Table of Contents
Uninsured motorist coverage shields you from having to pay for injuries and property damage in accidents that weren’t your fault and were caused by an uninsured driver.
According to the Insurance Research Council, 15.4% of motorists on the road are uninsured. Purchasing auto insurance for uninsured drivers coverage reduces the likelihood that you’ll have to pay out of pocket if you’re involved in an accident caused by one of these irresponsible drivers.
It’s generally a good idea to add uninsured motorist coverage to your auto insurance policy, as it’s fairly inexpensive, usually only costing about an extra $14 or so a month, per vehicle, for policyholders with clean driving histories. Below, we give you the scoop on the different kinds of uninsured motorist coverage and what these policies entail.
Key Points
• Uninsured motorist coverage protects against financial losses from accidents caused by uninsured drivers.
• Auto insurance for uninsured drivers coverage can include bodily injury and property damage, addressing medical and repair costs.
• Coverage limits are typically set per person and per accident, such as 100,000/300,000.
• Underinsured motorist coverage covers the gap when the at-fault driver’s insurance is insufficient.
• State requirements for uninsured motorist coverage vary, with some mandating it and others not.
Breaking Down Uninsured Motorist Coverage Variations
Uninsured motorist insurance coverage is a type of car insurance coverage. There are two main kinds of uninsured motorist coverage. Much as your standard auto insurance policy has collision and bodily injury coverage, this kind of policy breaks down into uninsured motorist bodily injury (UMBI) coverage and uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) coverage.
• Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage: Covers your party’s medical expenses and related costs in accidents caused by uninsured drivers.
• Uninsured motorist property damage coverage: Covers your repair bills and related costs in accidents caused by uninsured drivers.
Bodily injury and property damage coverage for uninsured motorists are sometimes packaged and sold together when you purchase uninsured motorist insurance. However, this isn’t the case with all policies, so check with your insurance provider to know for sure. Now let’s take a closer look at each of these kinds of coverage.
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Types of Uninsured Motorist Coverage at a Glance
The chart below provides a quick overview.
| Coverage Type | What It Covers | What It Pays For |
|---|---|---|
| Uninsured motorist bodily injury (UMBI) | Medical and related expenses from accidents caused by uninsured drivers | Medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, funeral expenses |
| Uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) | Repairs and related expenses from accidents caused by uninsured drivers | Car repair bills, costs of other property damaged by the accident |
Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury Coverage (UMBI)
Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage (UMBI) pays for the cost of medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and funeral costs (though we hope that’s not needed) in the event an uninsured driver causes an accident in which you’re the victim.
In some instances, this policy may pay out if you, as a pedestrian or bicyclist, are involved in an accident caused by an uninsured driver. Check with your car insurance provider to confirm whether this might be covered.
UMBI typically does not have a deductible to meet, so you would generally get full reimbursement of the costs.
Uninsured Motorist Property Damage Coverage (UMPD)
Uninsured motorist property damage coverage pays for the cost of repair bills for either your vehicle or property in the event either is involved in an accident caused by an uninsured driver.
Unlike bodily injury coverage, UMPD often requires the payment of a deductible when used. This is usually set by state law and typically is between $100 and $1,000.
Remember that what’s covered by auto insurance of any kind also depends on your individual policy and its terms.
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How an Uninsured Motorist Claim Works
Rather than waiting until an accident happens to try to figure out what to do, it can be helpful to know in advance what exactly the process is like. Below, you can find a step-by-step breakdown.
Step 1: The Accident Happens
When your car is hit, the first thing to do is to check whether you and your passengers, if any, have sustained any physical injuries. If so, you’ll need to call emergency medical aid – and either way, you should call the police since you’ll want there to be an official verification of the incident. If it’s safe to do so and makes sense, you may want to move your vehicle out of traffic and turn on your hazard lights. It’s also helpful to take pictures of the damage and the location if you can do it safely.
Step 2: The At-Fault Driver Can’t Pay
Once things are secure, you’ll need to confer with the other driver. If you find out that they are uninsured, you’ll want to get their name and address, driver’s license number, license plate information, and the year and make of their vehicle, as well as give them yours. If the driver leaves the scene, the accident is considered a hit-and-run, which is typically treated as an uninsured driver incident in most states.
Step 3: You File a Claim With Your Own Insurer
Let your insurer know as soon as possible about the accident. Make sure they get the information about the uninsured driver, a copy of the police report, and any other details or documentation you can provide about the accident, including your photos and notes.
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Uninsured vs Underinsured Motorist Coverage
There’s another kind of coverage you should know about – underinsured motorist coverage. Underinsured motorist coverage helps cover your costs if you’re involved in an accident where the party at fault has insufficient insurance coverage to pay for your medical costs or property damage.
Underinsured motorist coverage differs from uninsured motorist coverage in that it’s designed to cover any shortfalls in your costs due to the underinsured motorist’s inadequate insurance policy. By contrast, uninsured motorist coverage covers your bills due to the uninsured driver’s failure to purchase insurance.
Similar to uninsured motorist coverage, underinsured motorist coverage also comes in bodily injury and property damage variants. Both bodily injury and property damage coverage is usually packaged and sold together, though insurance policies may vary.
Underinsured motorist coverage is sold separately from uninsured motorist coverage, and states can have different coverage requirements for each. Check with your insurance provider to verify whether you need to purchase these separately.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage Limits
When it comes to uninsured driver coverage, an important insurance term to understand is coverage limits. Your auto insurance quote will typically break down your uninsured motorist coverage limits into two numbers: a smaller dollar figure followed by a larger dollar figure, separated by a slash. For example, $100,000/$300,000.
This can also be expressed as follows:
• $100,000 per person
• $300,000 per accident
These two numbers represent the per person and per accident coverage limits of your uninsured motorist insurance. The per person limit is the maximum your insurance company will pay for any single individual injured in a covered accident. Conversely, the per accident limit is the maximum your insurance company will pay for a covered accident, regardless of how many injured people are in your party.
How Uninsured Motorist Coverage Limits Work
Now let’s spell out how this coverage would work, using this $100,000/$300,000 example. If you have a family of five that’s riding in a car that gets hit by an uninsured driver, the maximum amount your insurance company will pay for their cumulative medical bills is $300,000, despite each individual’s coverage limit being $100,000.
If you’re ever involved in an accident caused by an uninsured driver where your costs exceed your coverage limits, in most cases, your health insurance policy will kick in on medical bills to help cover the balance. Consult your insurance providers for the specifics on your policies.
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How Much Uninsured Motorist Coverage Do I Need?
The answer depends on whether your state requires uninsured motorist coverage. If it does, you must buy at least the state’s minimum (for more details, see below). Typically, this amount will match your liability coverage amounts. If your state doesn’t require this kind of coverage, consider variables like the health care costs in your state and how much your vehicle is worth. Generally, uninsured motorist coverage is fairly affordable and can be a worthy investment for some peace of mind.
According to the Insurance Research Council, more than one in seven drivers on the road are uninsured. This figure is even higher in states like Mississippi, where more than 28% of drivers on the road are estimated to be uninsured.
Based on those figures, residents of higher-risk states may be well served by purchasing uninsured motorist coverage. Conversely, it might not be as high a priority for residents of lower-risk states, like Maine and Utah, where 5.7% and 6.2% of drivers respectively are estimated to be uninsured.
Now, let’s circle back to the states that do require this kind of policy. The table below lists the regulations regarding the minimum required uninsured and underinsured driver insurance coverage for each state.
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Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage Requirements by State
Let’s take a look at the guidelines in every state, so you can see how much coverage may be required where you live. In each category, the amount shown is per person/per accident. When there is not a figure in an area of the chart, that means the insurance isn’t required.
| State | Uninsured Bodily Injury | Uninsured Property Damage | Underinsured Bodily Injury | Underinsured Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | ||||
| Alaska | ||||
| Arizona | ||||
| Arkansas | ||||
| California | ||||
| Colorado | ||||
| Connecticut | $25,000/$50,000 | $25,000/$50,000 | ||
| Delaware | ||||
| District of Columbia | $25,000/$50,000 | $5,000 | ||
| Florida | ||||
| Georgia | ||||
| Hawaii | ||||
| Idaho | ||||
| Illinois | $25,000/$50,000 | |||
| Indiana | ||||
| Iowa | ||||
| Kansas | $25,000/$50,000 | $25,000/$50,000 | ||
| Kentucky | ||||
| Louisiana | ||||
| Maine | $50,000/$100,000 | $50,000/$100,000 | ||
| Maryland | $30,000/$60,000 | $15,000 | $30,000/$60,000 | $15,000 |
| Massachusetts | $25,000/$50,000 | |||
| Michigan | ||||
| Minnesota | $25,000/$50,000 | $25,000/$50,000 | ||
| Mississippi | ||||
| Missouri | $25,000/$50,000 | |||
| Montana | ||||
| Nebraska | $25,000/$50,000 | $25,000/$50,000 | ||
| Nevada | ||||
| New Hampshire* | $25,000/$50,000 | $25,000 | $25,000/$50,000 | $25,000 |
| New Jersey | $35,000/$70,000 | $25,000 | $35,000/$70,000 | $25,000 |
| New Mexico | ||||
| New York | $25,000/$50,000 | $25,000/$50,000 | ||
| North Carolina | $50,000/$100,000 | $50,000 | $50,000/$100,000 | $50,000 |
| North Dakota | $25,000/$50,000 | $25,000/$50,000 | ||
| Ohio | ||||
| Oklahoma | ||||
| Oregon | $25,000/$50,000 | $25,000/$50,000 | ||
| Pennsylvania | ||||
| Rhode Island | ||||
| South Carolina | $25,000/$50,000 | $25,000 | ||
| South Dakota | $25,000/$50,000 | $25,000/$50,000 | ||
| Tennessee | ||||
| Texas | ||||
| Utah | ||||
| Vermont | $50,000/$100,000 | $10,000 | $50,000/$100,000 | $10,000 |
| Virginia* | $50,000/$100,000 | $25,000 | $50,000/ $100,000 | $25,000 |
| Washington | ||||
| West Virginia | $25,000/$50,000 | $25,000 | ||
| Wisconsin | $25,000/$50,000 | |||
| Wyoming |
*New Hampshire does not require drivers to purchase auto insurance, but drivers who do choose to purchase auto insurance must have at least the minimum uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage amounts listed.
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How Much Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Cost?
Depending on how much uninsured motorist coverage you choose to purchase and your personal driving habits, your cost for uninsured motorist coverage could be as little as $5 to $10 per month. This figure also tends to vary widely based on the overall percentage of uninsured motorists in your area, according to national insurance data.
Insurance premiums vary widely across drivers, states, and even insurance providers, so make sure you check around for a personalized quote.
The Takeaway
The prospect of being in an accident caused by an uninsured driver is a real concern, given the number of these motorists on the road. Adding uninsured motorist coverage to your auto insurance policy may be a good idea. In some states, it may even be required by law. For a relatively low cost, you can protect yourself from the possibility of being left with bills because another driver didn’t have insurance. The right package of car insurance policies is one way to protect yourself from unexpected circumstances.
Having the right auto insurance means knowing you're truly protected — not just checking a legal box. SoFi lets you shop and compare quotes from top carriers in minutes, so you can find coverage that gives you real peace of mind on the road. Explore your coverage options.
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FAQ
Do I need UMPD if I already have collision coverage?
Not necessarily, unless your state mandates it. However, deductibles on collision policies are typically higher than those for uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD), so if you have both you may be able to pay less before your insurance kicks in.
Does uninsured motorist coverage cover hit-and-run accidents?
Generally, uninsured motorist bodily injury (UMBI) policies will cover you for medical costs in the case of a hit-and-run. However, some states will not allow you to file for uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) in the case of a hit-and-run.
Am I required to carry uninsured motorist coverage, or can I decline it?
Whether you’re required to carry uninsured driver coverage depends on what state you’re licensed in. You can check with your Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to determine the requirements where you are.
Can I sue an uninsured driver instead of filing an insurance claim?
Yes, you have the right to sue an uninsured driver instead of filing an insurance claim. Bear in mind that practically, you would only be able to sue if the hit-and-run driver was located by law enforcement. And it’s also important to remember that even if the court decides in your favor, the driver might not have the financial assets to pay.
Does uninsured motorist coverage protect pedestrians and cyclists?
Generally, if you’re hit by an uninsured motorist when you’re walking or riding a bicycle, your uninsured driver insurance coverage will cover you. There can be exceptions, conditions, and exclusions, so you may want to check with your insurer to verify your situation.
Photo credit: iStock/RyanJLane
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