All About Uninsured Motorist Coverage Car Insurance

Uninsured motorist protection car insurance covers you in an accident if the at-fault driver does not have any car insurance. Read this guide to learn more.
Written by Cheryl Knight
Reviewed by Carrie Adkins
While you might have car insurance, not all drivers do. If an uninsured driver causes a car accident, they won't have
liability insurance
to cover your damages.
Luckily, you can protect yourself from uninsured motorists with uninsured motorist protection. This coverage will pay for your damages in the event that an
at-fault driver causes an accident
and can't pay up.
How exactly does uninsured motorist protection work, and do you really need it? Read on to learn more about this type of
car insurance
.
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How uninsured motorist protection car insurance works

In an accident, the car insurance of the at-fault driver bears the brunt of the responsibility for paying for any medical bills for you and your passengers, and any damage to your car or property. Sometimes, though, the other driver does not have insurance. Your
collision coverage
, if you have it, should cover you in this case.
Uninsured motorist protection is another coverage type that you can carry to help protect you and your property when hit by an uninsured driver. Uninsured motorist protection comes in two different types:
  • Uninsured motorist bodily injury: This insurance option covers injuries suffered when hit by an uninsured driver.
  • Uninsured motorist property damage: This option pays for any damage to your car when hit by an uninsured driver.
Underinsured motorist protection is another optional coverage type similar to uninsured motorist protection. Underinsured motorist protection comes into play when an at-fault driver has some liability coverage but not enough to cover all of the medical expenses or property damage.
As with uninsured motorist protection, underinsured motorist protection comes in two different types:
  • Underinsured motorist bodily injury: This insurance covers injuries to you and your passengers when hit by an at-fault driver with insufficient liability insurance to cover all medical expenses.
  • Underinsured motorist property damage: This insurance type covers any damage top your vehicle by an at-fault driver who doesn't have enough liability damage to cover all of the damage to your vehicle.

Do you need uninsured motorist protection?

Whether you need to purchase uninsured motorist protection car insurance depends on the state where you live. While many states don't require you to have uninsured motorist protection, 22 states do require it.

How much does uninsured motorist protection cost?

Uninsured motorist protection car insurance averages between $33 and $76 for $25,000/50,000 of coverage, depending on the state in which you live. Increasing coverage amounts to $50,000/100,000 doubles your premiums to around $86 and $134, respectively.
States with a
higher percentage of uninsured drivers
usually have higher premiums for such insurance.
You should always try to protect yourself financially in an accident, even if the other drivers around you do not. This includes purchasing the appropriate amount of uninsured or underinsured motorist protection car insurance.
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