Does Missouri require uninsured-motorist coverage?
Yes. RSMo § 379.203 requires UM bodily-injury protection in Missouri automobile liability policies, subject to the statute and policy terms.
Insurance coverage
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Claims
Your own policy may provide important protection when the responsible driver lacks adequate coverage. These claims still require careful notice, proof, and policy review.
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This guide provides general Missouri information. It cannot determine fault, coverage, deadlines, or value without the facts and applicable policies.
Uninsured and underinsured coverage are not the same
Uninsured-motorist coverage addresses bodily injury caused by a driver with no applicable liability insurance and can include qualifying hit-and-run events. Missouri requires UM bodily-injury coverage in automobile liability policies under RSMo § 379.203.
Underinsured-motorist coverage applies when the responsible driver has insurance but not enough to cover the loss. Missouri does not require UIM in the same way it requires UM; the existence, limits, offsets, and procedures depend on the policy.
Minimum limits can be exhausted quickly
RSMo § 303.030 identifies minimum liability limits of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $25,000 for property damage. A surgery, hospitalization, or injury affecting more than one person can exceed those limits.
The coverage investigation should identify the at-fault policy, your policy, household policies, employer coverage, umbrellas, and every vehicle potentially connected to the loss.
Stacking requires the actual policy language
“Stacking” means combining limits from more than one coverage, vehicle, or policy. Missouri decisions distinguish between coverage types and policy language. Do not assume that coverage can—or cannot—be stacked from the declarations page alone.
A complete policy, endorsements, rejection forms, and the household and vehicle facts are needed for a reliable review.
Protect policy notice and consent requirements
UM and UIM claims are made under an insurance contract. Policies may require prompt notice, cooperation, proof of loss, medical documentation, or consent before settling with the at-fault driver. Missing a condition can create an avoidable coverage fight.
Before accepting liability limits or signing a release, identify any UIM carrier and determine what the policy requires.
Your own insurer may still dispute the claim
A first-party carrier may contest fault, causation, damages, whether a vehicle was uninsured, policy status, exclusions, offsets, or compliance with conditions. The claim should be documented as carefully as a claim against the other driver.
Missouri law provides remedies in some cases when an insurer refuses a covered loss without reasonable cause or excuse, but whether those remedies apply depends on the policy, coverage type, and facts.
Common questions
Answers for a better starting point
Does Missouri require underinsured-motorist coverage?
No. UIM is not mandated in the same way as UM. Check the declarations, policy, endorsements, and any offer or rejection documents.
Is a hit-and-run treated as uninsured?
RSMo § 379.203 includes qualifying claims when the owner or operator and vehicle leave before identification, even without physical contact, subject to proof and policy conditions.
Can I stack UM or UIM coverage?
Sometimes, but stacking is policy- and coverage-specific. The full policy and applicable Missouri decisions must be reviewed.
Should I settle with the at-fault carrier first?
Not before checking UIM notice and consent requirements. A release can affect additional coverage.
What if my own insurer denies the claim?
Ask for the coverage position and policy basis in writing, preserve all communications, and have the complete policy and facts reviewed.
Missouri legal sources
Statutes can change and case law affects how they apply. These links are starting points, not a substitute for a case-specific review.
