Uninsured Motorist Coverage: What It Pays and Who Needs It
When the other driver has no policy or a minimum one, your own uninsured and underinsured coverage is what pays. What it covers, where it is required, stacking, and uninsured rates by state.
Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage pays for your injuries and your passengers’ injuries when a driver who has no insurance causes the crash, and in many states after a hit-and-run. Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage pays when the at-fault driver’s liability limits are too low to cover your costs. About 15.4% of US drivers were uninsured in 2023, according to the Insurance Research Council.
UM and UIM are part of your own policy and protect you, not the other driver. Around 20 states and the District of Columbia require at least UM coverage; most others require insurers to offer it.
What does uninsured motorist coverage pay for?
Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage (UMBI) pays what the at-fault driver’s liability insurance would have paid for injuries, up to your UM limit. That usually includes:
- medical bills for you and passengers in your car;
- lost wages while you recover;
- pain and suffering, where your state allows such claims;
- funeral costs in fatal crashes.
It typically follows you and household family members even as pedestrians or passengers in someone else’s car, depending on the policy wording. It does not pay for injuries you cause to others; that is your liability coverage.
What is the difference between UM, UIM and UMPD?
The three coverages fill different gaps:
| Coverage | When it pays | What it pays for |
|---|---|---|
| Uninsured motorist bodily injury (UM or UMBI) | At-fault driver has no insurance; often hit-and-run | Injuries to you and your passengers |
| Underinsured motorist (UIM) | At-fault driver’s liability limit is lower than your costs | Injury costs above the other driver’s limit, up to your UIM limit |
| Uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) | At-fault driver has no insurance; offered only in some states | Damage to your car, often with a deductible and a dollar cap |
| Collision (for comparison) | Any crash, regardless of fault | Damage to your car, minus your collision deductible |
Underinsured cases are common because so many drivers carry only the state minimum, which can be as low as $15,000 or $25,000 per injured person. Our guide to minimum car insurance by state lists each state’s limits.
If you have collision coverage, UMPD may add little. If you drop collision on an older car, UMPD can be a cheap way to cover damage from an uninsured driver, where your state offers it.
Which states require uninsured motorist coverage?
As of November 2026, these states and DC require UM coverage, and many also require UIM, based on the Insurance Information Institute’s state table and state regulators:
- UM and UIM required: Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia.
- UM required: District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Missouri, South Carolina, West Virginia, Wisconsin.
Most other states require the insurer to offer UM and UIM and let you reject it, often only by signing a written form. If you rejected it years ago to save money, that choice usually carries over at each renewal until you change it. Your state insurance department’s website explains the local rules.
How many drivers are uninsured in each state?
The Insurance Research Council estimated that 15.4% of drivers nationwide were uninsured in 2023, up from 11.6% in 2019. The rates vary more than fivefold between states, as reprinted by the Insurance Information Institute:
| Highest uninsured rates, 2023 | Share | Lowest uninsured rates, 2023 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | 28.2% | Maine | 5.7% |
| New Mexico | 24.1% | Utah | 6.2% |
| District of Columbia | 23.1% | Idaho | 6.4% |
| Michigan | 22.3% | Wyoming | 6.7% |
| Tennessee | 21.3% | Montana | 7.2% |
| Missouri | 20.7% | West Virginia | 7.8% |
| Florida | 20.6% | Massachusetts | 7.9% |
| California | 20.4% | New York | 8.6% |
| Colorado | 19.7% | South Dakota | 9.4% |
| Washington | 19.1% | Nebraska | 9.5% |
The IRC estimates the share by comparing uninsured motorist claims with bodily injury liability claims, so the figures are estimates rather than a count of unregistered policies.
What is stacking?
Stacking lets you combine the UM or UIM limits of more than one vehicle, or more than one policy, for a single crash. With $50,000 of UM on each of two cars, stacked coverage could pay up to $100,000 for your injuries.
States split on this. Some allow stacking, some ban it by law, and some let insurers write policies that exclude it. Pennsylvania is a well-known example where stacked UM and UIM are the default and you can waive stacking in writing for a lower premium. Ask your insurer whether your policy is stacked and what it would cost to change.
How much UM coverage should I carry?
A common approach is to match your UM and UIM limits to your own liability limits, so you are protected at the level you would pay others. Your health insurance, disability coverage and savings also affect how much you need.
Costs depend on your state, limits and driving record. Get a quote with and without higher UM and UIM limits; the difference is often smaller than people expect compared with the risk it covers. Our explainer on why car insurance went up covers what else drives premiums.
How do I make a UM claim?
Treat it like any injury claim, with extra proof that the other driver had no coverage.
- Call the police and get a report, especially for a hit-and-run, since many policies require a prompt police report for UM claims.
- Collect the other driver’s name, plate, license and insurer, if any. Our checklist on what to do after a car accident covers the details.
- Notify your insurer promptly; policies set deadlines for UM notice.
- Keep medical records, bills and proof of lost income.
- For UIM claims, tell your insurer before you settle with the other driver’s insurer, because settling without consent can affect your UIM claim.
Your own insurer can dispute the value of a UM claim like any other claim. For a serious injury, consider talking with a licensed attorney about your state’s rules.
Bottom line
About one driver in seven had no insurance in 2023, and many more carry only minimum limits. UM and UIM coverage on your own policy is what pays your injury costs when they hit you, so check whether you have it, at what limits, and whether you rejected it in writing years ago.
FAQ
Does uninsured motorist coverage pay for hit-and-run accidents?
In many states, yes, for injuries, usually with a requirement to report the crash to police promptly. Some states require physical contact with the other vehicle. Damage to your car from a hit-and-run is usually paid by collision coverage.
Is uninsured motorist coverage worth it if I have health insurance?
Often yes. Health insurance does not pay lost wages or pain and suffering, and it may have deductibles and copays that UM can cover. It also protects your passengers.
Does UM coverage raise my rates if I make a claim?
A UM claim is usually not-at-fault, because the other driver caused the crash, and many states restrict surcharges for not-at-fault claims. Rules vary, so ask your insurer.
Can I have UIM without UM?
It depends on the state and insurer; they are often sold together. Where they are separate, ask for a quote on each, since minimum-limit drivers can leave you short even when they are insured.
