Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage protects you when you are in an accident caused by a driver who cannot pay for the harm they caused.
The two coverages:
- Uninsured motorist (UM) — covers you when the at-fault driver has no insurance at all, or in a hit-and-run where the driver cannot be identified.
- Underinsured motorist (UIM) — covers you when the at-fault driver has insurance, but their liability limits are too low to cover your full costs.
Why it matters: if another driver causes an accident, their liability insurance is supposed to pay for your injuries and damage. But many drivers carry only minimum coverage — or none. Without UM/UIM coverage, you could be left paying for someone else's mistake.
What it can cover: depending on your policy and state, UM/UIM can help with your medical bills, lost wages, and sometimes damage to your vehicle.
Is it required? Some states require uninsured motorist coverage; others make it optional. Even where optional, many drivers add it because it fills a real gap. See state auto insurance requirements.
To review whether UM/UIM coverage fits your situation, get an auto insurance quote from RMO.