Volunteer Driver Insurance Requirements!
Volunteers dedicate their time to the organization and the people it serves. Being a driver is a fantastic way to give back to the community. While volunteers do what they do out of kindness, anyone who volunteers for a company or organization in the State of Missouri, and drives a vehicle, must have insurance. If your organization utilizes volunteer drivers, they must carry proper vehicle insurance coverage required by Missouri and meet the requirements of your agency. Insurance helps to mitigate the financial risks to the driver, your agency and the State of Missouri. Volunteers are required to maintain insurance for any vehicles they own that will be used for transporting your clients.
Your agency is responsible for providing insurance that covers the volunteer driver when operating vehicles registered to the agency. An auto insurance policy usually includes several types of protections or “coverages”—some required and some optional. Your agency can require additional coverage for volunteers driving personal vehicles. The State of Missouri requires personal vehicle insurance policies (for volunteer drivers using personal vehicles) include the minimum coverage listed below. Each type of liability coverage may be priced separately. Please note that FTA Section 5310 and FTA Section 5311 programs utilizing volunteer drivers must also verify that general collision insurance protection is included with the following minimum coverages (for volunteer drivers operating federally funded vehicles).
Required- Liability 25/50/25*
Bodily Injury Liability - $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.
This covers injuries to others caused by you.
Property Damage Liability - $25,000 per accident.
This coverage pays for damages you cause to someone else’s car or to
objects and structures your car hits.
Uninsured Motorist - $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.
This covers injuries to you and your passengers caused by an
uninsured or hit-and-run driver.
*Missouri Department of Insurance; https://insurance.mo.gov
Bodily injury coverage pays for injuries caused by an accident in which the driver of the covered vehicle was at fault, while property damage pays for any resulting damage to real or personal property. This kind of liability coverage does not pay for damage to the policy holder's own vehicle. Volunteer drivers can purchase coverage for repair or replacement of their vehicle if it is damaged in an accident they cause (collision coverage), or if it is damaged by weather, an animal or another cause (comprehensive coverage), but these are not required in Missouri.
Organizations may offer “non-owned” or “hired” auto insurance for running errands and sometimes routes as a volunteer. “Non-owned” and “hired” auto insurance offers additional liability coverage and even legal assistance to individuals driving their own vehicles for business or volunteer purposes. Personal auto insurance policies generally provide coverage for personal use of the vehicle, but they may not extend coverage for volunteer activities. It is essential for volunteers to review their policy carefully and contact their insurance provider to understand the limitations and determine if additional coverage is necessary. Some insurance companies offer special rates or discounts for volunteers as recognition of their service to the community. It is recommended for volunteers to inquire with insurance providers and mention their volunteer activities to explore available discounts or benefits.
Additionally, certain volunteer organizations or associations may have partnerships with insurance companies that offer discounted rates to their members. In conclusion, it is critical for volunteers to inform their insurance provider about their volunteer driving activities. Providing accurate information allows the insurance company to assess the risk associated with the activities and determine if additional coverage is required. Failing to disclose relevant information could result in the denial of a claim. A great tool sponsored by the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance (MoDCI) is the Top 5 Auto Policy Overview. This tool allows you to review and compare coverage options for the top five auto carriers in Missouri.
| 
