Penalties for Driving without Insurance in Missouri
Depending on the circumstance, you could incur serious penalties if you’re caught driving without the required insurance in Missouri. You could lose your driving privileges for an entire year and be forced to pay a $400 reinstatement fee, on top of a $500 fine and/or 15 days in jail. In addition, “no insurance” tickets can never be removed from your record in Missouri.
| Types of Penalties | First Offense | Second Offense | Third & Subsequent Offense |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine | N/A | Not to exceed $500 | Not to exceed $500 |
| Driving Privilege | Driver's license, registration and license plates suspended until adequate insurance is obtained | Driver's license, registration and license plates suspended for 90 days | Driver's license, registration and license plates suspended for one year |
| Reinstatement Requirements | $20 fee | $200 fee | $400 fee |
| Driving Record | 4 points | 4 points | 4 points |
| Community Service and/or Imprisonment | N/A | Up to 15 days in jail | Up to 15 days in jail |
Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in Missouri
The Missouri Department of Insurance requires all drivers to carry and verify proof of financial responsibility when requested. If you fail to provide proof, even if the car is insured, you will receive a ticket of “no insurance.” If you can prove you had proper coverage at the time of the citation on or before the court appearance, most courts will dismiss your “no insurance” traffic ticket before putting that onto your record. To regain your driving privileges you’ll need to pay reinstatement fees ranging from $20-$400, depending on the offense, and show proof of proper insurance with your insurance ID card or a policy. The exact penalties vary by the number of previous violation you have on record, detailed as followed:
Penalties for 1st Offense
If you fail to present valid proof of active insurance when requested by law enforcement, such as at traffic stops or at the scene of an accident, you’re charged with a class D misdemeanor in Missouri. For the 1st offense, your driver’s license, registration and license plates are suspended just until you prove you’ve obtained insurance. In order to regain driving privileges, you’ll pay a $20 fee.
Penalties for 2nd Offense
If the 2nd offense occurs within two years of a previous violation, you're suspended from driving for 90 days. You’ll have to provide proof of insurance and pay a $200 reinstatement fee to get them back. A second conviction of driving without insurance is also punishable by jail time of 15 days and/or a fine not to exceed $500.
Penalties for 3rd and Subsequent Offenses
If the 3rd offense occurs within two years of a previous violation, your driver’s license, registration and license plates are now suspended for one year and the reinstatement fee jumps to $400 to get them back. You face the possibility of another 15 days in jail and/or a fine not to exceed $500.
Reducing or Eliminating the Fine
Again, if you were actually insured at the time of citation, but just did not have the proof with you, you can appeal to reduce or eliminate the fine. Just provide proof of insurance to the court clerk prior to a potential court date, and your ticket can be dismissed in the Show Me State. However, you will still need to pay a small court administration fee, which ranges from $25-$75. In some cases, if your car was not insured and you were ticketed for “No Proof of Insurance,” you can provide proof that you purchased insurance after the traffic stop and your ticket could be reduced to a lesser charge.
Missouri Points System
Every conviction of driving uninsured will add four points onto your driving record. If you accumulate 12 points in 12 months, your license can be revoked for one year. In Missouri, if you accumulate eight points within 18 months, your driver’s license can be suspended for 30 days, assuming this is your first suspension. The suspension increases to 60 days if it’s your second, and 90 days for every subsequent suspension.
Penalties for Driving Without Insurance In An Accident
If you have been involved in an accident and have not maintained the proper amounts of liability insurance, you’ll be mailed a Notice of Suspension. The same fees and suspension length (see above) apply to owners convicted of driving without insurance who are also involved in an accident. In addition, if you are found to also be at fault for the accident and you do not pay for the damages, you face losing your driving privileges for a year until you pay a $20 reinstatement fee and provide the Driver License Bureau with proof that the accident damages have been settled. To reinstate, you will be required to file an SR-22 certificate for three years after reinstatement. You must ask your Missouri auto insurance provider to file the SR-22 for you.
Sources:
Missouri Department of Revenue: insurance information
Missouri Revised Statutes: penalties for failure to maintain insurance