Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage Car Insurance
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Driving can be risky — especially because 1 in 8 drivers is uninsured. If you get into an accident with an uninsured driver, you might end up responsible for paying your medical bills and car repair costs. However, uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance can help.
What is uninsured motorist coverage?
When you're in an accident caused by someone who doesn't have insurance, uninsured motorist (UIM) coverage pays for your financial losses. There are two types of UIM:
- Uninsured motorist coverage for bodily injury covers your own medical bills following a car accident with an uninsured driver. It's similar to bodily injury liability coverage, which covers medical expenses for the other driver involved in the car accident.
- Uninsured motorist coverage for property damage pays to repair your own car if you're in an accident with someone who's not insured. It's similar to property damage liability insurance, which covers damage to the other driver's car.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury (UIMBI) covers:
- Hospital bills or medical care expenses
- Lost wages because you've been unable to work due to your injury
- Replacement services, such as house cleaning and babysitting, that you're unable to perform because of injuries from the accident
Uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage (UIMPD) covers:
- Damage to your vehicle
- Damage to your home
UIM limits are usually written in three parts; for example: $25,000/$50,000/$25,000. The first number represents the amount an insurer will pay for each person's injuries if an uninsured driver hits your car. The second number indicates that the insurer pays up to $50,000 for all injuries associated with the accident, and the third number means it covers up to $25,000 for any property damage.
Let's say your medical bills total $20,000 following a car accident. Usually, you would file a claim against the at-fault driver's bodily injury liability coverage. But because the other driver is uninsured, you would tap into your uninsured motorist insurance. So long as your limit is at least $20,000, you should be able to recoup all losses.
You can also look into a collision deductible waiver, which will cover your deductible if your vehicle is damaged in an accident and the driver at fault is uninsured.
Where is uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage required?
There are 20 states that require UIM. The bodily injury version of the coverage is typically mandatory. In a few states, you are required to carry UIM property damage, while in some states the coverage is not even offered. The table below lists states that make UIM mandatory:
State | UIMBI requirements |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | $25,000/$50,000 |
| District of Columbia | $25,000/$50,000 |
|
Illinois | $25,000/$50,000 |
|
Kansas | $25,000/$50,000 |
|
Maine | $50,000/$100,000 |
|
Maryland | $30,000/$60,000 |
|
Massachusetts | $20,000/$40,000 |
|
Minnesota | $25,000/$50,000 |
|
Missouri | $25,000/$50,000 |
|
Nebraska | $25,000/$50,000 |
|
New Hampshire | $25,000/$50,000 |
|
New York | $25,000/$50,000 |
Limits for UIM generally follow the state's minimum limits for bodily injury and property damage liability coverage. We recommend drivers get more than the state minimum in many cases.
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How much does uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance cost?
UIM is much cheaper than standard bodily injury and property damage insurance. Based on sample quotes for a 34-year-old married man, premiums for a $25,000/$50,000 policy range from $33 to $76 per year. For a policy with more than four times the coverage — limits of $100,000/$300,000 — the premium is only between $86 and $134 per year.
UIM is significantly cheaper than liability coverage, but prices fluctuate between states. The price of a policy depends largely on the number of uninsured drivers in your state. Some states have a higher percentage of uninsured drivers, which means there's a greater chance you'll use UIM coverage.
For example, rates in Massachusetts are usually cheap because Massachusetts has the lowest percentage of uninsured drivers. Oklahoma, on the other hand, is more costly because it has the highest percentage of uninsured drivers.
The prices below reflect annual quotes from Geico for UIMBI coverage.
State | Limit | Uninsured premium | Underinsured premium |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Massachusetts | $25,000/$50,000 | $11 | $2 |
| $50,000/$100,000 | $14 | $12 | |
| $100,000/$30,0000 | $15 | $25 | |
|
Oklahoma* | $25,000/$50,000 | $41 | $41 |
| $50,000/$100,000 | $57 | $57 | |
| $100,000/$30,0000 | $81 | $81 |
*This state presented uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance as one premium, so we divided it in two to show the price for each.
Is uninsured motorist insurance worth it?
In most cases, UIM coverage is worth carrying. For example, the average hospital bill following a car accident is around $60,000. It won't cost much to get a policy that covers this type of bill.
If your limit is $25,000, then your coverage for a car accident with an uninsured driver pays for less than half of those costs, leaving you on the hook for the rest.
When setting your insurance limits, you should consider your net worth. That's the value of all of your assets, such as home equity, after subtracting your liabilities, such as student loan debt. So if your net worth is $50,000, then your UIM limit should be at least $50,000. Luckily, there's not much of a price difference between low and high coverage limits.
You should only consider not carrying UIM insurance if you live in a no-fault state like Florida or Michigan, where personal injury protection (PIP) is mandatory. PIP pays for your injuries, regardless of whether the other driver is insured.
Additionally, if you have comprehensive and collision insurance, any car damage will be covered, regardless of whether the other driver is insured. Both coverages, however, will make your auto insurance policy more expensive.
When should you have uninsured motorist insurance? | When do you not need uninsured motorist insurance? |
|---|---|
|
When required by your state. | When not required by your state and ... |
|
When you do not have PIP. | You have PIP or MedPay on the policy and ... |
|
When you do not have collision or comprehensive coverage. | You have comprehensive and collision insurance. |
If the right side of the table does not match your current auto policy, you should strongly consider getting UIM. This is especially true if getting PIP and collision and comprehensive insurance on the same policy is too expensive. UIM may be the more viable and affordable option.
What is stacking?
Stacking allows you to combine uninsured/underinsured coverage limits, which increases your protection. Depending on state law, you may be able to stack coverage on multiple vehicles within the same policy.
Let's say your car insurance policy covers two cars. You have an uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage limit of $20,000 per accident on each car. Stacking your coverage within that policy increases your limit to $40,000 per accident. So if you're injured in a car accident with someone who's not insured, your insurance will help pay medical expenses up to $40,000.
Or in some states, you can stack UIM coverage limits across multiple car insurance policies.
Let's say you have a car insurance policy for your own car, with a UIMBI limit of $25,000 per accident. Your aunt lives with you and lists your name on her auto insurance policy. Her coverage limit is $35,000. Stacking coverage across both policies would increase your UIMBI coverage limit to $60,000. If you're hit by an uninsured driver, insurance would help cover medical bills up to $60,000.
And in some states, you may file a claim against multiple policies if you're injured as a passenger or pedestrian. So if you're a passenger in a car that's hit by an uninsured driver, for example, you're covered under two policies: your car insurance policy and your driver's policy.
How do I file an uninsured/underinsured motorist claim
Filing a claim for UIM can sometimes be tricky. Since your insurer is basically taking the place of the other driver's insurance company, you may have to prove your case. Your insurer may also only pay when the other driver is largely responsible for your injuries — which may require a court judgment to determine the extent of fault. Your claim payout may also be governed by your state's negligence law.
You can help your case by preparing this information:
- A full written description of what happened
- Photos of the scene and any injuries you sustained
- Records of medical examinations and any bills from doctors and health care providers
- Receipts from all related expenses
- Proof of lost wages, if your injuries caused you to miss work and potential income
After making a claim:
- You should hear back within a time frame set by your state and insurer. Expect updates on any delays.
- Be prepared to discuss the incident. A liability claims adjuster may have questions about your injuries and the cost of the claim.
- You might have to move through the claims process and reach a payout agreement within a set time frame. You can either accept the offer or file a lawsuit if you disagree.
- Your insurer will ask you to waive all future rights to pursue the person and company for further payments after settlement. You should ask an attorney to review the settlement and release, only signing it if you're ready.
- Know your rights. If your state allows stacking, then you may ask for a higher payout in some cases.
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