What uninsured motorist insurance actually covers
Uninsured motorist coverage pays for your medical bills and vehicle damage when another driver hits you and has no insurance—or when a hit-and-run driver leaves the scene. It also covers you if you're struck by an underinsured driver whose policy limits are too low to pay for your injuries.
This coverage protects you and your passengers. If you're injured, it covers hospital bills, surgery, rehabilitation, lost wages, and pain and suffering up to your policy limit. If your car is damaged, it pays for repairs or replacement, minus your deductible. You don't have to prove the other driver was at fault—only that they had no insurance or insufficient coverage.
Uninsured motorist coverage comes in two parts: bodily injury (medical and wage losses) and property damage (vehicle repair or replacement). Your state may require one, both, or neither. Some states call it "uninsured motorist" and others call it "uninsured/underinsured motorist" or "UM/UIM" coverage.
Key Takeaways
- Uninsured motorist coverage pays your medical bills and lost wages when an uninsured or hit-and-run driver injures you, up to your chosen policy limit.
- It also covers vehicle damage if the other driver has no insurance, though some states require a separate uninsured motorist property damage endorsement.
- Your state may require this coverage, recommend it, or leave it optional—check your state's rules and your current policy to see what you have.
- The coverage only works if the other driver is truly uninsured; if they have insurance but it's not enough, underinsured motorist coverage fills the gap.
- You choose your coverage limit when you buy the policy, and that limit is what the insurance company will pay toward your claim.
When uninsured motorist coverage pays out
The most common scenario is a crash with an uninsured driver. You're hit at a red light, the other driver admits they have no insurance, and your uninsured motorist coverage pays for your injuries and vehicle repair. You don't have to sue the other driver or wait for them to pay—your own insurance handles it.
Hit-and-run accidents also trigger this coverage. If someone hits your parked car or rear-ends you on the highway and drives away, you can file an uninsured motorist claim. You'll need to report the accident to police and provide your insurance company with the police report number.
Underinsured motorist coverage (often bundled with uninsured motorist) covers the gap when the other driver's insurance isn't enough. If you're hit by a driver with a $15,000 bodily injury limit but your medical bills are $50,000, your underinsured motorist coverage pays the difference, up to your policy limit.
Uninsured motorist coverage also applies if you're hit by a driver whose insurance company denies the claim or becomes insolvent. In rare cases, it covers you as a pedestrian or cyclist struck by an uninsured driver.
What uninsured motorist coverage does not cover
This coverage does not pay if you cause the accident. It only protects you when the other driver is at fault and uninsured. If you hit an uninsured driver, your own collision or comprehensive coverage pays for your vehicle damage, not your uninsured motorist coverage.
It does not cover damage to other people's property—only your own vehicle and your own medical bills. If you hit an uninsured driver's car, your liability coverage (if you have it) would pay for their vehicle damage, not your uninsured motorist coverage.
Uninsured motorist coverage does not cover accidents with insured drivers, even if their coverage is minimal. That's what underinsured motorist coverage is for. Some policies bundle them together; others keep them separate.
It also does not cover your own negligence. If you cause an accident and the other driver is uninsured, your uninsured motorist coverage won't pay for your injuries—your medical payments coverage (if you have it) would instead.
State requirements and what you likely have now
About half of U.S. states require uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage by law. The other half make it optional or don't require it at all. A few states require uninsured motorist property damage coverage as well, though most do not.
If you financed or leased your car, your lender probably required you to carry collision and comprehensive coverage, but uninsured motorist coverage requirements vary by lender. If you own your car outright, you control whether to buy it.
Your current policy should list your uninsured motorist limits on the declarations page—the first page of your policy that shows your coverage types and amounts. It will show something like "25/50" or "100/300," which means $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident (or $100,000 and $300,000). If you don't see uninsured motorist listed, you likely don't have it.
If your state requires it and you don't have it, your insurance company should have offered it when you bought your policy. If you declined it, you can add it at any time by calling your agent or logging into your online account.
How much coverage you should choose
Your uninsured motorist limit should match or exceed your liability limits—the amount your insurance pays if you injure someone else. If your liability limit is $100,000 per person and your uninsured motorist limit is $25,000, you're underprotected. You could be hit by an uninsured driver and receive less compensation than you would owe if you hit someone else.
Many insurance agents recommend matching your bodily injury liability limit to your uninsured motorist bodily injury limit. So if you carry $100,000 in liability coverage, carry $100,000 in uninsured motorist coverage too.
The cost difference between a $25,000 limit and a $100,000 limit is usually small—often $10 to $30 per year. Higher limits cost more but protect you against catastrophic injury. A serious accident can generate $200,000 or more in medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
For property damage, uninsured motorist coverage typically has a lower limit or is optional. If you own an expensive car, you may want to raise this limit or add it if your state allows it. If you own an older car worth less than $10,000, a lower property damage limit may be sufficient.
How to file an uninsured motorist claim
Report the accident to police when ready, especially if the other driver is uninsured or fled the scene. Get the police report number—your insurance company will need it. Take photos of the damage, the accident scene, and any visible injuries.
Contact your insurance company within a few days. Tell them you want to file an uninsured motorist claim. Provide the police report number, the other driver's information (if you have it), and details of your injuries and vehicle damage.
Your insurance company will assign a claims adjuster. They'll review the police report, your medical records, repair estimates, and your account of what happened. They may ask you to provide medical bills, wage loss documentation, or photos of your injuries.
The claims process typically takes two to eight weeks, depending on the complexity of your injuries and the amount of documentation needed. If your injuries are severe or the claim is disputed, it may take longer. Your insurance company will offer a settlement amount based on your policy limit and the evidence you provide.
Uninsured motorist coverage versus collision coverage
These two coverages overlap in some situations, which confuses many people. Collision coverage pays for vehicle damage from any accident, regardless of who's at fault or whether the other driver is insured. Uninsured motorist property damage coverage pays for vehicle damage only when the other driver is uninsured.
If you have collision coverage, you can use it after an accident with an uninsured driver. You'll pay your collision deductible (often $500 or $1,000), and collision pays the rest. If you have uninsured motorist property damage coverage instead, you'll pay that deductible (usually lower) and uninsured motorist property damage pays the rest.
Many people carry collision coverage because they financed their car and their lender required it. If you have collision, you don't strictly need uninsured motorist property damage coverage—but it's cheaper and has a lower deductible, so some people carry both.
If you own your car outright and don't have collision coverage, uninsured motorist property damage coverage is a low-cost way to protect your vehicle from uninsured drivers. Without either one, you'd have to pay for repairs out of pocket or sue the uninsured driver yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to carry uninsured motorist insurance?
It depends on your state. About half of U.S. states require it by law; the other half make it optional. Check your state's insurance department website or ask your insurance agent whether it's required where you live. Even if it's optional, most insurance professionals recommend carrying it because uninsured drivers are common.
What if the other driver has insurance but it's not enough?
That's what underinsured motorist coverage is for. It pays the difference between the other driver's insurance limit and your actual damages, up to your underinsured motorist limit. Many policies bundle uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage together under one limit.
Can I use uninsured motorist coverage if I caused the accident?
No. Uninsured motorist coverage only pays if the other driver is at fault and uninsured. If you cause an accident, your collision coverage (if you have it) or your own medical payments coverage would pay for your injuries and vehicle damage instead.
How much does uninsured motorist coverage cost?
The cost varies by state, your age, driving record, and the coverage limit you choose. Most people pay $10 to $50 per year for uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage. Property damage coverage is usually cheaper. Ask your insurance agent for a quote on different limits to see what fits your budget.
What happens if I'm hit by a hit-and-run driver?
Report the accident to police and get a police report number. Then file an uninsured motorist claim with your insurance company and provide the police report. You don't need the other driver's information—the police report documenting the hit-and-run is enough. Your uninsured motorist coverage will pay for your injuries and vehicle damage.