Missouri minimum car insurance by ZIP

When an owner's policy is a motor vehicle liability policy under RSMo § 303.190, subsection 2(2) sets the limits for each motor vehicle, exclusive of interest and costs: $25,000 because of bodily injury to or death of one person in any one accident and, subject to that one-person limit, $50,000 because of bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in any one accident, and $25,000 because of injury to or destruction of property of others in any one accident. Enter the ZIP where the car is parked overnight so the comparison uses that garaging location.

The wording of those limits is taken from RSMo § 303.190. The Revisor shows this text of the section as effective July 1, 2019.

What § 303.190 means by a motor vehicle liability policy

Subsection 1 uses that term for an owner's policy or an operator's policy of liability insurance, certified as provided in section 303.170 or section 303.180 as proof of financial responsibility. Except as section 303.180 otherwise provides, an insurance carrier duly authorized to transact business in this state issues the policy to or for the benefit of the person named as insured. This page does not restate section 303.170 or section 303.180.

The dollar figures on this page are the limits in § 303.190.2(2). They are not a premium, and they are not an amount a driver receives after a crash.

Owner's policy limits in § 303.190.2(2)

The subdivision states the limits, exclusive of interest and costs, with respect to each such motor vehicle, as follows: twenty-five thousand dollars because of bodily injury to or death of one person in any one accident and, subject to said limit for one person, fifty thousand dollars because of bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in any one accident, and twenty-five thousand dollars because of injury to or destruction of property of others in any one accident.

As split limits, that is $25,000 / $50,000 / $25,000 under § 303.190.2(2). The $50,000 amount for two or more persons is subject to the $25,000 limit for one person. The statute places interest and costs outside those limits by calling the limits exclusive of interest and costs.

A comparison that keeps those limits can start from auto insurance quotes.

Vehicles, permissive users, and territory

Subsection 2(1) says the owner's policy shall designate by explicit description or by appropriate reference all motor vehicles with respect to which coverage is granted.

Subsection 2(2) says the policy shall insure the person named in it and any other person using any such motor vehicle with the express or implied permission of the named insured. The covered loss is liability imposed by law for damages arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of the vehicle. The territory named in that subdivision is the United States of America or the Dominion of Canada.

Subsection 2(3) says the owner's policy may exclude coverage for liability arising out of the use of such motor vehicles by a member of the named insured's household who is a specifically excluded driver in the policy. The word in the statute is "may." The subsection does not exclude every person who lives in the household.

An operator's policy uses the same limits

Subsection 3 says an operator's policy shall insure the person named as insured against liability imposed by law for damages arising out of that person's use of any motor vehicle not owned by that person. The territory is the territory already stated for the owner's policy. The limits are the same limits of liability set forth for an owner's policy. Section 303.190 does not state a different dollar amount for the operator's policy.

What the policy document has to state

Subsection 4 says the motor vehicle liability policy shall state the name and address of the named insured, the coverage afforded by the policy, the premium charged, the policy period, and the limits of liability. It shall contain an agreement, or be endorsed, that insurance is provided in accordance with the coverage defined in this chapter as respects bodily injury and death or property damage, or both, and is subject to all the provisions of this chapter.

This page does not print a person's name, a street address, or a premium. Subsection 4 puts those items on the policy. For a comparison, hold the limits to the § 303.190.2(2) amounts and hold the ZIP to the place the car is parked overnight.

Liability this policy need not insure

Subsection 5 says such a policy need not insure any liability under a workers' compensation law. It need not insure bodily injury to or death of an employee of the insured while engaged in the employment, other than domestic, of the insured, or while engaged in the operation, maintenance, or repair of any such motor vehicle. It need not insure damage to property owned by, rented to, in charge of, or transported by the insured.

Liability under this section is not coverage that pays for the insured vehicle. That difference is laid out on liability and full coverage by ZIP.

After injury or damage the policy covers

Subsection 6 lists provisions every motor vehicle liability policy is subject to, and those provisions need not be printed in the policy. Paragraph (1) says the liability of the insurance carrier with respect to the insurance required by this chapter shall become absolute whenever injury or damage covered by the policy occurs. The policy may not be cancelled or annulled as to that liability by any agreement between the carrier and the insured after the occurrence. No statement made by the insured or on the insured's behalf, and no violation of the policy, shall defeat or void the policy.

Paragraph (2) says satisfaction by the insured of a judgment for such injury or damage shall not be a condition precedent to the carrier's right or duty to make payment on account of that injury or damage.

Paragraph (3) says the carrier shall have the right to settle any claim covered by the policy. If the settlement is made in good faith, the amount is deductible from the limits of liability specified in § 303.190.2(2).

Paragraph (4) says the policy, the written application if there is one, and any rider or endorsement that does not conflict with this chapter constitute the entire contract between the parties.

Coverage above the statutory amounts

Subsection 7 says any policy which grants the coverage required for a motor vehicle liability policy may also grant any lawful coverage in excess of or in addition to the coverage specified for a motor vehicle liability policy. That excess or additional coverage shall not be subject to the provisions of this chapter. With respect to a policy that grants such excess or additional coverage, the term motor vehicle liability policy applies only to that part of the coverage which is required by this section.

A quote may ask for limits above the $25,000 / $50,000 / $25,000 amounts in § 303.190.2(2). Subsection 7 treats that excess as coverage this chapter does not regulate. The section does not create a second statutory floor.

Subsection 8 says the policy may provide that the insured shall reimburse the carrier for any payment the carrier would not have been obligated to make under the terms of the policy except for the provisions of this chapter.

Subsection 9 says the policy may provide for the prorating of the insurance with other valid and collectible insurance.

Subsection 10 says the requirements of a motor vehicle liability policy may be fulfilled by the policies of one or more insurance carriers which together meet the requirements.

Subsection 11 says any binder issued pending the issuance of a motor vehicle liability policy shall be deemed to fulfill the requirement for such a policy.

The overnight ZIP

Section 303.190.2(2) states the limits for each motor vehicle. It does not state a different limit for Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, or Columbia. Use the ZIP where the car is parked overnight so each quote is for that garaging ZIP.

The Revisor's cross reference under § 303.190 names uninsured motorist liability insurance at sections 379.203 and 379.201. Section 303.190 does not state a dollar amount for that coverage.

Uninsured motorist limits by ZIP is this site's comparison of that coverage by the ZIP where the car is kept.

Comparing quotes at the same limits

Before you compare, line up the vehicles the owner's policy will designate under subsection 2(1), and use the same overnight ZIP on every quote. Keep the liability limits at the § 303.190.2(2) amounts if that is the selection you want to compare. A higher optional limit is the excess coverage subsection 7 describes, not a substitute figure for the statutory limit.

If a member of the named insured's household is a specifically excluded driver, subsection 2(3) is the provision that allows the owner's policy to exclude liability from that person's use of the vehicles. Read the quote for that term instead of assuming every household driver is insured.

Subsection 4 requires the policy to state the premium charged for the coverage. This page does not state a premium. Read the premium on the carrier's quote for the same limits and the same ZIP.

The other comparison pages on this site are indexed on guides.

Frequently asked questions

What limits does § 303.190.2(2) set for an owner's policy?

Exclusive of interest and costs, and for each motor vehicle: $25,000 because of bodily injury to or death of one person in any one accident and, subject to that one-person limit, $50,000 because of bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in any one accident, and $25,000 because of injury to or destruction of property of others in any one accident.

Does an operator's policy use a different dollar limit?

No. Subsection 3 subjects an operator's policy to the same limits of liability set forth for an owner's policy, for the named insured's use of a motor vehicle that person does not own.

Can the owner's policy exclude a household driver?

Subsection 2(3) says it may exclude coverage for a member of the named insured's household who is a specifically excluded driver in the policy.

Why does the form ask for a ZIP?

The limits in § 303.190.2(2) do not change from one city to another. The form uses the ZIP where the car is parked overnight so the quotes being compared are for that garaging ZIP.