It is illegal to drive a motor vehicle in Missouri without automobile liability insurance. The vehicle driver must show proof of insurance to any law enforcement official, upon request, or a traffic ticket will be issued to the driver. If convicted of “failing to show proof of insurance,” one of three things will happen to the driver:
- The court will send the conviction to the Driver and Vehicle Services Bureau and the conviction will be entered on the driver’s driving record. Four points will be assessed against the driver’s driving record. In Mo it only takes a total of eight points within an 18-month period to lose your driving privileges.
- The court may enter an order of supervision. This order is sent to the Driver and Vehicle Services Bureau so that the driver can be monitored to ensure automobile liability insurance is being maintained.
- The court may enter an order suspending the driver’s driver license for failing to show proof of insurance. This order is sent to the Driver and Vehicle Services Bureau at which time the driver is notified of the suspension of his or her driver license.
After the driver serves the required period of suspension, his or her driver license can be reinstated if the Driver and Vehicle Services Bureau receives the following, for a first suspension:
- Proof of insurance
- $20 reinstatement fee
The Missouri Department of Revenue notes that any vehicle driver whose driver license is suspended for failing to show proof of insurance must maintain liability insurance on his or her vehicle for a period of three years following the end of the suspension. The driver must file this proof of insurance with the DOR during this three-year period.
If the driver fails to provide this proof, the Driver and Vehicle Services Bureau will again suspend his or her driver license. The suspension will remain in effect for the remainder of the three years unless the driver refiles the proof of insurance.
The DOR did not state the fine amount that goes with a driving without insurance citation so we looked to Chapter 303 of the Missouri Revised Code (RSMO). Here in section 303.025 it states that no owner of a motor vehicle registered in this state, or required to be registered in this state, shall operate, register or maintain registration of a motor vehicle, or permit another person to operate such vehicle, unless the owner maintains the financial responsibility which conforms to the requirements of the laws of this state.
Furthermore, no person shall operate a motor vehicle owned by another with the knowledge that the owner has not maintained financial responsibility unless such person has financial responsibility which covers the person's operation of the other's vehicle; however, no owner shall be in violation of this subsection if he or she fails to maintain financial responsibility on a motor vehicle which is inoperable or being stored and not in operation. The director may prescribe rules and regulations for the implementation of this section.
Subsection 3 notes that any person who violates this section is guilty of a class C misdemeanor and the driving record of the convicted driver will be assessed four points. A class C misdemeanor in MO has a maximum penalty of up to 15 days in jail and a fine of up to $300. So driving without insurance in MO can get your license suspended, 4 points on your driving record a fine of up to $300 and the possibility of 15 days in jail.
If you were cited for driving without insurance and want to find out how much your fine will be, contact the court listed on your uninsured motorist ticket. To get car insurance on your vehicle to see if this will help your case in court, click here.
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