Cheap Car Insurance Missouri

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Contributor, Benzinga
June 21, 2021

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Are you a resident of Missouri? If so, you’ll be happy to know that Missouri drivers collectively only pay $742 a year for car insurance — less than the national average. Car insurance is relatively cheap — but Missouri households have 2 cars on average. That means you’ll still want to shop around to find your best cheap car insurance Missouri, especially for multiple vehicles. 

Missouri Car Insurance Overview

The state has legislated minimum insurance requirements for licensed drivers in Missouri:

  • You must carry bodily injury liability coverage — a minimum of $25,000 per person and $50,000 for multiple people. This pays for injuries and medical bills caused to other parties if you’re at fault in an accident. 
  • You must also purchase a $25,000 total property damage policy. Property damage coverage pays out to another person if you damage his or her property in an accident. 

Best Cheap Car Insurance in Missouri

Missouri Car Insurance Laws

Missouri has passed laws mandating the minimum car insurance that drivers must carry to protect all drivers on the road. You can’t even register your car or renew your plates without showing proof of insurance and you must keep proof of insurance in your car at all times.

That insurance must include liability coverage, which means your insurance covers another driver's property and bodily injuries if you're found at fault in an accident. Missouri doesn’t require that drivers purchase collision and comprehensive coverage, which reimburses damage to your vehicle. Missouri’s requirements focus on protecting other people on the road.   

Missouri Traffic Laws You Should Know

Make sure you know the traffic laws in Missouri before you put your key into the ignition — getting a ticket can be costly.

Unlike other states, Missouri restricts its hands-free laws by age. You’re not allowed to text and drive if you’re under age 21. Speeding is a bad idea, but so is moseying along in the left lane. Missouri law prohibits slow driving in the fast lane — though these laws are hard to enforce. You could pay up to $97 in fines and your driving record will take a hit.

Missouri Car Insurance Rates per Vehicle

The type of vehicle you drive impacts the amount you’ll pay for car insurance. Cars that are frequently stolen or flip over easily cost more to insure, as do cars with fewer safety features.

Factor the cost of insurance into your total budget when you buy a new or used car. Pick a different make, switch from a compact car to a truck and make a significant impact on your rate. Some of the most popular vehicles in Missouri include the Ford F-150 pickup truck, Chevrolet Impala and Honda Accord.

There are more trucks registered in Missouri than any other type of vehicle — over 1.1 million more compared to cars. Trucks cost more to insure because they cost more to repair or replace if you’re in an accident. They can also cause more property damage and inflict more severe injuries during an accident.  

Car Insurance Rates by Insurance Credit Score

Your insurance credit score reflects how well you manage money — and indicates to your car insurance company whether you’re more likely to make your payments. A lower score might indicate that you’ve made some late payments or completely missed a payment. 

Expect to pay more for your car insurance if you have poorer scores and learn more about how to raise your credit score. Check out the chart for an idea of how much you’ll pay based on your credit score:

Credit ScoreCheapest ProviderRate for State Minimum Coverage
Poor 300–579American Family$2,140
Fair 580–669American Family$1,607
Good 670–739Travelers$1,447
Excellent 740+State Farm$948

Insurance for Drivers with a Clean Record

A clean driving record tells insurers that you’re less likely to get in an accident and cost them money for repairs, medical bills or other expenses. 

Standard coverage is the amount you’ll pay to meet the basic requirements of Missouri state law to legally drive a motorized vehicle. Average coverage protects you more and typically follows the 100/300/100 standard. These numbers mean that the policy covers $100,000 of bodily injury caused to someone else, $300,000 toward injuries for everyone involved in an accident and $100,000 for damaged property. 

Full coverage will have the state-required liability or no-fault coverage minimums, which pay for property damage and bodily injury to others in an accident you cause. The next piece of a full coverage policy — collision — covers your vehicle if it’s in an accident. Finally, comprehensive coverage pays for theft, vandalism or other damage. 

Insurance CompanyState Minimum InsuranceStandard CoverageFull Coverage
Travelers$1,030$1,152$1,944
State Farm$999$1,652$2,268
American Family$749$1,637$2,452
USAA$1,161$1,645$1,857
Farmers Insurance$1,118$1,642$2,549

Insurance Rates with Driving Infractions

Common driving infractions like tickets or running a red light will go on your record but will impact your rates differently. Insurers view a DUI more seriously and will raise your premiums. 

Have your premiums become too expensive? Read our tips on how to lower your car insurance.

Insurance CompanyAt-Fault Accident Speed Violation DUI
American Family$3,042$1,462$5,372
State Farm$2,835$1,648$5,435
Travelers$2,060$1,627$6,539
USAA$2,121$1,676$4,338
Progressive$3,118$1,709$6,195

Best Car Insurance Providers in Missouri

Know what you’re looking for in an insurer? These are the best car insurance providers in Missouri.

1. American Family: Best Overall

American Family Insurance has some of the lowest prices for drivers with poor to fair credit and few blemishes on their driving record. It’s a great pick if you haven’t always been the best driver. American Family offers a decent selection of coverage as well as bonus accident forgiveness.

American Family
Best For
  • Blanket Coverage

American Family policy discounts help lower premiums — the insurance provider is a good pick if you’re looking for cheap car insurance. You can get discounts for anti-theft devices, defensive driving courses, safety devices and for your longevity with the company.

American Family’s KnowYourDrive program allows American Family to track your driving and you’ll get an automatic 5% discount after you enroll and install an AmFam adaptor in your car. Your discount could jump to 40% after it tracks your driving behavior. 

American Family has achieved an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and has a strong presence in Missouri.  

2. Travelers: Cheapest Car Insurance in Missouri

Travelers charges the lowest rates for the state’s minimum coverage — you’ll hit the jackpot if you’re looking for the cheapest car insurance in Missouri.

Travelers
Best For
  • Claims free policyholders

Travelers gives drivers many of the same discounts as American Family — plus a few more. For example, if you bundle homeowners and car insurance, you can receive 5% off your premiums. If you pay your policy in full, you could get 7.5% off the total. New customers who get quotes before their old policy expires may qualify for a 3-10% discount if they choose Travelers. 

You can also track your driving habits through Travelers. The company will take a look at your average speed and braking habits, among other things.

3. State Farm: Best Coverage for Multiple Cars

Over 82% of people in Missouri commute to work and don’t carpool. State Farm offers multi-car and multi-policy discounts, but we choose it for the best coverage for multiple cars for another reason — teenage drivers.

State Farm
Best For
  • Rideshare drivers

Often, parents see their car insurance rates soar as soon as their teen becomes a driver. State Farm works to reduce the burden of having a teenage driver and his or her car on your policy.

Drivers under age 25 who’ve had no at-fault accidents or moving violations within the past 3 years qualify for State Farm’s Steer Clear program — and can save 15%. Students with good grades can also save money, and if your child goes away to college and leaves his or her car behind, State Farm will reduce your premiums.

4. USAA: Best for Military Personnel

USAA offers the best value if you’re a current or former service member, veteran or close relative of one. A 1-year policy can be as low as $949 per year. USAA’s auto insurance policies cover comprehensive and collision, personal injury and underinsured and uninsured motorist protection.

USAA
Best For
  • Active military members

You’ll also find the following discounts: accident forgiveness, multi-policy discount, defensive driving and safety device discounts.

USAA has nabbed an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and scores top marks in J.D. Power customer satisfaction surveys.

Consider More than Price

A cheap car insurance Missouri policy often means that you have a high deductible and lower limits on what the company will cover. Cheap coverage could end up costing you a lot if you get into an accident. Ask yourself if you could really cover the deductible amount if you’re in an accident.

A cheap auto insurance policy could cost you much more — from car repairs to medical bills — if it doesn’t cover enough of the costs associated with an accident. Take everything into account when you purchase car insurance. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q

How much is my car insured for?

A

With a standard auto insurance policy, your vehicle is insured using actual cash value, which means that a deduction may be taken for depreciation based on age or usage. As your vehicle ages, it’s worth less money which reduces the insurable value. If you own a collectible or classic car, you’ll want to consider a specialized classic car insurance policy that insures your vehicle to its full value without a deduction for depreciation.

Q

What is usage-based auto insurance?

A

Usage-based insurance covers a broad range of situations ranging from devices that monitor driving habits and offer a discount based on safe driving to streamlined policies that provide coverage based on actual use. The former is still more common and many insurers now offer a smart device or mobile app that monitors speed, hard braking events, sudden swerves, miles driven, and the time of day you drive. By demonstrating safe driving habits, you can often earn a sizeable discount.

Q

Does auto insurance cover business use?

A

In most cases, the business use of your vehicle is not covered by your auto insurance policy and can lead to denied claims. However, where you’re most likely risk losing coverage is when you are transporting products or passengers, which insurers define as livery. If your job requires traveling from point A to point B or C to visit customers, attend conferences, or perform other tasks, your personal auto insurance is likely to provide coverage. Get a customized quote now for the best deal.

*Quotes were obtained using the following profile: base 2015 Toyota Camry, male, 40-years-old. Policies reflect state minimum coverage options. We make every effort to provide the most accurate quotes based on the profile above. Due to the many combined variables involved in insurance quotes, the only way to get an accurate quote is to enter your own information through our partners' secure websites.