Up to $5,000 · 5 years to file.
Damage to your car or property caused by someone else. In Missouri, small-claims cases for this kind of dispute are filed in the Small Claims Court (Associate Circuit), where you can sue for up to $5,000.
Your deadline: Missouri generally gives you 5 years from when the claim arose to file. Miss it and the court can dismiss the case no matter how clearly you're owed.
The filing fee is around $35 (About $20–$35 plus service.). Before you file, send a written demand letter and keep proof of delivery.
Source: Mo. Rev. Stat. § 482.305; deadlines: Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 516.110, 516.120. Reviewed 2026-06-17 (verify with the court clerk).
Note on deadlines: Written contract 10 yrs; oral contract, property damage, and personal injury 5 yrs.
Suing for something else in Missouri: Missouri unpaid loan · Missouri security deposit · Missouri unpaid rent · Missouri contractor dispute.
Suing for property damage in nearby states: Illinois ($10,000, 5 years) · Iowa ($6,500, 5 years) · Kansas ($4,000, 2 years) · Nebraska ($3,900, 4 years) · Oklahoma ($10,000, 2 years) · Arkansas ($5,000, 3 years) · Tennessee ($25,000, 3 years) · Kentucky ($2,500, 2 years).
General legal information, not legal advice. Rules change and vary by county and court; consult a licensed attorney or your court clerk.
Updated July 2026