Car Insurance in Springfield, MO
Experts break down auto insurance costs, coverages, companies, and more in Springfield, MO.
Jeff Green has held a variety of sales and management roles at life insurance companies, Wall street firms, and distribution organizations over his 40-year career. He was previously Finra 7,24,66 registered and held life insurance licenses in multiple states. He is a graduate of Stony Brook University.
If you own a vehicle in Springfield, Missouri, you are required by law to carry car insurance. From fender-benders on Sunshine Street to multivehicle collisions on Interstate 44, a reliable auto insurance policy can shield you from facing large financial losses as a result.
Independent agents make it easy to find the right policy. These agents can obtain customized quotes from some of the best car insurance companies in Springfield. That way, you can be sure you are getting the coverage you want at a great price. Find an independent insurance agent near you to get started.
How Much Does Car Insurance Cost in Springfield, MO?
The average cost of car insurance in Missouri is lower than the national rate. This is great news for Springfield drivers who are looking for an affordable policy.
- National average annual car insurance cost: $1,311
- Missouri average annual car insurance cost: $1,112
Of course, car insurance costs can vary greatly from one driver to the next. This is because rates are based on several factors such as:
- The make, model, year, and value of the vehicle(s) you are insuring
- Whether you own or rent your home
- Your age, occupation, marital status, and driving record
- Details about the other licensed drivers in your household
- The amount of liability coverage you are purchasing
- The coverage options you are including in your policy
- The size of your deductible
If you bundle your car insurance with another policy like homeowners insurance or renters insurance, you can often get significant rate reductions on each of your bundled policies.
You may also qualify for other car insurance discounts like military veteran discounts, safe driver discounts and good student discounts.
Comparing rates from a few competing insurance companies lets you be sure you are getting your coverage at a good price. Independent insurance agents make comparison shopping easy.
What Does Springfield, MO Car Insurance Cover?
Car insurance can protect your finances in several different ways. A good policy can:
- Cover your financial obligations to other people if you are at fault for an accident
- Cover your own property damage and injuries if you are in an accident
- Cover repair or replacement cost if your vehicle is damaged in other ways such as if a tree falls on it or it is washed away in a flood
You can build a policy that not only meets the state’s minimum coverage requirements but provides the protection you and your family need to prevent large financial losses.
What Are the Car Insurance Requirements in Springfield, MO?
In the state of Missouri, all vehicle owners are required to have a car insurance policy that includes liability coverage and uninsured motorist coverage.
- Liability insurance: This covers injuries and property damage that you may cause to other people if you are at fault for a collision. Your policy must meet or exceed the following coverage amounts:
- Bodily injury liability insurance per person: $25,000
- Bodily injury liability insurance per accident: $50,000
- Property damage liability insurance per accident: $25,000
- Uninsured motorist insurance (UIM): This covers the treatment of injuries sustained by you and your passengers if you are in a collision caused by an uninsured driver. Your policy must meet or exceed the following coverage amounts.
- UIM bodily injury insurance per person: $25,000
- UIM bodily injury insurance per accident: $50,000
- UIM property damage insurance: N/A This coverage is not available in Missouri. You can instead use collision insurance.
However much bodily injury liability insurance you carry, you must have an equal amount of uninsured motorist bodily injury insurance.
If you want to have even more liability coverage than your car insurance company can provide, you may want to consider also purchasing umbrella insurance. This is an affordable way to boost all of your personal liability coverage.
In addition to the minimum coverage required by law, you may have additional requirements if you are leasing or financing your car. In these cases, dealerships and lenders will typically require you to carry full coverage. Full coverage includes:
- Collision insurance: This can pay to repair or replace your vehicle if it is damaged or totaled in a collision, regardless of fault.
- Comprehensive insurance: This can pay to repair or replace your vehicle if it is damaged or totaled in a non-collision event.
Once you own your car outright, full coverage becomes optional.
What Coverage Options Are Available to Add to My Springfield, MO Car Insurance Policy?
Adding optional coverage to your car insurance policy may be a good idea depending on your particular circumstances. Some commonly available coverage options include:
- Medical payments insurance: This can help to cover the cost of medical treatments for you and your passengers if you are injured in a collision, regardless of fault.
- Gap insurance: This can pay off your car loan if your vehicle is totaled but you owe more for it than it is worth. Gap insurance is often a good idea during the first couple of years of new-vehicle ownership when depreciation is fastest.
- Towing and roadside assistance insurance: This covers the cost of assistance if your vehicle becomes disabled while you are out on the road and you need to call for help.
- Rental reimbursement insurance: This can pay for the cost of renting a vehicle while repairs are being made to your own car following a covered event.
Take the time to review all of the coverage options offered to you so you can determine which, if any, are a good fit for you and your family.
What Is the Penalty for Driving without Insurance in Springfield, Missouri?
Driving without insurance is illegal in Missouri. If caught doing so, you can face consequences that include:
- The suspension of your driver’s license and plates for up to one year
- Reinstatement fees of $20 to $400 to get your driving privileges back
- The requirement to maintain an SR-22 filing with the Department of Revenue for three years
- Higher car insurance rates
Even so, around one in seven drivers in this state is operating an uninsured vehicle. This is why uninsured motorist insurance, which is a mandatory part of your car insurance, is so important.
- Percentage of US drivers who are uninsured: 13%
- Percentage of Missouri drivers who are uninsured: 14%
If you or your passengers are injured in a collision caused by an uninsured driver, uninsured motorist insurance can cover your medical bills. This shields you from the need to go through lengthy legal channels to collect what is owed to you by the at-fault driver.
Does Springfield, MO Car Insurance Cover against Vehicle Thefts?
The auto theft rate in Missouri is higher than the national average, and in Springfield, the rate is farily high. Residents of this city report around 1,500 auto thefts a year.
- National auto theft rate per 1,000 people: 2.29
- Missouri auto theft rate per 1,000 people: 3.23
- Springfield auto theft rate per 1,000 people: 9.95
As a vehicle owner in this city, it is important to know that you can only be compensated for a stolen car if your auto insurance policy includes comprehensive, or “other than collision,” insurance.
Comprehensive insurance covers far more than just theft. It can also reimburse you for loss and damage to your car due to a variety of other non-collision hazards, such as if your car is damaged by hail or a tornado.
What Are the Best Car Insurance Companies in Springfield, MO?
When it comes to car insurance, there is no particular company that is the best for everyone. While a retiree with a long, clean, driving record may find the best policy and rate with one company, a single parent with two teen drivers in the household may find a different company to be the ideal choice.
Independent insurance agents understand this. That is why they work with a variety of the best insurance companies in Missouri that have a solid history of reliability and good coverage. By comparing rates from each, you can determine which company is the best for you and your family.
Why Work with an Independent Insurance Agent in Springfield, Missouri?
When you are shopping for car insurance, local independent agents can offer guidance and advice. These agents are available to answer your insurance-related questions and can provide you with a selection of customized policies and quotes that you can review together.
Arrange an obligation-free consultation with an independent insurance agent near you to get started.
http://www.city-data.com/city/Springfield-Missouri.html
https://dor.mo.gov/driver-license/insurance/
https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-auto-insurance
https://insurance.mo.gov/consumers/auto/autobuy/liability.php