Lauren Lewthwaite Last Updated On: June 12, 2026

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How Much Is Car Insurance in Missouri?

Car insurance in Missouri costs between $46 and $180 per month on average, depending on your coverage level. Drivers with the state minimum liability coverage pay roughly $46 to $92 per month, while those with full coverage pay approximately $86 to $180 per month. Missouri’s rates are roughly in line with the national average, making it a moderately priced state for auto insurance.

Missouri is an at-fault state, meaning the driver responsible for causing an accident is required to cover the other party’s costs through their liability insurance. This structure makes Uninsured Motorist coverage, also required by law in Missouri, particularly important given the state’s 14 to 16 percent uninsured driver rate.

The cheapest car insurance companies in Missouri include Farm Bureau, Auto-Owners Insurance, Travelers, and Shelter Insurance, a Missouri-based regional carrier with strong local customer service. Missouri car insurance rates rose approximately 28 percent between 2021 and early 2025, then fell about 6 percent through the end of 2025. Comparing quotes annually remains the most effective way to manage your premium.

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Missouri Car Insurance Rates

Coverage Level Average Monthly Range Average Annual Range
Liability Only (State Minimum) $46 – $92/month $552 – $1,104/year
Full Coverage (Standard Driver) $86 – $180/month $1,032 – $2,160/year
Full Coverage (Teen Driver, 16–19) $250 – $640+/month $3,000 – $7,680+/year

Source: insurify.com

Note: Rates are based on averages and may not reflect your specific profile.

Missouri Car Insurance Requirements

Coverage Type Minimum Required
Bodily Injury Liability (per person) $25,000
Bodily Injury Liability (per accident) $50,000
Property Damage Liability (per accident) $25,000
Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury (per person) $25,000
Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury (per accident) $50,000

Is Missouri an At-Fault State?

Yes. Missouri is an at-fault (tort) state. This means the driver who causes an accident is legally responsible for the other party’s medical bills, lost wages, and property damage. The at-fault driver’s liability insurance is the primary source of payment for these costs.

Because the at-fault system places financial responsibility on the driver who caused the crash, your own Uninsured Motorist coverage becomes especially important. If you are hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver, their liability coverage may be insufficient, or non-existent. Missouri mandates Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury coverage at the same minimum limits as your liability coverage for precisely this reason. With an estimated 14 to 16 percent of Missouri drivers uninsured, this protection is not optional in a meaningful sense.

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Cheapest Car Insurance Companies in Missouri

Rates vary significantly between insurers in Missouri. The table below shows average monthly ranges from the major carriers serving Missouri drivers:

Company Liability Only (Monthly Range) Full Coverage (Monthly Range)
Farm Bureau (MO) $43 – $60/month $100 – $140/month
USAA (military only) $29 – $55/month $82 – $120/month
Auto-Owners Insurance $55 – $72/month $79 – $130/month
Travelers $60 – $80/month $86 – $145/month
Shelter Insurance $60 – $82/month $110 – $155/month
State Farm $65 – $88/month $125 – $165/month
Progressive $70 – $95/month $135 – $180/month
GEICO $72 – $98/month $140 – $185/month
Allstate $88 – $120/month $160 – $210/month

Source: insurify.com

Note: Rates are based on averages and may not reflect your specific profile.

Shelter Insurance , Missouri's Local Carrier

Shelter Insurance is headquartered in Columbia, Missouri, and is one of the most consistently recommended insurers for Missouri drivers. While its rates are not always the absolute cheapest, Shelter receives notably fewer customer complaints than similarly sized national carriers and has strong regional claim-handling capabilities. For Missouri drivers who value local agent relationships and responsive claims service, Shelter is worth including in your comparison.

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How Your Driver Profile Affects Your Rate in Missouri?

Rates by Age

Age Group Monthly Range (Full Coverage) Notes
16–19 (Teen) $250 – $640+/month Family policy is significantly cheaper than a standalone teen policy
20–24 $165 – $280/month Rates drop significantly after age 25
25–34 $120 – $200/month Near state average
35–49 $86 – $160/month Lowest rates for most standard drivers
50–64 $80 – $145/month Mature driver discounts widely available
65+ $90 – $155/month Rates begin rising again after age 70

Note: Rates are based on averages and may not reflect your specific profile.

Rates by Driving Record

Driving Record / Factor Avg. Monthly Rate (Full Coverage) vs. Clean Driver
Clean record $86 – $145/month Baseline
1 speeding ticket $105 – $180/month +23% on average
At-fault accident $115 – $200/month +25–40% increase
DUI conviction $145 – $310+/month +55–90%; SR-22 required; Travelers cheapest at $192/mo
Poor credit $200 – $350+/month Bad credit = $280/mo vs. $121/mo good credit (Kemper cheapest at $161/mo)

Does Credit Score Affect Car Insurance in Missouri?

Yes. Missouri allows auto insurers to use credit-based insurance scores when setting your premium. The difference between excellent and poor credit can be dramatic: drivers with good credit pay approximately $121 per month for full coverage, while those with poor credit can pay $280 or more per month for the same coverage. If your credit score has improved since you last compared insurance quotes, re-shopping can unlock significant savings. For poor-credit drivers in Missouri, Kemper is frequently the most competitive option, offering rates around $161 per month.

Car Insurance Rates by City in Missouri

Where you live in Missouri has a major impact on your premium. St. Louis consistently has the most expensive rates in the state, driven by higher accident frequency, vehicle theft, and the elevated liability claim environment in the metro area. Columbia and St. Joseph are among the most affordable cities for car insurance in Missouri.

City Avg Monthly Rate (Full Coverage) vs. MO State Average
St. Louis $200 – $285/month Highest in state — 40–58% above average
Kansas City $151 – $215/month Above average; top-20 nationally for auto theft
Independence $130 – $175/month Above average
Springfield $110 – $155/month Near state average
Jefferson City $100 – $135/month Near or below average
St. Charles $95 – $130/month Below average
Columbia $86 – $120/month Among cheapest major cities
St. Joseph $85 – $121/month Most affordable major city

Source: insurify.com

Note: Rates are based on averages and may not reflect your specific profile.

The gap between St. Louis and Columbia, the state’s most and least expensive major cities, is approximately $80 to $165 per month for the same full coverage policy. If you live in the St. Louis metro, comparing quotes from multiple insurers is especially important: in St. Louis, the spread between the cheapest (Travelers at $121/mo) and most expensive standard insurer (Progressive at $269/mo) for full coverage is wider than the statewide gap between minimum and full coverage.

What Is SR-22 Insurance in Missouri?

An SR-22 is not a type of insurance, it is a certificate filed by your insurer with the Missouri Department of Revenue confirming you carry at least the state minimum required coverage. Missouri requires SR-22 filing after:

  • A DUI or DWI conviction
  • Reckless driving
  • Being caught driving without insurance
  • License suspension or revocation
  • Causing an accident while uninsured

The SR-22 filing fee is typically $15 to $50 per year. Missouri requires the SR-22 to remain on file for two years following the qualifying violation. If your policy lapses during this period, your insurer must notify the state and your license will be re-suspended. Not all insurers offer SR-22 filing, if yours does not, you will need to switch carriers. Travelers and State Farm are among the most competitive options for Missouri drivers requiring SR-22 coverage, with Travelers typically the most affordable for post-DUI situations.

How to Save on Car Insurance in Missouri?

1. Compare Quotes Annually, Including Regional Carriers

Missouri car insurance rates rose 28 percent between 2021 and 2025, and the cheapest insurer this year may not be the cheapest next year. Travelers raised rates 57 percent over five years; Shelter raised rates 31 percent. Including regional carriers like Farm Bureau and Shelter Insurance in your annual comparison gives you the widest range of options.

2. Improve Your Credit Score

Missouri allows credit-based insurance scoring. The gap between excellent and poor credit is approximately $159 per month — nearly $1,900 per year. Paying bills on time, reducing balances, and avoiding new credit inquiries are the most reliable ways to bring this cost down over time.

3. Consider Telematics / Usage-Based Programs

Progressive’s Snapshot and State Farm’s Drive Safe & Save programs track your driving habits and can reduce your premium by up to 30 percent for safe, low-mileage drivers. If you drive fewer than 10,000 miles per year or have a short commute, these programs can deliver meaningful savings with no upfront cost.

4. Bundle Home and Auto

Bundling your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance with your auto policy typically saves 10 to 15 percent on both policies. Farm Bureau, State Farm, and Shelter Insurance all offer competitive bundling discounts for Missouri drivers.

5. Raise Your Deductible

Increasing your collision and comprehensive deductible from $500 to $1,000 can reduce your full-coverage premium by 10 to 15 percent. Only do this if you have sufficient savings to cover the higher out-of-pocket cost in the event of a claim.

6. Maintain a Clean Driving Record

A single at-fault accident in Missouri raises rates by an average of 25 to 40 percent. A DUI can more than double your premium and triggers a two-year SR-22 requirement. The most powerful long-term way to keep insurance affordable is to avoid violations and accidents — ask your insurer about accident forgiveness programs if you have a long clean history.

FAQ

Missouri is an at-fault state, also called a tort state. This means the driver who causes an accident is responsible for paying the other party’s medical bills and property damage through their liability insurance. There is no Personal Injury Protection (PIP) requirement in Missouri as there is in no-fault states. If you are hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver, your own Uninsured Motorist coverage will cover your costs, which is why this coverage is mandatory in Missouri and particularly important given the state’s high uninsured driver rate.

Missouri drivers pay between $46 and $92 per month for minimum liability coverage and between $86 and $180 per month for full coverage, based on 2026 data. St. Louis has the most expensive rates in the state, with full coverage averaging $200 to $285 per month. Columbia and St. Joseph are among the most affordable, averaging $86 to $121 per month for full coverage. Missouri’s statewide average is roughly in line with the national average.

Farm Bureau offers the cheapest liability-only rates in Missouri, starting around $43 per month. USAA has the absolute lowest rates, starting around $29 per month for liability, but is available only to military members, veterans, and qualifying family members. For full coverage, Auto-Owners and Travelers are consistently among the most affordable options for standard drivers. For post-DUI drivers, Travelers is generally the most competitive at approximately $192 per month for full coverage. Shelter Insurance is often the best choice for drivers who prioritize local service over the absolute lowest premium.

Missouri requires all drivers to carry: $25,000 bodily injury liability per person and $50,000 per accident; $25,000 property damage liability per accident; and Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. Missouri does not require PIP or medical payments coverage as part of its minimum requirements. These minimums may not be sufficient in a serious accident, insurance experts recommend carrying higher liability limits and adding comprehensive and collision coverage for stronger financial protection.

A DUI conviction in Missouri typically raises your full-coverage premium by 55 to 90 percent. Based on 2026 data, the average full-coverage rate after a DUI is approximately $192 to $310 per month, compared to $86 to $180 per month for a clean-record driver. You will be required to file an SR-22 certificate with the Missouri Department of Revenue for two years. Travelers is consistently the most affordable insurer for Missouri drivers with a DUI, at approximately $192 per month for full coverage, significantly below the state average for DUI drivers.

Yes. Missouri allows auto insurers to use credit-based insurance scores as a rating factor. Drivers with poor credit pay approximately $280 per month for full coverage, while drivers with good credit pay around $121 per month for the same policy, a difference of $159 per month or nearly $1,900 per year. Kemper is the most competitive option for poor-credit drivers in Missouri at approximately $161 per month. If your credit has improved, re-shopping your insurance can produce meaningful savings.

Driving without insurance in Missouri can result in suspension of your vehicle registration, fines up to $500, and personal liability for all damages and injuries if you cause an accident. Repeat offenses can result in driver’s license suspension. An SR-22 filing may be required to reinstate your driving privileges. Missouri’s uninsured motorist rate of approximately 14 to 16 percent makes this a realistic risk — uninsured motorist coverage protects you from drivers who break this law.

Yes. Shelter Insurance is headquartered in Columbia, Missouri, and is consistently rated as one of the better options for Missouri drivers who value local service and responsive claims handling. While Shelter’s rates are not always the absolute cheapest, the company receives significantly fewer customer complaints than similarly sized national carriers. Shelter raised its rates approximately 31 percent between 2021 and 2025,  substantial, but notably less than Travelers’ 57 percent increase over the same period. For drivers who want a regional carrier with a strong Missouri presence, Shelter is worth comparing.

Car Insurance by States

Explore state-by-state car insurance trends to understand where drivers pay less on average.

Lauren Lewthwaite Lauren Lewthwaite has been freelance writing for almost five years writing content that ranges from health to insurance and everything in between. Lauren is also a trained translator in French and English and is a dog-mom to an adorable Australian Shepherd.

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