Missouri Tow Truck Insurance

Missouri towing requirements and operating authority

Missouri’s operating-authority law exempts tow trucks and wreckers designed and used exclusively to assist abandoned, disabled, or wrecked vehicles. If you also transport running vehicles between locations, the same exemption may not apply. Check Missouri Revised Statutes, section 390.030 when reviewing your services.

When Missouri intrastate authority is required, MoDOT calls for an application, a USDOT number, and proof of insurance sent by your insurer. Confirm how your work is classified with MoDOT Motor Carrier Services.

An operating-authority exemption doesn’t remove every insurance requirement. Check vehicle insurance rules, local permits, police-rotation agreements, and customer contracts. Send us the written insurance requirements for the work you plan to accept.

Coverage for your trucks and customer vehicles

• Commercial auto liability helps cover injuries and damage you cause to others in an accident involving an insured truck.
• Physical damage helps pay for covered damage to the tow truck itself. Review the truck’s value, equipment, deductible and any lender requirements.
• On-hook towing coverage helps cover damage to customer vehicles while being towed or transported.
• Garagekeepers legal liability helps cover damage to customer vehicles at an insured storage or service location when your business is legally responsible.
• General liability or garage liability helps cover certain claims arising from your business operations, such as a customer injury at your premises.
• Workers’ compensation helps cover employees’ work-related injuries and illnesses.

If you keep vehicles after a tow, look at on-hook and garagekeepers coverage together. Your limits should reflect both the vehicles you transport and the total value you could have at your yard at one time.

Does a Missouri towing business need workers’ compensation?

Missouri generally requires workers’ compensation when you have five or more employees. Part-time and family-member employees count, as do LLC members and corporate officers. Sole proprietors and partners don’t count toward that threshold. Construction has a separate one-employee rule. See the Missouri Department of Labor coverage rules.

You can still choose workers’ compensation with fewer employees, and a customer contract may require it. Tell us about drivers, helpers, dispatchers, owners, and any work outside Missouri when we review your coverage.

Towing across Missouri state lines

A call into Illinois or Kansas can change the requirements you need to consider. Tell us whether you handle emergency tows, later transfers, auction transport, or several vehicles on one load.

Federal financial-responsibility rules distinguish between an emergency tow and a later vehicle move. FMCSA’s federal towing guidance and insurance filing requirements explain how the requirements can differ.

Roadside-network and customer insurance requirements

Agero, HONK, Allstate Roadside, GEICO, AAA and Nation Safe Drivers each have provider requirements. Copart and other auction customers may request coverage suited to vehicle transport.

Before applying, check the required limits, protection for customer vehicles, workers’ compensation, and any additional-insured endorsements. Our network requirements directory explains the documents to prepare and includes official provider resources.

Insurance for new Missouri towing businesses

Your company may be new even if you’ve spent years in towing. Include that experience, along with your licenses, training, and driving history. Insurers will consider your background as well as the company’s equipment, services, and insurance history.

Coverage is available for qualifying new businesses, with options depending on the insurer and operation. If you plan to offer heavy recovery, repossession, private-property towing, or multi-car transport, have the insurance reviewed before you begin that work.

How much does Missouri tow truck insurance cost?

Your truck values, drivers, claims, location, travel area, services, and limits all influence the premium. A single-truck roadside business can be priced differently from a fleet with heavy-recovery equipment and a storage yard.

Compare quotes with the same limits and deductibles, then check the total premium, down payment, and installments. We’ll also look for prior-insurance, multi-policy, or telematics savings your business may qualify for.