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RSMo 303.020effective 28 Aug 2021

Definitions

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This section gives the official meanings of important words used in Missouri's motor vehicle financial responsibility law. For example, it defines who counts as an 'owner' or 'operator' of a vehicle, what a 'judgment' is, and what 'proof of financial responsibility' means — which is basically showing a person can pay for damages of up to $25,000 for one injured person, $50,000 for two or more injured people, and $25,000 for property damage from one accident.

Word-for-word law

303.020. Definitions. — As used in this chapter the following words and phrases shall mean:

(1) "", a person who is employed for the purpose of operating a motor vehicle or any person who drives a motor vehicle while in use as a public or of persons or property for hire;

(2) "", of the state of Missouri, acting directly or through his officers and agents;

(3) "", a by a of any state or of the United States, upon a for , including damages for care and loss of services, because of bodily injury to or death of any person, or for damages because of injury to or destruction of property, including the thereof, or upon a claim for relief on any agreement or for such damages arising out of the ownership, or use of any motor vehicle;

(4) "", an 's or driver's license, , chauffeur's or issued under the laws of this state;

(5) "Motor vehicle", a self-propelled vehicle which is designed for use upon a , except trailers designed for use with such vehicles, traction engines, road rollers, farm tractors, tractor cranes, power shovels, well drillers, motorized bicycles as defined in section 307.180, electric bicycles as defined in section 301.010, and every vehicle which is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead wires but not operated upon rails;

(6) "", a person not a resident of the state of Missouri;

(7) "", the conferred upon a nonresident by the laws of this state pertaining to the operation by him of a motor vehicle, or the use of a motor vehicle owned by him in this state;

(8) "Operator", a person who is in of a motor vehicle;

(9) "Owner", a person who holds the to a motor vehicle; or in the event a motor vehicle is the subject of an agreement for the or thereof with the right of purchase upon performance of the conditions stated in the agreement and with an immediate right of in the or , or in the event a of a motor vehicle is end to possession thereof, then such conditional vendee or lessee or mortgagor;

(10) "", of ability to respond in damages for , on account of accidents occurring subsequent to the of said proof, arising out of the ownership, maintenance or use of a motor vehicle, in the amount of twenty-five thousand dollars because of bodily injury to or death of one person in any one accident, and, subject to said limit for one person, in the amount of fifty thousand dollars because of bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in any one accident, and in the amount of twenty-five thousand dollars because of injury to or destruction of property of others in any one accident;

(11) "", or s and issued under the laws of this state pertaining to the registration of motor vehicles;

(12) "State", any state, territory or possession of the United States, the of Columbia, or any province of the Dominion of Canada;

(13) "Street" or "highway", the entire width between property lines of every way or place of whatever nature when any part thereof is open to the use of the public, as a matter of right, for purposes of .

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Source & history notes

(L. 1953 p. 569 § 303.010, A.L. 1965 p. 481, A.L. 1980 H.B. 995 & 1051, A.L. 1981 S.B. 201, A.L. 1986 S.B. 424, A.L. 1987 S.B. 114, A.L. 2018 S.B. 708, A.L. 2021 S.B. 176) (2004) Horse-drawn buggy is not a "motor vehicle" as defined in section and thus is not an uninsured motor vehicle within provision of automobile insurance policy. Ferguson v. Gateway Insurance Co., 151 S.W.3d 911 (Mo.App.W.D.).

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Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.

RSMo 303.020: Definitions | KnowMo Laws