Missouri requires at least $25,000 of bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 per accident and $25,000 of property damage liability, often written as 25/50/25, plus uninsured motorist coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. The uninsured motorist coverage is required, with no option to reject it.
Insurers report coverage to the Missouri Department of Revenue, and a statewide web-based verification system is due by December 31, 2027, or as soon as it’s technologically possible.
Key Takeaways
- Missouri requires 25/50/25 liability coverage plus uninsured motorist coverage of 25/50, which you can’t reject.
- A first conviction for driving uninsured is a Class D misdemeanor with a fine of up to $500. The court also has to order a license suspension, send the conviction to the state for 4 points, or order supervision instead of points.
- A first no-insurance suspension ends once you show proof and pay $20. A second within two years lasts 90 days with a $200 fee, and a third or later lasts a year with a $400 fee.
- After some insurance suspensions, including ones involving an accident, the Department of Revenue requires an SR-22 for three years from your eligible reinstatement date. Ask the department which proof it needs in your case.
Missouri Minimum Car Insurance at a Glance
| Coverage | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 per accident |
| Uninsured motorist | $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for injuries. Required, with no option to reject it. |
| Underinsured motorist | Optional |
| Collision and comprehensive | Not required by law, but usually required by lenders and lessors |
The Department of Revenue and the Department of Commerce and Insurance list these minimums. Under RSMo 303.025, you can’t drive, register or keep a vehicle registered without insurance, though there’s an exception for vehicles that are inoperable or stored and not being driven. Missouri law also accepts a bond, a deposit of money or securities, or a self-insurance certificate instead of a policy. RateFrog’s guide to liability limits explains what 25/50/25 pays for.
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage in Missouri
Under RSMo 379.203, every policy has to include uninsured motorist (UM) coverage of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident, and Missouri doesn’t give you a way to reject it. The required UM covers bodily injury. The state’s consumer guides don’t list property damage as part of it.
Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage, which pays when the at-fault driver has insurance but not enough, is optional in Missouri. RateFrog’s guide to uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage explains how these coverages work and why UIM can matter.
Proof of Insurance in Missouri
The Department of Revenue says, “You must keep some proof of insurance in your vehicle at all times.” You’ll also need proof when you register or renew your plates and when police ask for it.
Under RSMo 303.024, you can show your insurance card on your phone, and showing it doesn’t give the officer consent to look at anything else on the device. The law also says you’re responsible for any damage to your phone during the check, unless an officer damages it willfully or maliciously. RateFrog’s guide to getting proof of insurance fast can help if you need a card right away.
How Missouri Tracks Coverage
Insurers already report the drivers and vehicles they cover to the Department of Revenue through the Missouri Insurance Verification System. A new web-based verification system for the courts and law enforcement has to be running by December 31, 2027, or as soon as it’s technologically possible, under RSMo 303.440. The law requires a pilot period of at least nine months first, and no enforcement can be based on the system until that pilot is done.
Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in Missouri
Under RSMo 303.025:
- First violation: a Class D misdemeanor, which carries a fine of up to $500 under RSMo 558.002.
- Second or later violation: up to 15 days in the county jail and a fine of $200 to $500.
The court also has to do one of three things: suspend your driving privileges, send the conviction to the state for points, or, no more than once in 36 months, order supervision instead of points. The Department of Revenue says a conviction sent for points means 4 points, and 8 points within 18 months costs you your driving privilege.
Suspensions and Reinstatement Fees
The Department of Revenue and RSMo 303.042 set these rules for no-insurance suspensions:
| Suspension | Length | Reinstatement fee |
|---|---|---|
| First | None beyond showing proof of insurance | $20 |
| Second within two years | 90 days | $200 |
| Third or later | One year | $400 |
Showing false proof of insurance brings its own one-year suspension. And if someone wins a court judgment against you after a crash and you don’t pay it, the Department of Revenue says your license will remain suspended for 10 years. RateFrog’s guide to what happens when insurance lapses covers the broader risks.
SR-22 Filings in Missouri
The Department of Revenue describes an SR-22 as a form from your insurance company showing that your vehicle has liability insurance. According to its reinstatement requirements, how long you keep it depends on the suspension:
| Type of suspension | How long you keep the SR-22 |
|---|---|
| Mandatory insurance violation | Three years from your eligible reinstatement date |
| Unpaid accident judgment | Two years from the start of the suspension or revocation |
| Too many points | Two years from the start of the suspension or revocation |
For a no-insurance suspension with no accident, the department’s insurance page lists proof of insurance rather than an SR-22, so confirm what it needs before you buy a filing. RateFrog’s SR-22 guide explains how filings work.
If You Can’t Find Coverage
The Missouri Automobile Insurance Plan provides coverage to drivers who can’t get it in the regular market. According to AIPSO, you have to have tried and failed to buy insurance in Missouri within the previous 60 days, and any licensed agent or broker can submit your application. The plan’s phone number is (888) 706-6100.
How Missouri Insurers Set Rates
The Department of Commerce and Insurance’s printed consumer guide lists rating factors that include your age, gender and marital status, your car, your coverage and deductibles, where you live, how you use the car, your driving record and claims history, a credit-based insurance score, and whether you had prior coverage. Credit use has limits under RSMo 375.918:
- An insurer can’t take adverse action based on credit without also considering another, noncredit underwriting factor.
- Insurance inquiries can’t count against you in an insurance credit score or when an insurer uses your credit report.
- If an insurer takes an adverse action based partly on your credit, you can ask in writing, within 30 days of that action, to be reunderwritten after any correction to your credit report or insurance score.
RateFrog’s guide to the factors that affect car insurance rates covers the rest.
Cancellation Rules
Under RSMo 379.118, your insurer has to give at least 30 days’ notice before canceling or nonrenewing your policy, and at least 10 days’ notice before canceling for nonpayment. It also has to send a renewal notice at least 15 days before a new policy term, showing the premium. During a policy’s first 60 days, the Department of Commerce and Insurance says an insurer can cancel for any reason. After that, it can cancel only for reasons the law lists, such as nonpayment.
Don’t count on extra time to pay. The same guide warns, “There is no grace period for late premiums. One late payment could get your policy cancelled.” RateFrog’s guide to car insurance grace periods explains how late payments are handled in other states.
Is Missouri’s Minimum Coverage Enough?
A 25/50/25 policy can run out quickly after a serious crash, and $25,000 of property damage coverage may not replace a newer car. If a claim is more than your limits, you could owe the rest. Because UIM is optional in Missouri, it’s worth pricing it along with higher liability limits. RateFrog’s guide to how much car insurance you need can help you choose, and you can compare car insurance quotes at several coverage levels.
Where to Get Help
The Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance runs a consumer hotline at 800-726-7390, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and accepts complaints online through its complaint page. For suspensions and SR-22 questions, contact the Department of Revenue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Reject Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Missouri?
No. Every Missouri policy has to include uninsured motorist coverage of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. Underinsured motorist coverage is optional.
What Happens If I’m Caught Driving Without Insurance in Missouri?
A first conviction is a Class D misdemeanor with a fine of up to $500, and the court also orders a suspension, 4 points, or supervision instead of points. A later violation carries a fine of $200 to $500, possible jail time of up to 15 days, and longer suspensions.
How Long Do I Need an SR-22 in Missouri?
It depends on the suspension. The Department of Revenue lists three years from your eligible reinstatement date for insurance suspensions that call for an SR-22, such as ones involving an accident, and two years from the start of the suspension for points or an unpaid accident judgment.
Can I Show Proof of Insurance on My Phone in Missouri?
Yes. Missouri law accepts an image of your insurance card on a phone, and showing it doesn’t give the officer consent to look at anything else on the device.
Sources
- Missouri Department of Revenue: Insurance
- Missouri Department of Revenue: Mandatory Insurance FAQ
- Missouri Department of Revenue: Reinstatement Requirements
- Missouri DCI: Consumer Guide to Auto Insurance
- Missouri DCI: Auto Insurance Guide (PDF)
- RSMo 303.024
- RSMo 303.025
- RSMo 303.042
- RSMo 303.160
- RSMo 303.440
- RSMo 375.918
- RSMo 379.118
- RSMo 379.203
- RSMo 558.002
- AIPSO: Missouri Automobile Insurance Plan
- Missouri DCI: Insurance Complaints