Insurance in Missouri: State Rules and Requirements

Insurance in Missouri

The rules that shape car, home and business insurance in Missouri, each linked to its official source, and how to get coverage shopped here. Sam Alishahi holds a Missouri nonresident insurance producer license (#3004487404, NPN 21022298) and places Missouri policies directly.

By Sam Alishahi · Reviewed October 2026

Car insurance in Missouri (25/50/25)

Minimum car insuranceMissouri requires liability coverage of $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident and $25,000 for property damage, plus uninsured motorist coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. PIP is not required, and underinsured motorist coverage is optional. Source
Fault systemMissouri is an at-fault (tort) state: the driver who causes a crash is responsible for the other people's injuries and damage. Source

Business insurance rules in Missouri

Workers’ compensationEmployers with five or more employees must carry workers' compensation, while construction-industry employers must carry it with even one employee. LLC members and corporate officers count toward the total, and Missouri is not a monopolistic state. Source
Contractor licensingMissouri has no statewide general contractor license; cities and counties set their own contractor licensing. The state does offer a statewide electrical contractor license that local governments must accept. Source

Home insurance in Missouri

Home insurer of last resortTornadoes, hail and severe storms are the most frequent threats, and the New Madrid Seismic Zone in southeast Missouri carries serious earthquake risk; earthquake needs separate coverage, often with large percentage deductibles. The FAIR Plan also sells a standalone sinkhole policy. Source

High-value homes in Missouri.

Disasters, floods, hail, tornadoes and earthquakes in Missouri

Missouri disasters, floods, hail, tornadoes and earthquakes, from federal records
Measure	Missouri	Rank among the states	Detail
Federal major disaster declarations since 2000	48	#5 (tied) of 51	Most often for severe storm (38), flood (6), severe ice storm (4). Webster County has been in 22 of them.
National Flood Insurance Program claims, 2005–2025	15,892	#11 of 51	$564.5 million paid; 16% of claims with a known flood zone were outside FEMA’s high-risk zones.
Homes in high-risk flood zones with a federal flood policy	15%	#38 of 50	6,062 policies for 40,151 homes in the counties FEMA can measure; US: 40%.
Hail reports, 2016–2025	3,944	#7 of 51	343 of them 2 inches or larger. Largest stone 5 inches, Cass County, July 2023.
Tornadoes, 2016–2025	510	#10 of 51	64 rated EF2 or stronger; 2,707 recorded since 1950.
Earthquakes of magnitude 4.0+, 2000–2025	1	#28 of 51	Largest: magnitude 4, 7 km S of Williamsville, Missouri, November 18, 2021.

From the public FEMA, NOAA, Storm Prediction Center, USGS and FMCSA records behind each linked report; ranks count all 50 states and Washington, DC unless noted.

Look up the storm history of any county in Missouri.

The property risks that matter in Missouri

Southeast Missouri contains much of the New Madrid Seismic Zone, and the 2011 Joplin tornado remains one of the deadliest in modern U.S. history.

Tornadoes are a regular part of spring in Missouri. Wind is usually covered, but check for a wind/hail deductible, confirm your additional living expense limit, and keep a home inventory off-site.

Hail is one of the most frequent property claims in Missouri. Read how your policy settles roof claims: some pay replacement cost, others pay actual cash value on roofs past a certain age, and cosmetic-damage exclusions are increasingly common. Impact-resistant (Class 4) shingles may earn a discount.

Flooding is the most common U.S. natural disaster, and it is excluded from regular home policies. Missouri residents outside high-risk zones can often buy NFIP or private flood coverage at lower cost; remember the typical 30-day waiting period.

Missouri has meaningful seismic exposure, but earthquake coverage must be added separately. Older unreinforced masonry and homes with raised foundations are most vulnerable; ask about retrofit credits.

Worth knowing in Missouri

Earthquake insurance is a real decision in Missouri: the Department of Commerce and Insurance tracks a sharp drop in the share of homes with earthquake coverage in the high-risk New Madrid area.

What to review each year in Missouri

Compare your auto liability limits with the Missouri minimum of 25/50/25 and with your actual assets.
Confirm whether your wind/hail deductible is a flat amount or a percentage.
Read the roof settlement clause and ask whether Class 4 impact-resistant shingles earn a credit.
Check your address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center and price an NFIP or private flood policy before storm season (NFIP usually has a 30-day wait).
Get an earthquake quote and compare the percentage deductible in dollars.
Keep a current home inventory stored off-site.

Missouri’s insurance regulator

Insurance in Missouri is regulated by the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance, which handles consumer complaints and licenses insurers and agents.

Sam Alishahi holds a Missouri nonresident insurance producer license (#3004487404, NPN 21022298) and places Missouri policies directly.

Common questions

What is the minimum car insurance in Missouri?

Missouri requires liability coverage of $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident and $25,000 for property damage, plus uninsured motorist coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. PIP is not required, and underinsured motorist coverage is optional.

Is Missouri a no-fault state?

Missouri is an at-fault (tort) state: the driver who causes a crash is responsible for the other people's injuries and damage.

Do employers in Missouri need workers’ comp?

Employers with five or more employees must carry workers' compensation, while construction-industry employers must carry it with even one employee. LLC members and corporate officers count toward the total, and Missouri is not a monopolistic state.

What can a Missouri homeowner do if no insurer will write the house?

Tornadoes, hail and severe storms are the most frequent threats, and the New Madrid Seismic Zone in southeast Missouri carries serious earthquake risk; earthquake needs separate coverage, often with large percentage deductibles. The FAIR Plan also sells a standalone sinkhole policy.

Are tornadoes covered by homeowners insurance in Missouri?

Yes, as windstorm damage, subject to your deductible, which may be a separate wind/hail deductible.

Will my Missouri policy pay to replace a hail-damaged roof?

It depends on the roof settlement terms. Some policies pay replacement cost; others pay actual cash value on older roofs or exclude cosmetic damage.

More answers: Missouri homeowners insurance guide Missouri renters insurance and security deposit guide Missouri life insurance consumer guide Missouri flood risk and NFIP guide Kansas City home and auto insurance guide St. Louis home and auto insurance guide

Sources

General information as of October 2026, not legal advice; confirm current rules with the agency.

Tell me what you need insured.

Home, car, business, trucks or something harder to place. One request, and I take it from there.

Alishahi Insurance · Saman Alishahi, independent insurance broker, 439 N Canon Dr, Penthouse, Beverly Hills, CA 90210. General information, not a quote or a promise of coverage.

Insurance in Missouri