If you’re looking for cheap car insurance in Kansas, finding the best deal can be challenging. Quotes for a single policy can change by hundreds (even thousands) of dollars from one insurer to the next, which is why comparing a variety of offers is key.
NerdWallet has done the homework for you. We tested rates from the nine largest companies in the state to deliver the three cheapest options for Kansas drivers.
Click below to find the best deal for your desired motorist group:
- Good drivers
- Young drivers
- Drivers with one at-fault accident
- Drivers with poor credit
- Retired drivers
Cheapest for good drivers
For drivers with no at-fault accidents, DUIs or moving violations; range of average prices: $685 to $2,048 a year
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- $685/year
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- $1,269/year
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- $1,305/year
The average for good drivers among the three cheapest companies was $1,086 per year. Those who qualify for USAA — which are active or retired military and their families — got a much better deal in our study, at only $685 a year. Both State Farm and Farm Bureau Mutual returned decidedly higher quotes. USAA is available only to active and retired military members and their families. But the good news for safe drivers is they typically have the most discount choices at their disposal to help trim costs. State Farm, in particular, advertises four separate discounts on its site for safe or accident-free driving.
Cheapest for young drivers
For drivers in their early 20s; range of average prices: $210 to $877 a year
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- $210/year
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- $310/year
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- $438/year
Drivers in their early 20s can often get by with leaner coverage than older motorists, and should be able to find pretty cheap car insurance in Kansas. USAA again led the field in our test, but all three of cheapest companies had sample rates under $37 a month — not a bad deal in the bunch. Shopping around is still important for young drivers who want to avoid paying too much, as annual costs neared $900 with the most expensive companies we found.
Cheapest for drivers with one at-fault accident
Range of average prices: $927 to $2,718 a year
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- $927/year
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- $1,477/year
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- $1,734/year
Causing at-fault accidents raises your risk profile and can mean pricier quotes when shopping. In our analysis, one of these incidents added about $250 to a driver’s lowest available estimate. USAA again had by far the best deal, and the company also offers accident forgiveness, which keeps its customers’ rates from increasing if they’ve gone at least five years without causing a crash.
Cheapest for drivers with poor credit
For drivers placed in the lowest credit tier as determined by the industry; range of average prices: $685 to $2,454 a year
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- $685/year
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- $1,504/year
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- $1,667/year
Although you might not associate your credit rating with car insurance, credit-based insurance scores are one of the factors companies could use to help determine your rates. Those who qualify for USAA may not be affected — it returned the same average quote for this category as it did for good drivers with no credit issues. However, the next cheapest offers were both increases over the second- and third-lowest estimates for safe drivers, so not everyone can count on their premiums staying put. As always, comparing a variety of estimates is your best bet to avoid sky-high costs.
Cheapest for retired drivers
For drivers in their mid- to late 60s who no longer use their car for commuting; range of average prices: $642 to $2,048 a year
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- $642/year
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- $1,110/year
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- $1,127/year
Don’t believe the myth that older drivers always pay more for car insurance. Retirees in Kansas actually had lower average rates in our study than good drivers more than half their age. A big reason for the price drop is that retired drivers, no longer commuting daily, generally spend far less time in their car than other groups, which is music to an insurer’s ears. With prices topping $2,000 a year on the high end of our findings, though, older motorists aren’t immune to bad deals and should be diligent about shopping around.
Minimum car insurance requirements in Kansas
Kansas has some of the most extensive car insurance requirements of any state. Drivers must carry liability insurance, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage (UMBI/UIMBI) and personal injury protection (PIP) in the following amounts:
- $25,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $10,000 property damage liability per accident
- $25,000 UMBI/UIMBI per person
- $50,000 UMBI/UIMBI per accident
- PIP including: $4,500 in medical expenses, $2,000 for funeral burial or cremation costs, up to $900 per month for disability or loss of income, $25 per day for in-home services and $4,500 for rehabilitation
While this will be enough to drive legally, you may want more than the bare minimum for the utmost protection for your savings after an accident.
Check out NerdWallet’s state-by-state guide to car insurance requirements for more details about how the various parts of your Kansas auto policy work.
Alternative car insurance in Kansas
Drivers with DUIs, poor credit or other factors preventing them from getting car insurance on the voluntary market can seek coverage through the Kansas Automobile Insurance Plan.
Kansans can also turn to NerdWallet as their go-to source for finding competitive car insurance quotes in the Sunflower State. Try our comparison tool to view estimates from top insurers and possibly save hundreds on your premium.
METHODOLOGY
For most categories, NerdWallet averaged rates from the largest insurers for 30-year-old men and women in 10 ZIP codes and with 100/300/50 liability insurance limits, 100/300 uninsured and underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage, and $50,000 personal injury protection. We used a 2012 Toyota Camry in all cases.
Our sample retired driver was 67 and drove 50% fewer annual miles than other groups. Our sample young driver was 22 and carried the minimum required coverage. These are sample rates generated through Quadrant Information Services. Your own rates will be different.
Alex Glenn is a staff writer for NerdWallet, a personal finance website. Email: aglenn@nerdwallet.com.
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