What is uninsured motorist coverage, and how does it work?

It is coverage in your own policy for people insured under it who are legally entitled to recover damages from the owner or operator of an uninsured vehicle. Alabama's statute describes it as coverage "for the protection of persons insured thereunder who are legally entitled to recover damages from owners or operators of uninsured motor vehicles" [3].

It covers the gap when the at-fault driver has insurance but the limits are too low for your losses. Alabama's statute counts a vehicle as uninsured when "the sum of the limits of liability under all bodily injury liability bonds and insurance policies available to an injured person after an accident is less than the damages which the injured person is legally entitled to recover." [3] South Carolina treats it as a separate coverage that carriers must offer.

It is the part of UM coverage that pays for damage to your vehicle or property. Tennessee requires that an insured who buys UM bodily injury coverage be given an opportunity to add it, applicable to losses over $200 [1]. The statute makes an exception to the $200 deductible: it does not apply if the vehicle in the accident is insured by the same insurer for both collision and uninsured motorist property damage coverage, and the other operator has been positively identified and is solely at fault [1]. South Carolina's mandatory provision includes no less than $25,000 for injury to or destruction of the insured's property [5]. We did not find a UM property damage requirement in the Alabama or Oklahoma sections quoted here.

You make a claim under your own policy. In South Carolina, for example, the insurer must be served with copies of the pleadings that establish liability before an action can be brought under the UM provision, and it has the right to appear and defend [5]. Policy terms control the rest, so read your own policy and ask your insurer or agent.

It depends on the state. In Tennessee a named insured may reject it in writing [1]. In Alabama the named insured has the right to reject it [3]. In Oklahoma the named insured or applicant has the right to reject it in writing [4]. The South Carolina provision we read says no auto policy may be issued without it.

The statutes set minimums and defaults, not a recommended amount. In Tennessee the limits equal the bodily injury liability limits stated in the policy unless the named insured selects lower limits, not below the state minimum [1]. We do not tell you what amount to buy.

No. Collision is a separate coverage for damage to your own vehicle. UM is aimed at claims against an uninsured at-fault driver. Check your declarations page to see which lines you have.

The Insurance Research Council estimated that about one in seven U.S. drivers (14.0 percent) operated a private passenger vehicle without liability insurance in 2022 [6]. The figure is a national estimate for 2022, not a count for your state.

Rules differ. Oklahoma says policies issued, renewed or reinstated after November 1, 2014 are not subject to stacking or aggregation unless the carrier expressly provides it [4]. Tennessee says UM limits are not increased because of multiple vehicles [1]. Alabama limits recovery under one contract to the primary coverage plus additional coverages for additional vehicles, not to exceed two [3].