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NPN: 20461358
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Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 21630969
Updated
No-deposit car insurance doesn’t exist in Missouri. Any reputable insurer will require some payment before your policy takes effect.
Some insurers advertise “no-deposit” or “zero-down” car insurance. This simply means they require only the first month’s premium and don’t charge a separate deposit fee.[1] Paying for your full policy term up front, though, could help you avoid installment fees, according to the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance (DCI).
Since you can’t secure car insurance without paying anything, it’s a good idea to focus on finding coverage with a low initial deposit instead. Below are the best car insurance companies in Missouri for low-deposit coverage.
Insurance Company | Monthly Rate | Estimated First Payment | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| USAA | $46 | $46 | Military members and their families |
| State Farm | $55 | $55 | Customer satisfaction |
| Progressive | $60 | $60 | Affordability |
| Allstate | $80 | $80 | Local agents |
| Clearcover | $75 | $75 | Digital-first experience |
| User Reviews | 4.9 |
|---|---|
| IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 9.1 /10 |
| Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $46/mo |
| Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $89/mo |
USAA's score | Industry average | |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage options | 4.9 | 3.2 |
| Customer service | 4.9 | 3.6 |
| Discounts | 4.9 | 2.9 |
| Policy transparency | 4.9 | 3.1 |
| Value | 4.9 | 2.9 |
Customers appreciate the insurer’s reliable customer service and claim handling but express concerns about high rates and frequent price increases. Some also find the insurer’s security protocols and communication methods frustrating.
Missouri is home to more than 392,000 veterans, as well as Whiteman Air Force Base and Fort Leonard Wood, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Military members and their families can access Missouri’s most affordable car insurance through USAA. USAA earns the top customer satisfaction score from J.D. Power in the Missouri region.
Affordable coverage and customizable policies
AM Best financial strength rating of A++ (Superior)
Offers accident forgiveness (especially helpful in metro areas like St. Louis)
Military membership requirement
No physical locations in Missouri
No customer service on Sundays
The average cost of car insurance in Missouri is $180 per month for full coverage and $92 for liability coverage. Since your deposit is usually your first month’s premium, that’s roughly what you’ll pay up front.
While your state doesn’t set your deposit amount directly, where you live affects your policy’s cost. Rates in Missouri are generally lower than the national average but higher than in Arkansas and Illinois.
Missouri drivers with a clean record pay less than people with a driving under the influence (DUI) conviction, at-fault accident, or little driving experience, since insurers treat them as higher risk.[2]
You can compare the average rates for Missouri liability insurance by driving history below.
Driver Profile | Average Monthly Rate | Estimated First Payment |
|---|---|---|
| Clean driving record | $92 | $92 |
| One speeding ticket | $113 | $113 |
| One at-fault accident | $117 | $117 |
| One DUI | $119 | $119 |
| Teen driver | $157 | $157 |
| Senior driver | $77 | $77 |
| Driver with an SR-22 | $109 | $109 |
Liability quotes start at $46/mo.
Your up-front cost depends on how much coverage you buy, how you structure your payments, and which insurer you choose. The tips below can help you lower your first payment in Missouri:
Compare quotes. Missouri has more than 4,100 licensed insurers across all coverages, so you have plenty of options when shopping for coverage.[3] Comparing auto quotes from several companies can help you find the lowest rate, reducing how much you’ll have to pay up front.
Choose a higher deductible. You can increase your deductible to lower your premiums, according to the Missouri DCI. Just make sure you can afford the deductible if you need to file a claim after an accident.
Set up a monthly payment plan. Instead of paying for your full policy term up front (usually six or 12 months), many insurers let you set up monthly premium payments. Although this option usually costs more overall, you won’t have to pay as much in the beginning.
Consider pay-per-mile coverage. Missouri drivers average 9,324 miles per year, according to Insurify data. But if you’re retired or work remotely, you may not drive that much. Pay-per-mile insurance uses telematics to track your mileage, letting you pay a low monthly base rate plus a small charge for each mile you drive.
Expert Insight: All insurance companies require a deposit
“All legitimate insurance companies require a deposit when you sign your insurance contract. But this is typically just your first month’s payment and maybe some processing fees, not an additional payment. You can lower this amount by comparing multiple quotes, signing up for easy discounts like auto-pay or paperless, and maintain a clean driving record.”
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Drivers must carry minimum liability coverage for damages they cause in an accident under Missouri’s car insurance requirements. You also need uninsured motorist coverage in case an at-fault driver doesn’t have insurance.
Because Missouri is an at-fault state, the driver responsible for a crash is liable for the damages. Unlike no-fault states, Missouri doesn’t require personal injury protection (PIP).
Driving without liability coverage means you’re on the hook for damages if you cause a crash.[4] If you’re in an accident while uninsured, you’ll need to file an SR-22 as proof of liability insurance.
You could also get four points on your record, face license suspension, and have to pay reinstatement fees for subsequent offenses.[5] A lapse can lead to higher insurance rates as well when it’s time to purchase coverage again.
Coverage Type | Missouri Minimum Requirement |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 per accident |
| Uninsured motorist (bodily injury) | $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident |
Score the best car insurance rates for your credit
Several factors affect your first car insurance payment in Missouri, including:
Driving record: A single speeding ticket in Missouri can add two or three points to your license.[6] High-risk drivers with a DUI or multiple violations typically pay more.
Credit history: Missouri lets insurers factor in your credit history when setting rates, so a good credit history could reduce your first payment.
Coverage level: Only carrying state-minimum coverage costs less up front than full coverage, which includes comprehensive and collision coverage. Add-ons like roadside assistance can also push up your premium.
Rating territory: Insurers use rating territories based on how often claims happen in an area. For example, a car garaged in rural Missouri typically costs less to insure than one in Kansas City or St. Louis.
State insurance laws: Missouri law prevents insurers from raising your premium after a comprehensive coverage claim, such as damage from a storm or theft.
Missouri drivers pay less for car insurance than the national average. Rates are likely lower due to lower population density, cost of living, and minimum coverage requirements.
Like most of the U.S., Missouri saw insurance costs sharply increase after the pandemic but began to see relief in 2025 as rates trended down, according to Insurify’s Insuring the American Driver Report.
Whether you’re insuring a car in Kansas City, St. Louis, or a smaller town in Missouri, the information below can help you find cheap, low-down-payment car insurance.
No-down-payment car insurance doesn’t exist in Missouri. Insurers require some payment before your policy takes effect. “No-deposit” coverage typically means you’ll only pay your first month’s premium instead of a separate deposit fee.
Yes. That said, your rate will likely be higher with bad credit. Missouri allows insurers to factor credit history into premiums, so drivers with bad credit typically pay more.
USAA, State Farm, and Progressive offer the cheapest car insurance in Missouri. To find the lowest rate for your situation, compare quotes and discounts, such as discounts for bundling or completing a defensive driving course, from multiple insurers.
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 250 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 500+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.
Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).
Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:
Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.
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5+ years experience in personal finance writing
Personal finance blogger
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 20461358
Featured in
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 21630969
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