By Brandon Thompson, CEO, MBG Insurance. Revised 10/29/2026
People tell me “I have full coverage” more than almost anything else. The trouble is that “full coverage” isn’t a coverage on your policy. No insurance company sells a product called that. It’s shorthand, and it can mean very different things from one policy to the next.
Most people use “full coverage” to mean three things together: liability, comprehensive, and collision. That’s a good starting point, but two policies that both get called “full coverage” can pay out very differently after a wreck. Here’s what it usually includes, and where the gaps tend to hide.
What “Full Coverage” Usually Includes
Liability
Liability pays for the damage you cause to other people when you’re at fault. That means their injuries (bodily injury) and their vehicle or property (property damage). Every policy has to have it.
Missouri and Arkansas both require at least 25/50/25:
- $25,000 for bodily injury per person
- $50,000 for bodily injury per accident
- $25,000 for property damage per accident
That’s the legal floor. It is not a recommendation.
Comprehensive (Other Than Collision)
Comprehensive covers damage to your vehicle that doesn’t come from a crash. That includes theft, vandalism, hail, fire, falling trees, and hitting a deer. In the Ozarks and Northwest Arkansas, hail and deer claims alone make this coverage worth having. Deductibles commonly run from $0 to $1,000, and some carriers offer full glass coverage with no deductible.
Collision
Collision covers damage to your vehicle when you hit another car or an object, or when your vehicle rolls over, no matter who’s at fault. Deductibles usually run from $250 to $1,000, and some carriers go higher. If you have a loan or lease, your lender will almost always require comprehensive and collision.
Where “Full Coverage” Can Still Leave You Exposed
State Minimum Liability Limits
A policy can carry comprehensive and collision and still have only 25/50/25 liability. That’s the gap that hurts people most.
A single ER visit with imaging and follow-up care can run past $25,000 quickly. On the property side, $25,000 won’t replace a new pickup, and many late-model trucks and SUVs sell for twice that. If you cause more damage than your limits cover, the remainder can come back on you personally. That can mean your savings, your home equity, or your future wages.
For most families, we recommend looking at limits of 100/300/100 or higher. If you own a home or have meaningful assets, a personal umbrella policy adds another layer on top of your auto liability, often for less than people expect.
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist
This coverage protects you when the other driver is at fault and has no insurance or not enough of it. In Missouri, uninsured motorist coverage is required. Underinsured motorist coverage is not required, though it must be offered. In Arkansas, these coverages must be offered, but drivers can reject them in writing.
Your uninsured and underinsured limits should match your liability limits. Say you carry 250/500 liability, but your uninsured and underinsured coverage is still at the 25/50 minimum. If an uninsured driver puts you in the hospital, your own policy can’t pay more than $25,000 per person, no matter how good the rest of your coverage looks. Raising these limits usually costs very little, which is why we check them on every policy we review.
Medical Payments
Medical payments coverage helps pay medical bills for you and your passengers after an accident, no matter who’s at fault. Many people assume their bodily injury liability covers their own family, but it doesn’t. Liability pays for other people you injure. Medical payments fills that gap, and it can help with health insurance deductibles too.
Other Coverages Worth Asking About
- Rental reimbursement: pays for a rental car while yours is in the shop after a covered claim.
- Roadside assistance: helpful, but on some carriers a tow can count as a claim, so it’s worth asking how yours handles it.
- Gap or loan/lease payoff: covers the difference if your car is totaled and you owe more than it’s worth.
- New car replacement: some carriers will replace a newer vehicle instead of paying depreciated value.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is full coverage required by law?
No. Missouri and Arkansas only require liability insurance, plus uninsured motorist coverage in Missouri. Comprehensive and collision are optional under state law, but your lender will almost always require them if you finance or lease your vehicle.
When should I drop comprehensive and collision?
It’s worth reviewing once your vehicle is paid off and its value has dropped enough that the yearly cost of the coverage plus your deductible gets close to what the car is worth. Before you drop it, ask yourself whether you could replace the vehicle out of pocket tomorrow if it were totaled or stolen.
Does full coverage mean everything is covered?
No. Even a well-built policy has limits, deductibles, and exclusions. Normal wear and tear, mechanical breakdown, and custom equipment beyond your policy’s limits are common examples of things that aren’t covered. The best way to know where you stand is to have an agent review your policy line by line.
As an independent agency, MBG Insurance works with dozens of carriers, so we can compare coverages and prices instead of fitting you into one company’s product. Our team in Springfield, Oak Grove, and Bentonville will review your current policy, show you where the gaps are, and build coverage that actually protects your family.
Learn more about our personal auto insurance options for Missouri and Arkansas drivers. When you’re ready, start your quote here.