Home Car insurance Coverage Is uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage required by state? Is uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage required by state? Uninsured motorist coverage pays for your injuries when you're hit by a driver with no insurance, and underinsured motorist coverage covers the gap when an at-fault driver's limits aren't high enough — protecting you when the other driver can't. View Carriers Please enter valid zip Compare top carriers in your area Written by Alisha AmbreAlisha AmbreAlisha Ambre holds a Bachelor of Arts with honours in English Literature and Media Studies. She focuses on crafting clear, engaging content that makes complex information feel practical and approachable for everyday readers. When she’s not writing, she’s likely on the volleyball court or immersed in a good video game.VIEW FULL PROFILE | Reviewed by Nupur GambhirNupur GambhirEditor-in-ChiefNupur Gambhir is the editor-in-chief of Insure.com and a licensed life, health and disability insurance agent in New York with seven years of experience covering insurance. Her expertise has been featured in Bloomberg News, Forbes Advisor, CNET, Fortune, Slate, Real Simple, Lifehacker, The Balance, The Financial Gym and MSN. She holds a BA in Economics from The Ohio State University.VIEW FULL PROFILESee moreSee less | Updated onMay 19, 2026 Why you can trust Insure.com Quality Verified At Insure.com, we are committed to providing the timely, accurate and expert information consumers need to make smart insurance decisions. All our content is written and reviewed by industry professionals and insurance experts. Our team carefully vets our rate data to ensure we only provide reliable and up-to-date insurance pricing. We follow the highest editorial standards. Our content is based solely on objective research and data gathering. We maintain strict editorial independence to ensure unbiased coverage of the insurance industry. Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage pays for your injuries and, in some states, vehicle damage when you’re hit by a driver who has no insurance. Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage kicks in when an at-fault driver has insurance, but their limits aren’t high enough to cover the full cost of your damages. Both protect you financially when the other driver can’t, and roughly half of all states require at least one of them on every policy. What to check on your policy today Confirm whether your state requires UM, UIM, or both — about half do Match your UM and UIM limits to your liability limits so you’re not under-protected against uninsured drivers Add property damage UM coverage if your state offers it, especially if you don’t carry collision Review your policy after every renewal, since required limits and pricing can shift Compare quotes if you live in a state with high UM premiums, since rates vary widely between insurers What does uninsured motorist coverage pay for? Uninsured motorist coverage pays for your medical bills, lost wages, and other costs when you’re hit by a driver who doesn’t carry any car insurance. In some states, it also covers damage to your vehicle through a separate uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) coverage. UM coverage typically pays for: Medical bills for you and your passengers Lost wages while you recover Pain and suffering Funeral costs in fatal accidents Vehicle damage, in states that offer UMPD It also applies in hit-and-run situations in most states, since the at-fault driver is effectively uninsured if they can’t be identified. Key Takeaways UM and UIM coverage protect you when another driver has no insurance or not enough insurance About half of U.S. states require UM coverage, and fewer require UIM UM/UIM coverage typically costs about 10% of your total premium, though the dollar amount varies significantly by state Roughly 1 in 7 drivers nationwide is uninsured, with Mississippi the highest at more than 28.2% Your state’s negligence law determines how much you can recover after an accident What does underinsured motorist coverage pay for? Underinsured motorist coverage pays the difference between what an at-fault driver’s insurance covers and what your actual damages cost. If another driver hits you and their liability limits run out before your bills are paid, your UIM coverage steps in to cover the rest — up to your policy’s UIM limit. For example, if your medical bills total $75,000 and the at-fault driver only has $25,000 in bodily injury coverage, your UIM coverage could pay the remaining $50,000 (up to your limit). Is uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage required by state? About half of U.S. states require uninsured motorist coverage, and fewer require underinsured coverage. Required limits and rules vary widely — some states only mandate bodily injury, while others also require property damage coverage. Several states require these coverages to match your liability limits. In states where both are optional, they are still recommended, especially in areas with high uninsured driver rates. Here’s how UM and UIM requirements vary by state: StateUninsured Coverage Required?Underinsured Coverage Required?AlabamaNoNoAlaskaNoNoArizonaNoNoArkansasNoNoCaliforniaNoNoColoradoNoNoConnecticutYes — bodily injury at $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accidentYes — bodily injury at $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accidentDelawareNoNoDistrict of ColumbiaYes — bodily injury at $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident; property damage at $5,000, subject to $200 deductibleNoFloridaNoNoGeorgiaNoNoHawaiiNoNoIdahoNoNoIllinoisYes — bodily injury at $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accidentNoIndianaNo¹No¹IowaNoNoKansasYes — bodily injury at $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accidentYes — bodily injury at $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accidentKentuckyNoNoLouisianaNoNoMaineYes — bodily injury at $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accidentYes — bodily injury at $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accidentMarylandYes — bodily injury at $30,000 per person / $60,000 per accident; property damage at $15,000Yes — bodily injury at $30,000 per person / $60,000 per accident; property damage at $15,000MassachusettsYes — bodily injury at $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident²NoMichiganNoNoMinnesotaYes — bodily injury at $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accidentYes — bodily injury at $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accidentMississippiNoNoMissouriYes — bodily injury at $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accidentNoMontanaNoNoNebraskaYes — bodily injury at $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accidentYes — bodily injury at $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accidentNevadaNoNoNew HampshireYes (if insurance is purchased)³ — bodily injury at $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident, matching liability limitsYes (if insurance is purchased)³ — same as UMNew JerseyYes (Standard Policy)⁴ — bodily injury at $35,000 per person / $70,000 per accident; property damage at $25,000Yes (Standard Policy)⁴ — bodily injury at $35,000 per person / $70,000 per accident; property damage at $25,000New MexicoNoNoNew YorkYes — bodily injury at $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accidentNoNorth CarolinaYes⁵ — bodily injury at $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident; property damage at $50,000Yes⁵ — bodily injury at $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident; property damage at $50,000North DakotaYes — bodily injury at $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accidentYes — bodily injury at $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accidentOhioNoNoOklahomaNoNoOregonYes — bodily injury at $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accidentYes — bodily injury at $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accidentPennsylvaniaNoNoRhode IslandNoNoSouth CarolinaYes — bodily injury at $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident; property damage at $25,000 with $200 deductibleNoSouth DakotaYes — bodily injury at $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accidentYes — bodily injury at $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accidentTennesseeNoNoTexasNoNoUtahNoNoVermontYes — bodily injury at $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident; property damage at $10,000 with $150 deductibleYes — bodily injury at $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident; property damage at $10,000 with $150 deductibleVirginiaYes⁶ — bodily injury at $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident; property damage at $25,000Yes⁶ — bodily injury at $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident; property damage at $25,000WashingtonNoNoWest VirginiaYes — bodily injury at $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident; property damage at $25,000NoWisconsinYes — bodily injury at $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accidentNoWyomingNoNo Powered by: What to read next Can I insure a car that isn't in my name? 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Uninsured motorist coverage typically costs about 10% of your total car insurance premium, though the actual dollar amount varies significantly by state. Drivers in Nevada pay the highest UM premiums — about $952 per year for full coverage — while drivers in Wyoming pay the lowest at $31 per year. Here’s how average annual UM premiums vary by state for full coverage of 100/300/100. StateAverage UM premiumAlaska$206 Alabama$268 Arkansas$205 Arizona$364 California$373 Colorado$493 Connecticut$121 Washington, D.C.$265 Delaware$263 Florida$626 Georgia$235 Hawaii$109 Iowa$117 Idaho$111 Illinois$126 Indiana$103 Kansas$92 Kentucky$285 Louisiana$731 Massachusetts$52 Maryland$250 Maine$40 Michigan$146 Minnesota$96 Missouri$135 Mississippi$273 Montana$276 North Carolina$80 North Dakota$42 Nebraska$95 New Hampshire$47 New Jersey$194 New Mexico$362 Nevada$952 New York$246 Ohio$135 Oklahoma$401 Oregon$228 Pennsylvania$249 Rhode Island$208 South Carolina$394 South Dakota$96 Tennessee$152 Texas$317 Utah$258 Virginia$170 Vermont$67 Washington$301 Wisconsin$149 West Virginia$229 Wyoming$31 Powered by: How many drivers are uninsured? About 1 in 7 drivers in the U.S. is uninsured. According to the Insurance Research Council, Mississippi has the highest rate of uninsured motorists of 28.2%, while Maine has the lowest at almost 5.7%. The likelihood of being hit by an uninsured driver depends heavily on where you live — which is why UM coverage matters more in some states than others. According to the Insurance Research Council, in states where 1 in 5 drivers is uninsured, skipping UM coverage to save $200 a year can leave you personally responsible for tens of thousands in medical bills after a single accident. Below are the states with the highest rates of uninsured drivers: RankStatePercent uninsured1Mississippi28.2%2New Mexico24.1%3D.C.23.1%4Michigan22.3%5Tennessee21.3%6Missouri20.7%7Florida (3)20.6%8California20.4%9Colorado19.7%10Washington19.1% Powered by: Below are the states with the lowest rates of uninsured drivers: RankStatePercent uninsured1Maine5.7%2Utah6.2%3Idaho6.4%4Wyoming6.7%5Montana7.2%6West Virginia7.8%7Massachusetts7.9%8New York8.6%9South Dakota9.4%10Nebraska9.5% Powered by: How does your state’s negligence law affect UM and UIM claims? Your state’s negligence law decides how much you can recover after an accident if you share any fault. There are four main systems — pure comparative negligence, modified comparative negligence (50% or 51% rule), contributory negligence, and South Dakota’s unique slight/gross negligence system — and each one can directly affect how much your UM or UIM policy pays out. How the four systems work Pure comparative negligence. You can recover damages even if you’re 99% at fault, but your payout is reduced by your percentage of fault Modified comparative negligence. You can recover damages only if your share of fault stays below a set threshold, which is either 50% or 51% depending on the state. Cross the threshold and you recover nothing Contributory negligence. You can be barred from any recovery if you’re even 1% at fault (used in a small number of states) Slight/gross negligence (South Dakota only). A unique hybrid system that makes it harder to sue an at-fault driver For example, if you’re found 20% responsible for an accident in a comparative negligence state, your UM policy would pay up to 80% of your damages — up to your policy limits. Below are negligence laws by state: StateNegligence lawAlabamaContributory NegligenceAlaskaComparative NegligenceArizonaComparative NegligenceArkansasModified Comparative Negligence – 50% RuleCaliforniaComparative NegligenceColoradoModified Comparative Negligence – 50% RuleConnecticutModified Comparative Negligence – 51% RuleDelawareModified Comparative Negligence – 51% RuleDistrict of ColumbiaContributory Negligence*FloridaModified Comparative Negligence – 51% Rule**GeorgiaModified Comparative Negligence – 50% RuleHawaiiModified Comparative Negligence – 51% RuleIdahoModified Comparative Negligence – 50% RuleIllinoisModified Comparative Negligence – 51% RuleIndianaModified Comparative Negligence – 51% RuleIowaModified Comparative Negligence – 51% RuleKansasModified Comparative Negligence – 50% RuleKentuckyComparative NegligenceLouisianaComparative NegligenceMaineModified Comparative Negligence – 50% RuleMarylandContributory Negligence*MassachusettsModified Comparative Negligence – 51% RuleMichiganModified Comparative Negligence – 51% RuleMinnesotaModified Comparative Negligence – 51% RuleMississippiComparative NegligenceMissouriComparative NegligenceMontanaModified Comparative Negligence – 51% RuleNebraskaModified Comparative Negligence – 50% RuleNevadaModified Comparative Negligence – 51% RuleNew HampshireModified Comparative Negligence – 51% RuleNew JerseyModified Comparative Negligence – 51% RuleNew MexicoComparative NegligenceNew YorkComparative NegligenceNorth CarolinaContributory NegligenceNorth DakotaModified Comparative Negligence – 50% RuleOhioModified Comparative Negligence – 51% RuleOklahomaModified Comparative Negligence – 50% RuleOregonModified Comparative Negligence – 51% RulePennsylvaniaModified Comparative Negligence – 51% RuleRhode IslandComparative NegligenceSouth CarolinaModified Comparative Negligence – 51% RuleSouth DakotaSlight/Gross Negligence (unique hybrid)TennesseeModified Comparative Negligence – 50% RuleTexasModified Comparative Negligence – 51% RuleUtahModified Comparative Negligence – 50% RuleVermontModified Comparative Negligence – 51% RuleVirginiaContributory NegligenceWashingtonComparative NegligenceWest VirginiaModified Comparative Negligence – 50% RuleWisconsinModified Comparative Negligence – 51% RuleWyomingModified Comparative Negligence – 51% Rule Powered by: *In 2025, D.C. and Maryland amended their contributory negligence laws to add limited exceptions for vulnerable road users — pedestrians, cyclists, and others outside a motor vehicle. **Florida moved from pure comparative to modified comparative negligence under HB 837, effective March 24, 2023. Medical malpractice cases are exempted. Why contributory negligence states matter so much In contributory negligence states, being just 1% at fault can prevent you from recovering damages Alabama, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, and D.C. use this stricter standard Carrying strong UM/UIM coverage matters more in these states because legal recovery can be nearly impossible Recent reforms in D.C. and Maryland only protect vulnerable road users, not most drivers Should you add uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage? Adding UM and UIM coverage is one of the most cost-effective ways to protect yourself, even in states where it’s optional. Roughly 1 in 7 drivers nationwide is uninsured, and many drivers who do carry insurance only buy their state’s minimum — which is rarely enough to cover a serious accident. It’s worth adding when: You live in a state with a high uninsured driver rate Your state’s required liability minimums are low You commute on busy highways or in dense traffic You can’t easily absorb medical bills out of pocket You don’t have strong health insurance to fall back on How much UM and UIM coverage should you carry? Most insurance experts recommend setting your UM and UIM limits to match your liability coverage. If you carry 100/300 in liability, carry 100/300 in UM/UIM. This ensures you’re as protected from uninsured drivers as you are protected against claims from others. Some states allow you to stack UM coverage across multiple vehicles on the same policy, which can multiply your available coverage in a serious accident. Frequently asked questions What’s the difference between uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage? Uninsured motorist coverage pays your damages when the at-fault driver has no insurance. Underinsured motorist coverage pays the difference when the at-fault driver has insurance, but not enough to cover your full damages. Does uninsured motorist coverage cover hit-and-run accidents? Yes. Most states treat hit-and-run drivers as effectively uninsured, so your UM coverage typically applies if the at-fault driver can’t be identified. How much does UM coverage cost? UM coverage usually costs about 10% of your total premium, though the dollar amount varies by state. Annual costs range from about $31 in Wyoming to $952 in Nevada for full coverage drivers. Does UM coverage pay for vehicle damage? Only in some states. Uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) is a separate coverage available in certain states. If your state doesn’t offer UMPD, collision coverage is what pays for vehicle damage caused by an uninsured driver. Is UM coverage worth it if I have health insurance? Yes. Health insurance may cover your medical bills, but UM coverage also pays for lost wages, pain and suffering, and other accident-related costs that health insurance does not. Can I stack UM coverage across multiple vehicles? In some states, yes. Stacking lets you combine UM limits across multiple vehicles on the same policy, which can significantly increase your available coverage in a serious accident. Alisha Ambre . .Alisha Ambre holds a Bachelor of Arts with honours in English Literature and Media Studies. She focuses on crafting clear, engaging content that makes complex information feel practical and approachable for everyday readers. When she’s not writing, she’s likely on the volleyball court or immersed in a good video game. In case you missed it The most expensive and cheapest cars to insure in 2026 Do you have to add a teenage driver to your car insurance policy? Teenage car insurance rates: How much is car insurance for teens? 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Most and least expensive models to insure Average car insurance rates by age and gender 1/1 On this page What does uninsured motorist coverage pay for?What does underinsured motorist coverage pay for?Is uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage required by state?How much does uninsured motorist coverage cost?How many drivers are uninsured?How does your state's negligence law affect UM and UIM claims?Should you add uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage?How much UM and UIM coverage should you carry?Frequently asked questions ZIP Code Please enter valid ZIP See rates 1-833-708-5453