Minimum Car Insurance Coverage Requirements in Missouri

It doesn’t matter if you live in Branson by the Titanic Museum or you live in Kansas City by the Arrowhead Stadium; you’re required by law to comply with every part of the vehicle code that’s currently in effect in the state of Missouri.

If you own a personal vehicle in the state, no matter which county you’re in, you’ll have to carry insurance.

Enter your zip code above to compare car insurance rates from multiple companies in Missouri at once!

Since auto insurance laws aren’t universal from state to state, everyone who’s buying a car or moving across state lines needs to familiarize themselves with new laws that they’ll be expected to comply with. Carrying no insurance or the wrong insurance could lead to civil and criminal punishments.

Here’s what you should know about the minimum car insurance requirements in Missouri:

Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in Missouri

Missouri is like most states in the sense that it operates under a tort auto insurance system. Whenever you hear the word tort used to describe insurance laws, it means that all car owners in the state are held liable for the damages that they cause if they crash their vehicles.

Since car owners are liable for damages, they have to have insurance that helps pay for third-party damages if they’re ever in an at-fault auto accident.

The insurance is called motor vehicle liability coverage and it’s mandatory for anyone who is named as the legal owner of a car that’s registered through a Missouri DMV branch.

You may have to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance but, like in most states, the third-party limit requirements are substantial. As long as you have minimum limits and you’ve purchased your coverage from an in-state licensed carrier, you won’t face legal repercussions.

Here’s what you must carry under the Missouri Financial Responsibility Law:

• $25,000 per person in Bodily Injury Coverage
• $50,000 per accident in Bodily Injury Coverage
• $10,000 per accident in Property Damage Coverage

Not only does the financial responsibility law state that you have to carry third-party coverage, but you’re also required under state law to have uninsured motorist coverage at all times. Uninsured Motorist requirements are:

• $25,000 per person
• $50,000 per accident

Penalties for Driving Without Car Insurance

Every year, there is a population of residents in Missouri that drives without insurance. These people may think they’re above the law until they get caught. Driving without insurance isn’t just a violation of the law, it’s irresponsible and it puts others at risk.

Approximately 13.9 percent of the cars in Missouri are uninsured at any given time. Out of the nearly 5 million cars and trucks in the state, around 700,000 don’t have coverage. This is why judges in traffic courts around Missouri are buckling down by imposing serious penalties to first-time and habitual violators.

Some of these penalties include:

• A 4-point penalty on your driving record
• Loss of your license if you’ve exceeded eight penalty points within the last 18-month period
• An order of supervision through the Driver License Bureau
• Suspension of your license and a mandatory reinstatement fee of $20 for first offense, $200 for second offense, and $400 for third offense
• Misdemeanor conviction and a fine of $300
• Suspension of your license plates for at least 90 days for the second offense
• Suspension of your license plates for a mandatory period of one year for third offense

Penalties for Not Having Enough Insurance

It might sound like $50,000 is a lot of money, but when you’re considering how fast bills can pile up after a pile-up on the highway, it’s not very much money at all.

You’re complying with the law when you carry state minimum coverage but you could suffer some consequences of failing to carry enough insurance.

Whenever you’re buying a policy, you need to evaluate your personal insurance needs. You may have a need to keep the premiums low, but you also need the protection that sufficient car insurance will afford you. Some of the consequences for not having enough coverage include:

• Lawsuit filed by the injured party to collect for additional damages
• Suspension of your license plates and/or your plates for one year for failing to pay for damages that you’re liable for (if you settle before the year is up you can reinstate)

Why You Need Car Insurance in Missouri

Cars, even compact models, are capable of causing a significant amount of damage. Since they are heavy pieces of machinery that travel over 100 miles per hour, cars can be classified as weapons if they’re operated by irresponsible or inexperienced drivers.

According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, crashes caused by speeding alone costs Americans $40.4 billion per year.

Since everyone on the road is vulnerable and vehicle owners are liable, the state must have laws in place that hold liable parties accountable. The only way to ensure someone has the money to pay for damages is to require at least some indemnity insurance.

Insurance laws may protect others from having to foot the bill as they pick up the pieces after an accident, but it also protects you. By having at least mandatory coverage options, you’re left with some asset and income protection when you’re involved in a minor accident.

You’ll even have coverage that will help you pay your medical bills if an irresponsible driver hits you.

Car Accident Statistics and Insurance Statistics in Missouri

It can be alarming to look at accident statistics that relate to you as a resident in your state. You’re a safe driver but being a safe driver isn’t always enough to avoid all accidents. Accident rates have gone down in Missouri, but there are still hazards. Here are some shocking accident statistics:

• In 2014, 766 people died in car crash in Missouri
• In 2014, 47,977 people suffered accident-related injuries
• In 2014, there were 34,028 accidents resulting in fatalities or personal injury
• In 2014, there were 103,370 accidents resulting in property damage

Other Coverage Options Available

Third-party liability pays for damages to others. Your uninsured motorist coverage will pay for your own damages after an accident with someone who doesn’t have insurance if you need to go to the hospital or you need to see a doctor for treatment.

Having some protection is better than none at all, but there are other options that will provide you with a higher level of protection. You should always price the cost of higher levels of liability, but don’t overlook other options that will pay for your own damages.

Here are some options available to you:

• Comprehensive – Covers damage to your auto after fire, theft, or vandalism
• Collision – Covers damage to your auto after a collision
• Medical Payments – Pays for immediate medical expenses incurred after an accident
• Uninsured Motorist Property Damage – Covers your deductible after accident with uninsured driver
• Rental Car – Pays for a temporary substitute vehicle
• Towing – Helps cover the cost to tow a disabled vehicle

How to Find Affordable Insurance

If your mission is to find the best insurance rates, you should need to start by evaluating your needs. After you know what you need, you should shop around to find low rates and the best discounts available to you. Not all insurers have the same rates.

Getting quotes from several carriers in the marketplace can take a lot of time. The best practice is to use the Internet. Get dozens of quotes from insurers in Missouri on the same platform and you’ll determine which carrier offers the best deal.

Enter your zip code below to find car insurance rates from top companies in your area today!