In Kansas, car insurance for any vehicle using – or parked on – the public highway is compulsory unless the vehicle is owned by a self-insured person as approved by the Kansas Insurance Commission. Fortunately, except for areas of high car theft, auto insurance in Kansas is comparatively inexpensive, and there are a number of steps you can take in order to reduce your car insurance rates even further (see our guide to “Cheap Kansas Car Insurance Quotes”).

One significant reason for cheap car insurance rates in Kansas is the low number of uninsured motorists on the road. It is estimated by the Insurance Research Council that fewer than 10 per cent of drivers on Kansas roads are uninsured – as opposed to a national average of 16 per cent. Nonetheless, new legislation introduced in July 2011 prohibits any uninsured driver who is injured in a road traffic accident from making a personal injury claim for the recovery of non-economic loss sustained as a result of the accident.

Kansas Car Insurance Requirements

Despite this new legislation, having uninsured/underinsured motorist protection with your auto insurance policy in Kansas is still mandatory under the Kansas Automobile Injury Reparations Act. It is also compulsory that you have personal injury protection insurance in Kansas (quite a lot of it) as well as one of the highest minimum liability limits in the country.

The full list of the minimum Kansas car insurance requirements is as follows:-

Liability Insurance

$25,000 for injury/death to one person

$50,000 for injury/death to more than one person

$10,000 for damage to property

Personal Injury Protection

$4,500 per person for medical expenses

$900 month for one year for disability and/or loss of income (for one year)

$25 per day for in-home services (for one year)

$2,000 for funeral, burial or cremation expenses

$4,500 for rehabilitation expenses

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist

$25,000 per person

$50,000 per accident

Kansas Auto Insurance Laws

If you drive a vehicle in Kansas, or even leave it parked on the street, you must be able to provide evidence of Kansas auto insurance or produce the certificate of self-insurance when asked to by a law officer. Failure to do so will result in a fine, which if you do not pay within the required timeframe is considered to be a Class B misdemeanor – and you could spend up to six months in a county jail. You will then see your insurance rating increase to “high-risk” and be required to file an SR-22 with the Kansas Department of Motor Vehicles.

If you are caught driving without any form of car insurance in Kansas, the fine increases up to $2,500. You will also lose your vehicle registration and possibly have your license suspended. To reinstate both, you will need to provide proof of insurance, have your Kansas auto insurance provider file an SR-22 and pay all applicable reinstatement fees.

Recommended Kansas Car Insurance Coverage

Despite the many different types of auto insurance coverage that is required in Kansas, car insurance is relatively inexpensive in most of the State. Therefore – according to the Kansas Insurance Commissioner´s Department – car owners in Kansas opt to extend their car insurance coverage to $100,000 for injury/death to one person, $300,000 for injury/death to more than one person and $50,000 for damage to property.

Collision and comprehensive car insurance in Kansas is most commonly taken in the major cities of the State (see below for car theft statistics) and typically – again according to the Kansas Insurance Commissioner´s Department – clients only request small deductibles, most commonly $100 for comprehensive auto insurance in Kansas and $250 for collision car insurance.

Cheap Kansas Car Insurance Quotes

The Kansas Insurance Commissioner´s Department also offers valuable advice on how to get cheap car insurance quotes in Kansas. They advocate shopping around and comparing Kansas auto insurance quotes to get the best deal as well as taking the highest deductible you can afford on collision and comprehensive coverage. They recommend maintaining a good driving record and only taking liability coverage on a car with a market value of less than $3,000.

There are also a number of approved motoring schools in Kansas which offer Motor Vehicle Accident Prevention Courses. Auto insurance companies in Kansas are required by law to offer you a discount on your car insurance premium if you have taken and passed one of these courses. If your Kansas car insurance company neglects to offer you a discount for passing a Motor Vehicle Accident Prevention Course, may sure you remind them – it´s the law!

Kansas Car Insurance Ratings

There are many other factors which will affect your car insurance rating – the category in which Kansas car insurance companies place you depending on what level of risk they believe you represent. A good driving history and uninterrupted insurance coverage are the main two elements of your car insurance rating in Kansas, but other historical factors will influence the car insurance quote you are given. These include:-

• Where You Live –  As you will see below, the districts of Kansas City, Topeka and Wichita feature highly in the National Insurance Crime Bureau´s list of high risk locations. If you live in a rural area you will benefit from cheaper auto insurance in Kansas.
• Your Gender – Despite there being more female drivers registered in the State of Kansas than males (51.13 per cent/48.87 per cent), male drivers were responsible for 86.35 per cent of all fatal road accidents in 2008. This statistic reflects in favorable car insurance quotes for female drivers in Kansas.
• Use of Vehicle – Car owners who only use their vehicles lightly can benefit from reduced car insurance rates in Kansas. Pay-as-you-drive programs and other auto insurance discounts are available to those who drive their car infrequently and use public transport for commuting to work and school.
• Credit Rating – One of the most influential factors that a Kansas auto insurance company will consider when preparing your car insurance quote is your personal finance history. The reason behind this is that (historically) people who tend to show responsibility with their finances tend to make more responsible road users.
• Make and Model of Vehicle – A further historical factor car insurance companies in Kansas use to calculate your level of risk is the likelihood of your car being involved in an accident or stolen. Car owners who fit their vehicles with additional safety and security devices are rewarded with lower auto insurance rates in Kansas.

Most Stolen Vehicles in Kansas

The National Insurance Crime Bureau publishes an annual list of the most frequently stolen models of cars by State. If you have one of the vehicles listed below, you are being penalized by your car insurance company. It is recommended that you invest in some additional security features or a vehicle immobilizer – not only to prevent your cherished vehicle from being stolen, but also to save on your car insurance rates in Kansas.

The list, known as “Hot Wheels”, for 2010 was as follows:-

1. Honda Accord
2. Chevrolet Pick-Up
3. Ford F150 Pick-Up
4. Honda Civic
5. Dodge Ram
6. Dodge Intrepid
7. Ford Taurus
8. Pontiac Grand Am
9. Ford Explorer
10. Toyota Camry

Where You Car May Get Stolen in Kansas

As mentioned above, the National Insurance Crime Bureau also produces a list of the 360 districts within the country with the highest ratio of car theft to population. Known as “Hot Spots”, if you live in one of the following areas, you car insurance premiums will suffer. Districts are listed in order of the location where car theft is most prevalent, with their national position included in brackets.

1. Kansas City (39)
2. Topeka (54)
3. Wichita (60)
4. St. Joseph (187)
5. Lawrence (222)
6. Manhattan (321)

Typical Kansas Insurance Rates

The fact that only six districts made it into the top 360 “Hot Spots” indicates why the average car insurance rates in Kansas are generally in line with the national average ($1,440) – despite the high minimum level of Kansas car insurance requirements. Within the State there are also wide fluctuations between cities, and two people with identical circumstances, but who live in different counties, could be paying car insurance premiums with a discrepancy of several hundred dollars.

The following list illustrates this point. It shows the average car insurance premium paid in selected Kansas districts in 2009.

Car insurance in Manhattan – $1,068

Car insurance in Salina – $1,166

Car insurance in Lawrence – $1,334

Car insurance in Hutchinson – $1,347

Car insurance in Topeka – $1,440

Car insurance in Olathe – $1,561

Car insurance in Overland Park – $1,558

Car insurance in Wichita -$1,714

Car insurance in Shawnee – $1,723

Car insurance in Kansas City – $1,886

Kansas Car Insurance Companies

If the new laws with regard to uninsured motorists have the desired effect, it is possible that car insurance rates in Kansas could decrease in the future. However, for the present it is in your best interests to contact as many auto insurance companies in Kansas as possible to get the widest range of Kansas auto insurance quotes.

The list below is a comprehensive directory of auto insurance companies in Kansas. Those which are underlined have been reviewed by us on other pages, but do not ignore some of the smaller car insurance companies in Kansas, as they may offer special rates for your age or occupation, or if you choose to combine your Kansas auto insurance with your household insurance policy.

The market for car insurance in Kansas is fairly competitive, so you should be able to play one company off against the other to get the best Kansas car insurance rates. Use the tool at the top of the page to get you started, and do not forget to ask for discounts for a full year´s prepayment or any other concessions you may be entitled to.