Car Insurance After a Hit and Run Conviction in Missouri

A hit and run conviction in Missouri — whether leaving the scene of a property damage accident or injury accident — adds 12 points to your driving record under Missouri's point system. The Department of Revenue suspends your license immediately for one year if convicted of leaving the scene of an injury accident, or revokes it for accumulating 12 points in 12 months. You cannot reinstate until you file SR-22 insurance with the state. Missouri law classifies leaving the scene as both a criminal traffic offense and a major violation requiring financial responsibility proof. This means you face two separate consequences: criminal penalties through the courts and administrative actions through the Department of Revenue. Your insurance company will almost certainly non-renew your policy at the next renewal after the conviction appears on your motor vehicle record, typically within 30–90 days of disposition. The SR-22 filing requirement begins once the Department of Revenue processes your conviction and issues a suspension or revocation notice. If you were convicted of hit and run involving injury or death, you must maintain SR-22 for two years from the date of reinstatement, not from the conviction date. If your license was suspended for point accumulation that included the hit and run, the SR-22 period still runs two years, but the point total may extend your overall suspension depending on your total violation history. Most carriers in Missouri's standard market will not write new policies for drivers with hit and run convictions. You'll need to work with non-standard or high-risk carriers who specialize in SR-22 filings and major violations. The reinstatement process requires paying all applicable fees, completing the suspension or revocation period, filing SR-22, and providing proof of financial responsibility before the Department of Revenue will restore driving privileges. Missouri SR-22 requirements non-standard auto insurance

Drivers with hit and run convictions in Missouri see average rate increases between 80% and 140% compared to their previous premiums, depending on the carrier, whether injury was involved, and their prior driving record. If you were paying $150/month for full coverage before the conviction, expect quotes in the $270–$360/month range after reinstatement with SR-22 filing. The rate increase breaks into two components: the underlying violation surcharge for leaving the scene, and the SR-22 filing surcharge. Missouri SR-22 filings themselves cost $15–$50 as a one-time filing fee paid to your insurer, but the real cost is the premium increase. Carriers price hit and run convictions similarly to DUI in many cases because both indicate high-risk behavior and failure to meet legal obligations at the scene. Carriers that write SR-22 policies in Missouri after hit and run convictions include The General, National General, Progressive's non-standard division, Bristol West, and Acceptance Insurance. Not all non-standard carriers treat hit and run identically — some price it closer to reckless driving, others closer to DUI. This variation creates a shopping opportunity: the difference between the highest and lowest quote for the same driver can exceed $100/month. Your rate will not return to pre-conviction levels until the hit and run conviction ages beyond your carrier's lookback period, typically five years in Missouri for major violations. However, you'll see gradual decreases after year three if you maintain continuous coverage and avoid new violations. The 12 points remain on your Missouri driving record for three years from the conviction date, but the SR-22 requirement and the conviction's impact on rates persist longer.

Missouri requires SR-22 filing for two years after license reinstatement following a hit and run conviction. The filing period does not begin on your conviction date or suspension start date — it begins the day the Department of Revenue reinstates your driving privileges. If you wait six months after eligibility to reinstate, you add six months to your total time without a license, but the SR-22 clock still starts fresh at reinstatement. To reinstate your license after a hit and run suspension or revocation, you must contact a licensed insurance carrier authorized to file SR-22 in Missouri, purchase at minimum a liability policy meeting state requirements ($25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, $25,000 property damage), and have the carrier electronically file Form SR-22 with the Missouri Department of Revenue. The filing transmits within 24 hours in most cases. You must then pay reinstatement fees — typically $20 for a suspension or $45 for a revocation, plus a $20 application fee if your license fully expired. Your SR-22 must remain active and continuous for the entire two-year period. If your policy lapses, cancels, or if you drop coverage for any reason, your insurance carrier is required to file an SR-26 form notifying the Department of Revenue of the lapse. Missouri will suspend your license again immediately, and you'll restart the SR-22 filing period from zero once you reinstate. This means a single missed payment or intentional policy cancellation can add years to your total compliance timeline. Once you complete 24 consecutive months of SR-22 filing without lapse, your carrier will stop filing the form and you can shop for standard coverage if your driving record otherwise qualifies. Missouri does not send a certificate of completion — your responsibility simply ends after two years. You can verify your SR-22 status and end date by contacting the Missouri Department of Revenue Driver License Bureau or checking your online driving record. SR-22 insurance coverage

Standard carriers like State Farm, Allstate, and Farmers generally will not write new policies for drivers with active hit and run convictions in Missouri. If you held a policy with a standard carrier at the time of conviction, they will almost certainly non-renew at your next renewal period rather than offer a renewal quote. This pushes you into Missouri's non-standard insurance market, where fewer carriers compete and rates reflect higher risk. Non-standard carriers operating in Missouri that regularly write SR-22 policies after hit and run include The General, Bristol West, Acceptance Insurance, Freeway Insurance, and National General. Progressive writes some higher-risk drivers through its standard divisions but often refers hit and run cases to Progressive Preferred, their non-standard arm. Each carrier uses proprietary underwriting models, so the same driver with identical violations can receive quotes varying by $1,200–$1,800 annually. Some regional and smaller carriers in Missouri specialize exclusively in high-risk drivers and may offer more competitive rates than national non-standard brands. Examples include Hallmark Insurance and American Advantage, though availability varies by county and underwriting appetite shifts quarterly based on loss ratios. Working with an independent agent who represents multiple non-standard carriers gives you access to more options than calling carriers individually. You must maintain at least Missouri's minimum liability limits to satisfy SR-22 requirements, but many non-standard carriers require you to purchase higher limits or add uninsured motorist coverage as a condition of writing the policy. Expect to be quoted $50,000/$100,000/$50,000 liability as the de facto minimum for non-standard policies, even though state law requires less. Collision and comprehensive coverage will be expensive and may not be cost-effective unless you have a loan or lease requiring it.

Missouri keeps hit and run convictions on your official driving record permanently, but insurance carriers typically only evaluate the most recent three to five years of your record when calculating premiums. Most carriers use a five-year lookback for major violations like hit and run, meaning the conviction stops affecting your rate once it ages past the five-year mark from conviction date. The 12 points assigned to the hit and run conviction remain on your Missouri point record for three years from the date of conviction. After three years, those points drop off automatically and no longer count toward suspension thresholds if you accumulate additional violations. However, the conviction itself remains visible on your record indefinitely, so carriers reviewing your motor vehicle report will still see it even after points expire. Your insurance rates will decrease gradually as the conviction ages, assuming you maintain continuous coverage and avoid new violations. Expect the steepest rate drops between years three and five after conviction. By year five, if your record is otherwise clean, you may qualify for standard market coverage again and see rates approach what you paid before the hit and run. Drivers who add new violations during the SR-22 period or allow coverage to lapse will see slower rate recovery and may remain in the non-standard market longer. Once your SR-22 period ends after two years and the conviction reaches the three-year mark, begin shopping aggressively for new coverage. Many drivers stay with their non-standard carrier out of habit, unaware that they now qualify for better rates elsewhere. Transitioning from non-standard back to standard coverage typically saves 30–50% on premiums if your record supports it.

Start the reinstatement process by confirming your eligibility date with the Missouri Department of Revenue. If you were suspended for one year, you must serve the full suspension before applying for reinstatement — Missouri does not offer hardship or work permits for hit and run convictions. Call the Driver License Bureau at 573-751-4600 or check your suspension notice for your earliest reinstatement date. Once eligible, contact non-standard carriers or an independent agent to obtain SR-22 insurance quotes. Purchase a policy meeting Missouri's minimum requirements and ensure the carrier files the SR-22 electronically with the state. Obtain proof of filing from your insurer — most provide a copy of the filed SR-22 form within 24–48 hours. Gather payment for reinstatement fees, which total $40–$65 depending on whether your license was suspended or revoked, and any other penalties noted in your suspension order. Visit a Missouri license office with your SR-22 proof, payment, and identification to complete reinstatement. You may need to retake the written and driving tests if your revocation period exceeded one year or if the Department of Revenue flagged your case for reexamination. The office will process your reinstatement and issue a new license once all requirements are satisfied and fees are paid. Maintaining coverage without lapse is critical for the entire two-year SR-22 period. Set up automatic payments with your insurer to avoid missed payments. If you need to switch carriers during the SR-22 period, ensure the new carrier files SR-22 before you cancel the old policy — even a one-day gap triggers an SR-26 lapse notice and re-suspension. Monitor your policy renewal dates and rate shop annually after year one to ensure you're getting competitive pricing as the conviction ages.