Auto-Owners wins best overall car insurance in Missouri with a 4.9/5 MoneyGeek score and minimum coverage starting at $34 per month. Travelers wins best for young drivers, seniors and drivers with violations at 4.8/5. Kemper offers the cheapest car insurance in Missouri for drivers with bad credit at $73 per month. Auto-Owners scored a perfect 5/5 on both affordability and customer experience, the only insurer in my analysis to achieve that combination, which means the top pick here has no weakness on either of the two highest-weighted scoring factors.
Best Car Insurance in Missouri for 2026
Updated: April 22, 2026
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Key Takeaways
Auto-Owners leads Missouri with a 4.9/5 MoneyGeek score, earning 5/5 on both affordability and customer experience. Minimum coverage starts at $34 per month.
Travelers wins best for young drivers, seniors, DUI drivers and accident-affected drivers, taking every violation and age-sensitive category, while Auto-Owners holds best overall.
Auto-Owners leads the MoneyGeek score in nine of Missouri's 10 most populous cities. Travelers wins only in Saint Louis, where rates average $90 per month compared to $53 per month in Columbia with Auto-Owners.
HOW I DECIDED ON THE BEST CAR INSURANCE IN MISSOURI
Mark Fitzpatrick, Licensed Insurance Producer
I analyzed quotes from six Missouri insurers across every ZIP code in the state. Missouri requires both uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage, sits in Tornado Alley, operates under an at-fault system and allows credit scoring in rate-setting.
- Affordability is weighted at 60%
- Customer experience accounts for 30%
- Coverage options make up the remaining 10%
Best Car Insurance Companies in Missouri
| Auto Owners | 4.86 | $58 | 5 | 4 |
| Travelers | 4.82 | $61 | 5 | 4 |
| Progressive | 4.61 | $82 | 5 | 5 |
| Geico | 4.6 | $63 | 4 | 3 |
| Farm Bureau | 4.54 | $69 | 5 | 3 |
Best Overall
Auto-Owners
Auto-Owners earns the top composite score in my Missouri analysis with a perfect 5/5 on both affordability and customer experience. At $34 per month minimum for a clean-record adult, it has the lowest rate in the state and leads in service quality. Auto-Owners also wins the best score for low-income drivers ($62 per month) and drivers with older vehicles ($25 per month). No other insurer in this analysis is simultaneously the cheapest and the highest-rated for service.
Auto-Owners' customer experience score reflects strong U.S. News rankings, positive Reddit feedback and a local agent model praised for responsive claims handling. Its add-on menu includes diminished value protection, which covers the drop in your car's resale value after a repair. Missouri sits in the severe weather corridor, and spring hail and tornado season generate claims that quickly test insurers' responsiveness. For Missouri drivers seeking the lowest rate and the most reliable claims experience, Auto-Owners is the clear choice.
- Affordability (60%): 5/5
- Customer Experience (30%): 5/5
- Coverage Options (10%): 3.6/5
Don't pick Auto-Owners if you need gap insurance, accident forgiveness or rideshare coverage; its four-add-on menu excludes all three. Travelers' six-add-on menu covers all three at $40 per month minimum, which is $6 more per month for a clean-record adult in Missouri.
Best for Young and Senior Drivers and Those With a Violation
Travelers
Travelers wins the most profile categories in my Missouri analysis outside of the clean-record adult baseline: young drivers ($87 per month minimum and cheapest), seniors ($56 per month), DUI-affected drivers ($55 per month and cheapest), accident-affected drivers ($52 per month and cheapest), speeding ticket holders ($49 per month), new-car drivers ($42 per month and cheapest) and bad-credit best score ($121 per month). That range across violation, age and vehicle profiles shows a pricing structure that stays competitive as risk increases, which is exactly what drivers with a violation record or a financed vehicle need.
Travelers ranks second for customer experience among the Missouri insurers I analyzed, behind only Auto-Owners. It ranked #1 in Insure.com's satisfaction study and earns strong agent reviews across Missouri. Its six add-on menu includes gap insurance, accident forgiveness and rideshare coverage, the three options Auto-Owners doesn't offer. For Missouri drivers with a violation record or a financed vehicle, Travelers is the stronger all-around pick, even at $6 per month more than Auto-Owners for a clean-record driver.
- Affordability (60%): 5/5
- Customer Experience (30%): 4.8/5
- Coverage Options (10%): 4.1/5
Don't pick Travelers if you're a clean-record adult driver whose only goal is the lowest monthly rate. Auto-Owners' $34 per month minimum is $6 cheaper and earns a higher composite score for that profile. For clean-record drivers, Auto-Owners' 5/5 scores in both affordability and customer experience make it the better pick.
Best Cheap for Drivers With Bad Credit
Kemper Insurance
Kemper has the cheapest bad-credit rate in my Missouri analysis at $73 per month, $48 per month below Travelers' $121 for the same profile. That's the largest rate gap between any two winners in this analysis, and it's the full extent of the positive case for Kemper.
I have to be direct about what my research found on Kemper’s service quality: it ranks last or near-last on WalletHub’s insurer ratings, and Reddit reviewers frequently describe their claims experience in strongly negative terms. Consumer feedback across multiple platforms flags claims delays, disputes and difficulty reaching responsive support. Kemper’s one-add-on menu covers roadside assistance only. For a bad-credit driver in Missouri who can manage even a modest rate increase, Travelers’ $121 per month bad-credit rate comes with meaningfully stronger service backing. Auto-Owners’ overall service standing is the best in the state. Kemper is a last-resort rate choice, not a recommendation.
- Affordability: N/A
- Customer Experience: N/A
- Coverage Options: 0.6/5
Don’t pick Kemper unless rate is the only variable that matters. Travelers’ bad-credit rate of $121 per month is $48 more but comes with a claims experience that won’t add stress to an already difficult situation. If your budget allows any flexibility, Travelers or Auto-Owners are the right calls.
WHAT IS MY VERDICT?
For most Missouri drivers, I'd recommend Auto-Owners: a 4.9/5 MoneyGeek score with a double-perfect score on affordability and customer experience is the strongest combination I found in this state, and $34 per month minimum coverage makes it the most affordable choice among the top-ranked options. Travelers is the right call for young drivers, senior drivers and anyone with a DUI, accident or speeding ticket; it sweeps those categories while remaining extremely close to Auto-Owners in quality. Kemper is worth checking for drivers with bad credit only: its $73 per month is about 40% less than Travelers' rate for that profile, but the one add-on coverage menu means you're trading almost all coverage flexibility for the rate savings.
Best Car Insurance in Missouri by Driver Profile
Auto-Owners wins for adult drivers, older vehicles and low-income drivers; Travelers takes every violation and age-sensitive profile. Missouri requires both uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage, so every minimum policy provides more protection than in states that require only liability coverage. Missouri permits credit scoring in rate-setting, meaning bad credit directly affects your premium. Kemper wins the cheapest bad-credit coverage at $73/month, but doesn't appear in my full top-five ranking.
Driver Profile | Best Provider | Average Monthly Minimum Coverage | Average Monthly Full Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
Adult drivers (26 to 64), clean record | Auto-Owners | $34 | $79 |
Young drivers (16 to 25) | Travelers | $87 | $182 |
Senior drivers (65+) | Travelers | $56 | $107 |
After an at-fault accident | Travelers | $52 | $105 |
After a speeding ticket | Travelers | $49 | $101 |
After a DUI | Travelers | $55 | $112 |
Bad credit | Kemper | $73 | $221 |
Low income | Auto-Owners | $62 | $125 |
Old cars | Auto-Owners | $25 | $59 |
Missouri requires both UM and UIM coverage, which means every minimum policy in the state includes more protection than in states that require neither. This mandatory coverage contributes to Missouri rates running slightly above neighboring states like Iowa.
Best Car Insurance in Missouri by City
Auto-Owners leads the MoneyGeek score in nine of Missouri's 10 most populous cities. Travelers wins only in Saint Louis, where higher density and claims frequency push rates to $90 per month, compared to $53 per month in Columbia with Auto-Owners. The table covers the 10 most populous cities in Missouri in my analysis.
City | Best Provider | MoneyGeek Score (/5) | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
Blue Springs | Auto-Owners | 4.86 | $64 |
Columbia | Auto-Owners | 4.86 | $53 |
Independence | Auto-Owners | 4.86 | $64 |
Auto-Owners | 4.86 | $65 | |
Lee's Summit | Auto-Owners | 4.86 | $59 |
O'Fallon | Auto-Owners | 4.86 | $55 |
Saint Louis | Travelers | 4.82 | $90 |
Springfield | Auto-Owners | 4.82 | $64 |
St. Charles | Auto-Owners | 4.86 | $53 |
St. Joseph | Auto-Owners | 4.86 | $54 |
Rates in Missouri vary by ZIP code. Saint Louis metro ZIP codes can differ by $15 to $25 per month, depending on local theft rates and traffic density.
How to Find the Best Car Insurance in Missouri
Missouri requires more coverage than most drivers expect: standard liability plus both UM and UIM coverage. The gap between Auto-Owners at $34 per month and Progressive at $61 per month for minimum coverage adds up to $324 a year.
- 1
Know Missouri's minimum coverage requirements
Missouri requires 25/50/25 liability plus both uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage. It's an at-fault state. The UM/UIM requirement protects you when hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver, protection that most states leave optional. Among major insurers, Auto-Owners is the cheapest car insurance in Missouri at $34 per month.
- 2
Factor in tornado and severe weather exposure
Missouri sits in Tornado Alley, so comprehensive coverage matters; it pays for tornado debris, hail and flood damage to your vehicle. Travelers includes new car replacement and gap insurance, both worth considering if you drive a financed or newer vehicle. For homeowners, bundling home and auto in Missouri cuts the average total premium by 10% to 15%.
- 3
Credit affects your Missouri rate
Missouri allows credit scoring in rate-setting, and Kemper's $73 per month minimum for bad credit is the cheapest available, well below Travelers' $121 per month for the same profile. Drivers whose credit has improved recently can find rate options by credit tier in our low-income car insurance in Missouri guide.
- 4
DUI drivers should look at Travelers
Travelers wins on both price and score for car insurance after a DUI in Missouri at $55 per month. SR-22 filing is required after a DUI conviction in Missouri.
- 5
Review coverage when violations clear
Speeding tickets and at-fault accidents usually age off Missouri driving records after three years. DUI convictions stay on record longer and affect rates for up to five years with most insurers. Shopping annually captures the rate drop as each violation clears.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest car insurance in Missouri?
Auto-Owners offers the cheapest minimum coverage in Missouri at $34 per month for a clean-record adult driver. For drivers with bad credit, Kemper is the cheapest at $73 per month. After a DUI, Travelers is both the best and cheapest at $55 per month.
How much is car insurance in Missouri on average?
Missouri rates run above the national average, driven by the required UM and UIM coverage stack, severe weather exposure and Saint Louis metro claims frequency. The state average minimum coverage rate is approximately $97 per month, based on MoneyGeek's analysis of ZIP codes statewide.
What car insurance is required in Missouri?
Missouri requires 25/50/25 liability coverage plus both uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage. Missouri is an at-fault state.
Does Missouri require uninsured motorist coverage?
Yes. Missouri requires both uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage as part of every auto policy. This protects you when an at-fault driver has no insurance or insufficient coverage.
Does Missouri allow insurers to use credit scores?
Yes. Missouri permits auto insurers to use credit scores in rate-setting. Kemper's $73 per month bad-credit minimum is the most competitive rate I found for that profile, well below what most national carriers charge.
Which Missouri insurer has the best customer service?
Auto-Owners ranks first for customer experience with a 5/5 score. Travelers ranks second at 4.8/5. Both are good picks for drivers who prioritize service quality.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut, is MoneyGeek's resident insurance expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for almost a decade, first with LendingTree and now with MoneyGeek, conducting original research on hundreds of insurance companies and millions of insurance rates for insurance shoppers.
He writes about economics and insurance on MoneyGeek, breaking down complex topics so people can have confidence in their purchase. Like all MoneyGeek analysts, Mark collects and analyzes independent cost and consumer experience data on insurance companies to provide objective recommendations in our content that are independent of any of MoneyGeek's insurance company partnerships.
His insights on products ranging from car, home and renters insurance to health and life insurance have been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR, among others.
Mark holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He started his career working in financial risk management at State Street before transitioning to the analysis of the personal insurance market. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!