Fact-checked by the The Insurance Scout editorial team
Quick Answer
Uninsured motorist coverage pays for your injuries and damages when the at-fault driver carries no liability insurance. As of July 2025, 1 in 8 U.S. drivers is uninsured, and average uninsured motorist bodily injury claims exceed $29,000. Without this coverage, you absorb those costs personally — even if the crash was entirely the other driver’s fault.
Uninsured motorist coverage is a policy add-on — or a mandatory component in many states — that steps in as the financial backstop when a driver who caused your accident carries no liability insurance. According to the Insurance Information Institute’s 2024 data, roughly 14% of all U.S. motorists are driving without any coverage at any given time.
That number has climbed in recent years, driven by rising premium costs and lapsed policies. If you are hit by one of these drivers today, the question of who pays for your hospital bills and vehicle repairs falls entirely on the coverage you carry — not theirs.
What Exactly Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Pay For?
Uninsured motorist coverage pays for bodily injury and, in many states, property damage caused by a driver who has no active liability insurance policy. It is divided into two distinct components that cover different types of losses.
Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury (UMBI)
UMBI covers medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and funeral costs for you and your passengers. Coverage limits mirror the structure of standard liability insurance — written as split limits such as $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident, or as a single combined limit.
Uninsured Motorist Property Damage (UMPD)
UMPD covers repair or replacement costs for your vehicle. Not every state requires insurers to offer UMPD, and in states where it is available, it often carries a small deductible — typically $200 to $300. Collision coverage can fill a similar role, though it does not compensate for pain and suffering.
Underinsured motorist coverage — sometimes bundled as UM/UIM — is a related but distinct product. UIM activates when the at-fault driver has some insurance, but their policy limits are too low to cover your full damages. Many insurers sell both together, and consumer advocates at the Consumer Reports auto insurance guide recommend purchasing both at matching limits to close coverage gaps completely.
Key Takeaway: Uninsured motorist coverage splits into two parts — UMBI for injuries and UMPD for vehicle damage. Pairing UM with UIM (underinsured motorist) is recommended by consumer advocates, since roughly 1 in 8 drivers carries either no coverage or dangerously low limits.
Which States Require Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
Twenty-two states and Washington D.C. currently mandate uninsured motorist coverage as a condition of vehicle registration or policy issuance. The remaining states treat it as optional, though insurers are generally required to offer it at the point of sale.
State minimums vary significantly. Virginia, for example, requires UM limits to match the state’s minimum liability limits — $30,000 per person/$60,000 per accident as of 2025, after the state raised its floor. New Hampshire, which does not require auto insurance at all, still requires insurers to include UM coverage in any policy that is sold, per the New Hampshire Insurance Department.
| State | UM Required? | Minimum UM Limits (Bodily Injury) |
|---|---|---|
| New York | Yes | $25,000 / $50,000 |
| Virginia | Yes | $30,000 / $60,000 |
| Illinois | Yes | $25,000 / $50,000 |
| Texas | Offer Required | $30,000 / $60,000 (if purchased) |
| Florida | No | Not mandated |
| California | Offer Required | $15,000 / $30,000 (if purchased) |
| Mississippi | No | Not mandated |
Florida is notable: it has no UM mandate and one of the highest uninsured driver rates in the country — 20.4% according to the Insurance Information Institute. Drivers in no-mandate states face the highest financial exposure if they decline coverage.
Key Takeaway: 22 states plus D.C. require UM coverage by law. Drivers in opt-out states like Florida — where 1 in 5 motorists is uninsured — carry the greatest personal risk by waiving it. Check your state’s rules at the Insurance Information Institute.
How Much Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Cost?
Uninsured motorist coverage is one of the most cost-efficient protections in a standard auto policy. Adding UMBI and UMPD to an existing policy typically costs between $50 and $150 per year, depending on your state, driving history, and the limits you select.
For context, the average annual auto insurance premium in the United States reached $2,150 in 2024, according to Bankrate’s 2024 insurance cost analysis. UM coverage typically represents less than 7% of that total premium — a small fraction relative to the financial exposure it eliminates.
Higher limits cost more, but the premium increase is modest. Raising UMBI limits from $25,000 per person to $100,000 per person may add only $20 to $40 annually, depending on the insurer and state. This is an area where the coverage-to-cost ratio strongly favors buying up. If you are weighing how to structure your overall auto insurance costs, the breakdown in our guide on insurance deductibles vs. premiums can help you balance competing priorities.
“Uninsured motorist coverage is the single most undervalued line item in an auto policy. Drivers routinely decline it to save $8 a month, then face $40,000 in out-of-pocket medical bills after being hit by someone with no insurance.”
Key Takeaway: Adding uninsured motorist coverage costs most drivers under $150 per year — less than 7% of the average auto premium. Given average UM bodily injury claims above $29,000, the return on that cost is substantial. See Bankrate’s premium data to benchmark your own rate.
What Happens When You File an Uninsured Motorist Claim?
Filing an uninsured motorist claim means you are claiming against your own insurer — not the at-fault driver’s. The process is more straightforward than suing an uninsured driver in civil court, but it still requires documentation and prompt action.
Steps to File a UM Claim
- Report the accident to your insurer immediately — most policies require prompt notice, sometimes within 24 to 72 hours.
- File a police report. Most insurers require one to verify that the other driver was uninsured or fled the scene (hit-and-run).
- Provide proof the other driver lacks coverage — a printout from your state’s motor vehicle database or a denial letter from their insurer satisfies this in most states.
- Submit medical bills, wage loss documentation, and repair estimates.
- Cooperate with your insurer’s investigation. UM claims sometimes trigger an internal appraisal or independent medical exam.
One critical nuance: filing a UM bodily injury claim typically does not raise your premium the way an at-fault claim does. Because you did not cause the accident, most states prohibit or restrict insurers from surcharging UM claims. However, this varies by state and insurer — confirm the rule with your carrier before filing. Our breakdown of how at-fault accidents affect insurance rates explains where that line is drawn.
Hit-and-run accidents also trigger UM coverage in most states, but only if physical contact occurred between the vehicles. Some states allow coverage even without contact if a witness can corroborate the incident. Confirm your state’s rule with your insurer or the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ state resource map.
Key Takeaway: UM claims are filed against your own insurer, and in most states, filing one cannot trigger a surcharge since you were not at fault. Always file a police report — it is typically required. Verify hit-and-run rules with the NAIC’s state resource directory.
Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage Enough Protection on Its Own?
Uninsured motorist coverage is a critical layer, but it is not a complete financial shield. Its limits cap your recovery, and it does not replace other essential coverages in a well-structured auto policy.
If your UM limits are $25,000 per person and your hospital bills reach $80,000, you are responsible for the $55,000 gap. This is why insurance professionals consistently recommend matching your UM limits to your liability limits — if you carry $100,000/$300,000 in liability, your UM should mirror that. Understanding the difference between liability and full coverage auto insurance helps clarify how all these layers interact.
Additionally, UM coverage does not compensate for vehicle damage if you do not have UMPD — and UMPD is not available in every state. In those cases, collision coverage picks up the repair bill, regardless of fault. For a broader view of how a single coverage gap can cascade, our article on mistakes drivers make when filing auto claims outlines where people commonly leave money on the table.
For drivers with significant assets, adding an umbrella policy on top of auto liability and UM coverage provides an additional buffer. The relationship between those two products is worth examining — see our guide on umbrella insurance vs. excess liability for a side-by-side comparison.
Key Takeaway: UM coverage limits cap your recovery. A $25,000 UMBI limit on an $80,000 injury claim leaves a $55,000 gap you pay personally. Match UM limits to your liability limits and consider an umbrella policy for full protection. Learn more at the Insurance Information Institute’s coverage guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does uninsured motorist coverage cover hit-and-run accidents?
Yes, in most states uninsured motorist coverage applies to hit-and-run accidents where physical contact occurred between the vehicles. Some states extend coverage even without contact if a corroborating witness is available. Always file a police report immediately — most insurers require one to process a hit-and-run UM claim.
Will filing an uninsured motorist claim raise my insurance premium?
In most states, filing a UM claim cannot trigger a premium surcharge because you were not at fault. However, rules vary by state and insurer, so confirm with your carrier before filing. Some insurers in unregulated states may still factor UM claims into renewal pricing.
What is the difference between uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage?
Uninsured motorist coverage applies when the at-fault driver has no insurance. Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage applies when the at-fault driver has insurance, but their limits are too low to cover your damages. Most insurers sell both as a paired add-on, and consumer advocates recommend purchasing them at equal limits.
Is uninsured motorist coverage required in my state?
22 states and Washington D.C. currently require UM coverage by law. In the remaining states, insurers must offer it but drivers can decline in writing. States like Florida, California, and Texas fall into the opt-out category — meaning you must actively choose to add it.
How much uninsured motorist coverage should I buy?
Insurance professionals recommend matching your UM limits to your liability limits. If you carry $100,000 per person in bodily injury liability, set your UMBI at the same level. The incremental cost is small — typically $20 to $40 per year to double limits — and the financial protection difference is substantial.
Does uninsured motorist coverage pay for pain and suffering?
Yes. UMBI covers pain and suffering, in addition to medical expenses and lost wages, just as the at-fault driver’s liability coverage would have if they had carried it. This is a key reason UM coverage is more comprehensive than collision coverage, which only reimburses vehicle repair costs.
Sources
- Insurance Information Institute — Facts and Statistics: Uninsured Motorists
- Insurance Information Institute — Auto Insurance Basics: Understanding Your Coverage
- Bankrate — Average Cost of Car Insurance 2024
- National Association of Insurance Commissioners — State Insurance Department Resources
- New Hampshire Insurance Department — Auto Insurance Consumer Information
- Consumer Reports — Car Insurance Guide
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Risky Driving Data
