What Is Uninsured Motorist Insurance?

Unless you’re a resident of New Hampshire or Virginia, every other state in the U.S. requires drivers to be insured before hitting the road. However, depending on your state, up to one in five drivers are uninsured due to various circumstances. If you’re in an accident with an at-fault and uninsured driver, you could find yourself facing substantial financial losses. Your insurance might refuse to pay for any of your medical bills or any damage to your vehicle, and the at-fault driver won’t have the coverage to reimburse you either. Uninsured Motorist Insurance is the best way to prevent this scenario from happening and protect yourself against financial losses from another driver’s lack of coverage.

Depending on your state, the different types of Uninsured Motorist Coverage available to you will vary. In general, Uninsured Motorist Coverage can be broken down into two categories:
• Uninsured Motorist Insurance/Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury Insurance. This insurance covers you and your passengers’ medical bills if you’re in an accident with an at-fault, uninsured driver. It can also reimburse you and your passengers for any wages lost during the period you were hospitalized. Pedestrians can also use this policy if they’re the victim of a hit-and-run or hit by an uninsured driver.
• Uninsured Motorist Property Damage Insurance. The previous type of insurance will pay for any bodily injuries you received during your accident, but it won’t cover damage to your vehicle or other property. UMPDI will cover the damage to your vehicle along with property damage, such as damage to your house or fence. Note that this coverage isn’t available in every state.

In addition to Uninsured Motorist Protection, some insurers offer Underinsured Motorist Protection. Underinsured Motorist Insurance is very similar to Uninsured Motorist Insurance, with some small differences. While Uninsured Motorist Insurance protects you against uninsured drivers, Underinsured Motorist Insurance covers you if you’re in an accident with an at-fault driver whose liability limits are too low to compensate you for damages.

There are two different types of Underinsured Motorist Coverage:

Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury Insurance: Covers medical bills, lost wages, etc., if you get into an accident with an underinsured motorist whose liability limits cannot cover all of your expenses.
Underinsured Motorist Property Damage Insurance: If the at-fault motorist covers some of the damage to your vehicle, but not all of it, then UIMPD will make up the difference.

Why Do I Need Uninsured Motorist Coverage?

Over 30 million Americans are uninsured drivers, and the average percentage of uninsured drivers nationwide is roughly 13%. In some states, like Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Florida, 23-26% of drivers are uninsured. The most common reason why drivers lack insurance is financial problems. A study by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators found that 82% of uninsured drivers cannot afford a policy or their vehicle is inoperable. The highest percentage of uninsured drivers are clustered together in low-income areas where consumers need to prioritize things like buying food.

If you’re in an accident with an uninsured motorist and they’re the at-fault party, your own insurance might not pay for you and your passengers’ injuries or any damage to your vehicle. Without Uninsured Motorist Insurance, you would have to pay for those losses yourself or file a court case against the other driver. While uninsured motorist insurance is mandatory in 20 states, it’s still a wise investment even where it’s not required.

The following states require Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury Insurance:

Connecticut
The District of Columbia
Illinois
Kansas
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Minnesota
Missouri
Nebraska
New Jersey
New Hampshire*
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Oregon
Rhode Island**
South Carolina
South Dakota
Vermont
Virginia***
West Virginia
Wisconsin

The following states require Uninsured Motorist Property Damage Insurance:

The District of Columbia
Maryland
New Jersey
New Hampshire*
North Carolina
Rhode Island**
South Carolina
Vermont
Virginia***
West Virginia

*Insurance is not required in New Hampshire, but Uninsured Motorist Insurance and Uninsured Motorist Property Damage Insurance are required if you decide you want to purchase a policy.
**Uninsured Motorist Insurance and Uninsured Motorist Property Damage Insurance are required in Rhode Island if you purchase more than the state’s minimum requirement for bodily injury auto liability coverage.
***Insurance is not required in Virginia if you can prove that you have the means to pay for any losses incurred during a car accident. If you decide to purchase insurance, you will also need Uninsured Motorist Insurance and Uninsured Motorist Property Damage Insurance.

Keep you, your family members, and your passengers safe with Uninsured Motorist Insurance from The General. The General has been specializing in affordable standard and non-standard insurance rates for 60 years, and you can secure a free quote online in two minutes or less. Driving without insurance? Don’t risk your safety or your financial health. The General has policies to fit every need and budget, including policies for drivers with imperfect records and high-risk drivers; we even offer customers a discount if their record improves over time. If you’ve had difficulty purchasing affordable auto insurance in the past, then give The General a try today.