Uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist are auto insurance coverages that protect you and your vehicle if you’re involved in a car accident caused by a driver with either no insurance, or too little coverage. Uninsured motorist insurance is valuable protection to have because it helps pay for your medical bills and damage to your property in a situation where you would otherwise be without adequate coverage.
But how does underinsured motorist coverage work? When you sit down with an independent agent to discuss uninsured motorist coverage, it’s important to know there are actually three coverage types:
Uninsured motorist coverage, also called uninsured motorist bodily injury insurance or UMBI, protects you if the person who hits your car has no liability insurance or you are the victim of a hit-and-run.
UM coverage extends to you and your passengers and covers things like:
Underinsured motorist insurance provides coverage for incidents where the at-fault driver has insurance, but not enough coverage to pay for the damages they caused.
Like UM, underinsured motorist coverage extends to you and your passengers and covers:
Because they’re so similar, some states bundle UM and UIM coverage together. Talk to an independent insurance agent about the options available in your state.
Unlike other uninsured motorist options, uninsured motorist property damage insurance covers damage to your vehicle. In some states, coverage may also extend to your personal property – meaning any personal items in your car at the time of the accident.
Not every state offers UMPD coverage. Talk to your independent agent to see if it’s available where you live.
In most cases, uninsured motorist coverage is offered as an optional protection. But, there could be situations – like living in a certain state or driving a financed car – where you may be required to have uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage in place.
According to a AAA study, over 700,000 hit-and-run crashes happened in 2015 alone and that number rises every year.
Even if your state doesn’t require you to have uninsured motorist insurance, it’s worth considering for the peace of mind you’ll get knowing you’re fully protected behind the wheel.
SR22 and Insurance - Are you familiar with SR22 insurance? If you've never encountered it…
Seguro Automóvil - Cuidar de tu automóvil es esencial para garantizar la tranquilidad en las…
Aseguradora - Buscar el seguro de automóvil adecuado puede ser abrumador. Con tantas aseguradoras en…
¿Necesitas comprar un seguros de autos y prefieres hacerlo por teléfono? ¡No te preocupes! En…
Licencia de Conducir - Obtener tu licencia de conducir puede ser un proceso estresante y…
Agencia de viaje - ¿Sueñas con explorar nuevos destinos pero te preocupa el costo? ¡No…