Updated May 2026
What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
Uninsured Motorist Coverage kicks in when another driver causes a crash and either has no insurance at all or carries liability limits too low to cover your damages. It pays your medical expenses, lost wages, and in many states your vehicle repair costs up to your policy limits. The coverage fills the gap carriers won't tell you about: liability insurance is mandatory in most states, but enforcement is weak and roughly 13% of drivers nationwide have no coverage at all.
- You're stopped at a red light and rear-ended by a driver who fled the state minimum liability requirement and has no coverage. Your medical bills total $18,000 and your vehicle needs $6,500 in repairs. Your Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury coverage pays your medical costs up to your policy limit. If you carry UMPD, it covers the vehicle damage after your deductible.
- Another driver runs a stop sign and T-bones your car. They carry the state minimum of $25,000 per person, but your injuries require $40,000 in treatment. Their liability insurance pays the first $25,000. Your Underinsured Motorist Coverage pays the remaining $15,000 up to your policy limit.
- Your parked car is sideswiped overnight and the driver leaves no note. Repairs cost $4,200. If you carry Uninsured Motorist Property Damage and file a police report within 24 hours, your UMPD pays after your deductible. Without UMPD, you'd file under collision coverage if you have it, or pay out of pocket.
How Much Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance Cost?
Uninsured Motorist Coverage typically adds $8 to $22 per month to your premium, or roughly $96 to $264 annually.
- Your coverage limits — higher limits cost more, but the cost increase is modest compared to the protection gap it closes.
- Whether you add Uninsured Motorist Property Damage (UMPD) — this optional add-on typically costs an additional $3 to $8 per month.
- Your state's uninsured driver rate — states with higher percentages of uninsured motorists often charge more for this coverage.
- Your driving record and claims history — carriers price this coverage lower for drivers with clean records.
- Whether you stack coverage across multiple vehicles — stacking raises limits but increases premium by 30% to 60%.
- Your zip code and commute patterns — urban areas with higher accident rates see higher premiums for UM coverage.
See How Much You Could Save
Get personalized uninsured motorist coverage insurance quotes in minutes.
Who Needs Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
Seniors on fixed income should strongly consider this coverage, especially if you drive a paid-off vehicle and dropped collision to save money. One in eight drivers has no insurance, and if they hit you, their lack of coverage becomes your financial emergency unless you carry UM protection. This coverage costs far less than collision — typically $8 to $22 monthly — and pays out in scenarios where you did nothing wrong but still face thousands in medical bills or vehicle damage.
Compare the monthly cost to your vehicle's value and your health insurance deductible. If your car is worth $8,000 and UMPD costs $6 per month, you're paying $72 annually to protect an asset you can't afford to replace out of pocket. If your health insurance has a $5,000 deductible, UM bodily injury coverage costing $12 monthly gives you first-dollar medical coverage in a crash you didn't cause.