Auto · Originally published August 14, 2015 · Updated November 2026
Auto insurance usually goes wrong in quiet ways. A missed payment, a roommate who borrows the car, a side job that seemed too small to mention. None of these feel like a big deal until you need to file a claim or your renewal shows up with a higher price.
Here are six decisions that commonly cause trouble, and what to do instead.
Dropping coverage for a few weeks between cars, or missing a payment and not catching it, can create a gap in your insurance history. Many companies look at continuous coverage when pricing a policy, so a lapse can raise your rate on the next one. In Missouri, driving without insurance can also lead to a suspension and an SR-22 requirement.
Instead: Keep coverage active, even if you're between vehicles. A non-owner policy may be an option if you don't have a car right now. If you've already had a gap, read car insurance after a lapse.
Missouri's minimum is 25/50/25 liability plus uninsured motorist coverage. That's the legal floor. A serious accident can easily cost more than those limits, and anything above them may become your responsibility. Our article on Missouri's 25/50/25 limits breaks this down.
Instead: Choose limits based on what you'd stand to lose, not just what's legal.
If a household member or a regular driver isn't on your policy, a claim involving that person can become complicated. Some policies limit or exclude coverage for drivers who live with you but aren't listed.
Instead: Tell your agent about everyone in the household who is licensed, including teens with a new permit or license. If they don't drive your car, there may be a way to note that.
Your rate is based partly on where the car is kept overnight. Listing a different address to get a lower price can give the insurer grounds to deny a claim or cancel the policy.
Instead: Use the address where the car is actually garaged, and update it when you move.
Many personal auto policies exclude or limit coverage while you're using your car to deliver food or packages or to carry passengers for pay. That gap often doesn't surface until there's an accident.
Instead: Ask before you start. See delivery and rideshare insurance for how coverage can work.
A high deductible lowers your premium, but it only works if you can come up with that amount after a claim. If you can't, your car may sit in the shop.
Instead: Choose a deductible that matches what you could realistically pay on short notice.
Most of these problems are easy to fix before a claim, and much harder to fix after one. Our auto coverage checkup is a simple way to review your policy.
If any of these sound familiar, call us at 417.865.4800 and we'll help you sort it out. You can also see our auto insurance options.
It can. Many companies consider continuous coverage when setting rates, and driving uninsured in Missouri can lead to a suspension.
Generally yes, once they're licensed and living in your home. Ask your agent how your carrier handles occasional drivers.
Or send your details and an agent will call you back. Most auto quotes are finished on one call, and you can buy before you hang up.