Missouri · Uninsured driver · Updated Oct 2026

Hit by an uninsured driver in Missouri: coverage, penalties and what to do

Your coverage, the penalties and how to claim your losses.

Short answer

Report your injuries under your uninsured motorist coverage. Uninsured motorist coverage of at least $25,000/$50,000 must be included in every policy (RSMo § 379.203).

Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage
Required
Minimum liability
25/50/25
Insurance system
Fault (tort)

Uninsured motorist coverage in Missouri

Uninsured / underinsured motorist (UM/UIM)
Uninsured motorist coverage of at least $25,000/$50,000 must be included in every policy (RSMo § 379.203). It covers bodily injury only, including hit-and-run, not damage to your car (DCI FAQ).
Liability minimum
25/50/25
Official text
Read the official text

Compare every state in the minimum insurance table.

If the other driver has no insurance in Missouri

  • Report your injuries under your uninsured motorist coverage.
  • The Department of Commerce and Insurance says to contact the Department of Revenue Drivers License Bureau at 573-751-7195, which enforces the insurance law.

Penalties for driving uninsured in Missouri

  • Driving uninsured is a misdemeanor; the court notifies the Department of Revenue and can suspend the driver's license (RSMo § 303.025).

How fast an insurer must handle a claim in Missouri

  • Insurers must acknowledge claim communications within 10 working days (20 CSR 100-1.030), finish investigating within 30 days unless they can't reasonably do so, and tell a first-party claimant whether the claim is accepted or denied within 15 working days after getting all needed forms (20 CSR 100-1.050).
  • Improper claims practices are listed in RSMo § 375.1007.

Claiming from the uninsured driver in Missouri

Small claims limit for car damage in Missouri: $5,000. Missouri small claims guide on Small Claims Map

Step by step if an uninsured driver hits you in Missouri

  1. Report the crash to the police. Call 911 if anyone is hurt. Reporting a crash in Missouri and getting the police report
  2. Write down the other car's plate and get witness names.
  3. Claim under your uninsured motorist coverage; in Missouri it is required.
  4. If your coverage doesn't pay everything, sue the driver before the deadline: 5 years for both property damage and injury. Deadlines to sue in Missouri, with the calculator

Free help in Missouri

Questions about uninsured drivers in Missouri

Is uninsured motorist coverage required in Missouri?

Uninsured motorist coverage of at least $25,000/$50,000 must be included in every policy (RSMo § 379.203). It covers bodily injury only, including hit-and-run, not damage to your car (DCI FAQ).

What happens if you drive without insurance in Missouri?

Driving uninsured is a misdemeanor; the court notifies the Department of Revenue and can suspend the driver's license (RSMo § 303.025).

What can I do if an uninsured driver hits me in Missouri?

Report your injuries under your uninsured motorist coverage. The Department of Commerce and Insurance says to contact the Department of Revenue Drivers License Bureau at 573-751-7195, which enforces the insurance law.

What is the minimum car insurance in Missouri?

25/50/25

How long do I have to sue an uninsured driver in Missouri?

5 years for property damage and 5 years for injury.

How fast must an insurer handle a car insurance claim in Missouri?

Insurers must acknowledge claim communications within 10 working days (20 CSR 100-1.030), finish investigating within 30 days unless they can't reasonably do so, and tell a first-party claimant whether the claim is accepted or denied within 15 working days after getting all needed forms (20 CSR 100-1.050). Improper claims practices are listed in RSMo § 375.1007.

More for Missouri drivers

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Sources

Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.