Updated: October 16, 2024
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The best auto insurance company varies depending on your needs and driver profile. Auto-Owners Insurance Co is the ideal provider for seniors, while Nationwide is best for teens. American Family is the top choice for young adults and drivers with offenses. Consider Shelter if you want the best customer experience and Travelers if you have a new car.
MoneyGeek also reviewed the cheapest car insurance companies in Wichita if cost is your primary consideration.
BestCar InsuranceWichitaTable of Contents (Jump to Your Best Fit)
Why Trust MoneyGeek? We analyzed thousands of car insurance quotes in Wichita and data from the Kansas Insurance Department and Quadrant Information Services. We combined this information to rank companies using our unique scoring system.
The following providers offer the best auto insurance in Wichita:
Auto-Owners Insurance beats its nine competitors by offering most essential coverages at highly affordable rates. With a MoneyGeek score of 85 out of 100, USAA is the ideal provider in Wichita for military-affiliated individuals and their families. We also found that USAA is the best car insurance company in Kansas. It is closely followed by Shelter, while our runner-up in Wichita, American Family, takes the third spot across the state.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?
MoneyGeek’s score for the overall best car insurance was calculated with the following weights:
Fourth most affordable out of 10 providers
High customer satisfaction score
Offers three of the four essential coverages
Above-average score for claims management
Doesn’t offer original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or new car replacement coverages
Auto-Owners Insurance Co offers a good selection of essential and rare coverages. Its Personal Automobile Plus Package lets you add over 10 coverages for one competitive rate. Coverages include rental car, identity theft, personal property in your vehicle and cell phone coverage.
Auto-Owners Insurance Co also offers rare coverages designed to protect you against the financial impact of an accident. Its diminished value coverage pays you for the reduced value of your car if it is damaged in a covered incident. Gap insurance pays for the difference between the amount you still owe on your loan or lease and the value of your totaled vehicle. Deductible modification waives your deductible if you get involved in an accident with another car that’s also insured under Auto-Owners Insurance Co.
Auto-Owners Insurance Co is our top pick out of the 10 insurance providers we ranked in Wichita, Kansas. It’s the fourth-cheapest option, with full coverage policies costing an average of $889 per year. Despite having affordable rates, Auto-Owners Insurance Co provides above-average customer service. It also offers three of the four essential coverages.
Note that our analysis focused on rates for a full coverage policy. We only calculated MoneyGeek scores for companies that had sufficient data to satisfy all components in our scoring system.
| Auto-Owners Insurance Co | 80 | $889 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| American Family | 79 | $870 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Shelter | 76 | $1,281 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| State Farm | 75 | $871 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Travelers | 74 | $1,048 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| GEICO | 73 | $903 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Nationwide | 73 | $782 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Iowa Farm Bureau | No Data | $1,031 | 5 | No Data | 0 | 3 |
| Progressive | 67 | $1,262 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Farmers | 66 | $1,165 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Allstate | 66 | $1,175 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Farmers Union Insurance | No Data | $1,178 | 5 | No Data | 0 | No Data |
| Dairyland | No Data | $2,743 | 4 | No Data | 4 | 4 |
The car insurance companies that provide the best service in Wichita, irrespective of cost, are:
Shelter earned the highest customer satisfaction rating and offers most essential coverages. But Shelter's car insurance policies tend to be more expensive compared to other providers.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?
MoneyGeek’s score for Best for Customer Service was calculated with the following weights:
Ranks first in customer satisfaction out of 10 insurers
Offers most essential coverages
Offers new car replacement coverage and gap insurance
One of the most expensive providers
No deductible modification and accident forgiveness coverages which most other insurers provide
Shelter ranks highest in customer satisfaction and offers most coverages drivers need. Although its policies are among the priciest, they include new car replacement coverage for free. This coverage guarantees that your policy will pay for a new vehicle of the same year, make and model if your car is totaled. Your vehicle must be less than a year old with fewer than 15,000 miles to qualify.
Shelter also provides roadside assistance at no added cost, which gives you round-the-clock service and pays up to $100 per incident if your car needs emergency repairs or a tire change, battery delivery or locksmith services. If you purchased your vehicle through a loan, consider getting Shelter's gap insurance, which pays for the difference between what you still owe and what your car is worth if it's totaled.
When you have an insurer that delivers good service, you can be confident the company will address your concerns promptly and process your claims with urgency. Shelter is our top pick due to its excellent customer satisfaction rating and track record of providing most essential coverages.
The best auto insurance providers in Wichita that meet Kansas’s minimum coverage requirements are:
The minimum car insurance requirements in Kansas are the same in all cities within the state. Minimum coverage policies are typically the cheapest auto insurance option you’ll find. But the liability coverage in these policies can fall short of what most drivers need. These policies also won’t cover damages to your vehicle, so you can spend a hefty amount for car repairs in the event of an accident.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?
MoneyGeek’s score for the Best Cheap company was calculated with the following weights:
An affordable minimum coverage policy costs $341 per year
Offers most of the essential coverages
Discounts for bundling policies, safe driving and responsible payment
No discounts for completing driver’s education and defensive driving courses
Auto-Owners Insurance Co has an extensive list of common and rare discounts, so you’ll have little difficulty qualifying for at least one. You can save on your premiums by insuring two or more passenger vehicles on your personal auto policy or bundling your auto policy with a home, renters or life insurance policy. You’ll get a discount for being a safe driver or if your car is equipped with safety features, such as an anti-lock brake system, airbags or an anti-theft device.
The easiest way to get a discount is to enroll in paperless billing and pay your premiums on time. Policyholders who pay on time for 36 months qualify for a discount. If you’re a new customer, request a quote before your current policy expires to take advantage of the early signing discount.
Insurance providers with the best minimum coverage policies offer the lowest rates without sacrificing service quality. Typically, the cheapest rates come with a below-average customer experience. But you can enjoy the most affordable premiums alongside great service with our top pick, Auto-Owners Insurance Co.
Young adults in Wichita will find the best auto insurance from the following providers:
American Family received the second-best rating for affordability and ranked fourth on customer satisfaction. This means policyholders tend to receive quality service at an affordable cost. We also reviewed the best car insurance for young drivers to help you find the most suitable option for your needs.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?
MoneyGeek’s score for Best for Young Adults was calculated with the following weights:
Has the second-cheapest full coverage policies averaging $1,036 per year
Offers all four essential coverages
Offers good student, distant student and legacy discounts
Low claims management score
Average customer satisfaction rating
American Family has the second-cheapest full coverage policies for young adults, averaging $1,036 per year. You can further reduce this cost through many discount opportunities, including good student and distant student discounts. The legacy discount also applies if your parent is an American Family customer.
American Family also gets the basics right by offering all the essential coverages. If your car is involved in an accident, the company’s OEM coverage guarantees that only factory parts from your car’s manufacturer are used to repair your vehicle. This ensures an optimal match without sacrificing quality and function. Young adults still paying off their car can benefit from having gap insurance, which pays the difference between the amount you owe on the vehicle and what it’s worth if totaled.
Most young adults have limited budgets and seek the cheapest insurance options. The best insurer for young adults combines affordable rates with coverages and discounts that are tailored to them. Reliable and efficient service is also a must. Our winner, American Family, ticks all these boxes, offering the second-cheapest full coverage policies that can be reduced further through good student, distant student and legacy discounts.
The best car insurance companies in Wichita for adding a 16-year-old male to a parent’s policy are:
Nationwide combines above-average customer satisfaction and coverage scores with the most affordable teen rates. Insurance for teens is very expensive, and the best way to save is by adding the teen to a family policy. In Wichita, you can save around $2,544 per year by employing this strategy when purchasing the best car insurance for teens.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?
MoneyGeek’s score for Best for Teens was calculated with the following weights:
Annual premium averaging $1,277 per year – the cheapest out of eight providers
Offers three of the four essential coverages
Offers a good student discount
Ranks last in customer satisfaction
Average claims management rating
MoneyGeek recommends Nationwide for Wichita teen drivers looking for useful coverages to add to their policy at the most affordable rates.
Nationwide features several discounts applicable to teens and students. Full-time high school or college students aged 16 to 24 with a “B” average or better and homeschooled students who score in the top 20% of the PSAT, SAT or ACT can qualify for a good student discount. Having an anti-theft device in your car can also help you get reduced rates. We also suggest setting up automatic payments from your bank account, which makes you eligible for discounts and keeps you from missing your policy's due dates.
In addition, Nationwide has coverages that protect you in the event of an accident, such as roadside assistance, accident forgiveness and total loss deductible waiver.
Teens are among the most expensive drivers to insure because their inexperience puts them at a higher risk for road accidents and even fatal crashes. A good policy for teens combines reasonable rates with must-have coverages for new drivers, such as roadside assistance and accident forgiveness. Our top pick, Nationwide, offers these together with good student discounts.
The best car insurance companies for seniors in Wichita are:
Auto-Owners Insurance Co earns top marks for its coverage options and affordable premiums. Drivers in their 60s pay the same car insurance rates as drivers in their 30s through 50s. However, be prepared for significant rate increases once you reach your 70s.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?
MoneyGeek’s score for Best for Seniors was calculated with the following weights:
Competitively-priced full coverage premiums for seniors averaging $861 per year
Offers the fourth-cheapest rates and a good selection of add-on coverages
Diminished value coverage, deductible modification, accident forgiveness and gap insurance as add-ons
Average claims management rating
No senior discount
Auto-Owners Insurance Co ranks fourth out of 10 providers in terms of affordability while offering a good selection of add-on coverages. The company’s Personal Automobile Plus Package bundles more than 10 coverages, like identity theft and cell phone protection, at a reasonable rate.
Senior drivers will benefit from having roadside assistance and rental car and travel reimbursement coverages. With roadside assistance, you’re guaranteed accessible and reliable repair services if you have a flat tire, dead battery, get locked out of your car, run out of gas or experience a minor mechanical malfunction. Rental car and travel reimbursement pays for a rental car while yours is repaired after a covered incident. This coverage also pays for incidental expenses like lodging and meals if you’re stranded.
Even a minor accident can cause serious injuries if you’re older. The ideal car insurance company for seniors offers affordable full coverage policies with other benefits like personal injury protection (PIP) that help pay for medical expenses. Auto-Owners Insurance Co fits the bill, providing PIP in addition to useful add-ons like roadside assistance and rental car and travel reimbursement. With these coverages, seniors won’t have to dip into their retirement savings to pay for accident-related expenses.
The best car insurance providers for Wichita drivers with violations on their records are:
American Family offers several add-ons you can purchase on top of its highly affordable rates – the second-cheapest out of 10 providers in Wichita. Typically, the severity of the violation determines the increase in your premiums. In Wichita, expect your annual premium to spike by about $750 after a DUI and $291 after a speeding ticket. It’s no surprise that auto insurance is usually more expensive for drivers with offenses, but you might save up to hundreds of dollars simply by purchasing a policy from one of the best auto insurers for drivers with poor records.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?
MoneyGeek’s score for Best for Drivers With Offenses was calculated with the following weights:
Has the second-cheapest full coverage policies out of 10 providers, averaging $1,036 per year
High customer satisfaction score
Offers roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, accident forgiveness and gap insurance
Average claims management score
American Family has the second-cheapest full coverage policies for Wichita drivers with a history of driving violations at around $1,036 per year.
American Family is one of few insurers that offers all the essential coverages which cushion the financial blow of an accident. With roadside assistance coverage, you’re just a phone call away from receiving round-the-clock emergency services. You also won’t have to deal with travel costs while waiting for your car to get fixed if you add American Family’s rental car reimbursement coverage to your policy.
Accident forgiveness is a must-have if you want to be protected from the surge in premiums following an at-fault accident. Gap insurance can be a godsend if you finance or lease your car and it is totaled. This add-on helps pay the difference between the amount you owe on the vehicle and the total cost of replacing it with a new one.
Some insurers don’t accept drivers with a history of offenses. Those that do typically charge higher rates. The ideal insurer for drivers with offenses provides the lowest possible rates and many discounts. Our top pick, American Family, offers the second-cheapest full coverage policies out of 10 providers in Wichita. It also has an impressive list of discounts and useful coverages like roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, accident forgiveness and gap insurance.
The following are the best insurers for owners of new cars in Wichita:
These rankings are based on affordability and service quality for Kansas drivers with a 2022 car model. Our analysis only included companies that offer better or new car replacement coverage. New car replacement coverage pays for a brand-new car of the same make and model as your current vehicle if it is totaled in a covered accident. Our top pick, Travelers, offers this coverage as an add-on to its full coverage policies.
How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?
MoneyGeek’s score for Best for New Cars was calculated based on insurers offering new or better car replacement coverage and the following weights:
Has the cheapest policies at an average annual rate of $1,211
Has a good selection of essential coverages
Offers good customer service
Offers new car replacement
Doesn’t offer deductible modification
A full coverage policy from Travelers is the best option if you have a new car. Travelers has the most affordable policies and offers a good selection of useful coverages.
Travelers’ Premier New Car Replacement coverage pays for a brand new car of the same make and model as your current one if it is totaled within the first five years of purchase. This is a must-have for drivers with new cars, protecting you financially, especially if you have an expensive vehicle.
Travelers’ gap insurance is also worth the extra cost, helping you pay for the difference between the actual cash value of your totaled car and the unpaid balance in your auto loan or lease. And with accident forgiveness coverage added to your policy, you’ll be protected from a surge in premiums after one accident within a specified period.
Drivers with new cars should purchase a policy with new or better car replacement coverage, especially if they have an expensive vehicle. With this coverage, your insurer will shoulder the cost of buying a new vehicle if your current one is totaled. Our winner, Travelers, offers new car replacement coverage, which pays for a vehicle of the same make and model as your damaged car if it is totaled within five years of purchase.
When shopping for auto insurance in Wichita, aim for a combination of affordable rates, good service and financial stability. MoneyGeek has already done the heavy work for you by collecting data and providing our rankings and recommendations. We’ve also listed steps to take if you wish to conduct additional research.
MoneyGeek collected data from reputable sources such as J.D. Power’s customer satisfaction surveys and NAIC’s complaint ratio data to inform our rankings and recommendations. You can also refer to the Kansas Insurance Department website to learn more about a particular provider.
Always get personalized quotes from at least three different auto insurance providers, so you have a ballpark figure of how much your car insurance will cost. MoneyGeek's average premiums are for a sample driver, so your rates may vary depending on your age, driving history and location, among other factors.
Providers offer different coverages and discounts, and even a single insurer can have different offerings per area. It’s best to check your preferred company’s website or to speak directly with a representative to learn whether the insurance provider offers the coverages and discounts you want in your location.
A company’s financial strength rating provides a snapshot of how well it’s prepared to uphold its policyholders’ claims. Generally, larger insurers tend to be more financially stable than smaller regional companies.
The best car insurer in Wichita for you depends on your driver profile, needs and preferences. MoneyGeek helps you make the right choice by giving you the most important details to narrow down your options.
Auto-Owners Insurance Co is the best overall car insurance provider in Wichita, earning a MoneyGeek score of 80 out of 100. It claimed the top spot for its affordable full coverage policies, which average around $889 per year, while still providing remarkable customer service. It’s also the best choice for seniors and young adults. If Auto-Owners Insurance Co doesn’t offer the coverages and discounts you need, you can also explore our recommendations for the best car insurance in Kansas.
Auto-Owners Insurance Co is the best cheap car insurance provider in Wichita, offering minimum coverage policies that cost around $341 per year. It earned a MoneyGeek score of 81 out of 100 for its affordable rates and superior customer service. You can further lower your rates if you qualify for a discount. Auto-Owners Insurance Co gives discounts for bundling policies, insuring multiple cars and having safety features in your vehicle, such as airbags, anti-lock brakes or an anti-theft system.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick is a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer and MoneyGeek's Head of Insurance. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research and creating personalized content for every kind of buyer. He 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.
