Montana Auto Insurance Quotes and Coverage Guide

Montana Motor Vehicle Insurance Questions & Answers

Q: Is auto insurance mandatory?

A: In the “Show Me” state of Missouri, whose official state animal is the mule, it’s the law that any person who registers a motor vehicle has liability insurance. You are required to show proof of insurance when registering a motor vehicle or renewing license plates, and you must keep proof of insurance in your vehicle at all times. If a law enforcement officer says, “Show me,” and you cannot show it, the officer will issue you a ticket. The Department of Revenue (DOR) will then be notified that you do NOT have insurance on your vehicle, and you can expect to hear from them shortly. The DOR can also ask you at any time – with or without an officer notifying them – to show proof of insurance if your name shows up in their database as one of those lucky souls who needs to prove they have auto insurance.

Q: What is Missouri’s Insurance Monitoring Program?

A: Since thousands of Missouri citizens are involved in automobile accidents with drivers too stubborn and mule-headed to maintain the required automobile insurance, the Missouri General Assembly passed a law to allow the Driver and Vehicle Services Bureau to randomly select motorists to provide proof of insurance. If your insurance company has not identified your vehicle as being insured for a period of 90 days, you could be picked as the Mule of the Day, in which case you will then receive an Insurance Verification Form that you must complete and return with your proof of insurance or your driver’s license will be suspended.

Q: Is Missouri a "tort" state?

A: Yes. In Missouri, this means you can get your britches sued off if you act mule-headed and don’t get enough insurance to cover you if you hit someone and/or their passengers. You’ll be liable for their pain and suffering, as well as out-of-pocket medical expenses – and even though this is the Show Me state, we really don’t want to see your naked derriere.

Q: What type of insurance is required to purchase and maintain a Missouri tag and registration?

A: Missouri law requires that all auto owners (even the mule-headed ones you have to “show” everything to) carry liability limits of $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 for bodily injury per accident and $10,000 for property damage per accident. The law also requires uninsured motorist coverage of $25,000 for bodily injury per person and $50,000 for bodily injury per accident. You might also want to think about adding optional collision or comprehensive coverage that would repair or replace your auto if it gets stolen or kicked by a mule – or for some of the other less tasteful things a mule can do to your car, which we won’t go into here.

Q: Can I maintain my current policy issued in my previous state of residence?

A: No. If your vehicle is registered in Missouri then you must have an insurance policy that is issued through an insurance company licensed to sell in Missouri -- and if you just have to have that shown to you, you can check it out at http://www.dor.mo.gov/mvdl/drivers/insurinfo.htm.

Q: What if I fail to keep insurance on my vehicle that I’ve registered in Missouri?

A: If your driving privilege and/or license plates are suspended for not having insurance, then you’re more mule-headed than everybody guessed – or maybe just a garden-variety goofball – because the following suspension periods will apply:

-- First suspension: 0 days
-- Second suspension in two years: 90 days
-- Third and subsequent suspension(s): 1 year

After you serve the period of suspension, your driver license and/or license plates can be reinstated if the Driver and Vehicle Services Bureau receives the following:

First suspension:
-- Proof of insurance
-- $20 reinstatement fee

Second suspension:
-- Proof of insurance
-- $200 reinstatement fee

Third and subsequent suspension(s):
-- Proof of insurance
-- $400 reinstatement fee

Proof of insurance must be maintained and filed with the Department of Revenue for a period of three years following the end of the suspension. If you fail to maintain proof of insurance, the Driver and Vehicle Services Bureau will again suspend your driver license and/or license plates. The suspension will remain in effect for the remainder of the three years unless you re-file proof of insurance. At this point, you may be determined to be stubborn beyond redemption and just be put out in the barn with Jenny the Mule. And if you’re that mule-headed, hopefully you can’t reproduce, either.

Q. What is an SR-22 insurance filing?

A: An SR-22 is a form providing proof of insurance from your insurance company. This is what it’s come to for the likes of you with the big ears. Required by the Driver and Vehicle Services Bureau, you have to fill this out and send it to them, with proof of insurance provided, for failing to pay for the damages in an auto accident that was rendered to be your fault. And THAT happened because you didn’t have the insurance you were supposed to have. So off to the barn with you – you can tell Jenny all about it.