If you are shopping for car insurance, you may have seen uninsured motorist coverage (UM) listed as an optional or required part of your policy. But how much does uninsured motorist coverage cost?
For many drivers, uninsured motorist coverage adds a relatively small amount to the overall cost of an auto insurance policy. The exact price depends on your state, coverage limits, driving history, location, vehicle, insurance company, and whether you choose uninsured motorist bodily injury, property damage, or both.
This guide explains how much uninsured motorist coverage costs, what affects the price, and whether adding UM coverage is worth it.
What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
Uninsured motorist coverage helps protect you if you are injured or suffer covered losses because another driver causes an accident but has no auto insurance.
Depending on your state and policy, UM coverage can help pay for expenses such as:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Rehabilitation expenses
- Other covered injury-related costs
Some policies or states also offer uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD), which can help pay for damage to your vehicle caused by an uninsured driver.
Uninsured motorist coverage is different from collision coverage. Collision coverage generally protects your vehicle from covered collisions regardless of who caused the crash, subject to your deductible. UM coverage is designed specifically to protect you against losses caused by drivers who lack adequate insurance.
How Much Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Cost?
There is no single nationwide price for uninsured motorist coverage.
For many drivers, adding UM coverage can cost tens of dollars to potentially hundreds of dollars per year, depending on the coverage limits and personal risk factors.
For example, a driver choosing relatively modest UM limits may pay considerably less than someone selecting high limits that provide substantially more protection.
The most important point is that UM coverage is usually priced as an addition to your overall auto insurance policy, rather than as a completely separate insurance policy.
Your insurer may show the exact UM cost on your quote or declarations page.
What Determines the Cost of UM Coverage?
Several factors can influence the price you pay for uninsured motorist protection.
1. Your Coverage Limits
Higher coverage limits generally provide greater financial protection but can also increase your premium.
For example, choosing higher bodily injury limits can cost more than selecting lower limits.
Instead of choosing the cheapest available limit automatically, consider how much financial protection you would want if an uninsured driver caused a serious accident.
2. Your State
Insurance rules vary significantly across the United States.
Some states require drivers to carry uninsured motorist coverage, while others allow drivers to reject or decline certain UM protections.
State laws can also affect:
- Minimum coverage limits
- Whether UM property damage is available
- Whether UM and UIM coverage are combined
- How coverage applies after an accident
Because of these differences, the price of UM coverage in one state may not be representative of what drivers pay elsewhere.
3. Your Driving Record
Your driving history can affect your overall auto insurance premium and may indirectly influence what you pay for additional coverage.
Factors insurers may consider include:
- At-fault accidents
- Speeding violations
- Serious traffic violations
- Previous insurance claims
- Driving experience
A clean driving record may help you qualify for lower overall insurance rates.
4. Where You Live
Your ZIP code can have a major impact on auto insurance pricing.
Insurers may consider factors such as:
- Accident frequency
- Traffic density
- Vehicle theft
- Insurance claims
- Medical costs
- Uninsured-driver rates
- Local repair costs
This means two drivers with similar vehicles and driving histories can receive very different insurance quotes.
5. Your Vehicle
The type of vehicle you drive can also influence your insurance premium.
Repair costs, safety features, vehicle value, theft risk, and replacement-part prices may all affect the overall cost of insurance.
However, the impact on UM coverage itself can vary by insurer and state.
Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Increase Your Insurance Premium?
Yes, adding uninsured motorist coverage can increase your car insurance premium because you are purchasing additional protection.
However, the increase may be relatively small compared with the potential financial consequences of being seriously injured by an uninsured driver.
The actual difference depends on your insurer, state, coverage limits, vehicle, and personal profile.
The best way to determine your cost is to request quotes with and without different UM limits and compare the price difference.
Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage Worth the Cost?
For many drivers, UM coverage can be valuable because not every driver on the road carries adequate insurance.
Imagine you are involved in a serious crash caused by a driver who has no insurance.
Without appropriate protection, you may have to rely on your own health insurance, collision coverage, savings, or potentially pursue the at-fault driver personally.
Even if you successfully obtain a judgment against an uninsured driver, collecting the money may be difficult if that person has limited assets.
UM coverage can provide an additional layer of financial protection.
Uninsured vs. Underinsured Motorist Coverage
These two types of coverage are closely related but not identical.
Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage generally applies when the at-fault driver has no applicable liability insurance.
Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage generally applies when the at-fault driver has insurance, but their liability limits are not high enough to cover your covered damages.
For example, suppose your medical expenses and other covered losses are $100,000, but the at-fault driver’s policy only provides $50,000 in applicable liability coverage.
Depending on your state’s rules and your policy, UIM coverage may help cover the remaining eligible amount up to your policy limits.
Some states and insurers combine UM and UIM coverage, while others treat them separately.
Does Full Coverage Include Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
Not necessarily.
“Full coverage” is not a standardized insurance policy with one universal list of protections.
People commonly use the term to describe a policy that includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage. However, uninsured motorist coverage may be separate.
That’s why you should check your declarations page rather than assuming you have UM protection.
Look specifically for terms such as:
- Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury
- Uninsured Motorist Property Damage
- Underinsured Motorist
- UM/UIM
Your insurance agent or company can explain exactly what your policy includes.
What Happens If an Uninsured Driver Hits You?
If an uninsured driver causes an accident, take steps to document the incident and protect your insurance claim.
Step 1: Get Medical Attention
If you are injured, seek appropriate medical care. Some injuries may not become obvious immediately after a crash.
Step 2: Contact the Police
A police report can provide important documentation about the accident.
Step 3: Collect Information
If it is safe to do so, document:
- The other vehicle
- License plate information
- Driver information
- Accident location
- Damage to vehicles
- Witness information
- Photos and videos
If the other driver has no insurance, make sure this is documented.
Step 4: Contact Your Insurance Company
Notify your insurer as soon as reasonably possible and ask whether your UM or UIM coverage applies.
Step 5: Follow Your Policy’s Claim Requirements
Insurance policies can have specific requirements and deadlines for making claims, providing documentation, and cooperating with the insurer.
Can Uninsured Motorist Coverage Protect You From a Hit-and-Run?
It can, depending on your state and policy.
A hit-and-run driver may effectively be treated as an uninsured motorist for certain coverage purposes, but insurers and state laws can impose specific requirements.
For example, you may need to report the accident to law enforcement and promptly notify your insurer.
Never assume that every hit-and-run automatically qualifies. Check your policy and your state’s rules.
How Much UM Coverage Should You Buy?
The right amount depends on your financial situation, state requirements, existing insurance coverage, and tolerance for risk.
One common approach is to choose UM/UIM limits that are reasonably consistent with your bodily injury liability limits.
If you have significant assets, high income, or substantial financial responsibilities, carrying only the minimum available coverage may leave you exposed to a large financial loss.
Ask your insurer for quotes at several different limits. Comparing the additional premium can help you determine whether higher limits provide enough additional protection to justify the extra cost.
How to Get Cheaper Uninsured Motorist Coverage
If you’re concerned about the cost, don’t automatically remove UM coverage. Instead, compare your options.
Compare Multiple Insurance Companies
Different insurers can price the same driver very differently.
Get quotes from several companies and compare the total policy price as well as UM limits.
Ask About Discounts
Depending on the insurer, discounts may be available for:
- Safe driving
- Multiple policies
- Multiple vehicles
- Vehicle safety features
- Paying premiums in certain ways
- Defensive driving courses
Compare Different Coverage Limits
Ask your insurer how much your premium changes when you increase or decrease UM limits.
A relatively small premium difference may provide substantially more protection.
Review Your Policy Regularly
Your insurance needs can change after buying a new vehicle, moving, getting married, changing your commute, or experiencing other major life changes.
Review your coverage when you shop for a new policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is uninsured motorist coverage expensive?
It can increase your premium, but the exact cost varies by state, insurer, coverage limits, vehicle, location, and driver profile. For many drivers, the additional cost is relatively modest compared with the potential financial protection.
Is uninsured motorist coverage required?
It depends on the state. Some states require UM coverage, while others allow drivers to reject certain UM protections.
Does UM coverage have a deductible?
It depends on the type of UM coverage, your state, and your insurance policy. UM bodily injury coverage may not work like collision coverage with a standard vehicle deductible, while UM property damage can have different rules.
Does UM coverage pay for my car?
Not always. UM bodily injury coverage is primarily designed to cover eligible injuries. Whether damage to your vehicle is covered depends on your state, policy, and whether you have uninsured motorist property damage or another applicable coverage such as collision.
Can I use UM coverage if the other driver has minimum insurance?
Possibly, but this is generally a question of underinsured motorist coverage rather than uninsured motorist coverage. Whether UIM applies depends on your policy and state law.
Bottom Line: Is UM Coverage Worth It?
The cost of uninsured motorist coverage depends on your state, insurer, coverage limits, vehicle, location, and driving profile. There is no single price that applies to every U.S. driver.
For many people, UM coverage can be a relatively affordable way to protect against a serious accident involving a driver who has no insurance.
Before choosing your coverage, compare several quotes and check your state’s requirements. More importantly, don’t assume that “full coverage” automatically means you have uninsured motorist protection.
The cheapest car insurance policy isn’t necessarily the best value if it leaves you exposed when another driver has no insurance.