If you’re on this blog, you’re probably already aware that, as a driver, you must purchase auto insurance. You might be shopping for a new vehicle and therefore need insurance, or you’re looking to find a more affordable policy to protect yourself and others on the road.

In the United States, most states require bodily injury liability insurance (apart from Florida.) New Hampshire is the only state where you do not need any car insurance, but you are required to show proof of financial responsibility. In Kansas, auto insurance regulations vary somewhat: four types of coverage are mandatory, and many others are highly recommended. Let’s dive into what auto insurance covers in the state of Kansas.

Mandatory Auto Insurance Coverage in Kansas

In Kansas, when you purchase auto insurance, you are purchasing several different coverages that come together as a single package. Each type protects you against losses of a different variety. We’ll provide a brief overview of each basic (mandatory) coverage in this section, and then later we’ll get into some optional (but highly recommended) auto insurance coverage options.

Bodily Injury Liability

In the event of an accident where you, as the driver, are deemed at-fault, this coverage kicks in to pay for the other involved party’s medical expenses, funeral costs, rehabilitation costs, and other covered costs. If a lawsuit kicks up, then this coverage may also pay for the settlement of those lawsuits, plus any ensuing legal expenses that you’re faced with.

• Per state law, liability coverage must have minimum coverage to pay for $25,000/person for bodily injury and at least $50,000/accident for bodily injury.

Property Damage Liability

Property damage liability triggers the same way bodily injury liability does: when you were at-fault in an accident and caused damage to another person’s property, whether that’s their car or even their home, this coverage kicks in to pay for the repairs, replacement, or cash value of the property lost. It can also help to pay for any ensuing legal costs.

• In the state of Kansas, currently, law mandates that property damage liability must have coverage of at least $25,000/accident.

PIP/Personal Injury Protection

Personal injury protection, or PIP, pays out for any necessary lost wages, funeral expenses, rehabilitation costs, medical expenses, and even in-home care or assistance if you or your passengers were injured in an accident regardless of how fault was assigned. Each passenger in different vehicles would collect under their own policy rather than pursuing the other driver’s insurance company for compensation.

• In the state of Kansas, automobile insurance law requires that policies sold must contain the minimum levels of coverage as detailed below:
• • $2,000 for funeral, cremation, or burial expenses
  • $4,500/injured person for medical expenses
  • $900/month for one year of loss of income/disability
  • $25/day for in-home care services
  • $4,500 for rehabilitation services and care

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Protection

Despite auto insurance being mandatory in the state of Kansas, some drivers choose to forgo coverage illegally. If an accident results where an uninsured, underinsured, or even unidentified driver (such as a hit-and-run) is at-fault then this coverage pays for medical, funeral, or rehabilitation costs, as well as the cost of lawsuits. It would also pay out if you or a family member were a pedestrian hit by an uninsured/underinsured or unidentified driver.

• In Kansas, policies for uninsured/underinsured motorist protection must include a minimum of $25,000/person and $50,000/accident.

Optional Auto Insurance Coverage in Kansas

Not all coverage in the state of Kansas is mandatory, and some may be purchased at your own discretion to ensure fuller coverage and more comprehensive insurance.

Comprehensive Coverage

This coverage goes beyond accidents, protecting your vehicle from non-collision incidents such as theft, vandalism, natural disasters, and falling objects.

Collision Coverage

In the event of a collision with another vehicle or object, collision coverage helps pay for repairs to your own vehicle, regardless of fault.

Towing and Labour Coverage

Also called roadside emergency assistance coverage, this coverage kicks in if your car should break down. It helps to cover the cost of any necessary roadside assistance services, such as towing.

Gap Insurance

This optional coverage is only applicable to those who finance or lease their vehicle. If your car is totalled or stolen and its value is less than your outstanding loan or lease balance, gap insurance can help cover the difference.

How Rates Are Determined for Auto Insurance in Kansas

One of the biggest questions that is asked when purchasing auto insurance is, “how much does it cost?” You want to save the most on your auto insurance in Kansas, and we understand.

There are two major factors that will determine just how much you end up paying for your auto insurance in the state. Those are the rating of your vehicle and underwriting. Underwriting is essentially the process by which a company considers the various factors regarding you and your driving habits. These tend to be your driving record, where you live (within Kansas, since not all neighbourhoods or areas have the same traffic statistics) the make and model of your car, gender, prior insurance coverage, how often/far you drive, and more.

In Kansas, insurance companies take these factors into account and then place you into a rating category. The ones with the best risks, aka the safest drivers, are placed into preferred categories and are given the lowest rates. Standard is a little riskier, so these are slightly higher rates for moderate-risk drivers. And then, finally, there are non-standard or “high-risk” drivers who can be uninsurable for some insurance companies depending on their risk profile and who will see the highest rates.

As a driver living in Olathe, Kansas, or any other of our service areas in Kansas, we advise you to contact AHI Group, one of Kansas’s premier insurance companies specializing in auto insurance. We’re happy to help you get the best rates possible and insure your first, second, or sixteenth vehicle – whatever your situation might entail.