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What Is the Minimum Car Insurance Requirement in Kansas?

Nearly every state in the United States requires motorists to have some vehicle insurance coverage to drive a car lawfully. You may wonder, how much car insurance you need in Kansas? The state of Kansas requires its drivers to carry the following liability insurance coverages at a minimum:

  • $25,000 per person for bodily injury
  • $50,000 per accident for bodily injury
  • $25,000 per accident for property damage

The state also requires its drivers to carry the following minimum PIP insurance coverage:

  • $4,500 for medical expenditures per person
  • $900 per month for one year for disability/income loss
  • $25 per day for In-home services
  • $2,000 to funeral, burial or cremation expense per person
  • $4,500 in rehabilitation expenses per person

Additionally, the state requires you to have UM/UIM limits at 25/50, which means your insurance must have at least $25,000 per person for bodily injury and $50,000 for all persons injured in an accident.

These limits can be increased as required. For example, imagine the average cost of a car damaged in an accident caused by you exceeds $25,000. The minimum property damage limits will be insufficient in that situation. As a result, it is advisable to increase the liability limits if you can afford that.

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What Does This Minimum Coverage Mean?

In Kansas, liability, PIP and UM/UIM coverages are required by law. If you cause an accident, liability coverage will pay for the costs of injuries and damages to another driver, their passengers and their property. PIP or personal injury protection in your insurance covers the medical expenses incurred to you and your passengers. If an uninsured driver who does not hold liability insurance causes the accident, an uninsured motorist coverage will cover you. And, in case of an accident with an at-fault driver whose liability limits are not enough to pay an injured person's medical costs, under-insured motorist coverage steps in.

Drivers in Kansas must carry an insurance policy with minimum bodily injury and property damage liability coverage of 25/50/25. This means your insurance policy needs a bodily injury coverage of $25,000 per person, $50,000 for all injured persons in the accident and property damage of $25,000 per person. The UM/UIM limits are 25/50, meaning your insurance must have a minimum of $25,000 for bodily injury and $50,000 for all those injured in an accident caused by an uninsured or underinsured motorist.

The state also demands your insurance policy have minimum personal injury protection coverage of $4,500 for medical expenditures per person, $900 per month for one year for disability/income loss, $25 per day for in-home services, $2,000 in funeral expenses per person and $4,500 in rehabilitation expenses per person.

Remember that these figures are just the minimum coverage required. That means these are by far the maximum amounts your insurance will pay in settlement of a claim. You can increase the limits as desired. However, these minimum coverages do not protect your vehicle. You must opt for collision coverage to protect your car, regardless of who is at fault for the accident.

How Much Does the Minimum Car Insurance Cost in Kansas?

Several factors, such as age, ZIP code, driving history, credit score and the vehicle make and model, might impact your car insurance premiums in Kansas. Moreover, rates vary across the state's different car insurance companies.

Considering the average rates, USAA offers about $270 annually for Kansas's lowest auto insurance plan. However, USAA insurance policies are offered exclusively to current and former military members and their families. And that makes American Family, with a rate of $376 per year, the cheapest car insurance in Kansas.

These prices are only estimates based on rates for an average Kansas driver and should not be used to compare insurance prices.

For this report, MoneyGeek compared rates at state minimum liability limits of 25/50/25 and the necessary PIP and UM/UIM limits for a 40-year-old male driver from Kansas driving a 2010 Toyota Camry with a clean driving record and a good credit score.

MoneyGeek also ranked the best car insurance companies in Kansas for those who want strong service and affordable rates.

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What Is the Minimum Car Insurance Requirement in Kansas While Leasing a Car?

You may be using a leased car for various reasons, including getting to drive a different car every few years. However, be aware that the minimum coverage requirements for leased vehicles can differ from the state-mandated ones. The leasing companies expect the vehicle to be returned in the same state it was given to you. You should therefore keep adequate insurance cover throughout the lease. Most lessors in Kansas require you to have full coverage car insurance with a minimum liability limit of 100/300/50 before leasing a car. The requirements can vary between leasing companies.

Contact your leasing company in Kansas for information about their minimum insurance coverage demands if you already have leased a car. And, if you're new to leasing, before you choose a car or leasing company, you should understand their leasing agreements, including the Kansas car lease insurance requirements.

Around 10.9% of Kansas’s drivers are uninsured drivers. Even though the rate isn’t that high, MoneyGeek recommends buying a full coverage car insurance policy in Kansas that protects you from bodily injury and damage to your vehicle if an uninsured driver hits you. If you are unsure about how much car insurance coverage you need in Kansas, go with our recommendation of a 50/100/50 liability limit.

Penalties for Driving Without Car Insurance in Kansas

Kansas car insurance laws do not permit a person to operate uninsured vehicles or drive without the state-mandated minimum insurance. You may be penalized for driving without active car insurance that meets Kansas’ minimum car insurance requirements. Those involved in an accident without valid car insurance in the state may get penalized with fines, license and/or registration suspension, imprisonment and filing of SR-22.

You may get pulled over by a law enforcement officer and need to provide proof of insurance. For example, suppose you’re caught driving without insurance for the first time and cannot provide either electronic or printed proof of insurance. In that case, you may be fined between $300 and $1000 and asked to provide proof of insurance in the form of an active insurance policy or SR-22 form. You may also face imprisonment of up to six months and your driving privileges removed.

Penalties for driving without insurance in Kansas are higher for second and subsequent offenses (inability to provide proof of insurance) or if you’re involved in an accident without having valid insurance. You may face severe penalties in the form of imprisonment of up to three years and heavy fines.

If you are convicted for driving without the minimum required insurance, you could face the following penalties:

  • Fine between $300 and $1,000, imprisonment up to six months, suspension of driving license and car registration for first-time offenders.
  • Fine between $800 and $2,500, imprisonment of up to one year, suspension of driving license and car registration for second-time offenders.
  • Fine between $800 and $2,500, imprisonment of up to two years, revocation of driving privileges for up to three years for third and habitual offenders.

To reinstate your driving privileges, you will have to submit proof of insurance by filing an SR-22, along with a reinstatement fee. Remember that the SR-22 certificate must be maintained for a minimum of three years, regardless of the offense.

The reinstatement requirements after being convicted of each offense can be as follows:

  • First offense: $100 reinstatement fee; SR-22 certificate for three years after the first offense.
  • Second offense: $300 reinstatement fee if the offense was repeated in less than a year, else, $100; SR-22 certificate for three years
  • Third and subsequent offenses: $300 reinstatement fee if the offense was repeated in less than a year, else, $100; SR-22 certificate for five years.

Frequently Asked Questions About Car Insurance in Kansas

Car insurance is mandatory in Kansas and all drivers must have the state-mandated minimum liability coverage of 25/50/25 and PIP and UM/UIM coverages. Those driving without car insurance or who fail to produce valid insurance may be penalized with fines, revocation of driving privileges, vehicle registration suspension and/or imprisonment.

Yes. You must provide proof of valid insurance to register a car in Kansas. If you fail to prove that you have a car insurance policy meeting the state-mandated insurance coverages, you won't be able to register your car. The state law also requires vehicle insurance to drive a car in Kansas.

Basic car insurance in Kansas is a car insurance policy that meets Kansas's minimum car insurance requirements. For drivers in Kansas, the state law requires at least 25/50/25 liability coverage, as well as PIP and UM/UIM coverages. Driving without insurance is a Class B misdemeanor in Kansas, attracting heavy fines, imprisonment, suspension or revocation of driving privileges, etc.

The type of insurance coverage greatly influences this question’s answer. A liability insurance policy and personal injury protection coverage, for example, follow the insured, even though the former covers the damages or injuries the insured caused to other people or property. On the other hand, comprehensive and collision coverages always follow the insured vehicle. This may also be influenced by the insurance company and the terms of the policy. For example, some insurance companies in Kansas refuse to insure drivers who are not listed as a driver or co-owner of the vehicle.

You can buy an auto insurance policy without a driver's license in Kansas the same way you buy a car without a license already in your name. You must, however, enlist yourself as an excluded driver and someone with a valid driver's license as the primary driver and co-owner of the vehicle. Keep in mind that your driving record will determine your insurance rates. If you don't have a driving record to prove otherwise, you'll be considered a high-risk driver.

Kansas is a no-fault state, which means drivers must possess personal injury protection, which is a first-party benefit, to cover their injuries. The insurer will compensate for the policyholders’ injuries, regardless of who's at fault for the accident. Being a no-fault state, drivers must file for their insurance claims with their insurance provider., unlike in an at-fault state where the driver who caused the accident will have to compensate the claim.

Yes. Kansas is a no-fault state. Its drivers must have PIP coverage to cover their medical expenses and losses if they are injured in a car accident. Kansas’s drivers are required to have at least the following PIP coverages:

  • $4,500 for medical expenditures per person
  • $900 per month for one year for disability/income loss
  • $25 per day for In-home services
  • $2,000 to funeral, burial, or cremation expense per person
  • $4,500 in rehabilitation expenses per person

Uninsured motorist coverage is a part of the state-mandated coverage requirement for car insurance in Kansas. With this insurance in place, you’ll be covered in case your vehicle gets involved in an accident with an uninsured motorist.

Kansas is a state that allows diminished value claims. As a result, you may be entitled to claim the diminished value of your car following a car accident. The claims must be made within two years from the accident date. You can only file a diminished value claim if you are not the at-fault party in the accident. In Kansas, you can claim the difference in value from the at-fault driver or their insurance provider. However, if the at-fault party is uninsured, you cannot make a claim.

After a DUI in Kansas, your auto insurance rates may skyrocket, and your license may be suspended. The rates quoted by insurers may vary, and hence, you can find an affordable policy if you spend some time comparing quotes from different insurers. Those who do not have auto insurance must file an SR-22 through their insurance company. It demonstrates your financial responsibility and certifies that you meet the minimum insurance standards set by the state.

A CARCO inspection is a free photo assessment of your car to accurately document your vehicle’s present condition. It contains information such as the vehicle's mileage, physical condition and installed features and accessories that have been installed. The inspection helps to lower the cost of property damage insurance coverage. This assessment takes about 15 minutes to complete. However, Kansas isn't one of the states that mandate CARCO inspections.

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About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick headshot

Mark Fitzpatrick has analyzed the property and casualty insurance market for over five years, conducting original research and creating personalized content for every kind of buyer. Currently, he leads P&C insurance content production at MoneyGeek. Fitzpatrick has been quoted in several insurance-related publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Fitzpatrick earned a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his knowledge of economics and insurance to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.

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