Missouri Auto Insurance

Missouri uses a Tort insurance system, which means that whoever has been found at fault in an accident has to compensate the other parties for their material losses and, eventually, cover their medical bills.

Minimum insurance requirements

The state of Missouri requires all drivers to carry at least a Liability insurance and a Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury coverage, with the following limits:

• $25,000 per injured passenger in an at-fault accident, but not more than $50,000 for all injured people;
• $10,000 to cover property damage;
• $25,000 per injured uninsured passenger, capped at $50,000 for the whole accident.

Average insurance costs in Missouri

The average insurance rates in Missouri are in line with the national ones – an average Missouri resident spends $1,698 a year on car insurance, while the national median is of $1,678. Much cheaper rates can be found across the state though. Insurance costs, for instance, only an average of $1,110 in Columbia, $1,195 in Springfield or $1,287 in Saint Joseph,

Using a phone when driving

The Missouri Senate is considering several texting/cellphone laws for distracted drivers. One of them, the House Bill 92, will make it a misdemeanor to use a cellular phone while operating a car. As of now, only new drivers aged 21 and under aren’t allowed to use text-based communication when driving a vehicle.

Teenage driving regulations in Missouri

Missouri uses a Graduated Driver Licensing system to help teenage drivers gain hands-on experience with driving on public roads before getting their full-fledged license. It is meant for aspiring drivers of at least 15 years old and kids with provisional licenses will face some restrictions:

• 15 and 16 year old’s may not drive unattended; a parent, legal guardian or driving instructor must always be in the passenger seat; drivers of 17 and older may be accompanied by any licensed adult, who must also sit in the front seat;
• everyone in the car has to wear seatbelts; as a consequence, teenagers may not transport more passengers than the number of seatbelts the car has;
• kids may only drive unattended if they are on the way to or from school or work.

Violations of these restrictions can result in fines, license suspension for a few months or even revocation of the GDL driving privileges.

Driving without insurance in Missouri

It is illegal to operate a vehicle without insurance in Missouri. If you get pulled over, your license will be suspended and it will be reinstated as soon as you pay a $20 fee and show proof of insurance. The penalty for first-time offenders is, indeed, light – but it will stay on your record and will have an impact on your future insurance premiums.

Upon a second suspension in a two year interval, you can have your license back after 90 days, provided you pay a reinstatement fee of $200 and provide proof of insurance.

For the third and subsequent suspensions, you will get your license back after one year and be charged $400.