Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage: what it pays and how to choose a limit
Who it protects, how rejection forms work and what to check before you renew
Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation built this guide from consumer guidance published by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), including its compendium of state insurance laws, and by the Texas Department of Insurance, the California Department of Insurance and the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner. Every source is listed at the end.
What uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage does
When another driver causes a collision, their liability insurance is supposed to pay for the harm. Liability insurance is the part of a policy that pays for injuries and damage you cause to other people. When the at fault driver has no insurance at all, that payment source is simply missing.
Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage fills that gap. It is often shortened to UM or UMBI. The NAIC is the national group of state insurance regulators. It describes UM as paying for your injuries and your passengers’ injuries when an at fault uninsured driver or a hit and run driver hits you [1].
Another NAIC page notes that this coverage protects the policyholder directly [2]. Most of an auto policy is about what you owe others. UM is about what you and your passengers may need.
That is why UM buys peace of mind, not a lower price. Another driver’s choice to skip insurance should not decide whether your family can pay for care. The Texas Department of Insurance notes that any driver could need this coverage [3]. Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation agrees and urges every household to weigh it with care.
What UM bodily injury can pay for
The exact list depends on your policy and your state. State consumer guides point to these common categories:
- Medical bills for you and your passengers [3].
- Pain and suffering, which means the physical pain and loss of normal life an injury causes [3].
- Lost wages. California’s insurance department says an uninsured motorist claim needs records of your loss, such as injuries, medical costs and lost wages [4].
Because UM stands in for the at fault driver’s missing insurance, fault still matters. The coverage is designed for accidents where the uninsured driver is the one at fault [1]. If you caused the crash, UM is not the coverage that responds.
UM also has a ceiling. Like liability and personal injury protection, it comes with a dollar limit [5]. Once a claim reaches that limit, the coverage stops paying, even if bills keep arriving.
What it usually does not cover
UM bodily injury is about people, not cars. Damage to your vehicle falls under other coverages, such as uninsured motorist property damage or collision [1]. Some policies blend the two. In Texas, for example, uninsured motorist coverage can pay for car repairs as well as medical bills [3]. Read how your own policy groups them. A companion guide in our library compares the property damage choices in more depth.
Who your UM coverage protects
One question deserves close attention: who counts as an “insured” under the policy? The answer decides who can make a claim. Settle it before anyone is hurt.
In general, UM covers you and the passengers in your car [1]. Washington’s insurance commissioner says the coverage reaches family members and your designated driver, not only you. It applies to crashes with uninsured drivers, hit and run drivers and unknown vehicles that force a crash [6].
Each policy defines these groups in its own words. Read the definitions section, then ask your agent or insurer these questions:
- Does UM cover relatives who live with me, such as a teen driver or an aging parent?
- Does it cover me when I ride in a friend’s car, a rideshare or a work vehicle?
- Does it cover me as a pedestrian or on a bicycle if a driver with no insurance hits me?
- Does it cover passengers who are not family, such as children in a carpool?
Ask for the answers in writing if you can. Small wording differences matter when someone is hurt.
Hit and run and no contact accidents
A hit and run driver who is never found is treated a lot like an uninsured driver. NAIC guides list hit and run crashes among the situations UM bodily injury is meant to cover [1, 2].
Some accidents involve no contact at all. Washington calls this a phantom vehicle: one that leads to a crash without ever making contact. An example is a driver who cuts into your lane and forces you off the road [7]. Washington says a police report is required within 72 hours of a phantom vehicle crash if you want to file an insurance claim [7].
Texas is strict too. Its insurance department warns that a hit and run claim under this coverage fails if no one reported the accident to police [5]. Your own policy may add conditions, so ask what proof it requires.
Our guide for when the other driver flees the scene covers the steps after a hit and run. For planning, the lesson is simple: learn your policy’s reporting rules now.
How state laws shape UM coverage
States handle UM in a few broad ways. As of October 2026, the main patterns look like this:
- Required on every policy. Some states list UM as part of the minimum insurance every driver must carry [8].
- Must be offered, can be refused in writing. Other states require insurers to offer UM but let you decline it with a signed rejection [3].
- Extra rules. Some states pair UM with underinsured motorist coverage, add rules for motorcycles or set deadlines for reporting hit and run crashes [6, 7, 8].
The NAIC’s 2024 compendium, a state by state summary of insurance laws, shows how much this varies [8]. The examples below use split limits. Texas explains this format with its own minimum, 30/60/25. That means $30,000 per injured person, $60,000 in total for all injuries in one accident, and $25,000 for property damage [5].
Comparison compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
How six states handle uninsured motorist coverage
| State | Pattern | What the source shows |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | Required | UM and UIM listed at 30/60/15 in the required minimum [8] |
| Virginia | Required | UM and UIM listed; minimum rose from 30/60/20 to 50/100/25 on Jan. 1, 2025 [8] |
| North Carolina | Required | UM and UIM listed; minimum rose from 30/60/25 to 50/100/25 on Jan. 1, 2025 [8] |
| Oregon | Required | UM and UIM listed at 25/50 [8] |
| Texas | Must be offered | Insurers must offer UM. Declining it takes a written rejection [3] |
| Washington | Offer and claim rules | Agents and brokers must offer it to motorcycle riders too [6]. Phantom vehicle crashes must be reported to police within 72 hours [7] |
Two lessons stand out. First, these rules change. Virginia and North Carolina both raised their minimums at the start of 2025 [8]. Second, a legal minimum is a floor, not a plan. Washington’s required liability minimum, for example, is $25,000 for injuries to one person [9]. A number set by law tells you what is allowed, not what a serious injury will cost.
The rejection form: one signature that matters
In states that let you refuse UM, the rejection form may be the most important page many drivers do not remember signing. In Texas, insurers must offer UM when you buy a policy, and a driver who does not want it must decline it in writing [3].
Turning down UM is often framed as a way to save money. Some people sign without knowing what they are giving up. Either way, the household ends up with no UM protection.
A careful coverage review checks four things:
- Whether a signed rejection form, or a form choosing lower UM limits, is on file.
- When it was signed, and which vehicles and drivers it covers.
- Whether it carries forward when you renew, add a car or switch insurers.
- How to undo it, and the date new coverage would start.
You do not need a crash to fix this. Ask your agent or insurer for a copy of any UM rejection or selection form tied to your policy. If you want the coverage back, ask how to add it and get the start date in writing. Texas says extra coverage can usually be added in $5,000 steps [3].
Choosing a UM limit that fits your household
There is no single right limit. But the same handful of facts matter every time. Work through them in this order:
- Start with your liability limits. Look at what you carry to protect other people. If your UM limit is lower, ask why. Your own family may deserve at least as much protection as a stranger.
- Count who rides with you. UM covers your passengers too [1]. A large family, a carpool or a teen driver with friends means one accident could injure several people. They all share the per accident limit.
- Look at the gaps in your health plan. Health insurance pays for treatment, but it does not pay you for pain and suffering, which UM can [3]. Check your deductible and your yearly out of pocket maximum.
- Think about lost income. Ask how long your household could manage if a wage earner could not work for months. Check your paid sick leave and any disability insurance. UM can help with lost wages you document [4].
- Price two or three options. Ask for the premium at your current UM limit, at a limit equal to your liability limit, and one step higher. Compare the real dollar difference with what each option protects.
- Write down your choice. Note the date, the limits you picked and why. Revisit the choice when your household changes.
UM limits usually use the same split format as liability limits. The first number is the most paid for one person’s injuries. The second is the most paid for everyone hurt in one accident. If you often drive with a full car, watch the second number.
The goal is not the biggest number. It is a limit you chose on purpose, with your real household in mind.
How UM fits with the rest of your coverage
UM is one piece of a larger set. Knowing each piece helps you spot gaps early.
Comparison compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
How UM fits with your other coverages
| Coverage | What it is for | Main question to ask |
|---|---|---|
| UM bodily injury | Injuries to you and passengers caused by an at fault uninsured or hit and run driver [1] | Is my limit high enough for my household? |
| Underinsured motorist (UIM) | Injuries when the at fault driver has insurance, but not enough [1] | Is UIM included, and at what limit? |
| UM property damage | Damage to your car from an uninsured or hit and run driver [1] | Do I need it if I already carry collision? |
| Health insurance | Treatment under your health plan | What will I owe before my plan pays in full? |
A companion guide covers UIM in depth. Another explains stacking, which means combining UM limits across vehicles or policies where state law and your policy allow it.
Many drivers also carry medical payments coverage or personal injury protection, often called PIP. These can help with early medical bills. Our guide to medical payments coverage and PIP explains how they work.
A yearly UM checkup before you renew
A good time to review UM is a few weeks before your policy renews. Start with your declarations page. The NAIC describes this page as the summary that lists your vehicles, your coverages, your limits, your premium and any discounts [10].
Moving to another state deserves special care. The rules can change at the state line, from whether UM is required to how rejection works [8]. When you buy a policy in a new state, ask the insurer to explain the UM choices there before you sign anything.
If your policy is unclear, your state insurance department can explain your rights. For a specific claim or denial, an attorney who handles insurance coverage can review your policy.
Frequently asked questions
Is uninsured motorist coverage the same as underinsured motorist coverage?
No. The NAIC treats them as two coverages [1]. Uninsured motorist coverage applies when the at fault driver has no insurance or cannot be found. Underinsured motorist coverage applies when that driver has insurance, but not enough to pay for your injuries. Some policies pair them on the declarations page. Ask your insurer whether you have both and what each limit is.
Does uninsured motorist coverage protect my passengers?
In general, yes. The NAIC says UM bodily injury pays for your injuries and your passengers’ injuries when an at fault uninsured driver hits you [1]. Everyone hurt in one accident usually shares the per accident limit. If you often carry children, teammates or coworkers, ask whether that limit would stretch far enough. Your policy’s definitions section explains who qualifies.
Will UM pay if a hit and run driver injures me?
Often, yes. NAIC guides list hit and run crashes among the situations UM bodily injury covers [1, 2]. But conditions apply. In Texas, no police report means no payment for a hit and run under this coverage [5]. Washington requires a police report within 72 hours when a vehicle that never touched you caused the crash [7]. Learn your own policy’s rules now, so you can follow them later.
I have good health insurance. Do I still need UM bodily injury coverage?
Health insurance and UM do different jobs. Your health plan pays for treatment under its own rules. UM can also pay for pain and suffering [3], and it can help with lost wages you document [4]. It can protect passengers who have little or no health coverage of their own. Whether the extra cost makes sense depends on your household, so compare a few UM limits and their premiums.
I may have rejected UM years ago. Can I add it now?
In many cases, yes. Ask your agent or insurer whether a signed rejection or lower limit form is on file. Then ask how to add coverage and when it would start. Texas says coverage can usually be raised in $5,000 steps [3]. Get the change in writing, and check that your next declarations page shows the new limits.
How do I find out what UM limits I have right now?
Look at your declarations page. The NAIC describes it as the page that lists your coverages, limits, premium and vehicles [10]. Your insurer can send you a copy. Look for a line labeled uninsured motorist bodily injury, UM or UMBI. If you see two numbers, the first is the limit per person and the second is the limit per accident.
The bottom line
Recommendation from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation encourages every household to choose its uninsured motorist limit on purpose, before it is ever needed. Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage is protection you buy for your own family. It pays when the driver who caused your injuries has no insurance or cannot be found [1]. It does not lower your premium. It helps make sure someone else’s choice does not decide whether you can pay for care.
Before your next renewal, find your UM limits, ask about any rejection forms and price a few higher limits. Choose on purpose, and write down why. That small step, taken while everyone is safe, can matter a great deal on the worst day.
Related articles
Sources and further reading
- 1National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). A Shopping Tool for Auto Insurance. Published 2023. content.naic.org/…/consumer-auto-shopping-tool.pdf
- 2National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Consumer Auto. Page date not listed; reviewed October 2026. content.naic.org/consumer/auto-insurance.htm
- 3Texas Department of Insurance. What is uninsured motorist coverage, and do I really need it? Updated October 14, 2024. tdi.texas.gov/…/uninsured-motorist-coverage.html
- 4California Department of Insurance. So You’ve Had an Accident, What’s Next? Updated December 2024. insurance.ca.gov/…/hadaccident.cfm
- 5Texas Department of Insurance. Auto insurance guide. Updated December 11, 2025. tdi.texas.gov/pubs/consumer/cb020.html
- 6Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner. Learn how auto insurance works. Page date not listed; reviewed October 2026. insurance.wa.gov/…/learn-how-auto-insurance-works
- 7Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner. What to do if you’re hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver. Page date not listed; reviewed October 2026. insurance.wa.gov/…/what-do-if-youre-hit-uninsured-or-unde…
- 8National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Compendium of State Laws on Insurance Topics: Compulsory Motor Vehicle Insurance (PA-30). Summer 2024. Data year: 2024 (state laws as summarized, including changes effective January 1, 2025). content.naic.org/…/model-law-chart-pa-30-compulsory-motor…
- 9Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner. Washington state’s mandatory auto/motorcycle insurance law. Page date not listed; reviewed October 2026. insurance.wa.gov/…/washington-states-mandatory-automotorc…
- 10National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). ‘Declarations’ of Saving. Published August 1, 2011. content.naic.org/…/consumer-insight-declarations-saving
This article reflects the safety priorities of auto insurance consumer protection and financial security for injured drivers, passengers and their families. It is general education, not legal, medical, insurance or financial advice. State rules change, so verify them with official sources. For your own situation, contact your insurer or agent, your state insurance department, or a licensed attorney in your state. Reviewed October 2026.
Cite this article: Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation. “Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage: what it pays and how to choose a limit.” drivewithcare.org, https://drivewithcare.org/uninsured-motorist-bodily-injury-coverage/. Reviewed October 2026.
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