With lots of Midwestern open space, Kansas drivers spend plenty of time on the open road. According to the Kansas Department of Transportation, there were more than 60,000 car accidents, and nearly one in five of those accidents were caused in part by distracted drivers. Kansas is one of 12 “no-fault” insurance states. This means that no matter who is at fault in a car accident that results in minor injuries, the separate insurance companies pay the medical expenses of the people they insure.
Here are the required minimums of coverage for Kansas liability auto insurance:
The two other primary types of coverage are collision and comprehensive insurance. Collision pays for damages to your car in an accident. Comprehensive coverage pays for car repairs from high winds, hail, floods, theft, vandalism, and other random events.
The average costs for a driver in Kansas vary, here is a breakdown by county of what you can expect to pay for an auto insurance policy by count in KS:
| Auto Insurance Costs by County: | Sedan: | SUV: | Coupe: | Truck: | Hybrid: |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allen | $1,114 | $940 | $1,033 | $1,084 | $1,215 |
| Anderson | $1,104 | $931 | $1,023 | $1,093 | $1,205 |
| Atchison | $1,143 | $964 | $1,069 | $1,126 | $1,231 |
| Barber | $1,206 | $1,017 | $1,118 | $1,171 | $1,316 |
| Barton | $1,215 | $1,028 | $1,123 | $1,111 | $1,329 |
| Bourbon | $1,114 | $940 | $1,033 | $1,093 | $1,215 |
| Brown | $1,042 | $879 | $970 | $1,052 | $1,132 |
| Butler | $1,111 | $938 | $1,038 | $1,132 | $1,199 |
| Chase | $1,032 | $870 | $959 | $1,058 | $1,122 |
| Chautauqua | $1,103 | $932 | $1,029 | $1,125 | $1,192 |
Here are some suggestions for ways to keep your insurance costs as low as possible:
1. Shop around and compare prices from at least five companies. Some companies provide websites with everything you need to get quotes. Others require you to speak directly to an agent. Compare several quotes of each type.
2. Maintain the best possible driving record you can. Drivers that have clean records with no violations in three years receive the best rates.
3. Keep your payments up to date. Insurance companies can cancel your coverage even if payment is only one day late. They may charge a fee to reinstate it or they can drop you altogether if they choose.
4. If adding a teen to your policy in Kansas, be aware that your rates will increase. However, insurance companies in the state offer a discount if the teen:
5. If you have paid off your car and it is worth less than $3,000, you may not want to carry any collision or comprehensive insurance. Just remember you have to pay out of pocket for any damage, whether or not it is from an accident.
6. If your policy is over a year old, review it for possible changes. If you have married or one of your children has moved out of the house, most companies can reduce your rates.
7. Most insurance companies also provide discounts if you have other insurance with them like homeowners or renters. Bundling more than one car with the same company can also result in reductions.
If you are planning to relocate to The Sunflower State, some of the first actions you must take are to update your insurance, get your vehicle registered, and get a new driver’s license. Take care of the insurance first, since you need proof of insurance to register your car.
To register your car and get new license plates, the first step is to have your vehicle inspected at a Kansas Highway Patrol station. You take that paperwork with your proof of insurance and current title to a county motor vehicle office.
To get a Kansas driver’s license, visit a Kansas Department of Revenue licensing office. There is one in 104 of the 105 counties in the state. You will need to take a vision test and be sure to bring your proof of identity and proof of residence.
Driving laws in Kansas are similar to those in most other states. One of the most important involves drinking alcoholic beverages. The maximum blood alcohol level for adults is .08 percent, which is typical for most states. However, that limit drops to .02 percent for anyone under the age of 21. Even if the underage drinker is not driving, he or she risks loss of license for a minimum of 30 days.
Texting while driving is also illegal as of January 2011. Drivers that are licensed and not driving on a learner’s permit or intermediate license can legally talk on a cell phone, but are encouraged to use a hands-free device or pull over.
Since 2005, the number of cell phone related accidents has increased each year. According to the Kansas Department of Transportation, in 2010, there were 518 accidents related to cell phone use (260 people were injured in those accidents and 6 people died).
Here are some of the questions most people ask when they are looking for car insurance:
Yes, the insurance companies still look closely at who was at fault when they decide how to determine your insurance rates.
All speeding is illegal and you can get a ticket, but violations of 1-10 mph over the limit in areas posted between 55 and 75 mph do not count as moving violations on a driving record.
Yes, especially for teens and seniors. Different companies have different age categories eligible for discounts.
Finding an auto insurance quote can seem overwhelming – but insuranceQuotes.com helps you find the best car insurance policy at the best price. Every year, we match 15 million consumers to the nation’s biggest auto insurance companies, including State Farm, Allstate and Liberty Mutual.
insuranceQuotes.com connects you with local and national insurance companies that give you free car insurance quotes within minutes. By comparing multiple quotes, you can be sure that you’re getting the best price for car insurance.
Need to find more than just Kansas free car insurance quotes? We’ve listed some resources beyond KS car insurance quotes that should help.
Information to help Kansas residents become informed consumers of insurance
An informative site with resources and electronic services for Kansas drivers
http://www.ksrevenue.org/vehicle.html
Rates are based on one vehicle and one driver who has state minimum coverage with $500 deductibles. The hypothetical driver is 35 years old, female or male, employed, a college graduate, and has good credit. She has no traffic violations, claims, or lapse in coverage. The vehicle is assumed to be a sedan that is garaged on premises, used primarily for commuting, and driven 16,000 miles per year. Rates include commonly available carrier discounts and are estimates and not guaranteed.
