Uninsured Motorist Coverage Explained
Uninsured Motorist Coverage pays for your medical bills and vehicle damage when you're hit by a driver with no insurance or who flees the scene.
Compare Rates After SR-22What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
Uninsured Motorist Coverage has two parts: Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury (UMBI) covers your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering when an at-fault driver has no insurance or insufficient coverage. Uninsured Motorist Property Damage (UMPD) pays for repairs to your vehicle when hit by an uninsured driver. Most states bundle underinsured motorist coverage with uninsured coverage, meaning it also kicks in when the other driver's liability limits are too low to cover your full claim. This coverage follows you and your passengers regardless of which vehicle you're in.
Who Needs Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
Post-SR22 drivers should strongly consider uninsured motorist coverage because you're statistically more likely to encounter uninsured drivers in similar risk pools, and you have less financial cushion if hit with unexpected medical bills or repair costs. If you're carrying liability-only coverage to minimize costs, UMBI becomes your only protection for your own injuries in a not-at-fault accident.
Calculate your personal exposure: add your health insurance deductible + 3 months of lost wages + potential out-of-pocket maximums, then compare that total to the annual cost of UMBI coverage at limits matching that exposure. For UMPD, compare the cost against your collision coverage—if you're already paying for collision with a reasonable deductible, UMPD often provides minimal additional value and can be reduced or skipped in most states.
How Much Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance Cost?
- Whether UMBI and UMPD are bundled or sold separately affects total cost—states requiring both as a package sometimes offer better combined rates than purchasing each individually.
Related Coverage Types
