Updated April 2026
What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
Uninsured Motorist Coverage has two components: bodily injury (UMBI) covers your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering when an uninsured or underinsured driver causes an accident that injures you or your passengers. Property damage (UMPD) covers repairs to your vehicle in the same scenario, though not all states offer this component. The coverage also applies in hit-and-run accidents where the at-fault driver is never identified. It steps in when the other driver's liability coverage is either nonexistent or too low to cover your full damages.
- An uninsured driver runs a red light and hits you. You suffer $18,000 in medical bills and your car sustains $9,000 in damage. The driver has no insurance and no assets. Your Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury coverage (if you carry $25,000 in limits) pays your full $18,000 in medical costs. If your state offers Uninsured Motorist Property Damage and you carry it, it pays the $9,000 vehicle repair minus your deductible — typically $250 to $500.
- A driver with only $15,000 in liability coverage causes an accident that totals your vehicle (valued at $22,000) and sends you to the ER with $8,000 in bills. Their insurance pays their $15,000 limit and stops. Your Underinsured Motorist coverage picks up the remaining $15,000 gap ($22,000 vehicle + $8,000 medical = $30,000 total minus the $15,000 they paid). Without this coverage, you would be responsible for the $15,000 shortfall out of pocket or through a lawsuit against a driver who likely has no assets.
- You're rear-ended at a stoplight and the driver flees the scene. You're left with $12,000 in medical expenses and whiplash treatment. Because the driver is never identified, there's no one to file a claim against. Your Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury coverage treats this as an uninsured driver scenario and pays your medical costs up to your policy limits. Most carriers require you to report the hit-and-run to police within 24 hours to qualify for coverage.
Who Needs Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
If you live in a state with a high uninsured driver rate, carry low liability limits yourself, or cannot afford to cover major medical bills out of pocket, this coverage is essential. It's particularly valuable for drivers with points or violations who may already be paying higher premiums — adding $10 to $20 per month for uninsured motorist protection is a small fraction of your total premium and protects you from catastrophic out-of-pocket costs if you're hit by someone with no coverage. Many states require it by law, and declining it in writing is often the only way to opt out.
Ask yourself: if an uninsured driver hits me tomorrow and causes $30,000 in medical bills and vehicle damage, can I cover that out of pocket or through existing health and auto coverage? If the answer is no or you'd face financial hardship, carry Uninsured Motorist Coverage at limits equal to or exceeding your liability limits. If your health insurance has high deductibles or doesn't cover lost wages, the bodily injury component becomes even more important.
How Much Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance Cost?
Uninsured Motorist Coverage typically adds $5 to $25 per month to your premium, or approximately $60 to $300 annually, depending on your coverage limits and state.
- Coverage limits you select — higher bodily injury limits (e.g., $100,000/$300,000 vs. $25,000/$50,000) increase your premium proportionally.
- Uninsured driver rate in your state — states with higher percentages of uninsured motorists often have higher premiums for this coverage because the risk of a claim is greater.
- Whether you add property damage coverage — UMPD typically adds $3 to $8 per month on top of bodily injury coverage where available.
- Your driving record and points — carriers may increase this coverage cost if you have recent violations or accidents, though the surcharge is typically smaller than the impact on liability premiums.
- Whether you stack coverage across multiple vehicles — stacking allows you to combine limits from all vehicles on your policy, but it can increase premiums by 30% to 60%.
- Your deductible on UMPD — choosing a $500 deductible instead of $250 can reduce this portion of the premium by 10% to 15%.