What is uninsured motorist coverage?

Last updated: November 12, 2026

Uninsured motorist coverage (UM) pays for your injuries when a driver who has no insurance hits you and it's their fault. Underinsured motorist coverage (UIM) does the same when the other driver has insurance, but not enough to cover your bills. They're often sold together.

What it usually pays for

• Medical bills for you and your passengers
• Lost wages while you recover
• Pain and suffering, depending on your state and policy
• In some states, damage to your car (often called uninsured motorist property damage)

Whether it covers hit-and-run accidents depends on your state and your policy, so check the wording.

Is it required?

Some states require it. Others require insurers to offer it and let you turn it down, often in writing. Even where it's optional, it's one of the cheaper ways to protect yourself, because your health insurance may not cover everything after a crash and the at-fault driver may have nothing to collect.

How much should you get?

A common approach is to match your uninsured motorist limits to your own liability limits. If you carry $100,000 per person in liability, you'd carry the same for UM and UIM. Compare the price of a few limit levels, since the difference is often small.

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