Kansas Car Insurance
In the state of Kansas, state law mandates that all drivers who own a vehicle that is registered in the state carry continuous auto insurance that is purchased from a provider licensed to do business in the state.
As a consumer, not only do you need to know about the minimum coverage that you must carry to satisfy the state law, you also need to know about additional coverage options and how to build an affordable policy.
While all consumers want to buy the most affordable policy, it is very important to purchase adequate coverage that will keep you protected while you are behind the wheel.
Be sure to always compare auto insurance quotes before making a decision. You can easily use our FREE search tool located above to get started!
Here is your guide to Kansas car insurance to help you make informed insurance purchases:
Requirements for Car Insurance in Kansas
Every state sets their own unique insurance laws, and most states have made automobile insurance mandatory like the state of Kansas. The coverage that is required by the state is required to protect third party drivers on the roadways and you and your passengers when you are injured.
Unlike a majority of states in the nation, which operate under a tort system, Kansas is a no-fault state. Essentially, a no-fault system means that your insurance company will pay you directly when you are injured in an accident, even if the other party is found at-fault.
Because your insurer is the one to make payment, you must carry both liability coverage and Personal Injury Protection when you have a vehicle licensed in Kansas. Bodily Injury and Property Damage coverage will pay when you are at-fault for an accident when you have a loss with someone who does not have Personal Injury Protection.
You must carry at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in Bodily Injury cover, and $10,000 per accident in Property Damage cover by law.
Personal Injury Protection, also known as PIP, offers medical expense cover and additional benefits for the insured and their passengers.
If you elect to carry the minimum amount of PIP cover that is required by law, you will receive the following coverage benefits: $4,500 in medical payments, $900 in loss of income, $25 for in-home services, rehabilitation cover, survivor benefits, and $2000 in burial expense. These are bare minimums and can be increased when appropriate for additional premiums.
Penalties For Driving Without Kansas Car Insurance
When drivers decide not to carry insurance, they are not only hurting themselves, they are putting all drivers and pedestrians at-risk. This is why the first conviction for driving without insurance in Kansas is a misdemeanor.
If you are found guilty of failure to carry auto insurance, you may be assessed severe penalties. Fines can range between $300 and $1,000 for a first offense. As if the fine were not enough, your license and registration will be suspended until proof of insurance has been filed.
You will also be required to pay a $100 reinstatement fee to reinstate your plates even after your insurance has been filed. If you were involved in an accident, there may be a chance that you could be sentenced to up to 6 months in jail. You also need proof of financial responsibility (SR22) through your insurer to be filed for no less than a year.
The penalties for subsequent offenses are much more harsh. It is in your best interest to purchase coverage for protection, peace of mind and to satisfy the law. For a set rate each month, you never have to worry about having a misdemeanor on your record.
Optional Types of Coverage That is Available in Kansas
You have the option to purchase additional limits and types of cover for added protection on the roadways. In addition to higher liability limits and larger Personal Injury Protection benefits, you have the right to purchase basic optional cover that all Kansas insurers who are licensed in the state must offer.
Uninsured Motorist Protection
In Kansas, you must be offered the option to purchase a minimum amount of Uninsured Motorist cover. This coverage will pay for your injuries and the injuries of your passengers when a driver with no insurance is at-fault for an accident. Coverage to repair your vehicle when it is damaged in an accident with an uninsured driver will be paid for under your collision cover.
If you do not have collision, you may be able to add Uninsured Motorist Property Damage riders to your policy for a minimum amount of protection.
Physical Damage Coverage Options
You are not required by law to carry physical damage coverage to protect your own vehicle when it sustains damage in an accident. You may be required by your lender or your lessor, however, to purchase full coverage to protect the institution's asset because you do not actually own the vehicle.
To satisfy your lending or lease requirements, you will need to have both comprehensive and collision on your policy. You may also need to carry low deductibles if your contract requires.
Comprehensive
Comprehensive will pay for losses that are caused by events like fire, theft, vandalism, hail, wind or a collision with a live animal. You will be responsible for your deductible and the insurer will pay up to the fair market value of the vehicle to make repairs or to pay for a replacement.
Collision
Collision coverage will pay for damages that are sustained in an accident with another vehicle, a building, a tree or another stationary object other than live animals. Because collision insurance usually carries the highest premiums, many people elect to carry higher deductibles to keep the premiums affordable. Test out different deductible options as you shop around for coverage to find the best rates.
Towing and Rental Car Coverage
Not all insurance companies in Kansas will offer rental car reimbursement and towing coverage. If these options are important to you so that you can recover from a loss, choose a Kansas insurer that offers these options.
You can locate companies doing business in the state by using the company search tool before you start comparison shopping.
How to Save Money Off of Your Kansas Car Insurance
Now that you understand what types of protection are available to you, the next step is learning how you can save money off of your annual premiums without having to sacrifice coverage.
By using these tips, you can elect to carry high limits while still staying on budget.
Shop Around With Different Insurers
Insurance companies set their own rates. While the rates must be approved by the Kansas Department of Insurance, each company's rates will be unique. It is not out of the ordinary for a company to target a specific niche of drivers by offering the most competitive rates for that group.
They may even price their other rates out of the market for other niches. By shopping around to compare prices, you can identify which companies are priced right in your market.
Take Voluntary Driving Courses
There are a variety of reasons why you can take a voluntary driving course. As a young driver, you can take an optional driver education course for a credit. When you get older, you can take traffic school courses to erase convictions off of your driving record.
If you are retired, you may be able to take a Mature Driver course for a 3 year credit. These discounts will add up and can be piled on one another.
Multi-car Discounts and Extra Vehicles
A majority of insurers in the state will offer a multi-car discount if you insure more than one vehicle with the same company. The discount applies to both cars.
Some vehicle will offer an extra vehicle rating, which is when you have more cars than drivers in the household. This keeps the rates on the extra vehicle very low.
Multi-policy Discounts
If you do business with an insurance company licensed to offer additional product lines, you may be able to save money on all of your policies if you purchase multiple lines of coverage.
This includes homeowners, condo, renters, mobile home, life, disability and more. This could be an incentive to buying insurance from a producer with more than one line of insurance.
Raise Your Deductibles
If you carry full coverage, you can keep the policies low by raising you comprehensive and collision deductibles. The higher your deductible, the less your premiums for each of those coverage options. This is a much better option than buying minimum liability limits that put you at-risk.
If you are looking for quick and effective ways to shop for coverage, use a smart online rate comparison tool that gives you access to rates through several insurers.
By entering your information just once, you can find out how much you will pay for Kansas car insurance with the top-rated companies offering the best coverage options and customer service.
Use our FREE comparison tool below to get started!