Uninsured motorist coverage pays for vehicle and bodily damage if you’re hit by an uninsured driver.
Jump to insightTwenty one states in the U.S. require uninsured motorist insurance.
Jump to insightThe more often you drive, the more likely you are to benefit from uninsured motorist coverage.
Jump to insightIt’s smart to get uninsured motorist coverage if your car is valued over $30,000.
Jump to insightWhat does uninsured motorist insurance cover?
Uninsured motorist (UM) insurance coverage, sometimes called uninsured motorist bodily injury insurance (UMBI), varies from company to company, but it often covers the following:
- Car repairs that exceed standard coverage
- Damage to any property in your car
- Rental car costs
- Medical bills for both driver and passenger(s)
- Legal pain-and-suffering damages
- Lost wages
- Extended medical care
- Vehicle loss of value
For Jennifer from Indiana, a ConsumerAffairs reviewer and the unlucky victim of a hit-and-run driver, uninsured motorist insurance helped offset the damage caused by the accident. “Luckily my plan covered everything,” she said. “Instead of having to pay $600 out of pocket, I only had to pay $50.”
» LEARN MORE: Types of car insurance coverage
Do I need uninsured motorist coverage?
Unfortunately, anyone can be hit by an uninsured driver, but “those who commute to and from work or frequently take long trips in their car should consider UM coverage more seriously,” according to Linda Chavez, founder and CEO of Seniors Life Insurance Finder. In general, the more you’re on the road, the more coverage you’re likely to need.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, 14% of drivers nationwide don't have auto insurance. The rates vary significantly by state — from 24.9% in New Mexico (highest) to 5.9% in Wyoming (lowest).
Anytime you’re trying to determine how much insurance you need, it’s a good idea to make sure you have enough property damage coverage for the entire cost of the vehicle. Most insurance policies have limits on how much they can pay out, meaning more expensive vehicles may not be completely covered by standard policies. Chavez said those with cars valued at more than $30,000 should seriously consider UM insurance.
How much coverage should I get?
Insurance experts recommend matching your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage limits to your liability coverage limits. For example, if your liability coverage is $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident, consider choosing the same limits for your UM/UIM coverage. For property damage coverage, select a limit that matches your vehicle's value.
Uninsured vs. underinsured motorist coverage
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverages are similar but slightly different: uninsured motorist coverage covers accidents when the driver at fault has no insurance at all, and underinsured motorist coverage covers accidents when the driver at fault has insurance but not enough to cover all the damages.
While shopping for UM plans, it’s important to ask what happens if a driver who hits you is underinsured or uninsured. Sometimes, UM insurance is packaged together with underinsured motorist insurance (UIMBI). Sometimes, these are sold separately, only covering one or the other.
Uninsured motorist coverage requirements by state
States are usually divided between two categories of insurance payouts: at fault and no fault.
- At-fault states: The insurance provider of the driver who caused the accident is responsible for the damages to both cars and any bodily damage to both parties.
- No-fault states: The at-fault driver’s insurance will pay for damages to the at-fault driver’s car, and the insurance of the not-at-fault driver will pay for the damages to the not-at-fault driver’s car.
Whose insurance pays for an accident depends on whether it’s in an at-fault or no-fault state.
Some states have insurance mandates requiring drivers to take out additional no-fault insurance or personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. If you have no-fault insurance or PIP insurance, the damage caused by another person will be paid for by your insurance company instead of the person at fault.
Twenty one states and Washington, D.C. require some uninsured motorist insurance; thirteen states require underinsured coverage. Consult the chart below to determine what coverage is mandatory in your state.
Uninsured, underinsured and PIP coverage requirements by state
| State | Uninsured coverage required | Underinsured coverage required | No-fault or PIP coverage required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | |||
| Connecticut | |||
| Delaware | |||
| Florida | |||
| Hawaii | |||
| Illinois | |||
| Kansas | |||
| Kentucky | |||
| Maine | |||
| Maryland | |||
| Massachusetts | |||
| Michigan | |||
| Minnesota | |||
| Missouri | |||
| Nebraska | |||
| New Jersey | |||
| New York | |||
| North Carolina | |||
| North Dakota | |||
| Oregon | |||
| Pennsylvania | |||
| Rhode Island* | |||
| South Carolina | |||
| South Dakota | |||
| Tennessee | |||
| Texas | |||
| Utah | |||
| Vermont | |||
| Virginia** | |||
| Washington, D.C. | |||
| West Virginia | |||
| Wisconsin |
FAQ
Is uninsured motorist coverage required by law?
In 21 states and Washington, D.C., UM insurance is required:
- Connecticut
- Illinois
- Kansas
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Oregon
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
How does uninsured motorist coverage interact with health insurance?
Typically, your car insurance — including uninsured motorist, underinsured motorist, no-fault and PIP plans — will pay out first. Then, any relevant health insurance coverage will kick in.
While you may have health insurance, there are several reasons to consider uninsured motorist coverage:
- Some health insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, may not pay until other insurance options are exhausted
- Unlike health insurance, UM coverage typically has no deductible
- UM coverage protects passengers in your vehicle who may not have their own health insurance
- UM coverage can provide additional benefits not covered by health insurance, such as lost wages and pain and suffering
Does uninsured motorist coverage apply in hit-and-run cases?
Most of the time, yes, uninsured motorist coverage applies in hit-and-run cases. However, some states require the at-fault driver to be identified for uninsured motorist insurance coverage to kick in, so be sure to ask your insurer if your policy will cover accidents in which the hit-and-run driver is not identified.
Can uninsured motorist coverage be stacked?
There are regulations about insurance stacking, though these vary from state to state. In most places, insurance can be stacked — and in some cases, insurance stacking can lower your premiums.
Does uninsured motorist coverage cover property damage?
Uninsured motorist coverage covers repairs to your car as well as the repair or replacement of property inside your car from when the accident happened.
How does uninsured motorist coverage affect my premiums?
In general, the more coverage you have, the higher your premiums will be, so adding insurance like uninsured motorist coverage is likely to raise your premiums.
Article sources
- AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, “ Hit-and-Run Crashes: Prevalence, Contributing Factors and Countermeasures .” Accessed September 5, 2023.
- Allstate, “ Stacked vs. Unstacked car insurance .” Accessed September 5, 2023.
- Connecticut General Assembly, “ Auto Liability Insurance Requirements in Other States .” Accessed September 5, 2023.
- The Hartford Insurance, “ No-Fault States .” Accessed September 5, 2023.
- Insurance Information Institute, “ Facts + Statistics: Uninsured motorists .” Accessed March 28, 2025.
- Nationwide, “ What states have no-fault insurance? ” Accessed September 5, 2023.
- Progressive, “ What's the difference between at-fault and no-fault accidents? ” Accessed September 5, 2023.
- Progressive, “ What is uninsured motorist coverage? ” Accessed September 5, 2023.
- Social Security Administration, “ Program Operations Manual System (POMS) .” Accessed September 5, 2023.
- Texas Department of Insurance, “ What is uninsured motorist coverage, and do I really need it? ” Accessed September 5, 2023.
- Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner, “ What to do if you’re hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver .” Accessed September 5, 2023.
