Updated May 2026
What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
Uninsured motorist coverage (UM) protects you when another driver causes an accident but lacks insurance to pay your claim. It covers your medical expenses, lost wages, and in most states, vehicle damage through uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD). This coverage travels with your vehicle — if you're hit by an uninsured driver in Florida during winter or Michigan during summer, your policy responds based on where the accident occurred and which state's minimum you selected. For snowbirds maintaining addresses in two states, carriers require your UM limits to meet or exceed the higher of the two states' requirements.
- You're rear-ended at a stoplight in Sarasota by a driver with no insurance. You have $15,000 in medical bills and $8,000 in vehicle damage. Your Michigan policy includes $50,000 UM bodily injury and $3,500 UMPD. Florida requires $10,000 personal injury protection (PIP) but does not mandate UM. Because your policy includes UM, it pays your $15,000 medical bill after your PIP exhausts and your $8,000 vehicle damage minus your UMPD deductible.
- A driver with Florida's minimum $10,000 bodily injury liability hits you on I-75, causing $40,000 in medical expenses. Their liability pays $10,000, leaving $30,000 unpaid. Your underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage — often bundled with UM — pays the remaining $30,000 up to your UIM limit. Without UIM, you pay the $30,000 out of pocket or pursue a lawsuit against a driver who likely has no assets.
- Your parked car is sideswiped overnight in a Phoenix parking lot, causing $6,000 in damage. The driver flees and is never identified. Most UM policies exclude property damage from hit-and-runs unless you have collision coverage or can prove the other driver was uninsured through police documentation. Without collision or comprehensive, you pay the $6,000 repair yourself.
How Much Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance Cost?
Uninsured motorist coverage typically adds $8 to $15 per month to your premium, or approximately $96 to $180 annually, depending on your coverage limits and home state requirements.
- Your UM bodily injury limit — higher limits ($100,000/$300,000) cost more than state minimums but provide significantly better protection.
- Whether you add uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) — many carriers exclude this or cap it at $3,500, adding $2 to $5 monthly.
- The uninsured driver rate in your winter state — Florida and New Mexico have uninsured rates above 20%, driving UM premiums higher than states like Maine or Massachusetts.
- Your home state's UM requirement — 22 states mandate UM coverage, and carriers price it into base rates differently than states where it's optional.
- Whether your policy bundles UM with underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage — most carriers sell them together, and separating them is often not possible.
- Your vehicle's value and your collision deductible — some carriers waive UMPD if you carry collision, reducing the UM portion of your premium.
See How Much You Could Save
Get personalized uninsured motorist coverage insurance quotes in minutes.
Who Needs Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
Snowbirds should carry uninsured motorist coverage at higher-than-minimum limits because Sun Belt states like Florida, Arizona, and Texas have uninsured driver rates between 15% and 25% — significantly above the national average of 12.6%. If you're hit by an uninsured driver far from your home state, collecting from the at-fault driver through a lawsuit is impractical, and UM is the only mechanism that pays your claim. Fixed-income retirees cannot afford to absorb $30,000 in medical bills or vehicle damage out of pocket.
Calculate your worst-case exposure: your health insurance deductible plus vehicle replacement cost minus your collision deductible. If that number exceeds $20,000, carry UM limits at least equal to your liability limits. If your winter state has an uninsured rate above 15% (check your state insurance department's annual report), increase your UM bodily injury to $100,000/$300,000. If you drive an older vehicle worth under $5,000 and carry collision, decline UMPD to save $3 to $5 monthly.