Updated June 2026
What Is Non-Standard Auto Insurance?
Non-standard auto insurance is what carriers sell to drivers they won't insure under standard rates — typically after DUI, suspension, excessive points, or lapsed coverage. Missouri doesn't define non-standard as a separate coverage type; it's a pricing and underwriting tier carriers use internally. You get the same liability, collision, and comprehensive options as standard policies, but at significantly higher premiums because the carrier calculates your risk of a claim as statistically elevated. If you need SR-22 filing to reinstate your Missouri license, you're automatically routed to non-standard carriers regardless of your driving history before the violation.
- You're reinstating after a Missouri DUI suspension. You own a 2018 sedan. The state requires SR-22 filing and liability coverage at minimum. A non-standard carrier quotes you $210/month for 50/100/25 liability, comprehensive, and collision with a $1,000 deductible. The SR-22 filing itself costs $15-$25 one-time. You're locked into this rate tier for at least two years while the SR-22 stays on file. After the SR-22 period ends, you can shop standard carriers if no new violations occur.
- Your Missouri license is suspended for unpaid tickets and you don't own a car, but you need insurance to satisfy reinstatement. A non-standard carrier offers a non-owner liability policy at $95/month with SR-22 filing included. This covers you when driving someone else's vehicle but doesn't cover the vehicle itself. Missouri accepts non-owner SR-22 policies for reinstatement. Once your suspension ends and you buy a vehicle, you'll need to convert to a standard policy with comprehensive and collision if you finance the car.
- You completed your Missouri SR-22 requirement two years ago. Your license is valid. You apply to three standard carriers and all three decline or quote you triple the rate you expected because the DUI is still on your record for five years from the conviction date. You're still in the non-standard tier even without an active SR-22. After the DUI drops off your Missouri driving record, standard carriers will reconsider you at normal rates. Until then, non-standard is the only market willing to write the policy.
Who Needs Non-Standard Auto Insurance?
You need non-standard coverage if Missouri suspended your license and requires SR-22 to reinstate, if you received a DUI or DWI conviction in the past five years, or if standard carriers declined to insure you after running your driving record. Non-standard is also the only option if you accumulated excessive points, had multiple at-fault accidents in three years, or let your previous policy lapse before a suspension. It's not optional — if standard carriers won't write the policy, non-standard is the only path to legal reinstatement and driving privileges.
If Missouri sent you a notice requiring SR-22 or if the DMV rejected your reinstatement application for lack of insurance, buy non-standard coverage now. If you're uncertain whether your suspension requires SR-22, call the Missouri Department of Revenue Driver License Bureau at 573-751-4600 and ask what your specific reinstatement requirements are. Non-standard policies cost 2-4x standard rates, so don't buy until you confirm it's required. Once confirmed, shop at least three non-standard carriers — rates vary by 30-50% between carriers for identical coverage.
How Much Does Non-Standard Auto Insurance Cost?
Non-standard auto premiums in Missouri run $180-$320/month for liability-only coverage, $250-$450/month with comprehensive and collision. Annual cost: $2,160-$5,400 depending on violation type, county, and coverage selections.
- DUI or DWI conviction in Missouri triggers automatic non-standard classification for 3-5 years regardless of other factors.
- SR-22 filing requirement adds $15-$25 one-time filing fee plus the non-standard rate multiplier for the entire 2-year filing period.
- County matters — St. Louis and Kansas City non-standard rates run 15-25% higher than rural Missouri counties due to claim frequency.
- Lapse in coverage before suspension pushes you into the highest non-standard tier; continuous coverage before the violation keeps you in mid-tier pricing.
- Age and gender still apply — male drivers under 25 with DUI pay the highest non-standard rates, often $400-$500/month for full coverage.
- Number of violations compounds — one DUI places you in non-standard, but DUI plus reckless driving or DUI plus prior suspension doubles the rate again.