To legally operate your vehicle in the state you must maintain three forms of insurance coverage:

• Liability

• Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

• Uninsured/Underinsured

Kansas operates under a "no-fault" insurance system, meaning in the event of an accident your insurance carrier must make injury coverage payments, regardless of fault.

Ways to Establish Financial Responsibility

You're limited to two choices:

• Opting for self-insurance. For more information, contact the Kansas Insurance Department at (800) 432-2484.

• Taking out liability insurance, PIP and uninsured/underinsured insurance. For more information, see below.

Kansas Liability Insurance Requirements for Private Passenger Vehicles

Here are the minimum requirements you must carry:

Liability

• $25,000 per person for bodily injury

• $50,000 per accident for bodily injury

• $10,000 per accident for property damage

Personal Injury Protection

• $4,500 per person for medical expenses

• $900 month for one year for disability and/or loss of income (for one year)

• $25 per day for in-home services (for one year)

• $2,000 for funeral, burial or cremation expenses

• $4,500 for rehabilitation expenses

Uninsured/Underinsured

• $25,000 per person

• $50,000 per accident

Keep in mind that you're not limited to these amounts. If your budget allows, you can maximize your protection with additional types of coverage.

Acceptable Proof of Insurance Financial Responsibility

Insurance companies are obligated to notify the DMV if you allow your insurance to expire. Regardless, if asked by an officer, you are still required to show one of the following forms of proof:

• A self-insurance certificate.

• An insurance identification certificate supplied by your insurance company.

Penalties for Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility

No proof of insurance is considered a Class B misdemeanor and comes with the following penalties:

• A first offense will result in a fine of up to $1,000. Ignoring the fine will result in a six-month sentence in the county jail and elevate you to high-risk status.

• If caught a second time within three years of your first insurance citation, you'll be hit with a fine of up $2,500, lose your registration and, possibly, have your license suspended. To reinstate both you'll need to provide proof of insurance and pay all applicable reinstatement fees.