Missouri Motor Vehicle Law and Commercial Policies (Missouri Pertinent to Casualty I and II)

Outline reference: "Missouri Statutes, Rules, and Regulations Pertinent to Casualty": I. Motor Vehicle Insurance (20 CSR 500-2.100): A. Missouri Automobile Insurance Plan (RSMo 303.200); B. Financial responsibility (RSMo 303.010-.025, 303.044, 303.160; forms SR22, SR26), with 1. Transportation network companies (RSMo 379.1702); C. Uninsured motorist/underinsured (RSMo 303.030, 379.203); D. Cancellation/nonrenewal (RSMo 379.110-.114; 20 CSR 500-2.300); E. Peer-to-peer car sharing (RSMo 379.1900-.1970). II. Commercial Policies (RSMo 379.882-.886). Casualty items III (claim settlement) are in Chapter 10 and IV and V (workers' compensation, medical malpractice) in Chapter 13. The Casualty block is printed at 10 scored items.

Missouri automobile law is split between two agencies and two statutory chapters. Chapter 303 (the Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Law) is administered mostly by the Director of Revenue, who registers vehicles and suspends licenses. Chapters 379 and 375 and the rules in 20 CSR 500-2 are administered by the Director of the Department of Commerce and Insurance. Many wrong answers come from mixing up who the "director" is: in chapter 303 the definition is "director of revenue" (RSMo 303.020(2)), while in RSMo 379.110-.120 and in the Casualty rules it is the insurance director. SR-22 and SR-26 forms are filed with the director of revenue, not with the insurance department.

Statutes and rules were read on October 15, 2026 (revisor.mo.gov; sos.mo.gov). This is an independent study guide, not an approved course.

12.1 The Missouri Automobile Insurance Plan, RSMo 303.200 (Outline I.A)

The insurance director, after consulting insurers actively writing motor vehicle liability policies, shall approve a reasonable plan to provide policies for applicants "who are in good faith entitled to but are unable to procure such policies through ordinary methods". It is the "Missouri Automobile Insurance Plan" (AIP). Once a plan is approved, all such insurers must subscribe and participate. (RSMo 303.200(1), effective 2020)

• Appeals. An applicant, insured or affected insurer may appeal any ruling of the plan to the director. A person aggrieved by the director's order may, within ten days after notice, petition the circuit court of Cole County, which hears the petition summarily.
• Operation. The plan runs under a plan of operation through a governing committee; the plan and every amendment must be approved by the director before taking effect. The plan of operation may provide for administration by a third-party administrator, a nationally recognized residual-market management organization (with director approval) or an insurer with a certificate of authority.
• Forms and rates. Every form, endorsement, manual, rule, rate and rating plan must be approved by the director prior to use. Plan policies conform to chapter 303 and the motor vehicle insurance laws unless a law specifically exempts the plan.
• Reports and funding. The plan files audited financial reports for the preceding year by June 30, is subject to examination under RSMo 374.205-.207, and may assess member insurers in proportion to each insurer's share of the voluntary-market premium for the type of policies written under the plan. Members and committee members have no liability for acts in performing their duties.

An AIP policy is not a "policy" for the cancellation statutes in 379.110-.120 (RSMo 379.110(3)(a)), and every cancellation, nonrenewal or refusal-to-write notice must say coverage may be available through the AIP (20 CSR 500-2.300(6); RSMo 379.118(1)(4)).

12.2 Financial Responsibility, RSMo 303.010-.025, 303.044, 303.160 (Outline I.B)

The law and its minimum limits

Chapter 303 may be cited as "The Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Law". (RSMo 303.010) "Proof of financial responsibility" is proof of ability to respond in damages for liability, for accidents after the effective date of the proof, arising out of ownership, maintenance or use of a motor vehicle, in the amount of $25,000 for bodily injury to or death of one person in any one accident, $50,000 for bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in any one accident, and $25,000 for injury to or destruction of property of others in any one accident. (RSMo 303.020(10), effective 2021) The same limits appear in 303.190(2)(2) (effective July 1, 2019) and 303.030(5). Missouri's minimum liability limits are 25/50/25; the property damage limit is $25,000, not the $10,000 older sources give. Section 303.190 and related sections apply to policies issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2019. (RSMo 303.022)

The duty to maintain financial responsibility (RSMo 303.025, effective January 1, 2024)

• No owner of a vehicle registered, or required to be registered, in Missouri may operate, register or maintain registration of it, or permit another to operate it, without maintaining financial responsibility; a nonresident must meet the home state's requirement; and a person who drives a vehicle owned by another knowing the owner is uninsured must have coverage for that driving. No violation exists for a vehicle that is inoperable or stored and not in operation.
• It is maintained by the methods in 303.160 or by a conforming motor vehicle liability policy.
• Penalty: a first violation is a class D misdemeanor; a later one may bring up to fifteen days in jail and a fine of $200 to $500; the court notifies the director of revenue and suspends driving privileges, forwards four points, or orders supervision. There is no guilt if the operator shows the court that coverage was in force when the citation was written.
• The insurance identification card (paper or electronic) shows the insurer, named insured, policy number, effective dates, a vehicle description and the statement that it must be carried in the vehicle; it must be shown on a peace officer's demand, and a policy or binder with the same information also suffices. (RSMo 303.024) The owner signs an affidavit of coverage at registration. (RSMo 303.026)

How proof is given (RSMo 303.160)

Proof may be given by filing: (1) a certificate of insurance (303.170, or 303.180 for a nonresident owner whose carrier files a power of attorney and agrees the policy conforms to Missouri law); (2) a bond (303.230); (3) a certificate of deposit of money or securities (303.240); or (4) a certificate of self-insurance (303.220). No vehicle may be registered for a person required to file proof unless proof is furnished for it.

• Bond. A surety company's bond (or one with two individual sureties owning Missouri real estate worth at least twice the bond); cancellable only after ten days' written notice to the director. If a judgment against the principal is unpaid sixty days after it is final, the creditor may sue on the bond.
• Self-insurance. A religious denomination with more than twenty-five members with vehicles that discourages insurance, or a person with more than twenty-five vehicles registered, may obtain a certificate if the director is satisfied of ability to pay judgments. The director may cancel it after at least ten days' notice and a hearing; failure to pay a final judgment within thirty days is a ground.

Forms SR-22 and SR-26 (20 CSR 500-2.300(4)-(5))

The forms are not in the statutes. A person required to furnish proof to the director of revenue files a certificate of insurance under 303.170 or 303.180. Documenting that a certified policy is in force is done by filing a form, typically an SR-22, with the director of revenue. Cancelling or terminating a certified policy is done by filing an SR-26 with the director of revenue.

• The insurer's special charge must be reasonable. It may recover the cost of filing one SR-22 (once during the certified policy including renewals, with a further charge on reinstatement after cancellation for nonpayment), the cost of one SR-26, and the cost of ten days of coverage after notice of cancellation to the director of revenue.
• A certified policy may not be cancelled or terminated until at least ten days after the SR-26 is filed (RSMo 303.210). No SR-26 is needed where one certified policy replaces another with no gap or the period for maintaining proof has expired. A mailed notice is deemed filed three days after mailing if the insurer keeps a mailing record available to the Department; otherwise on the date the Department of Revenue stamps it received.
• After a suspension for failure to maintain insurance, the owner must file proof of insurance for three years (RSMo 303.044); the director shall not require a certificate under 303.170 or 303.180 or other high-risk insurance, except in cases involving an accident where a party was uninsured (303.042(5); 303.044). Reinstatement fees are $20 (no prior violation), $200 and ninety days (one prior violation in two years) and $400 and one year (two or more); false proof brings a one-year suspension and a $150 fee. (303.042)

Security after an accident (RSMo 303.030, effective 2019)

If, within twenty days of a report of an accident causing bodily injury or death or property damage over $500, the director of revenue has no evidence of release, adjudication or an installment agreement, the director sets the security needed and, within ninety days, suspends the license and registrations of each operator and owner involved unless security is deposited, after at least ten days' notice. An owner or operator whose policy covers the accident is exempt; any policy relied on must carry at least 25/50/25.

The motor vehicle liability policy (RSMo 303.190, effective July 1, 2019)

An owner's policy designates the covered vehicles, insures the named insured and anyone using the vehicle with express or implied permission, within the United States or Canada, at the limits above, and may exclude use by a household member who is a specifically excluded driver named in the policy. An operator's policy insures the named person while driving vehicles he or she does not own. The policy need not cover workers' compensation liability, injury to the insured's employees in the course of employment (other than domestic), or damage to property owned by, rented to, in charge of or transported by the insured. Provisions that apply even if not written: the insurer's liability becomes absolute when covered injury or damage occurs; satisfaction of a judgment by the insured is not a condition of payment; the insurer may settle in good faith and the payment reduces the limits; the policy, application and endorsements are the entire contract; proration with other insurance and reimbursement by the insured are allowed; the requirement may be met by more than one carrier's policies; and a binder pending a policy fulfills the requirement. (303.190(2)-(11))

The Department's rule 20 CSR 500-2.100 adds that no driver exclusion is acceptable on a private passenger auto policy other than as to the named person, and the endorsement must carry the named insured's signature; no endorsement may restrict coverage solely because of age, residence, race, sex, color, creed, national origin, ancestry or lawful occupation. The rule also requires such policies to be filed; to include the resident spouse and permissive users as insureds; to disclose any excess provision for medical payments; not to exclude factory-installed equipment; to cover at least the United States, its territories and possessions and Canada; to give at least thirty days to report a newly acquired or replacement auto; and to pay total-theft loss of use after a waiting period of not more than forty-eight hours, at not less than $10 a day up to an aggregate of not less than $300. (20 CSR 500-2.100(1)-(4))

12.3 Transportation Network Companies, RSMo 379.1702 (Outline I.B.1)

A transportation network company (TNC) uses a digital network to connect riders to drivers who provide prearranged rides in personal vehicles for compensation; it is not deemed to control the vehicles or drivers unless a written contract says so. A prearranged ride begins when the driver accepts a request, continues while the driver transports the rider, and ends when the last requesting rider departs the vehicle; taxis, other for-hire vehicles and shared-expense carpools are excluded. (RSMo 379.1700) Beginning April 1, 2017, the driver or the TNC on the driver's behalf must maintain primary insurance that recognizes the driver as a TNC driver and covers the driver while logged on or engaged in a prearranged ride. (RSMo 379.1702(1), effective 2016)

The requirement may be met by the driver's insurance, the TNC's, or a combination. If the driver's insurance has lapsed or does not provide the coverage, the TNC's insurance covers from the first dollar and the TNC must defend; if the driver's policy covers but at lower limits, the TNC supplies excess up to the required limits. TNC coverage does not depend on a personal insurer first denying the claim. Satisfying the section is deemed to satisfy chapter 303. The driver must carry proof of coverage at all times and, after an accident, give it to interested parties, insurers and police under 303.024 and say whether he or she was logged on or on a ride. (379.1702(2)-(8))

The TNC must disclose in writing to drivers, before they accept rides, the coverage it provides and that the driver's own policy may not cover them (379.1704), and must give a lienholder warning in the terms of service (379.1706). Personal auto insurers may exclude all coverage while the driver is logged on, providing a prearranged ride, or carrying persons or property for compensation, notwithstanding chapter 303 or 379.203; an insurer that excludes has no duty to defend or indemnify; one that defends an excluded claim has a right of contribution against the insurers providing the 379.1702 coverage; and the TNC and insurers must exchange information, including the times the driver logged on and off in the twelve hours before and after the accident. (379.1708)