Navigating Insurance

In Missouri, it’s required for vehicle owners and drivers to have liability and uninsured motorists coverage. Liability coverage covers any accidents or damage that is caused by you, whereas uninsured motorist covers injuries to you and your passengers done by another driver. The minimum amounts you can choose when you shop for liability coverage are 25/50/10, or $25,000 for bodily injury for each person, $50,000 for bodily injuries for each accident, and $10,000 for property damage for each accident — liability does not cover damage done to your own vehicle. For uninsured motorist coverage, the minimum amounts are $25,000 for bodily injuries per person and $50,000 for bodily injuries per accident. These minimum amounts cause your insurance to be cheaper, but that isn’t always a good thing. Paying more for coverage will help minimize the amount you’ll have to pay out-of-pocket in the event of an accident.

You can customize your insurance policies to cover whatever you’d like. Here are some common types of optional coverages you can add to your policies. Collision coverage will help you in the event that you hit an inanimate object, like a tree. Comprehensive covers damage done to your vehicle caused by theft, nature, and natural disasters, like fire.

Not every driver will have the same insurance policies as you. Adding an underinsured motorist coverage to your policy will help provide you with protection when the other driver doesn’t have enough insurance.

Roadside assistance is another optional and helpful type of coverage you can add to your policy. If your car breaks down on the side of the road, or if you get a flat tire, roadside assistance will come to wherever you are and get you back on the road in no time.

Your insurance policies can be customized to your needs, but remember: the more coverage you have, the more protected you’ll be in any situation.