What is uninsured motorist coverage?
If you’re hit by a driver who doesn’t have any insurance, uninsured motorist coverages (often called UM) can help cover your costs for medical expenses and/or car repairs. Or, if the other driver has insurance, but not enough, underinsured motorist coverages (often called UIM) can help cover those costs. Twenty states and the District of Columbia require some type of uninsured motorist coverage.
Uninsured motorist bodily injury (UMBI)
UMBI coverage can help you pay medical expenses and other costs for injuries caused by an uninsured driver. This is the UM coverage most often required by states.
Uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD)
If your car is hit by an uninsured driver, or is damaged in a hit and run, UMPD coverage can help with the costs of repairing or replacing your car.
What does uninsured motorist coverage typically cover?
If you’re hurt in a crash or your car is damaged and it’s the other driver’s fault, usually their liability insurance would pay your costs in most states. If the other driver doesn’t have insurance, uninsured motorist coverage can help you pay bills for repairs and medical expenses. In 2022, some 14% of U.S. drivers had no liability insurance despite state laws requiring it, according to the Insurance Information Institute.
When an uninsured motorist is responsible for a crash, UM can typically cover, up to limits on the policy:
Medical bills, lost wages and funeral expenses for your family members from an auto accident, whether in your car or not (UMBI)
Medical bills, lost wages and funeral expenses for other people riding as passengers in your car (UMBI)
Repairs to your car, or its value if totaled (UMPD)
Injuries or damage to your car from a hit and run where the vehicle owner and driver responsible cannot be identified (both)
What is underinsured motorist coverage?
Underinsured motorist coverage (often called UIM) is coverage for the gap between what the at-fault driver’s insurance will pay and what an accident actually costs you in car repair and medical expenses, up to your policy's limits.
If you spend a week in the hospital because of a crash you didn’t cause, and the other driver only has their state’s minimum amount of bodily injury liability insurance — maybe $15,000 — you’ll have to pay the balance of your bills. Underinsured motorist coverage would bridge that gap (up to your own limits). It can work the same way for car repairs.
Uninsured motorist coverage, on the other hand, is there for situations where the at-fault driver or owner doesn’t have any insurance. It can help cover your injuries and property damage, up to your limits.
Do you have UM and/or UIM coverage? It’s easy to find out.
- Check your policy. Log in to your Farmers account for instant access to details of your coverage.
- Review your declarations page.
- Contact a Farmers agent.
Liability: Required by law in most states, it covers the cost of injury to others or damage to their property when you’re at fault.
Comprehensive: Covers damage to your car caused by things other than a collision, including hail, theft, fire, animal damage and more.
Collision: Covers your losses caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver.
Medical payments: Helps to pay the cost of medical care if you or your passengers are injured in an accident — no matter who is at fault.
Personal injury protection: Can help with costs like rehabilitation and lost wages if you or your passengers are injured in an accident — regardless of who is at fault.
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