Key facts
| Fact | Missouri |
|---|---|
| Insurance required | Yes |
| Minimum liability | $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident, $25,000 property damage |
| Uninsured motorist | Required: $25,000/$50,000 |
| Underinsured motorist | Not required (optional) |
| Personal injury protection | Not required |
| Medical payments | Optional |
| Fault system | At-fault |
| Uninsured drivers (2023) | 20.7% (U.S. 15.4%) |
| Average spent per insured vehicle (2023) | $1,154.78 a year (U.S. $1,281) |
| Average premium with collision and comprehensive (2023) | $1,322.55 a year (U.S. $1,438) |
| Regulator | Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance, 1-800-726-7390 (Insurance Consumer Hotline) |
Two coverages Missouri requires
Many states require only liability insurance. Missouri adds a second mandatory piece, uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, at least at the bodily injury minimums. The required package looks like this:
| Coverage | Minimum | Who it protects |
|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident | People you injure |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 | Other people's cars and property |
| Uninsured motorist bodily injury | $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident | You, when a driver with no insurance causes your injuries |
Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage is not required. It pays when the at-fault driver has insurance but too little to cover your injuries, so it fills a different gap than UM. Our uninsured motorist guide explains how UM and UIM work together and why some drivers buy UIM even when it is optional.
Missouri is an at-fault state, so the driver who caused a crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the damage. Your own collision coverage pays for your car if the other driver cannot or will not, minus your deductible.
Uninsured drivers in Missouri
About 20.7% of Missouri drivers were uninsured in 2023, above the national rate of 15.4%. That is the practical reason the state makes UM mandatory: in a crash with an uninsured driver, UM is often the only insurance that pays for your injuries.
The minimum UM limit matches the liability minimum. For example, if an uninsured driver causes $60,000 of injuries and your UM limit is the minimum of $25,000 per person, the rest is left for your health plan, your savings or a lawsuit against the other driver. Higher UM limits cost more but narrow that gap.
How Missouri checks for insurance
Insurance companies that cover vehicles garaged in Missouri must report them to the Department of Revenue's electronic system, the Missouri Insurance Verification System (MOIVS). The state's insurance department notes that the Department of Revenue tracks drivers to make sure they keep their liability policies in force. If coverage lapses, the vehicle's registration can be suspended, and possibly your driver's license.
Drivers must also keep an insurance identification card in the vehicle and show proof of insurance when an officer asks. The Department of Revenue can also ask for proof at any time while the vehicle is registered and after a reported crash.
Losing and getting back your license
Failing to show proof of insurance can lead to a court conviction. That conviction adds 4 points to your record, and 8 points within 18 months is enough to lose your driving privilege. A court can also order supervision or suspend your license directly.
When the Department of Revenue suspends a license or plates for failing to maintain insurance, the rules get stricter with each offense:
| Suspension | Time suspended | Reinstatement fee |
|---|---|---|
| First | None | $20 |
| Second within 2 years | 90 days | $200 |
| Third or later | 1 year | $400 |
After any of these, you must keep proof of insurance on file for 3 years. If a crash was involved, that proof must be an SR-22 filing rather than an ID card, and an unpaid court judgment from a crash requires an SR-22 for 2 years. Showing false proof of insurance is treated more harshly: a 1-year suspension and a $150 reinstatement fee. The SR-22 guide explains how the filing works and what it can do to your premium.
What Missouri drivers pay
NAIC data show Missouri drivers spent an average of $1,154.78 per insured vehicle in 2023, below the national average of $1,281. The average premium with collision and comprehensive was $1,322.55, also below the U.S. figure of $1,438, or about $110 a month.
Averages hide a wide range. Your ZIP code, driving record, vehicle and coverage choices all move the price, and insurers weigh them differently, so comparing quotes at each renewal is one of the more reliable ways to find a lower rate. See shopping at renewal for a step-by-step approach.
Missouri road safety
IIHS counted 955 crash deaths in Missouri in 2024, or 15.3 per 100,000 people, above the national rate of 11.5 per 100,000 people. Speeding played a part in 33% of deaths, above the U.S. share of 29%, and 47% of deaths occurred on rural roads.
If you live near a state line, compare the rules in Kansas, Illinois, Iowa, Arkansas and Nebraska.
Frequently asked questions
Is uninsured motorist coverage required in Missouri?
Yes. Missouri law requires uninsured motorist coverage at least at the bodily injury minimums of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. Underinsured motorist coverage is optional.
How many points do you get for no insurance in Missouri?
A conviction for failing to show proof of insurance adds 4 points. Reaching 8 points within 18 months can cost you your driving privilege.
How do I reinstate my license after an insurance suspension in Missouri?
Serve any suspension period, send proof of insurance and pay the reinstatement fee, which rises from $20 for a first suspension to $400 for a third. Then keep proof on file for 3 years.
Does Missouri require PIP?
No. Missouri is an at-fault state and does not require personal injury protection. Medical payments coverage is optional and can pay smaller medical bills regardless of fault.
Who regulates car insurance in Missouri?
The Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance oversees insurers and takes complaints at 1-800-726-7390 (Insurance Consumer Hotline). License and registration issues go to the Missouri Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle.
Sources
- Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance, Automobile Insurance liability minimums and lapse consequences
- Revised Statutes of Missouri, Section 379.203 uninsured motorist requirement
- Missouri Department of Revenue, Insurance MOIVS, points, suspension periods, reinstatement
- Missouri Department of Revenue, Mandatory Insurance FAQs reinstatement fees, SR-22 periods, false insurance
- NAIC, Auto Insurance Database Report average costs
- IIHS, Fatality Facts: State by state crash deaths
- Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance, Other Types of Automobile Insurance as of October 28, 2026
- Alabama Department of Insurance, State Auto Insurance Laws as of October 28, 2026
- Insurance Information Institute, Facts + Statistics: Uninsured motorists as of October 28, 2026
- Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance, Home page as of October 28, 2026
- Missouri Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Titling and Registration as of October 28, 2026
- NAIC, 2022/2023 Auto Insurance Database Report as of February 13, 2026
- Insurance Research Council, Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists: 2017–2023 (press release) as of February 20, 2025
Last reviewed by the StateCover Guide editorial team. See our editorial policy. Spotted an error? Tell us.