Insurance requirements for registering a car in Missouri
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Missouri law states that all vehicle owners are required to have auto insurance or "financial liability" in order to legally own or operate a vehicle.
Missouri's minimum financial liability requirements for drivers are as follows:
Minimum $25,000 per person for personal injury or death. This means you need to have at least $50,000 with you to cover the fewest possible number of people involved in an accident (two drivers).
$10,000 minimum for property damage liability
Minimum $25,000 per person for an uninsured motorist. This means that you will need a total of $50,000 to cover the fewest possible number of people involved in the accident (two drivers).
This means that the total minimum financial liability you will require is $110,000 for bodily injury and property damage.
Other types of financial responsibility
Most drivers in Missouri pay for insurance plans to cover driving liability claims, but the state also recognizes several other financial liability methods. These methods include:
Guaranteed bonds
Real estate bonds
Cash deposits
Self-insurance certificates, for businesses and religious organizations
Missouri Auto Insurance Plan
If you are a high-risk driver, insurance companies have the right to refuse coverage. In this case, the State of Missouri maintains the Missouri Auto Insurance Program to ensure that all drivers have access to the required legal liability insurance. Under this plan, you can apply for insurance through any authorized insurance company.
proof of insurance
Missouri drivers are required to carry an insurance certificate in their vehicles at all times. If you don't have insurance when a law enforcement officer asks for it, you may be issued with a traffic ticket. When registering a vehicle, you must also have an insurance certificate.
Acceptable forms of proof of insurance include:
Insurance ID-card from an authorized insurance company
Image of your insurance card on your mobile phone or other electronic device
An SR-22 Proof of Financial Responsibility document, which is proof that you are meeting the legal requirements for insurance. This is usually only required for drivers who have a previous conviction for drunk driving or reckless driving.
Certificate or legal documentation from the Department of Revenue evidencing self-insurance or evidencing a cash deposit or bond used to secure financial liability.
Penalties for Violation
The state of Missouri has several penalties that apply to those who experience insurance violations:
Suspension of driver's license and vehicle registration for a period of 90 days to 1 year
Recovery fee that starts at $20 for the first time; $200 for a second copy; and $400 for additional copies
Required SR-22 filing within the next three years
If you cannot prove you have insurance when you are pulled over by a police officer, you may also receive the following fines:
Four points on your Missouri driving record
Supervision order, meaning that your insurance status will be monitored by the Driver's License Bureau.
For more information, contact the Missouri Department of Revenue through their website.
