It’s simpler than you think.

I remember when I got my first car at 19 – a 1985 Toyota Tercel. When it was time to buy my first insurance policy, it was just as confusing as you’d expect. Insurance agents and brokers often use so much jargon that it makes things even harder to understand. My goal is to break down these complicated concepts so they’re easy to understand—like explaining it to my 4th-grade students! TLDR at the bottom if you don’t have time for in-depth reading.

When you’re buying car insurance, there are four main types of coverage (at least in Kansas) that you’ll usually discuss with your agent or insurance salesperson. By the end of this, you’ll be more informed about what to look for when shopping for car insurance.

Which coverages are required in Kansas?

Kansas, like many states, only requires four basic types of coverage: Liability, Medical Payments, UM (Uninsured Motorist), and UIM (Underinsured Motorist). Along with these, you’ll have coverage limits that apply in case of an accident. Let’s start with Liability.

Liability Coverage
Liability covers damages or injuries to others when you’re at fault. If you cause an accident, you are “liable” for the damage. For example, if you rear-end someone while texting, or crash into a parked car, your Liability coverage will pay for the damage, up to your coverage limits.

There are two types of Liability coverage:

1. Bodily Injury Liability – This covers medical costs if you hurt someone in an accident.
2. Property Damage Liability – This covers the cost of repairing or replacing someone’s property (like their car, mailbox, or fence) if you damage it in an accident.

Below is a table of some common liability limits, as well as a brief explanation. If you have more questions about limits, don’t hesitate to ask in the comments below.

Bodily Injury	Property Damage
$25k per person/$50k per occurrence	$25k per occurrence
$50k per person/$100k per occurrence	$50k per occurrence
$100k per person/$300k per occurrence	$100k per occurrence

UM/UIM Coverage (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist)
This coverage protects you if the other driver doesn’t have insurance or doesn’t have enough insurance to cover the damage they caused. It also helps if the at-fault driver leaves the scene (a hit-and-run). Like Liability coverage, UM/UIM coverage has limits that apply per accident. See the table below for some common UM/UIM limits.

Common UM/UIM coverage limits

$25k per person/$50k per occurrence

$50k per person/$100k per occurrence

$100k per person/$300k per occurrence

Medical Payments Coverage

Of all of these required coverages, Medical Payments Coverage is the simplest. Without going too deep into it, simply put, Medical Payments Coverage helps to cover medical expenses for you and your passengers no matter who was at fault. Much like the other coverages discussed here, this is subject to the limits outlined in your policy.

What Does Full Coverage Come With?

“Full coverage” is a term that can be confusing. It doesn’t mean you’re fully covered for everything—it just means you have Liability, UM/UIM, Medical Payments, and two additional coverages: Comprehensive and Collision. These two coverages protect your vehicle and come with a deductible. The deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket before your insurance covers the rest of the repair costs.

• Comprehensive Coverage: This covers your car if it’s damaged by something outside of your control, like a tornado, hailstorm, or a deer jumping in front of your car while you’re driving.
• Collision Coverage: This covers your car if you crash into another vehicle or an object, like a tree or fence.

What is a Deductible?
Your deductible is the amount you have to pay when you file a claim for damage to your car. For example, if your deductible is $1,000, you’ll pay the first $1,000 of repair costs, and your insurance will cover the rest. If you choose a higher deductible, your monthly premium (the amount you pay for insurance) might be lower. But, be careful not to choose a deductible too high—make sure it’s an amount you can afford to pay if something happens.

TLDR:

In Kansas, car insurance requires Liability, Medical Payments, UM/UIM coverage, and Personal Injury Protection. “Full coverage” adds Comprehensive and Collision coverage, which protect your car from damage. These coverages come with a deductible, which is the amount you pay before insurance helps with the repair costs.

Additional questions? Email me at Noah@theelinsurance.com or comment below!