UNINSURED AUTO RATES DROPPING; AREA COUNTIES REMAIN AMONG THE WORST

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The statewide percentage of uninsured vehicles in 1999 reached its lowest point since Missouri began requiring mandatory automobile liability coverage in 1987.

The statewide rate plummeted 18 percent from 1998, when there were a projected 350,483 uninsured vehicles on the road. For 1999, that number was 287,486, a drop of about 63,000 vehicles.

"While these statistics offer little comfort to individuals who suffer damages when they are hit by uninsured autos, the data does show Missouri is headed in the right direction," said Keith Wetzel, director of the Missouri Department of Insurance.

However, despite improving rates in Southeast Missouri, the region retained its traditional status as an area with a high percentage of uninsured vehicles. Of 19 Southeast Missouri counties, 11 had uninsured rates higher than the statewide average of 7.3 percent.

The state achieved previous record lows of 7.4 percent in both 1990 and 1996. The record high of 14.1 percent occurred in 1991.

Law on insurance policies

The drop in statewide rates from 1998 is attributed in part to legislation that took effect last year outlawing the sale of liability insurance policies of less than three months in duration. This, according to the insurance department, helped reduce the practice of motorists getting coverage for the sole purpose of licensing their vehicle and then dropping their policies.

Since 1998, vehicle owners have been required to show proof of insurance in order to renew or obtain license plates. Prior to that time, owners only had to attest that they had coverage.

The data came from a computer comparison of vehicle registrations with insurer records. The department released the results of the comparison Monday.

Bollinger County perfect

Of area counties, Bollinger County had, statistically speaking, a perfect record. Ste. Genevieve County was second best with an uninsured rate of just .8 percent.

Other counties under the statewide average were Carter, Madison, Perry, Ripley, Stoddard and Wayne. Madison County showed one of the biggest improvements in the area, dropping from 12.52 percent uninsured in 1998 to 6 percent in 1999.

Pemiscot County's rate of 14.11 percent was second worst in the state, trailing only that of the city of St. Louis, where 28 percent of the vehicles were uninsured. Mississippi County was third worst with 14.08 percent uninsured.

Other area counties with double-digit uninsured rates were Butler, 10 percent; Dunklin, 10.19 percent; and New Madrid, 13.96 percent.

In addition to St. Louis city, only three other counties outside of Southeast Missouri had double-digit uninsured rates: St. Louis County, 10 percent; Jackson County, 11.9 percent; and Platte County, 13.2 percent.

Remaining area counties with rates higher than the state average but under double-digits were Cape Girardeau, Iron, Reynolds, Scott St. Francois and Washington.

All area counties showed improvements over 1999.

AREA INSURANCE RATES

Percentages of registered passenger vehicles that are uninsured in Southeast Missouri counties for the last three years. Because vehicle owners are not required to register and insure vehicles at the same address, in some counties more insurance policies than vehicles were reported, accounting for negative percentages for those counties.

County 1999 1998 1997

Bollinger -3.18 3.24 -5.91

Butler 10.0 12.32 8.42

Cape Girardeau 7.56 8.09 2.41

Carter 6.24 9.47 8.03

Dunklin 10.19 12.74 11.63

Iron 9.55 13.36 14.1

Madison 6.0 12.52 11.3

Mississippi 14.08 15.03 15.22

New Madrid 13.96 14.84 14.76

Pemiscot 14.11 17.78 25.37

Perry 2.34 4.29 -2.38

Reynolds 7.77 10.55 13.36

Ripley 3.23 9.61 10.44

Scott 9.26 11.29 10.03

St. Francois 8.71 11.62 10.00

Ste. Genevieve 0.80 4.26 -2.11

Stoddard 7.12 7.89 2.72

Washington 8.79 11.86 11.8

Wayne 6.41 8.69 3.70

Missouri 7.30 9.06 9.38

Source: Missouri Department of Insurance