Guide to Car Insurance in Kansas

Like any U.S. state, Kansas has certain requirements you must meet before you purchase, register, or drive a car. For instance, you may not know that Kansas is one of only 12 states that uses a no-fault insurance system; that means all drivers carry insurance that covers their own injuries in an accident, regardless of who’s at fault.

Among other things, you’ll want to know exactly what coverage you need in a no-fault state, so before you hit the road, let’s go over everything you need to know about driving in Kansas.

Car Insurance Required in Kansas

Kansas requires three kinds of insurance: liability insurance, which pays for bodily injury or property damage of others in the event of an accident; personal injury protection (PIP), which covers your injuries after an accident; and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, which covers your losses after an accident with an underinsured or uninsured driver.

Liability insurance must cover at least the following:

• $25,000 for bodily injury liability, per person
• $50,000 for total bodily injury, if multiple people get hurt
• $25,000 for property damage

PIP must cover a minimum of the expenses below:

• $4,500 per person for medical costs
• $900 per month for one year for disability and loss of income
• $25 per day for in-home services
• $2,000 for the funeral, cremation, or burial expenses
• $4,500 for rehabilitation

Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage must meet these minimums:

• $25,000 for bodily injury, per person
• $50,000 for total injuries if multiple people in your car are hurt

How Much Coverage Do I Need?

It may be tempting to purchase only the minimum coverage listed above, but you shouldn’t wait to find out — too late! — that this isn’t sufficient in the case of an accident. It’s a good idea to purchase collision and comprehensive coverage, as well. Collision coverage helps you with damages to your car resulting from a traffic accident, while comprehensive coverage helps with damages to your car that result from events other than traffic collisions.

Average Cost of Car Insurance in Kansas

Average annual spending on car insurance in Kansas in 2020 was $793, which is 24 percent lower than the national average.¹ The average annual cost of auto insurance coverage breaks down into:

• Liability coverage: $409
• Collision coverage: $274
• Comprehensive coverage: $283

While $1,698 stands as the annual average for the cost of full coverage in Kansas, rates range from $178 to $2,891 annually. A range of factors may affect the cost of insurance, from your driving record to your ZIP code — and in Kansas, even your credit score and gender.

Car Insurance Companies in Kansas

• Allstate
• American Family
• Auto-Owners
• Electric
• Farmers
• GEICO
• Iowa Farm Bureau
• MetLife
• Progressive
• QBE
• Safe Auto
• Sentry
• Shelter
• State Farm
• USAA

To find the cheapest car insurance, get a car insurance quote from multiple providers, especially if you have poor credit.

How to Get the Lowest Rates

1. Use discounts. There are many ways to qualify for discounts on your premium: having a clean driving record, completing a state-approved driver’s education course, or maintaining a GPA equivalent to a B-average or higher in school are just some of the ways to score discounts on your premiums.
2. Bundle. When selecting a coverage policy in Kansas, you’ll be asked whether you’d like to add additional vehicles to your policy, which can lower your premiums. You’ll be able to bundle coverage when you add another vehicle to an existing plan too.
3. Adjust your policy. Purchasing only the minimum required coverage is an obvious way to save money on premiums. However, you can also sign up for driver-monitored savings, which means allowing your insurance company to monitor your driving through a smartphone or in-car device. Also consider usage-based insurance (UBI) if you drive fewer miles — for instance, if you take public transportation to work and save your car for weekend errands.
4. Ask for a higher deductible. A higher deductible will lower your premiums. Factors to consider before choosing a deductible include your vehicle’s value, the likelihood of getting involved in an accident in which you are at fault, and your savings.

Proof of Car Insurance in Kansas

Proof of insurance is required for each vehicle you drive in Kansas. Your insurance provider will send you a physical or digital ID card, which will list the insurance company, policy number, expiration date, and vehicle information.

State Laws

No-Fault System

Did you know Kansas is part of a small number of no-fault states? Whereas in the nearby fault state of Missouri, the cost of medical bills falls on the driver who is at fault in the accident, in a no-fault state like Kansas, each driver’s PIP covers their respective medical bills.

Property damage, however, is still the responsibility of the at-fault driver even in a no-fault state. In the event of an accident in Kansas, each motorist files claims with their own insurers to cover medical expenses under PIP, while the not-at-fault driver files a third-party claim for property damage.

Kansas is a modified comparative negligence state. This means that your compensation depends on whether you were more than one-half responsible for the accident. If you were judged to be only 30 percent responsible for the accident, your compensation would be reduced by 30 percent. If your responsibility exceeded 50 percent, you would be barred from receiving any compensation at all.

Drivers Without Insurance

Kansas has a total of 2,154,260 licensed drivers, 234,814 of whom are estimated to be uninsured. That’s 15 percent lower than the national rate of uninsured drivers.²

Before you start driving in Kansas, make sure you have the state-required uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.³ This covers medical and funeral costs, plus settlements for lawsuits in the event that an uninsured or underinsured motorist causes an accident.

DUI Laws

Kansas law penalizes DUI offenders more severely than most other states; it’s among just four U.S. states that require DUIs to remain on your record for a lifetime. (For comparison, nearly every other state caps the limit at 10 years.)

If your license is suspended after committing an offense, you can apply for a limited license after 45 to 90 days have elapsed.

Seat Belt Laws

Kansas adheres to the primary seat belt law, which means that law enforcement can hand you a ticket just for violating seat belt laws, even if you have not violated any other traffic law. All passengers in your vehicle must wear seat belts. Passengers 18 and older not wearing seat belts will incur a $30 fine. That fine increases to $60 if passengers aged 17 and under don’t buckle up.

Distracted Driving Laws

Although adults may use handheld devices to make calls and send or receive voice texts while driving in Kansas, texting while driving is illegal no matter what age you are or what type of license you have. Young drivers with learner’s permits or intermediate licenses may not use cell phones at all. The state imposes a fine of $60 for each violation.

Teen Driver Laws

Anyone 14 years old or older (with parental consent for those under 16) is eligible to apply for a learner’s permit. A teen driver must maintain their learner’s permit for one year in order to advance to a restricted license. 15- and 16-year-olds’ restricted licenses follow certain limitations under Kansas’ Graduated Drivers Licensing system:

Statute of Limitations for Claims

In Kansas, you have a maximum of two years after an accident to file a claim for property damage or personal injuries. Don’t wait any longer, or you won’t be eligible for any compensation from your insurance provider.

Cancellation and Non-Renewal Notification Laws

Every state has laws surrounding the non-renewal and cancellation of car insurance policies. Either you or your company might decide not to renew a policy once it expires. But before insurance companies discontinue your policy, they must give you notice and explain the reason why.

An insurance company may decide not to renew your policy if it no longer wishes to write as many policies in your area, or if it simply no longer offers that insurance.⁴

Regarding policy cancellation, an insurance company cannot cancel your policy if it has been in effect for less than 60 days, except under the following circumstances:

• You fail to pay your premium.
• Your application was fraudulent or misrepresentative.
• Your driver’s license has been revoked or suspended.

In Kansas, insurance companies must notify you of a midterm cancellation or non-renewal at least 30 days before the policy’s expiration date. However, if the company is canceling your policy because you haven’t paid your premiums, it is required to notify you only five days ahead of the expiration date.

Self-Insurance

In certain cases, Kansas allows self-insurance. If you own more than 25 vehicles, you have the option to self-insure and be responsible for all costs related to accidents, liability, and damage. Self-insured drivers pay a minimum collateral of $100,000.

Car Inspection Requirements

The state of Kansas does not require you to get your car inspected, either for safety or emissions, unless you’re registering an out-of-state vehicle. To find an inspection station near you, visit: https://www.kansashighwaypatrol.org/businessdirectoryii.aspx. Before an inspection, make sure you have the following:

• The original title
• Bill of sale or receipt of purchase
• Your driver’s license or ID
• $20 for the inspection fee

SR-22s

When a motorist loses their driving privileges, they may have to file an SR-22 to reinstate them. An SR-22 is a form that certifies that the motorist (usually a high-risk driver with a poor driving record) holds liability insurance. Note that an SR-22 is not an insurance policy itself, but instead, is proof of it. You’ll need to obtain the policy separately in order to file the SR-22.

In Kansas, you may have to file an SR-22 in any of the following circumstances:

• You failed or refused to show proof of insurance during a traffic stop or an accident.
• You are convicted of a DUI.
• You failed to comply with court-ordered fines and license suspensions.

In the above cases, you must maintain an SR-22 for at least one year after your driving privileges are reinstated.

Defensive Driving

Some car insurance providers offer discounts for taking a defensive driving course, which instructs drivers on how to manage and avoid hazards on the road. You can find one by visiting https://bit.ly/3Ovfytc or calling 800-432-2484.

In Kansas, you can take these courses online in a single afternoon, or at your own pace. You may be able to save as much as 5 to 10 percent on your premium and even get a traffic ticket dismissed entirely.

Compensation for Serious Injuries and Losses

A PIP plan will cover at least some of your medical bills and wage loss payments. However, if you suffer serious injuries above a certain threshold, you can seek damages for general pain and suffering resulting from the accident. To be considered above-threshold, medical injuries must cost more than the $4,500 minimum PIP coverage. Here are some qualifying above-threshold injuries:

• Permanent disfigurement
• Fracture of weight-bearing compound or bone
• Comminuted, displaced, or compressed fracture of any bone
• Permanent injury
• Permanent loss of a bodily function

When to Report an Accident

If you are involved in an accident that results in injury, property damage, or death worth over $1,500, you are required to file a police report immediately. If you don’t, you risk license suspension and a fine of up to $500.⁵

Credit Scores and Gender Anti-Discrimination Laws

In most states, including Kansas, you should expect higher premiums if your credit score is low. Improving your credit can lower your rate, so catching up on past-due accounts, making payments on time, and building your credit file are all ways to lower your monthly premiums.

If you’re a female driver in Kansas, you may pay less for insurance. That’s because Kansas is one of many states that lack laws explicitly prohibiting gender-based discrimination. Since women tend to get into fewer and less serious accidents on average, they enjoy lower insurance rates than men in those states.

Total Loss Formula

In Kansas, a car is declared a total loss if the cost of repairs plus the salvage value (the vehicle’s worth after the accident) is at least 75 percent of the vehicle’s actual cash value. When a car is totaled and the policyholder has comprehensive or collision insurance, the insurance company will pay the car’s actual cash value.

Contact Information

Kansas DMV Contact Information

• Phone number: 316-337-6066
• Email address: kdor_dc@ks.gov
• Mailing address:
  • Office of the Director
  • Department of Motor Vehicles
  • 1873 W. 21st St.
  • Wichita, KS 67203
• List of physical locations: https://www.ksrevenue.gov/dovoffice.html?countyidparm=226&locationtype=DL

How to Register a Recently Purchased Vehicle

1. Collect the relevant documents. Within 60 days of purchase, gather the following:
   • Original title
   • Proof of VIN inspection from Kansas Highway Patrol
   • Proof of insurance
   • Sales tax receipts (if purchased from a licensed Kansas dealer)
2. Visit your county treasurer’s office. You can locate your county treasurer’s office by visiting https://kansastreasurers.org/index.php/directory/. At the office, present the above documents. You’ll receive a paper license plate to keep for about three weeks until your digital license plate is printed and mailed to you.
3. Contact the Titles and Registration Department.
   • Calling: 785-296-3621 (select option 2, then option 1)
   • Visiting:
     • Zibell Building
     • 300 SW 29th St.
     • Topeka, KS 66611

The Kansas DMV also offers the option of renewing your vehicle’s registration online at https://ikan.ks.gov/.

Registering Your Out-of-State Vehicle

To register an out-of-state vehicle, you’ll need to bring three documents to the county treasurer’s motor vehicle office.

1. Gather the forms you’ll need.
   • Proof of insurance (either the original or a copy)
   • Your car’s title
   • Form MVE-1, which you can find at the nearest Kansas motor vehicle inspection station – http://www.kansashighwaypatrol.org/BusinessDirectoryii.aspx?lngBusinessCategoryID=76
2. Visit the county treasurer’s motor vehicle office. Bring these documents to your county treasurer’s motor vehicle office. You can find your county treasurer’s office in this database: https://kansastreasurers.org/index.php/directory/. That’s where you’ll officially make an application for a Kansas title and registration.
3. Pay the fee. At the county treasurer’s office, expect to pay a fee of $10.

How to Get a Copy of Your Car Title in Kansas

1. Visit https://www.ksrevenue.gov/pdf/tr720b.pdf to print and fill out a manual title application.
2. Mail or bring the application to your county treasurer’s Motor Vehicle Office, which you can locate in this directory: https://kansastreasurers.org/index.php/directory/.
3. If you take the form in person, keep in mind that a notary is required if someone other than the vehicle owner presents the form to pick up the title.

Contacting the Kansas Insurance Department

• Email address: kid.commissioner@ks.gov
• Phone number: 785-296-3071
• Mailing address:
  • Kansas Insurance Department
  • 1300 SW Arrowhead Road
  • Topeka, KS 66604

Car Repair Costs

In keeping with its relatively low insurance rates, the average cost of repairs in Kansas is $371.80 for parts and labor, which is 3 percent lower than the national average.⁶ On average, that breaks down into $219.84 for parts and $151.96 for labor.

Crime and Fatalities in State

It’s important to know crime and vehicular fatality rates in your state before selecting an insurance plan. Rates of vehicle theft in Kansas fit squarely within the national average, occurring at a rate of about 248 per 100,000 inhabitants per year. Keep in mind that most car theft that occurs in Kansas is primarily in the following cities:

Traffic Deaths

Fortunately, traffic deaths in Kansas are less common than in other states. In 2019, there were 411 fatalities per 100 million motor vehicles in 2019, 72 percent lower than the national average.⁸

Conclusion

If you’re just passing through Kansas on your road trip, read our state driving guide, which has statistics on DUIs, tickets, car accidents, and more. Drive carefully and enjoy the state’s low-traffic roads!