Missouri requires motor vehicle liability insurance of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $25,000 per accident for property damage. The Missouri Department of Revenue also requires uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.

Those floors apply if you own or operate a motor vehicle in Missouri. Keep proof of insurance in the vehicle.

What do the required coverages pay?

The Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance (DCI) and the Department of Revenue both publish the $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 liability floors, often written as 25/50/25. Bodily injury liability pays people you injure, or the family of someone who dies, if you are responsible for a crash. The first number is the most the policy will pay for one person. The second is the most it will pay for everyone hurt in that accident, combined. Property damage liability pays for damage you cause to someone else's car or other property, up to $25,000 at the legal minimum.

DCI's liability coverage page warns that injured people can, and often do, seek damages greater than those minimums. If a claim exceeds your limits, you can be personally responsible for the rest. A licensed local agent can quote higher split limits or a single-limit policy, and, if you have a house or savings to protect, an umbrella policy.

Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage is also required on a Missouri automobile liability policy. The Department of Revenue states that the law requires UM of $25,000 for bodily injury per person and $50,000 for bodily injury per accident. DCI explains that UM pays for your bodily injuries and those of your passengers if you are hit by an uninsured motorist or a hit-and-run driver who is responsible for the accident. It does not pay for damage to your own car. Collision coverage, if you buy it, is the coverage that can repair or replace your vehicle after a crash.

Underinsured motorist coverage is a separate product. Missouri law does not list it as a required minimum the way it lists liability and UM. Talk with a licensed local agent about whether to add it and how the policy would coordinate with another driver's liability limits.

How do you prove coverage, and what happens if it lapses?

Missouri residents must show proof of insurance when registering a vehicle or renewing plates. You must also keep proof in the vehicle at all times. If a law enforcement officer asks for proof and you cannot show it, the officer may issue a ticket to the driver and, the Department of Revenue says, to the owner.

A conviction for failing to show proof can add four points to the driving record. The Department of Revenue states that eight points within an 18-month period can cost you your driving privilege. The court may also order supervision or suspend the license.

The Department of Revenue tracks coverage and may ask you at any time to prove you have insurance. Insurers that write personal auto coverage in Missouri report vehicles primarily garaged here through the Missouri Insurance Verification System (MOIVS). If your driving privilege or plates are suspended for not having insurance, the Department of Revenue lists these periods and reinstatement fees:

• First suspension: 0 days, then a $20 reinstatement fee and proof of insurance
• Second suspension in two years: 90 days, then a $200 reinstatement fee and proof of insurance
• Third and later suspensions: one year, then a $400 reinstatement fee and proof of insurance

After the suspension ends, you must keep proof of insurance on file with the Department of Revenue for three years. If an accident is involved, an SR-22 filing may be required; an identification card alone is not acceptable in that situation.

There are three ways to meet the financial responsibility law: a liability policy that meets the 25/50/25 minimums, proof of financial responsibility filed with the Department of Revenue, or a certificate of self-insurance issued by the Department (for a company or religious organization). Most households meet the rule with a policy from a licensed insurer.

A 2026 bill that would have raised the liability minimums did not become law. The official DCI and Department of Revenue pages still list 25/50/25. Confirm current figures with a licensed local agent before you buy or renew.

FAQ

What are Missouri's auto liability minimums?

The Department of Revenue and DCI list $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage.

Is uninsured motorist coverage required in Missouri?

Yes. The Department of Revenue states that the law requires uninsured motorist coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury.

Do I have to keep proof of insurance in the car?

Yes. The Department of Revenue says you must keep proof in the vehicle at all times and show it to a law enforcement officer on request.

What is the first-time reinstatement fee after an insurance suspension?

The Department of Revenue lists a $20 reinstatement fee after a first suspension, along with proof of insurance. Later suspensions in a two-year period carry higher fees and waiting periods.

If your limits, a lapse, or a Department of Revenue notice has you unsure about the next step, talk with a licensed local agent who can review your policy and Missouri's current minimums.

Sources: Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance, Automobile Insurance; Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance, Liability Insurance Coverage; Missouri Department of Revenue, Insurance Information.

Once a Missouri private passenger auto policy has been in effect for 60 days, the insurer generally must continue it for the rest of the term and may cancel midterm only for reasons set out in the law. Written notice is required. If you cannot find regular-market coverage, the Missouri Automobile Insurance Plan is the residual auto market.

Nonpayment has a shorter notice period than other cancellations.

When can an insurer cancel or nonrenew?

The Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance (DCI) states that any private passenger automobile policy that has been in effect for 60 days must be continued for the duration of the policy, without being canceled, except for:

• Suspension or revocation of the driver's license of the person named in the policy, unless there is more than one named insured
• Nonpayment of premium

Section 379.114, RSMo, lists those same midterm cancellation reasons and adds that if more than one person is named as insured and only one has a license suspended or revoked, the policy may not be canceled on that basis, but the insurer may exclude coverage while that named person is driving during the suspension or revocation.

DCI also states that you must receive written notice and an explanation 30 days before the policy is canceled or not renewed. Section 379.118 fills in the mailing and content rules. Except at the named insured's request or for nonpayment, an insurer that proposes to cancel or refuse to renew must, on or before 30 days before the effective date, send written notice to the named insured at the last known address, by a postal tracking method the statute accepts. The notice must state the action, the effective date, and a clear, specific reason. Generalized terms such as "personal habits," "living conditions," "poor morals," or "violation or accident record" are not enough.

For nonpayment of premium, at least 10 days' notice of cancellation is required, and the notice must include a bold, conspicuous statement that the policy is canceled at the date and time indicated and that this is the final cancellation notice before that time.

Insurers must also send a written renewal notice at least 15 days before the new policy's effective date, and a written notice of a reduction in coverage at least 15 days before that change, or with the renewal notice. A notice of cancellation, under the statute, is a present act of cancellation, though the insurer may reinstate if the reason is remedied.

DCI and section 379.114 also say a company may not refuse to write or refuse to renew solely because of age, residence, race, sex, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, or lawful occupation, or solely because another insurer previously canceled, nonrenewed, or refused the person. Insurers and agents may not ask whether you have been canceled, nonrenewed, or refused before.

If you are refused automobile insurance, DCI says you must be sent a written explanation that also tells you about the Missouri Automobile Insurance Plan.

What is the Missouri Automobile Insurance Plan?

The Plan was created under sections 303.200 and 379.460, RSMo, to provide automobile insurance to eligible applicants who cannot obtain coverage in the voluntary market. It replaced the Missouri Joint Underwriting Association on September 1, 2008. Insurers that write auto insurance in Missouri participate in the Plan. A licensed Missouri auto agent or broker submits the application.

The official Plan information states that applicants must declare and certify that they have tried and failed, within the preceding 60 days, to obtain automobile insurance in Missouri at rates not exceeding those that apply under the Plan. Applicants must also have a valid driver's license or be eligible to obtain one through a filing. For more detail, the Plan directs consumers to their agent or broker.

Residual-market coverage can cost more or offer narrower options than a voluntary policy. It can still satisfy Missouri's financial responsibility rules if the policy meets the required limits. If your policy is canceled and you do not replace it, the Department of Revenue can suspend plates or driving privileges after a lapse. Keep continuous coverage and keep proof in the vehicle.

Any premium refund after a cancellation, DCI says, must be paid promptly.

FAQ

How much notice is required before a Missouri auto policy is canceled?

Section 379.118 generally requires written notice at least 30 days before cancellation or nonrenewal, except that nonpayment requires at least 10 days' notice with a specific final-notice statement.

After 60 days, can the company cancel for any reason?

No. DCI and section 379.114 limit midterm cancellation of a policy then in force to reasons such as nonpayment or a license suspension or revocation, with a special rule when more than one person is a named insured.

What if I cannot find auto insurance in the regular market?

DCI and the Plan point you to the Missouri Automobile Insurance Plan, applied for through a licensed agent or broker, after a good-faith effort to obtain coverage in the prior 60 days.

Can an insurer ask if I was canceled or refused before?

DCI and section 379.114 state that a company or agent may not require you to say whether an insurer has canceled, refused to renew, or refused to issue a policy to you.

If a cancellation, nonrenewal, or refusal notice has arrived, or you need residual-market coverage, talk with a licensed local agent about replacement insurance and, if you qualify, an application to the Missouri Automobile Insurance Plan.

Sources: Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance, Cancellation or Non-Renewal of Your Policy; Revised Statutes of Missouri, section 379.114; Revised Statutes of Missouri, section 379.118; Missouri Automobile Insurance Plan; Revised Statutes of Missouri, section 303.200.

A standard homeowners or renters policy in Missouri typically does not cover flooding. The Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance (DCI) tells residents to buy a separate flood policy, often through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), and to do it before water is rising.

A new NFIP policy typically has a 30-day waiting period before coverage begins.

What does a homeowners policy leave out?

DCI's consumer guidance is consistent across its severe-weather and flood preparedness pages: a standard homeowners policy does not cover flood damage. Some policies use a "water damage" exclusion that can surprise people after heavy rain, river overflow, or flash flooding. Wind damage and some other storm perils may still be covered under the homeowners form, and some policies provide additional living expenses if the home is uninhabitable because of a covered peril, but flooding itself is a separate risk.

Flood insurance is available through NFIP and, DCI notes, may also be purchased through licensed property and casualty agents or through many private insurance companies. There can be eligibility restrictions for an NFIP policy. DCI has pointed consumers with eligibility questions to NFIP at 877-336-2627, and to FloodSmart.gov for program details.

On its official flood-preparedness page, DCI has stated these NFIP facts:

• Flood insurance can pay up to $250,000 for damage to your house and up to $100,000 for contents
• Business owners can purchase coverage up to $500,000 for structures and up to $500,000 for contents
• Flood insurance pays for covered flood damage whether or not there is a federal disaster declaration
• Anyone can buy flood insurance if the community participates in NFIP, regardless of the property's location
• Almost 40 percent of flood insurance claims come from areas not considered high-risk for flooding
• Once you purchase a policy, it typically takes 30 days for coverage to go into effect

Those building and contents limits are the NFIP figures DCI published. Confirm current limits, deductibles, and any private-market alternative with a licensed local agent. Contents coverage is separate from building coverage. Renters can often buy contents-only flood coverage.

You can look up flood hazard maps at the FEMA Flood Map Service Center. A map is a planning tool. It does not replace a policy, and a home outside a high-risk zone can still flood. DCI has stressed that flooding can happen anywhere it rains, not only along a river.

If you have a mortgage on a home in a high-risk flood zone, the lender may require flood insurance. Even when a lender does not require it, the 30-day wait is a reason to buy before storm season, not after a forecast turns serious. Some waiting-period exceptions exist in federal NFIP rules, such as in connection with certain loan closings. Ask your agent whether an exception applies; do not assume the wait is waived.

What should you do after a flood?

Photograph damage if it is safe to do so, contact your flood insurer or agent promptly, and ask how to start a claim. If you are unsure whether a loss is flood, wind, sewer backup, or another peril, have the agent walk through both the homeowners policy and any flood policy. Those forms often respond differently to the same storm.

If a claim stalls, or the denial is hard to reconcile with the policy, DCI's Insurance Consumer Hotline is 800-726-7390. You can also file a complaint with the Division of Consumer Affairs. DCI licenses agents and insurers and can help with many coverage disputes, but it cannot rewrite a policy that excludes flood.

A force-placed or lender-placed flood policy, if a lender buys one because yours lapsed, may protect the lender's interest more narrowly than a policy you buy for yourself. Ask what it covers before you rely on it for contents or additional living expenses.

Keep a simple home inventory, with photos, even before you buy a flood policy. It will help you set contents limits and will speed a claim. Renters should ask specifically about contents-only flood coverage, which DCI has encouraged renters to discuss with an agent. Building coverage and contents coverage are separate, and a policy that insures only the structure will not replace furniture, clothing, or electronics.

After a flood, do not throw away damaged items until the insurer or adjuster has told you what to keep, unless they are a health hazard. Make a list, photograph tags and serial numbers, and keep receipts for emergency repairs that prevent further damage, if the policy allows that reimbursement.

FAQ

Does a standard Missouri homeowners policy cover flood?

DCI states that a standard homeowners or renters policy typically does not cover flooding and that coverage must be purchased through a separate policy.

How long after I buy an NFIP policy does coverage begin?

DCI states that there is typically a 30-day waiting period from the date of purchase before an NFIP policy goes into effect.

How much can an NFIP policy pay for a house and contents?

DCI has stated that flood insurance can pay up to $250,000 for damage to the house and up to $100,000 for contents. Confirm current figures with your agent or FloodSmart.gov.

Do I need flood insurance if I am not in a high-risk zone?

DCI has reported that almost 40 percent of flood insurance claims come from areas not considered high-risk, and that you can buy NFIP coverage if your community participates, regardless of location.

If you want help checking a flood map, comparing NFIP and private options, or lining up building and contents limits, talk with a licensed local agent before the next heavy rain.

Sources: Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance, Prepare now for potential flooding with insurance coverage; Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance, Severe Weather; FloodSmart.gov; FEMA Flood Map Service Center.

The Division of Consumer Affairs at the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance (DCI) investigates consumer complaints against insurance companies and producers for most types of insurance. Contact the company or agent first, keep your records, and then file if you are not satisfied.

The Insurance Consumer Hotline is 800-726-7390, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

How do you file a complaint?

DCI asks you to contact the insurance company or agent and bring the problem to their attention before you file. Document phone calls by noting the name of the person you spoke with, the date, and a short summary. Keep copies of letters, emails, estimates, photos, and claim numbers.

If you are not satisfied, you can file a complaint so the Division can investigate. DCI's insurance complaints page offers these routes:

• File online, in English or Spanish, through the official complaint form linked from the Department's complaints page
• Download a complaint form from that page and fax it to 573-526-4898
• Mail the form to P.O. Box 690, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0690

The Department's street office is in the Harry S Truman State Office Building, 301 W. High St., Room 530, Jefferson City, MO 65101. Correspondence with fees goes to a different post office box; a complaint itself is directed to P.O. Box 690 as the complaints page states. You can also call the hotline at 800-726-7390 with general questions.

After you file, DCI says it can forward a copy of your complaint to the insurance company and require a response or explanation. Staff can review that response for compliance with Missouri insurance law and the policy, help you understand the policy, and recommend steps you can take if the Department does not have authority to resolve the dispute itself. For some medical disputes, DCI describes an external review process, for example when the question is whether a service is medically necessary.

What can DCI not do?

The same official page is clear about the limits. DCI cannot recommend an insurance company, producer, or policy. It cannot tell you which company insures a particular person or business. It cannot act as your legal representative or give legal advice, and it cannot step into a pending lawsuit on your behalf.

DCI also cannot regulate plans or companies that are not subject to Missouri insurance law or that are governed by other agencies. On a dispute between you and your insurer, the Department says it cannot decide what medical care is necessary or appropriate, who was negligent or at fault, the value of a claim or the amount of money owed to you, or the facts when accounts differ.

Health plans DCI says it does not regulate include state employee health plans (Missouri Consolidated, Highway Patrol, MoDOT, and Conservation), self-funded employer health benefit plans, federal employee health plans, Medicare Parts A and B, Medicare Part D, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, and workers' compensation claims. The Department publishes a separate page on filing complaints against health plans it does not regulate.

A DCI complaint is still useful when a company is slow, denies a claim in a way that seems inconsistent with the policy or Missouri law, or when you need help reading the contract. It is not a substitute for a lawsuit, an appraisal clause, or other policy rights that have deadlines. Note those deadlines on your denial letter and ask a licensed local agent or an attorney if a time limit is about to run.

DCI also publishes a consumer complaint index of auto insurers in Missouri, which can help you compare complaint activity before you buy. That index is a research tool, not a promise about how any one claim will be handled.

Attach the policy number, claim number, estimates, denial letters, and a timeline when you file. The more complete the file, the easier it is for the Division to require a useful company response. You can also email Consumer Affairs at consumeraffairs@insurance.mo.gov, an address DCI publishes on its severe-weather help page, in addition to the hotline.

If the dispute is about a type of insurance DCI regulates, a complaint is often worth filing even when you also intend to use a policy appraisal clause or to consult an attorney. Those paths can run on different clocks. Note every deadline on the denial and in the policy so a complaint does not lull you past a contractual time limit.

FAQ

What is the Missouri insurance consumer hotline?

DCI lists the Insurance Consumer Hotline as 800-726-7390, with hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.

Where do I mail a complaint form?

The official complaints page says to mail the form to P.O. Box 690, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0690, or fax it to 573-526-4898.

Do I have to contact the insurance company first?

DCI asks you to contact the company or agent and document those contacts before you file, then come to the Division if you are not satisfied.

Can DCI decide how much my claim is worth?

No. DCI states that it cannot establish the value of a claim or the amount of money owed to you, who was at fault, or who is telling the truth when accounts differ.

If a claim or a policy question is still unresolved after you contact the company, file with DCI and talk with a licensed local agent who can help you gather the policy, the claim file, and the next practical step.

Sources: Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance, Insurance Complaints; Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance, Automobile Insurance.

The Missouri FAIR Plan is the Missouri Property Insurance Placement Facility. It was established in October 1969 to make property insurance available to applicants who have not been able to secure coverage on insurable property through the normal insurance market.

The Plan's official site states that it is not intended to compete with the voluntary market. It is designed as a last resort for basic property insurance.

When is the FAIR Plan used?

A standard homeowners policy is still the first place to look. Many homes can be written by a licensed insurer in the regular market, sometimes after you improve the roof, the wiring, the vacancy status, or other underwriting issues an agent flags. The FAIR Plan is for situations in which that market has not provided coverage on insurable property.

The official site describes the Plan's goal as providing service and basic coverage comparable with what is available in the standard market. It does not publish dollar limits or a full list of covered perils on the home page. Do not assume the FAIR Plan policy is identical to a package homeowners policy you might have had before. Ask what is covered, what is excluded, whether theft or liability is included, and how the deductible works, then compare that form with any voluntary offer you still have.

Because the Plan is a residual market, coverage can cost more or offer a narrower set of protections than a voluntary policy. That is a reason to keep working with a licensed local agent on a move back to the regular market if your property becomes easier to insure.

The Plan's published office is 11116 S. Towne Square, Suite 303, St. Louis, MO 63123. The local telephone number is (314) 421-0170. The toll-free number, for Missouri only, is (800) 392-7240. The fax number is (314) 421-2575. Start with a licensed local agent, who can often tell you whether a FAIR Plan application is the next step, or contact the Plan at those numbers for current application instructions.

A FAIR Plan policy is still an insurance contract. Pay the premium on time, report occupancy changes, and read any inspection or condition requirements. If you later receive a voluntary offer, compare dates, so you are not uninsured during a switch and you are not paying for two policies longer than you intend.

Flood is a separate issue. A FAIR Plan or homeowners policy generally does not take the place of flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program or a private flood insurer. If the property is near a river, in a low-lying area, or anywhere that can flood, ask about a separate flood policy. There is typically a 30-day wait for a new NFIP policy.

What if a claim or a notice is in dispute?

If you have a loss, report it according to the policy and any instructions the FAIR Plan publishes. Keep photos, inventories, and copies of estimates. If the claim stalls, or a cancellation or nonrenewal notice is hard to understand, you can call DCI's Insurance Consumer Hotline at 800-726-7390 or file a complaint with the Division of Consumer Affairs.

DCI licenses insurers and producers and can review many disputes for compliance with Missouri law and the policy. It cannot rewrite a last-resort form to match a broader voluntary policy you no longer have. Read the FAIR Plan contract so you know what you bought.

The FAIR Plan is for property insurance. It is not the Missouri Automobile Insurance Plan, which is the residual market for auto coverage when you cannot find a voluntary auto policy. If both your home and your car have been declined, you may be dealing with two different residual markets and two different applications.

Ask the agent to put any inspection requirements or occupancy conditions in writing when the FAIR Plan policy is issued. If the Plan later requires repairs as a condition of keeping coverage, document what you completed and when you notified the Plan. A lapse after a residual-market placement can leave the property uninsured and, if you have a mortgage, can lead the lender to force-place coverage that may protect only the lender's interest.

Keep shopping the voluntary market at each renewal. An agent who already knows the property's claims and improvements is often the person who can find a standard insurer once the home is easier to write.

FAQ

What is the Missouri FAIR Plan's official name?

The official site identifies it as the Missouri Property Insurance Placement Facility, also known as the Missouri FAIR Plan.

Is the FAIR Plan meant to replace a regular homeowners policy if I can still buy one?

No. The Plan states that it is not intended to be competitive with the voluntary insurance marketplace and is designed as a last resort to obtain basic property insurance.

How do I contact the Missouri FAIR Plan?

The official site lists (314) 421-0170, a Missouri-only toll-free number at (800) 392-7240, fax (314) 421-2575, and an office at 11116 S. Towne Square, Suite 303, St. Louis, MO 63123.

Does the FAIR Plan replace flood insurance?

A residual property policy is not a substitute for a flood policy. DCI states that a standard homeowners policy typically does not cover flooding, and a separate flood policy is the usual way to insure that risk.

If the regular market has declined the home, or you need help reading a FAIR Plan quote next to a voluntary offer, talk with a licensed local agent about the forms, the price, and a plan to return to the regular market if that becomes possible.

Sources: Missouri FAIR Plan; Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance, Insurance Complaints; Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance, Prepare now for potential flooding with insurance coverage.

Missouri requires uninsured motorist (UM) bodily injury coverage of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident on an automobile liability policy for a vehicle registered or principally garaged in the state. The Department of Revenue and section 379.203, RSMo, both set that floor.

UM is not a substitute for collision coverage on your own car. Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage is a separate option with its own statute.

What does required uninsured motorist coverage pay?

The Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance (DCI) describes UM as coverage for your bodily injuries and those of your passengers if you are hit by an uninsured motorist or a hit-and-run driver who is responsible for the accident. DCI states that it does not cover damage to your car.

Section 379.203 requires automobile liability policies delivered or issued for delivery in Missouri, for a motor vehicle registered or principally garaged here, to include UM coverage in not less than the bodily injury limits in the financial responsibility law. For a commercial motor vehicle, or an employer with a fleet of five or more passenger vehicles, the statute says that coverage is offered rather than automatically included. For a typical household auto policy, UM is required.

The same statute says you can be legally entitled to recover even if the other owner or driver left the scene before being identified. It also says that legal entitlement exists whether or not there was physical contact between the uninsured vehicle and you or your car. That is broader than "hit-and-run only if the cars touched." Ask your agent how your policy handles a phantom vehicle and what proof the insurer will need.

UM can also apply when the other vehicle had a liability insurer that cannot pay because of insolvency, subject to the terms in section 379.203. Insolvency protection in the statute applies to accidents during a period when your UM coverage is in force, if the other insurer becomes insolvent within two years after the accident, unless your policy is more favorable.

A minimum UM package of 25/50 may fall short of a serious injury. You can often buy higher UM limits. DCI's liability page uses 25/50 UM as the example minimum, matching the Department of Revenue's required amounts.

How is underinsured motorist coverage different?

UIM is designed for a crash in which the other driver has liability insurance, but not enough to cover your injuries. Missouri does not list UIM as a required coverage on the Department of Revenue's minimums page the way it lists liability and UM.

If you buy UIM, section 379.204, RSMo, matters. It says that any underinsured motor vehicle coverage with limits of liability less than two times the bodily injury or death limits in section 303.020 shall be construed to provide coverage in excess of the liability coverage of any underinsured motor vehicle involved in the accident. In plain terms, when that threshold applies, UIM is treated as extra coverage on top of the other driver's liability limits, not as a replacement that stops at your UIM number. The details still depend on the policy form. Read the UIM definition, the limits, and any offset language with a licensed local agent before you rely on it.

A 2026 bill that would have changed both the liability minimums and this UIM construction did not pass. The official text of section 379.204 remains the 1999 version summarized above.

UM and UIM do not replace medical payments coverage, health insurance, or collision. Medical payments, if offered and purchased, can help with immediate medical bills regardless of fault. Collision can repair your vehicle. UM and UIM, when they apply, are about injuries (and, if you buy a form that includes it, sometimes other listed damages) caused by another driver who has no insurance or too little insurance.

If another driver is uninsured, you may also have duties to the Department of Revenue, including an accident report in some cases when property damage exceeds $500 or someone is injured or killed. That process is separate from a UM claim on your policy.

FAQ

Is uninsured motorist coverage required on a Missouri auto policy?

Yes. Section 379.203 requires UM on automobile liability policies for vehicles registered or principally garaged in Missouri, in not less than the financial responsibility bodily injury limits. The Department of Revenue lists those UM amounts as $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.

Does uninsured motorist coverage pay to repair my car?

DCI states that uninsured motorist coverage does not cover damages to your car. Ask about collision coverage if you want protection for the vehicle itself.

Can uninsured motorist coverage apply if the other car never touched mine?

Section 379.203 says the legal entitlement to recover exists whether or not physical contact was made, including when the other driver leaves the scene. Your policy still has terms, so confirm the details with your insurer or agent.

Is underinsured motorist coverage required?

No official Department of Revenue minimums page lists UIM as required. If you buy it and the UIM limits are less than two times the bodily injury limits in section 303.020, section 379.204 construes that coverage as excess over the underinsured vehicle's liability coverage.

If you want help comparing UM limits, optional UIM, and collision, talk with a licensed local agent who can explain how each part of a Missouri auto policy would respond after a crash.

Sources: Revised Statutes of Missouri, section 379.203; Revised Statutes of Missouri, section 379.204; Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance, Liability Insurance Coverage; Missouri Department of Revenue, Insurance Information.