimum limit of liability required by Rhode Island's Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Act. Id. at 796. Section 31-31-1 to 31-31-22 of the Act applied to security for a past accident, just as sections 344.12 to 344.22, Stats, do. See Amick at 795. The extraterritorial clause in Amick provided "the required higher coverage" of other states and provinces having a higher limit of liability for bodily injury or property damage than the insured purchased. Id. at 794. Rhode Island does not require automobile liability insurance as a condition precedent to the operation of a motor vehicle in that state. Id. at 795.
The court in Amick reasoned that the insured "purchased this optional coverage to be protected from laws that would require him, if uninsured, either to post security in case of an accident or to risk suspension of his driving privileges. This is precisely the protection that the extraterritorial-coverage clause purports to provide." Id. at 796.
The record in the present case does not reveal whether the extraterritorial clause in Auto-Owners' policy was optional or mandatory or whether Moore paid a higher premium to have it included in his policy. However, we cannot disregard the common and ordinary meaning of the clause. The language of an insurance policy is to be given the common ordinary meaning it would have in the mind of a reasonable insured. Kremers-Urban Co., 119 Wis. 2d at 735. The extraterritorial clause is meant to comply with any coverage or limits of liability required by a state's financial responsibility law. Our state requires a $25,000 limit of liability for bodily injury or death for a policy used as security for a past [557]*557accident. Section 344.15, Stats. We find that the extraterritorial clause increases Moore’s liability limit to $25,000, the minimum limit of liability for bodily injury or death required by section 344.15. Therefore, Moore was not "uninsured" as that term was defined in Keane's policy with General Casualty. We therefore affirm the court of appeals.
By the Court. — The decision of the court of appeals is affirmed.