Updated June 2026
What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
Uninsured Motorist Coverage steps in when the at-fault driver has no liability insurance or when a hit-and-run driver can't be identified. It covers your medical expenses, lost wages, and in some states your vehicle damage. The at-fault driver is legally liable, but if they have no insurance and no assets, your own UM coverage becomes the only realistic source of payment. Missouri law allows you to reject UM coverage in writing, but once rejected, you can't add it back mid-policy without reapplying during renewal.
- You're stopped at a red light in Kansas City. A driver rear-ends you at 40 mph. You go to the ER with neck and back injuries. Total medical bills: $18,000. The at-fault driver has no insurance. Your UM coverage with $25,000 per person limits pays the full $18,000. Without UM coverage, you would need to sue the driver personally, and most uninsured drivers have no assets to collect against.
- A vehicle sideswiped you on I-70 and fled before you could get the plate number. You sustained a shoulder injury requiring surgery. Medical bills: $22,000. Lost wages during recovery: $4,500. Your UM coverage pays up to your policy limits because hit-and-run drivers are treated as uninsured under Missouri law. The police report documenting the hit-and-run is required to file the claim.
- Your license is suspended and you're walking to work. A driver runs a stop sign and hits you in a crosswalk. Your injuries require $30,000 in medical treatment. The driver has no insurance. If you maintained UM coverage on a non-owner policy during suspension, your coverage pays. If you canceled all insurance after suspension, you have no coverage and must sue the driver personally, which rarely results in payment.
Who Needs Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
You need UM coverage if you're maintaining a non-owner policy during license suspension, because you're statistically more likely to be in an accident involving an uninsured driver during the reinstatement period. You need it if you live in St. Louis or Kansas City, where 1 in 7 drivers is uninsured. You need it if you have significant medical expenses that health insurance won't fully cover, because UM pays regardless of your health coverage and covers lost wages that health insurance never pays.
Ask yourself: if an uninsured driver hits me tomorrow and I have $25,000 in medical bills and miss 6 weeks of work, can I afford that out of pocket? If the answer is no, carry UM coverage at least equal to your liability limits. If you're filing SR-22 after a DUI, your risk of being hit by another impaired or uninsured driver is statistically higher than average — UM coverage is not optional in that scenario.
How Much Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance Cost?
UM coverage typically adds $8–$15 per month to a Missouri liability policy, or $95–$180 annually. Non-owner policies with UM coverage for suspended drivers typically cost $40–$65 per month total.
- Your UM coverage limits — Missouri offers $25,000/$50,000 up to $100,000/$300,000, with higher limits costing $3–$8 more per month.
- Your zip code's uninsured driver rate — St. Louis and Kansas City have higher uninsured rates and slightly higher UM premiums.
- Whether you're filing SR-22 — carriers charge 15–30% more for UM coverage on SR-22 policies because suspended drivers statistically file more UM claims.
- Your claims history — a prior UM claim in the past 3 years increases your cost by 10–20%, even though you weren't at fault.
- Stacking vs non-stacking — Missouri allows you to stack UM limits across multiple vehicles on one policy, which doubles or triples the coverage cost but increases your maximum payout.