Wichita, KS Car Insurance

Vehicle owners in Wichita are required by state law to carry car insurance. Whether you are involved in a fender-bender on Kellogg Drive or cause a serious collision on Interstate 235, a solid auto insurance policy can shield you from facing large financial losses as a result.

Finding the best and most affordable coverage is easy when you work with a local independent insurance agent. These agents can help you obtain and compare customized quotes from some of the best car insurance companies in Kansas. Contact an independent insurance agent near you to get started.

How Much Does Car Insurance Cost in Wichita, KS?

The average cost of car insurance in Kansas, and in Wichita in particular, is lower than the national average. This is great news for area residents who are looking for an affordable car insurance policy.

• National average annual car insurance cost: $1,311
• Kansas average annual car insurance cost: $1,147
• Wichita average annual car insurance cost: $1,170

Of course, these are just average rates. Auto insurance costs can vary significantly from one driver to the next so you will need to get customized quotes. Costs are based on several of the following factors:

• The make, model, and year of the vehicle(s) you are insuring
• Your age, occupation, marital status, and driving record
• Information about the other licensed drivers in your household
• Whether you own or rent your home
• Your claims history and credit score
• The amount of liability coverage you are purchasing
• Which, if any, coverage options you are including in your policy

You can often get significant rate reductions if you bundle your car insurance with other policies like homeowners insurance or renters insurance. Many insurance companies offer additional money-saving incentives such as good student discounts and safe driver discounts.

What Are the Minimum Car Insurance Requirements for Drivers in Wichita, KS?

Kansas is a no-fault state. This means that if you are in an accident, regardless of fault, your own insurance policy will provide the first line of coverage. If you cause a collision and someone else’s expenses exceed what their insurance can cover, your liability insurance will kick in to pay the overages.

In Kansas, all car insurance policies are required by law to include the following three types of insurance coverage:

• Liability insurance: This covers other people’s medical bills and property damage if you cause a collision. Your policy must include, at a minimum:
  • Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $25,000
  • Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $50,000
  • Property damage liability insurance per accident: $25,000
• Personal injury protection (PIP) insurance: This covers medical bills and related expenses for you and your family if you are injured in an accident, regardless of fault. Your PIP must include a minimum of:
  • Medical expenses coverage: $4,500
  • Rehabilitation services: $4,500
  • Disability/loss of income coverage: $900/month for one year
  • In-home services: $25/day for one year
  • Funeral, burial, and cremation services: $2,000
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance (UIM): This can cover medical bills that exceed your PIP coverage if you are in an accident caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver. Your policy must include, at a minimum:
  • UIM bodily injury coverage per person: $25,000
  • UIM bodily injury coverage per accident: $50,000

If you have a lot to lose and want to protect yourself with even more liability coverage than your car insurance can provide, you can also purchase an umbrella insurance policy. This is an affordable way to significantly boost all of your personal liability coverage.

What Else Can Car Insurance Cover in Wichita, KS?

In addition to the mandatory liability coverage mentioned above, your car insurance provider will offer a variety of coverage options that you may want to include in your Wichita auto insurance policy such as the following.

• Full coverage: This covers your own vehicle if it is lost, damaged, or destroyed. It is typically required by lenders if you are still paying for your car and by dealerships if you are leasing it. Full coverage includes:
  • Collision coverage: This covers the cost to repair or replace your vehicle if it is damaged or totaled in a collision, regardless of fault.
  • Comprehensive coverage: This covers the cost to repair or replace your vehicle if it is lost, totaled, or damaged by a non-collision hazard like a falling object or a tornado.
• Towing and roadside assistance: This covers the costs of assistance if your car becomes disabled, such as if you get a flat tire, run out of gas, or blow a head gasket.
• Gap insurance: This covers the gap between what your car is worth and what you still owe for it if it is totaled in a covered event. New cars depreciate quickly, so this coverage is usually recommended in the first year or two of new-car ownership.
• Rental car reimbursement: This covers the cost of renting a vehicle while your own car is being repaired following a covered event.

You will want to be sure to consider your own needs as well as those of the other members of your household when you are deciding which, if any, coverage options you want to include in your policy.

Save on Car Insurance

Our independent agents shop around to find you the best coverage.

Request a Quote

What Is the Penalty for Driving without Insurance in Wichita, KS?

It is illegal to drive without insurance in Kansas.  If caught doing so, you can face some pretty tough consequences:

For a first offense

• Fines ranging from $300 to $1,000
• Suspension of your driving privileges until you present proof of insurance
• A $100 reinstatement fee to get your driving privileges back
• Possible jail time for up to 6 months
• A Class B Misdemeanor conviction on your record

For a second offense

• Fines ranging from $800 to $2,500
• Suspension of your driving privileges for up to one year
• A $300 reinstatement fee to get your driving privileges back
• Jail time for up to one year
• A Class A Misdemeanor conviction on your record

For a third and subsequent offense

• Fines ranging from $800 to $2,500
• Revocation of driving privileges for up to three years
• A $300 reinstatement fee to get your driving privileges back
• Imprisonment for one to two years in the state penitentiary
• A Class E felony conviction on your record

Additionally, you will be required to maintain an SR-22 certificate for three yeas and are likely to be charge higher car insurance rates for several years.

Due in large part to these harsh penalties, this state has one of the lowest rates of uninsured drivers in the country.

• Percentage of US drivers who are uninsured: 12.6%
• Percentage of Kansas drivers who are uninsured: 7.2%

Kansas requires all drivers to carry uninsured motorist insurance. This lets you rest assured that if you are in a collision caused by an uninsured driver, you can receive timely compensation for medical bills that exceed the limits of your PIP coverage.

Does Car Insurance in Wichita, KS Cover against Auto Theft?

The average auto theft rate in the state of Kansas is higher than the national average, and in Wichita, it is more than double the state’s rate. Residents of this city report over 2,000 auto thefts a year. 

• National auto theft rate per 1,000 vehicles: 2.29
• Kansas auto theft rate per 1,000 vehicles: 2.69
• Wichita auto theft rate per 1,000 vehicles: 5.91

Particularly in light of the high auto theft rate in this city, you should be aware that you can only be compensated for a stolen vehicle if your car insurance policy includes comprehensive (or “other than collision”) coverage.

If you are still paying for your car, or if you have it on a lease, chances are good you have this coverage already. If not, you may want to look into how much it would cost to add this optional coverage to your Wichita car insurance policy.

How Can an Independent Agent in Wichita, KS Help Find the Best Car Insurance?

When you are looking for the best and most affordable car insurance policy, an independent agent can help. These agents work for you, not for a particular insurance provider, so they can shop around to find the coverage you want at the most competitive price.

It doesn’t cost anything to work with an independent insurance agent. Find an insurance agent near you to get answers to your coverage-related questions and to start comparing a selection of customized car insurance quotes.