Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage: How UM/UIM Works
Uninsured motorist coverage protects you from the nearly 13% of U.S. drivers who carry no auto insurance, a share the Insurance Information Institute reports, as cited by Progressive. This part of a car insurance policy pays your injuries, and in some states your car repairs, when an uninsured or hit-and-run driver causes the crash.
Underinsured motorist coverage is its partner: it pays the rest of your costs when the at-fault driver has an auto insurance policy, but its limits run out. Covr is a quote app, not an insurer: you share your ZIP code and phone number, and partner insurance companies contact you with offers that can include UM/UIM.
Last reviewed: October 9, 2026 · Covr editorial team
At a glance
- Definition: UM coverage pays when the at-fault driver has no auto insurance or drives away; UIM coverage pays when that driver's limits are too low.
- What UM/UIM pays: medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering and funeral costs, plus car repairs where your state offers property damage protection.
- What UM skips: crashes you cause, and the uninsured driver's own injuries or car.
- Where UM is required: UM bodily injury coverage is mandatory in 19 states plus D.C., according to the Liberty Mutual and Allstate state lists Covr compared.
- How much to buy: Progressive suggests matching your liability limits, such as $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident.
- Deductible: usually none on bodily injury; Texas sets a $250 deductible, per the Texas Department of Insurance.
What Uninsured Motorist Coverage Is
Uninsured motorist coverage, or UM coverage, is part of a car insurance policy that pays your losses when a driver with no liability insurance causes a crash, and nearly 13% of drivers fall into that group, per the Insurance Information Institute figure Progressive cites.
UM Coverage Meaning
UM coverage, which stands for uninsured motorist protection, is the part of your auto insurance that stands in for the liability insurance the other driver should have carried. UM coverage pays the damages you are legally entitled to collect from that at-fault driver, as State Farm describes it, so your own insurer handles the claim as if it were the other driver's liability carrier. UM protects you, other drivers listed on your plan and passengers in your car, as the late Florida attorney Paul Cavonis explained in a video for DeLoach, Hofstra & Cavonis.
Uninsured Motorist Insurance
Uninsured motorist insurance is car insurance that pays your medical bills and car repairs when an uninsured motorist hits you. Insurers also call uninsured motorist insurance uninsured motor vehicle coverage, State Farm's term, or uninsured driver coverage.
Car Insurance Uninsured Motorist Add-On or Requirement
UM coverage is an add-on to car insurance in some states and a legal requirement in others. GEICO describes it as additional protection you can add to your car insurance, while Progressive notes that around half of states require at least one of the uninsured or underinsured coverages. Progressive adds that underinsured protection is usually offered alongside UM, and many auto insurance policies show both as one line, written UM/UIM. By Covr's count of the Liberty Mutual and Allstate lists, UM bodily injury protection is mandatory in 19 of the 50 states, or 38%, plus D.C.
Underinsured Motorist (UIM) Coverage
Underinsured motorist coverage protects you from at-fault drivers who have car insurance but not enough to pay for your injuries or damages: in Google's AI answer example, bills of $30,000 against a $10,000 bodily injury limit leave $20,000 for underinsured motorist coverage to pay, up to your own limit.
How Underinsured Motorist Insurance Works
Underinsured motorist insurance starts only after the at-fault driver's insurer pays its full limit; your own auto insurance company then pays the excess, up to the underinsured motorist limit you chose. Allstate notes that states define an underinsured motorist differently: in some, the other driver's limits only need to be too low for your bills; in others, they must be equal to or lower than your own limit.
UM vs UIM: The Difference
UM and UIM coverage differ on one fact: whether the at-fault driver had any car insurance. UM applies when there is none, or when a hit-and-run driver cannot be found; UIM applies when there is an auto insurance policy whose limits fall short. Investopedia notes that UIM does not cover hit-and-run crashes, because uninsured motorist protection applies instead.
What UM/UIM Insurance Pays For and What It Does Not
UM/UIM coverage can consist of up to 4 separate parts of your auto insurance, depending on your state, Progressive explains: 2 for injuries and 2 for vehicle damage. The vehicle parts are the least common: Covr's count of the Liberty Mutual and Allstate lists finds UMPD mandatory in only 7 of the 50 states, or 14%, plus D.C.
| Coverage | Driver who hit you | What it pays |
|---|---|---|
| Uninsured motorist bodily injury (UMBI) | No insurance or hit-and-run | Medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, funeral costs for you and your passengers |
| Uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) | No insurance | Repairs to your car, up to its actual cash value (GEICO) |
| Underinsured motorist bodily injury (UIMBI) | Limits too low | Injury costs above the other driver's limit |
| Underinsured motorist property damage (UIMPD) | Limits too low | Vehicle damage above the other driver's limit, where sold |
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury
Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage (UMBI/UIMBI) pays your injuries and your passengers' injuries when you are hit by an uninsured or underinsured motorist. GEICO lists the bodily injury costs covered for car insurance customers: medical expenses, funeral expenses, loss of income and pain and suffering.
Uninsured Property Damage Coverage
Uninsured property damage coverage (UMPD) pays to repair your car after an uninsured driver hits the vehicle; State Farm notes uninsured property damage coverage may also pay for loss of use and personal property, depending on the state. Some states sell UMPD only to drivers without collision, and some do not offer UMPD at all, according to State Farm.
What Uninsured Motorist Coverage Does Not Cover
Uninsured motorist coverage does not pay when you caused the crash or share much of the blame, and it never pays the uninsured driver's own injuries or car. UM also cannot pay more than your actual costs from the accident, Investopedia notes, and payment stops at the limit on your auto insurance declarations page.
Do You Need Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
UM/UIM protection on an auto insurance policy matters most where uninsured drivers are common, and the Insurance Information Institute figure cited by Progressive puts that share above 20% in some states.
Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage Worth It?
UM/UIM coverage is usually worth it when you could not pay a serious injury or a car repair yourself. State Farm notes that many drivers either skip liability car insurance or buy only the state minimum, and minimum limits often do not cover a hospital stay, so without UM/UIM you may pay out of pocket or sue the other driver. Minimum limits are low: California's 30/60/15 minimum, per Mercury Insurance, pays at most $30,000 per injured person, and New York's 25/50/10 minimum, per the New York Department of Financial Services (DFS), pays at most $25,000, so a driver who carries only the minimum can leave part of a serious injury unpaid.
Uninsured Motorist vs Health Insurance
Health insurance overlaps with UMBI protection on a car insurance policy, but not fully. Progressive lists 4 checks before you drop UMBI: whether your health insurance pays for car crash injuries, how high its deductible is, whether passengers have their own health plan and whether it pays lost wages. UMBI generally has no deductible, and Medicare and Medicaid may not pay until other insurance is exhausted, Progressive notes.
Uninsured Motorist vs Collision Coverage
Collision on a car insurance policy pays to fix your car regardless of fault, but collision never pays injuries. UMPD and collision overlap only on the car: Progressive explains that collision pays for your car whoever is at fault, while UMPD, depending on the state, may also pay for other property damaged by an uninsured driver. Liberty Mutual adds that UM may carry a low or no deductible. Covr's guide to auto coverage explains how each part of a policy fits together.
Why Drivers Reject UM Coverage
Drivers reject UM coverage mainly to lower the car insurance premium, or because they think health insurance or PIP will pay everything. Medical payments protection pays your medical bills regardless of fault, while UM applies only when you are legally entitled to recover from another driver, as State Farm explains, so the two do different jobs. Covr's page on average auto premiums shows what a full policy typically costs.
How Much Uninsured Motorist Coverage Do You Need?
UM bodily injury coverage should usually match your liability limits, Progressive advises: with $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident in liability, choose the same for UMBI and UIMBI, and some states give you no other option.
UM Bodily Injury Limits
UM bodily injury coverage limits are written per person and per accident. In Progressive's example, each injured person in your car can collect up to $50,000, and once 2 people collect the full $50,000, the $100,000 per-accident maximum is reached.
UM Property Damage Limits
UM property damage coverage should mirror your car's value: Progressive suggests about $20,000 in UMPD for a car worth $20,000 when you do not carry collision. TDI notes that Texas drivers can usually add UM/UIM in $5,000 increments, with enough property damage protection to replace the vehicle.
Stacked vs Unstacked Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Stacked UM coverage multiplies your limit by the number of cars on the auto insurance policy. Allstate's example: a Pennsylvania driver with $50,000/$100,000 UMBI limits who stacks 2 cars gets $100,000 per person and $200,000 per accident. Investopedia gives a second case, where 2 vehicles with $35,000 UIM limits stack to $70,000. Stacking is not allowed in every state.
Uninsured Motorist Deductible
An uninsured motorist deductible usually applies only to property damage on an auto insurance policy. Progressive notes that UMBI and UIMBI generally have no deductible, while some states require one for UMPD or UIMPD; in Texas, TDI sets the UM/UIM deductible at $250, which is often lower than a collision deductible.
Which States Require Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Uninsured motorist coverage for bodily injury is required in 19 states plus the District of Columbia, according to the state lists published by Liberty Mutual (as of 2023) and Allstate (last updated July 2023).
State Requirement Matrix
Covr's state requirement matrix lists 22 states and the District of Columbia that at least one insurer marks as requiring UM coverage. Covr compiled it on October 9, 2026 from 3 published lists: Liberty Mutual's 2023 list, Allstate's July 2023 table and Investopedia's November 28, 2025 list of underinsured requirements. A state is marked "Required" when 2 lists agree, and the 3 states only Allstate lists are flagged.
| State | UM bodily injury | UM property damage | UIM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | Required | — | Required |
| Illinois | Required | — | If UM is above the minimum |
| Kansas | Required | — | Required |
| Maine | Required | — | Required |
| Maryland | Required | Required | Required |
| Massachusetts | Required | — | — |
| Minnesota | Required | — | Required |
| Missouri | Required | — | — |
| Nebraska | Required | — | Required |
| New Hampshire | If you carry a plan | If you carry a plan | If you carry a plan |
| New Jersey | Allstate list only | Allstate list only | Standard plan only |
| New York | Required | — | — |
| North Carolina | Required | Required | Required |
| North Dakota | Required | — | Required |
| Oregon | Required | — | Required |
| Rhode Island | Allstate list only | Allstate list only | Above-minimum liability only |
| South Carolina | Required | Required | — |
| South Dakota | Allstate list only | — | Required |
| Vermont | Required | Required | Required |
| Virginia | Required | Required | Required |
| West Virginia | Required | Required | — |
| Wisconsin | Required | — | — |
| District of Columbia | Required | Required | — |
Underinsured Motorist Coverage Required
Underinsured motorist coverage is required in 11 states, or 22% of the 50, according to Investopedia's list: Connecticut, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota and Vermont. It is also required in New Hampshire and Virginia if you buy a policy, in Rhode Island if you carry more than the minimum liability, in Illinois if your UM limit is above the minimum, and in New Jersey on a standard policy.
Idaho and Other States Where UM Is Optional
Idaho uninsured coverage is not on any of the 3 required lists Covr compared, so in Idaho, as in California, Georgia, Montana and New Mexico, UM coverage is treated as optional. Optional does not mean unavailable: in Texas, for example, insurers must offer it. State rules change, so confirm the current law with your state department of insurance or insurance regulator before you buy.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Florida and Texas
Florida auto insurance law requires only $10,000 in personal injury protection and $10,000 in property damage liability, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), so many Florida drivers carry no bodily injury liability at all.
Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage Required in Florida?
UM coverage is not required in Florida, but insurers must include it in the same amount as your bodily injury liability limits unless you choose a lower limit or sign a rejection form, Paul Cavonis explained for DeLoach, Hofstra & Cavonis. Florida does not require bodily injury liability, so a driver who hits you may have nothing to pay your injuries; failing to keep the required PIP and property damage liability can bring a suspension and a reinstatement fee of $150 to $500, per FLHSMV.
Florida Stacked vs Unstacked UM
Florida drivers often compare stacked and unstacked UM coverage. Stacked UM multiplies your bodily injury limit by the number of insured cars, while unstacked UM keeps one limit per crash; Allstate notes that stacking is not allowed in every state, so ask each insurer which Florida forms it offers and quote both.
Texas: Offered Unless You Reject It in Writing
Texas auto insurance companies must offer UM protection, and you have to turn it down in writing if you do not want it, according to the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI). TDI lists what Texas UM/UIM pays: car repairs, property in your car, a rental car, medical bills for you and your passengers, pain and suffering and diminished value, with a $250 deductible.
Hit-and-Run and Other Special Situations
Uninsured motorist coverage for hit and run applies in most policies, but in some states UMPD will not pay for a hit-and-run, so you would need collision protection to repair your car, Progressive explains.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage for Hit and Run
Hit-and-run claims go under UMBI on your car insurance for injuries in most states, because a driver who cannot be found counts as uninsured. Report the crash to police quickly: the California Department of Insurance notes that most policies require you to notify the police within a set time after a hit-and-run. Note any part of the plate and the car's description.
Uninsured Driver Driving an Insured Car
An uninsured driver driving an insured car with the owner's permission is usually covered by the car owner's policy, because auto insurance generally follows the vehicle. If the driver lives in your household and drives the car regularly, companies usually expect that driver to be listed.
Car Insurance for Uninsured Drivers
Car insurance for uninsured drivers is available: a driver without a current plan can buy one, though a lapse usually raises the quote. After a conviction for driving uninsured, a state may also require an SR-22 filing, which most states require for 3 years, according to Progressive; an SR-22 proves only the state minimum, so UM is needed only if your state requires it or you choose it.
Do Insurance Companies Go After Uninsured Drivers?
Insurance companies can go after uninsured drivers: after paying your UM claim, your insurer may try to recover the money from the at-fault driver, a process called subrogation. Many uninsured drivers have few assets, so the recovery often fails, which is why your own UM/UIM limits matter.
How to Add UM/UIM Coverage and Compare Quotes
Adding uninsured motorist coverage takes 4 steps, and the order keeps every quote comparable.
Steps to Add or Raise Your Limits
UM/UIM coverage limits can be added or raised at renewal or mid-term:
- Check your declarations page for UMBI, UMPD, UIMBI and UIMPD lines and their limits.
- Look up your state's rules with the state department of insurance.
- Choose limits that match your liability limits and, for UMPD, your car's value; a Texas driver with the 30/60/25 state minimum set by the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) would match it with $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident in UMBI, following Progressive's advice.
- Ask each company to quote the same UM/UIM limits, stacked and unstacked where allowed, and check its complaint record with the NAIC.
How Quotes Work Through Covr
Quotes through Covr come from partner insurers: you enter your ZIP code and phone number, and partner insurance companies contact you with their offers. Covr does not issue policies or set prices, so ask each company to list its UM/UIM limits and price separately, and use our quote shopping tips for the rest of the comparison. You can read the full process on how Covr works or get the Covr app on Google Play. Other Covr tools are listed on our homepage.
Sources and Methodology
Our methodology: every statement and figure on this page was last reviewed by Covr on October 9, 2026 against the sources named next to it: the Insurance Information Institute figure cited by Progressive, the UM/UIM explainers of Progressive, GEICO, State Farm, Allstate and Liberty Mutual, Investopedia's November 28, 2025 UIM guide, the Texas Department of Insurance (page updated October 14, 2024), Mercury Insurance for California's minimum limits, the New York Department of Financial Services, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, the California Department of Insurance, DeLoach, Hofstra & Cavonis, and Google's AI answers for "uninsured motorist coverage." The state requirement matrix is a Covr compilation of 3 lists; a state is marked "Required" when 2 lists agree. We did not find a reliable national figure for the price of UM/UIM protection, so we do not publish one. Written and fact-checked by the Covr Editorial Team under our editorial policy. This page is general information, not legal or financial advice; your price and protection depend on your state, your driving profile and the company you choose. Read our editorial policy or contact us with a correction.
Questions About UM/UIM Coverage
Is uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage the same thing?
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage are not the same thing. Uninsured means the at-fault driver has no liability insurance, and underinsured means the driver has a plan with limits too low for your costs. Many companies sell both on one line, written UM/UIM.
What is uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage?
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, or UM/UIM coverage, protects you when an uninsured motorist or an underinsured motorist hits you, paying your injuries and, in some states, your car. Depending on the state, a car insurance policy can split UM/UIM coverage into up to 4 parts.
Is it better to have collision or uninsured motorist coverage?
Collision and UM coverage do different jobs, so many drivers carry both. Collision pays your car regardless of fault; UM pays your injuries, and with UMPD your car, only when an uninsured driver is at fault.
Is it worth suing an underinsured driver?
Suing an underinsured driver is usually worth it only when the driver has real assets or steady income and your own UIM coverage falls short. Many underinsured drivers cannot pay a judgment, so a UIM claim is often the faster route.
Does uninsured motorist coverage cover my passengers?
UM coverage covers your passengers: UMBI and UIMBI pay for you and the people in your car for medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering, as Allstate describes, and UM also protects other drivers listed on your plan, per DeLoach, Hofstra & Cavonis.