Missouri Automobile Insurance

Legal Requirements for Acquiring Auto Insurance in Missouri

SafeAuto wants to help you get the lowest possible auto insurance rates. Being familiar with your state's financial responsibility requirements is an easy way to start. Here is the most recent information for Missouri:

The minimum amount of liability insurance coverage required to satisfy Missouri's Financial Responsibility law is 25,000/50,000/10,000. This means that your insurance policy must insure you against loss in an accident where you have been determined to be at-fault for a minimum of:

• Twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) because of bodily injury to or death of one (1) person in any one (1) accident
• Fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) because of bodily injury to or death of two (2) or more persons in any one (1) accident, subject to the twenty-five thousand dollar ($25,000) per person limit
• Ten thousand dollars ($10,000) because of injury to or destruction of property of others in an accident

Under Missouri law, you are required to provide documentary proof of Financial Responsibility in the following circumstances:

• At the request of a law enforcement officer at the time of an accident or traffic stop
• When registering a vehicle or renewing plates
• When requested by the Missouri Department of Revenue

To ensure drivers continue to meet the Financial Responsibility requirements, Missouri requires insurance companies to provide a monthly report of all active insurance policies to the Missouri Department of Revenue, Drivers License Bureau.

Penalty for failure to comply with Missouri's Financial Responsibility requirements:

Failure to maintain proper insurance could lead to the suspension of your license and vehicle registration. You may also be assessed four (4) points for any conviction for failure to maintain Financial Responsibility. It only takes a total of eight (8) points within an 18-month period to lose your driving privileges in Missouri.

If your driving privileges and/or license plates are suspended for not having insurance, the following suspension periods may apply:

• 1st suspension = 0 days
• 2nd suspension in two years = 90 days
• 3rd and subsequent suspension = 1 year

After the period of suspension, your driver license and/or license plates can be reinstated if the Driver License Bureau receives the following:

• 1st suspension: Proof of insurance and $20 reinstatement fee
• 2nd suspension: Proof of insurance and $200 reinstatement fee
• 3rd and subsequent suspension: Proof of insurance $400 reinstatement fee

If you drive while your license is suspended for failure to meet the Financial Responsibility requirements, you may be subject to a fine of up to five hundred dollars ($500) or imprisoned not exceeding six (6) months, or both.

Certificate of Financial Responsibility (SR-22):

An SR-22 is a certification of future proof of Financial Responsibility issued by your insurance company to the Driver License Bureau providing proof that you purchased liability insurance. The following circumstances may require a person to have an SR-22:

• Loss of license due to excessive points (more than 8)
• Loss of license due to Motor Vehicle Accident Judgment
• Loss of license due to driving with a blood alcohol of .08% or more, or if under age 21 driving with a blood alcohol of .02% or more
• Loss of license due to failure to maintain insurance

If you are required to maintain a certificate of Financial Responsibility, your insurance company is required to provide the state with at least 10 days advance notice before termination. SafeAuto will only issue a Missouri SR-22 to Missouri residents.

Link to the Missouri Division of Motor Vehicle & Drivers Licenses

http://dor.mo.gov/mvdl/drivers/

If you have any further auto insurance questions then please visit the FAQ page or contact the Customer Service Department at CSD@safeauto.com.