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Uninsured Motorist Coverage: What It Is & What It Costs

Uninsured Motorist Coverage pays for your medical bills and vehicle damage when you're hit by a driver who has no insurance or flees the scene.

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What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?

Uninsured Motorist Coverage (UM) pays for your injuries and, in most states, your vehicle damage when an at-fault driver has no insurance, carries less than your policy limits (underinsured motorist coverage), or flees the scene in a hit-and-run. It comes in two parts: Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury (UMBI) covers medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering for you and your passengers, while Uninsured Motorist Property Damage (UMPD) covers repairs to your vehicle. Critically, this coverage works even if you only carry liability insurance — you don't need collision or comprehensive coverage for UM to apply.

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Who Needs Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?

It's especially critical if you live in a state with low minimum liability limits, where even insured drivers may not carry enough coverage to pay for serious injuries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage required in my state?

Over 20 states require Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury coverage, including Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Most other states require insurers to offer it, but you can reject it in writing. Requirements for Uninsured Motorist Property Damage vary more widely — check your state's Department of Insurance website for specific mandates.

Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage pay if I don't know who hit me?

For bodily injury (UMBI), yes — if you're injured in a hit-and-run, your UMBI coverage typically applies even if the driver is never identified. For property damage (UMPD), it depends on your state: some states like Virginia and North Carolina cover hit-and-run vehicle damage under UMPD, while others like California and Texas require the at-fault driver to be identified or require you to have collision coverage for unidentified hit-and-runs.

Related Coverage Types

A hand holds a black car key on a ring above a wooden table with a clipboard of printed forms and a pen, in a blurred interior with a hanging lamp and a dark mug.Collision Coverage→A bearded man in a dark sweater sits at a desk with an open laptop, papers and a spiral notebook, and a dark mug, beside a large window showing trees at sunset.Comprehensive Coverage→A bearded man in a dark cap and hooded sweatshirt sits in a vehicle's driver seat, pulling the seat belt across his chest toward the buckle.Liability Insurance→A man in a dark sweatshirt and worn cap sits in the driver's seat of a vehicle, pulling the seat belt across his chest toward the buckle, with tool cases behind him and a house and bare trees visible through the window.Minimum Coverage→
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