Is homeowners insurance required in Missouri?
No, homeowners insurance is not required by law in Missouri. However, in order to get a home loan, your mortgage lender will likely require you to obtain a certain amount of insurance coverage.
What does homeowners insurance cover in Missouri?
Every policy is different, but home insurance policies in Missouri typically come with several standard coverages.
- Dwelling (Coverage A). This coverage helps you pay for damage to your home from a covered event, such as a fire, windstorm, lightning or hail.
- Other structures (Coverage B). This coverage is intended to help cover structures that aren’t connected to your home, like a fence or shed.
- Personal property (Coverage C). This coverage helps you repair or replace your personal belongings if they are stolen or damaged.
- Loss of use, or additional living expense coverage (Coverage D). This coverage can help you pay to stay somewhere else if your home is uninhabitable due to covered damage.
- Personal liability (Coverage E). This coverage helps pay for accidental property damage or injuries you cause through negligence.
Typical home insurance policies in Missouri cover damage caused by events such as:
- Fire
- Vandalism and theft
- Lightning strikes
- Wind
- Hail
- Explosions
- Falling objects
- The weight of snow or ice
Flooding, a common risk in parts of Missouri, is not covered. However, special flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) may be available. Earthquakes, also a risk in Missouri, are not covered but special earthquake insurance may be available.
Farmers Flex Personal Home coverage in Missouri
Beyond the basic coverages, Farmers Flex Personal Home offers a wide range of options that let you customize your policy, such as:
- Guaranteed Replacement Cost
- Water Backup and Sump Overflow
- Emergency Mortgage Assistance
- Declining Deductibles®
- Claim Forgiveness
How much does homeowners insurance generally cost in Missouri?
The average premium for home insurance coverage in Missouri is $1,301 per year1, according to a 2020 report (the most recent data available) by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). That’s roughly equal to the national average of $1,311 a year, according to same report. However, insurance costs in most states have changed since then. Also, the amount you pay may be different, depending on things like the value and age of your home, how much personal property you want to cover, what deductible you choose and risks specific to your area.
Missouri home insurance discounts
Farmers® offers a variety of savings opportunities for eligible home insurance customers in Missouri, including:
- Welcome Discount
- Home Buyer Discount
- Multi-Policy Discount
- Loyalty Discount
- Claim Free Discount
See more information and additional discounts that may be available in Missouri.
Eastern Bluebird
Interested in attracting Missouri’s state bird to your garden? (Because they eat lots of grasshoppers and other garden pests.) Build a nesting box. — University of Missouri Extension
More coverage options in Missouri
Missouri car insurance
Find minimum state requirements for auto insurance in Missouri, available discounts and more.
Learn From Experience
Read real-life stories about insurance, renovations, home safety and more from pros and homeowners like you.
Why Did My Homeowners Insurance Go Up?
When outside forces — think: inflation, natural disasters, supply chain issues, rising construction costs — impact either (or both) of those factors, it can explain why rates may be increasing. But there are steps you can take to help keep your costs down.
Does Home Insurance Cover Water Damage?
Generally, if the cause is sudden and accidental — if an appliance or bathroom fixture springs a leak or a storm blows a tree through your roof and rain pours in — the typical homeowners insurance policy covers resulting water damage.
Blackouts Can End in a Blink. What Happens When the Lights Are Out for Days or Weeks?
A blizzard left one couple and their newborn with no heat, lights or food — for days. A hurricane plunged a Texas family into the dark for two weeks, and back-to-back storms had New Jersey homeowners bailing out a basement for 22 days. They talk about how they survived and what they’re doing to be ready when the next blackout hits.
1 Based on average premium for HO-3 type open perils homeowners policies.