(800) 253-1482How Much Auto Insurance Do I Need in Missouri?
Summary: If you live in Missouri, you must have minimum liability and uninsured motorist coverages, however, these bare minimums are often not enough. Accidents are frequent, and basic coverage may not protect you from costly medical bills, repairs, or lawsuits. Understanding your risks is important and increasing your coverage limits can help you prevent large financial setbacks. With rising healthcare costs, expensive repairs, and a high percentage of uninsured drivers in MO, having the right coverage ensures you're protected when the unexpected happens. Estimated Read Time: 5 mins
Table of Contents:
- Recommended Auto Insurance Coverage for Missouri Drivers
- How Much Auto Liability Insurance Do I Need in Missouri?
- How Much Property Damage Car Insurance Do I Need in Missouri?
- How Much Uninsured Motorist Coverage Do I Need in Missouri?
- Do I Need Comprehensive and Collision in Missouri?
- How Much Medical Payments Coverage Do I Need in Missouri?
- How Much Personal Injury Protection Do I Need in Missouri?
- Need Auto Insurance? Compare Coverage Recommendations in Missouri
Every Missouri driver must carry minimum liability and uninsured motorist coverage, but that’s just the beginning. A basic policy might keep you legal, and could even save you money up front.
However, it won’t always protect you from costly repairs, medical bills, or stolen vehicles, costing you even more in the long run.
Evaluating your risks and budget helps ensure you have enough coverage to avoid major financial setbacks. Learn more about how to find the right level of coverage to hedge against your risks without breaking the bank.
Recommended Auto Insurance Coverage for Missouri Drivers
The Show Me State had a total of 184,878 crashes in one year alone. It’s an annual risk that all drivers need to be properly protected from.
Having car insurance in Missouri is one thing—having enough protection is another. With the Show Me State featuring nearly 185,000 crashes in a single year, the risk is real for every driver.
Fortunately, you can customize your policy to fit your needs and budget. The key is striking a balance—enough coverage to protect you from major losses without straining your finances.
Everyone’s situation is different, so your ideal limits depend on your risks and what you can afford.
Paying a manageable premium now is always better than facing massive bills later. The right coverage can keep you from paying out of pocket for repairs, property damage, or costly medical expenses.
How Much Auto Liability Insurance Do I Need in Missouri?
Liability coverage helps cover injuries and property damage if you're at fault in an accident, but the minimum limits may not be enough.
If your coverage runs out, you’re stuck paying the rest out of pocket—which could mean thousands, even hundreds of thousands, in expenses.
Increasing your bodily injury limits is a smart move, especially if you drive often, live in a high-accident area, or want better financial protection.
In places like Jackson, St. Louis, and Greene County, where serious crashes are more common, higher limits can give you extra peace of mind.
With healthcare costs rising, an at-fault accident could leave you with massive medical bills. Without enough coverage, you risk lawsuits and losing assets.
How Much Property Damage Car Insurance Do I Need in Missouri?
Healthcare costs aren’t the only rising costs, drivers also need to have enough liability to cover property damage coverage, which also continues to rise.
Ideally, you’ll want to have enough protection to cover your assets, otherwise, you’ll be paying out of pocket for significant repairs.
For instance, if your coverage limit is $30,000 but the damages exceed that amount, you could be held responsible for the difference.
If the other party takes legal action and wins, they could recover the remaining costs by garnishing your wages, seizing funds from your savings, or even placing a lien on your property.
How Much Uninsured Motorist Coverage Do I Need in Missouri?
In Missouri, uninsured motorist (UM) insurance is a requirement for everyone on the road, but just like only having the bare minimum for liability, in the aftermath of more severe accidents, not having the right coverage levels can leave you high and dry.
UM coverage and underinsured motorist (UIM) protection go hand-in-hand and you can even stack your coverage.
Still, the right coverage is different for everyone but the ultimate goal is to assess your risk. Considering Missouri has a higher percentage of uninsured drivers than most of the U.S. (16%), adequate coverage is a must.
Without enough protection, recovering damages from an underinsured driver can be a long, expensive legal battle, especially in hit-and-run cases. Many uninsured drivers also lack the financial means to pay for your losses.
When choosing UM/UIM limits, consider rising medical costs, lost wages, and your vehicle’s value. Managing these risks with the right coverage can help you avoid major out-of-pocket expenses.
Do I Need Comprehensive and Collision in Missouri?
Comprehensive and collision coverage go beyond basic liability, making them a smart choice for many drivers.
Both are helpful by covering repair or replacement costs after accidents, theft, or other incidents, especially for newer or high-value cars. Lenders often require both for financed or leased vehicles.
Even if you own your car outright, these coverages can be valuable in high-risk areas.
Bundling them with liability creates full coverage, offering broader protection and potential discounts.
How Much Medical Payments Coverage Do I Need in Missouri?
Medical payments coverage (MedPay) will cover hospital visits, surgeries, ambulance fees, and even funeral costs regardless of fault after an accident.
However, with healthcare costs constantly rising, even a minor accident can lead to big bills.
MedPay covers others in your vehicle, so if you frequently have passengers, it's important to have the right limits for your policy to handle their medical bills.
While most policies offer at least $1,000 per person, you can increase these limits to better protect yourself from a major financial loss—even coverage of $10,000 per person or more is available.
How Much Personal Injury Protection Do I Need in Missouri?
MedPay helps with medical bills, but personal injury protection (PIP) goes further—it also covers lost wages and funeral costs.
If an accident would put a serious strain on your finances, consider raising your PIP limits.
This is especially important for drivers living in high-income areas where injury claims could be more expensive or if you simply can’t afford to cover major costs out of pocket.
Need Auto Insurance? Compare Coverage Recommendations in Missouri
Getting an auto insurance policy is easy but staying properly protected for what might come you’re way is another story.
Drivers in Missouri deserve affordable coverage that’s there when they need it the most, and our team is here to help.
Working with top-rated insurance carriers, our team can help you pinpoint your risks, find the coverage you need, and compare your protection to ensure you receive the lowest premiums available.
Use our car insurance tool below for a free quote, or give us a call at the number above to speak to an agent about recommended auto insurance coverage that fits your personal needs for less:
