Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage for motorcycle riders
How UM and UIM protect riders, where car coverage stops and how to pick limits
Imagine a rider in Spokane, Washington, stopped at a light after work. A pickup rolls into the back of her bike. She breaks a wrist and a leg and misses two months of work. The driver carries only a small policy. Her bills soon run past it.
Who pays the rest? Often it is coverage she bought for herself. Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage pays when the driver who hurt you has no insurance. Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage pays when that driver’s insurance is too small to cover your losses.
Many riders assume the UM on their car policy will step in. Sometimes it will not. Below is how these coverages work on a bike and how the rules differ in the states we checked. Laws and policies vary, so confirm the details for your own state and read your own policy.
Why the other driver's coverage matters more on a motorcycle
Riders have little around them in a crash. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the federal road safety agency, counted 6,335 motorcyclists killed in 2023 [1]. That was 15 percent of all traffic deaths, though motorcycles were just 3.1 percent of registered vehicles [1].
In 2023, riders died at almost 28 times the rate of people in passenger cars, per mile traveled [1, 7]. They were hurt at almost 5 times the rate. NHTSA estimated that 82,564 riders were injured that year [1].
When another driver causes the crash, the rider usually looks first to that driver’s liability insurance, which pays for harm the policyholder causes to others.
How many drivers lack enough insurance
That first source of money is often missing or thin. The Insurance Research Council (IRC), an industry research group, estimated that 15.4 percent of motorists were uninsured in 2023 [2]. That is more than one driver in seven. The IRC bases its estimate on injury claims involving uninsured and insured drivers [2].
Other drivers carry too little. A 2025 IRC report found that 33.4 percent of drivers were either uninsured or underinsured in 2023 [3]. That combined rate rose 10 percentage points from 2017. UIM rates went up in nearly every state over that time [3].
Comparison compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
States with the highest and lowest uninsured rates in 2023
| Highest rates | Percent uninsured | Lowest rates | Percent uninsured |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | 28.2 | Maine | 5.7 |
| New Mexico | 24.1 | Utah | 6.2 |
| District of Columbia | 23.1 | Idaho | 6.4 |
| Michigan | 22.3 | Wyoming | 6.7 |
| Tennessee | 21.3 | Montana | 7.2 |
Insurance Research Council estimates for 2023, as reported by the Insurance Information Institute in 2025 [2]. These were the latest IRC state figures we found as of October 2026.
How UM and UIM work for riders
UM and UIM are first party coverages. You file the claim with your own insurer, even though someone else caused the crash. The Insurance Information Institute describes them as coverage that pays you back after a crash with a driver who is uninsured, underinsured or gone from the scene [2].
In general, they pay what you could have collected from the at fault driver, up to your own limits. Washington’s law, for example, protects insured people who are legally entitled to damages from those drivers for injury, death or property damage [4]. Which losses a policy pays depends on your state and your policy.
UM: when the driver has no insurance
UM applies when the vehicle that hit you has no coverage. New Jersey’s insurance department, in a consumer guide dated 2011, uses the term for a crash in which the other vehicle carries no coverage at all [8]. UM and UIM can also apply after a hit and run, under conditions covered later [2, 4].
UIM: when the driver has too little
UIM applies when the other driver has insurance, but not enough. New Jersey’s guide says the other driver’s insurer pays up to its limit first [8]. After that, UIM can help with the rest, but only if your UIM limits are higher than that driver’s liability limits [8].
Imagine a rider in Trenton with $100,000 in UIM. The driver who hit him carries $15,000 in liability. Under New Jersey’s rule, his UIM can come into play because his limit is higher. If he had bought only $15,000 in UIM, it might add nothing.
Washington’s law counts a vehicle as underinsured when it has no liability coverage at all, or when its limits fall short of the injured person’s damages [4]. So Washington compares the other driver’s limits with your damages, while New Jersey compares them with your own UIM limits [4, 8]. Ask your agent which approach your state uses.
Will your car policy cover you on your motorcycle?
Many riders insure a car and a bike on separate policies and assume the car policy’s UM and UIM follow them onto the bike, which is not always true.
The owned vehicle exclusion
Some auto policies contain what courts call a household vehicle exclusion. It removes UM and UIM while you are on a vehicle that you or a family member owns, if that vehicle is not insured on the same policy. In one GEICO policy reviewed by Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court, the exclusion said coverage did not apply to injury while occupying a vehicle the policyholder owned or leased [9].
Washington law allows this kind of limit. Its UIM requirement for car policies does not apply while you operate or ride on a motorcycle [4]. It also does not apply in a vehicle that you or a family member owns or regularly uses, unless that vehicle is insured under the policy’s liability coverage [4].
What courts have decided
In Gallagher v. GEICO Indemnity (2019), a truck collided with a rider’s motorcycle, and he was badly hurt [5]. The truck driver’s insurance was not enough to cover his losses [5]. GEICO insured the motorcycle with $50,000 in UIM, and his two cars on a second policy with $100,000 in UIM for each car [5]. He had not waived stacking on either policy [9].
The court held that GEICO’s household vehicle exclusion violated Pennsylvania’s motor vehicle insurance law [5]. In the court’s view, the exclusion worked as a backdoor waiver of stacked coverage, which the law says a policyholder must choose by signing [5].
In Erie Insurance Exchange v. Mione (2023), the facts were different. Albert Mione crashed while riding his motorcycle in 2018 [6]. When he bought his motorcycle policy from Progressive, he had signed a form turning down UM and UIM [6]. He then sought UIM from his household’s Erie car policies [6].
This time the court enforced the exclusions [6]. Unlike Gallagher, the family was not trying to stack anything, since the bike had no UIM to add to [6]. The court also refused to treat household exclusions as automatically unenforceable [6]. In Pennsylvania, then, turning down UM and UIM on the bike can also cut you off from your car’s coverage while you ride.
Kentucky’s Court of Appeals enforced a similar exclusion in 2014, in an opinion marked not to be published [10]. A woman was hurt riding as a passenger on her husband’s motorcycle, whose policy had lapsed [10]. She sought UIM from the couple’s Nationwide car policy, which excluded injury in a vehicle owned by the insured or a relative but not insured for that coverage [10]. The court found the exclusion clear and ruled for the insurer [10].
State rules for UM and UIM on motorcycles
States decide whether insurers must offer UM or UIM. Those rules can treat motorcycles differently from cars. The Insurance Information Institute says 20 states and the District of Columbia require UM or UIM in some form [2]. That count does not say how each state handles motorcycles.
Washington
Washington’s law required UIM on car policies unless the buyer rejected it, but that rule did not reach motorcycles [11]. In 2004, lawmakers acted after supporters said riders were not being told that some insurers sold motorcycle UIM [11]. A second law took effect on June 7, 2006 [12].
Today, a Washington insurer that sells motorcycle coverage must give shoppers information about UIM [4]. It must also give named insureds who buy liability coverage for a bike a chance to turn down UIM for that bike in writing [4].
Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, a buyer can decline UM or UIM by signing a rejection form, the state Supreme Court explained [6]. The rider in the Mione case did so when he bought his motorcycle policy [6].
Kentucky
A 2018 Kentucky bill would have required every insurer writing motorcycle liability coverage to provide UM and UIM unless rejected in writing [13]. The legislature’s record shows it went to a House committee in February 2018 with no later action [13]. We did not confirm what current Kentucky law requires for motorcycles.
Comparison compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
UM and UIM rules we confirmed for riders
| State | What we confirmed | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | Bike insurers must explain UIM and offer a written rejection; car UIM rule does not apply on a bike | RCW 48.22.030 [4] |
| Pennsylvania | Riders may reject UM and UIM in writing; stacking is the default | Gallagher [5]; Mione [6] |
| New Jersey | UIM helps only if your UIM limits top the other driver’s liability limits | NJ insurance department guide, 2011 [8] |
| Kentucky | Appeals court enforced a car policy’s owned vehicle exclusion for a passenger on an uninsured family bike (2014) | Black v. Nationwide [10] |
| California | Hit and run injury claims need contact; one insurer’s 2018 form also sets a 24 hour police report and a 30 day sworn statement | Hagerty form [14]; law firm guide [15] |
As of October 2026. These are the states we confirmed; other states have their own rules, and some may be similar. Confirm the rules with your state insurance department and review your own policy.
Stacking: adding limits together
Stacking means adding UM or UIM limits from more than one vehicle or policy to raise the total you can claim [6]. You can stack the limits for two cars on one policy, or stack limits across separate policies [6].
In Pennsylvania, when more than one vehicle is insured under one or more policies, UM and UIM stack by default [6]. A named insured can give up stacking, but must sign to do so [5, 6]. Gallagher wanted to add his car policy’s UIM on top of the $50,000 on his motorcycle [6]. He had never signed a waiver, so the court would not let the household exclusion block him [5].
Washington takes another approach. When you have similar coverage under other policies, its law lets a policy cap the total at the highest single limit that applies [4]. If your policy uses that clause, you generally cannot add limits together.
We confirmed stacking rules for only these two states. Elsewhere, ask your agent whether your state allows stacking and whether your policy stacks.
Hit and run and phantom vehicle rules
Washington’s UIM law covers both hit and run vehicles and phantom vehicles [4].
When no vehicle touches you
A car drifts into your lane, you go down while avoiding it, and the car keeps going. Washington calls this a phantom vehicle. Its law covers a vehicle that causes injury without touching you or your bike, if two conditions are met [4]. Evidence other than your own account must back up what happened. Police must get a report within 72 hours [4].
Stricter rules in some states
California’s rules are stricter. One insurer’s 2018 California UM form, from Hagerty, covers hit and run injuries only if the vehicle struck you, your vehicle or the one you were in [14]. You or someone for you must report the crash to police within 24 hours [14]. You must also give the insurer a sworn statement within 30 days [14]. A 2026 law firm guide says California Insurance Code section 11580.2 still requires physical contact in these claims [15]. We could not open the statute itself, so check its current text or ask the California Department of Insurance.
New Jersey’s insurance department says a UM claim for vehicle damage requires you to identify the vehicle that hit you [8].
What to do after a hit and run
- Call police from the scene if you can, or ask someone to report the crash for you right away.
- Get names and phone numbers of witnesses, since some states require proof beyond your own word.
- Photograph the scene, your bike and your gear before anything is moved or repaired.
- Tell your insurer quickly and ask for every reporting deadline in writing.
Choosing limits and filing a claim
Your limits set the most your insurer will pay. Think about what a serious crash could cost you, including hospital care, rehab and months away from work.
Setting your limits
Some states tie UIM limits to liability limits. In Washington, UIM for injuries must match your liability coverage unless you reject all or part of it in writing [4]. Before you sign a form that lowers or rejects UM or UIM, ask what you would save and what you would give up.
Set your car and bike declarations pages side by side. Gallagher had $50,000 in UIM on his motorcycle and $100,000 for each car [5]. If your car policy excludes your bike, the bike’s own limit may be all you have. And under a rule like New Jersey’s, UIM that is no higher than the other driver’s limits may add nothing [8].
Filing after a crash
Your health comes first. Get medical care, then report the crash to police and tell your own insurer, even if another driver caused it. New Jersey’s guide advises calling your insurer right away when the other driver may not have enough insurance [8]. Keep a log of each call, with the date, the person’s name and the claim number.
New Jersey’s guide says most insurers require you to tell them and get their permission before you settle with the other driver’s insurer [8]. Ask your own insurer for that consent in writing before you sign any release.
Your insurer may value your claim lower than you do. In New Jersey, the guide says, policy terms send these disputes to arbitration, a private hearing before a neutral person [8]. Claims must also be resolved within the statute of limitations, the legal deadline for bringing a claim [8]. If you are stuck, ask your state insurance department what choices you have, or have an attorney look at your situation.
Questions to ask your insurance agent
Question checklist from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
- Does my motorcycle policy include UM and UIM, and what are the limits?
- Does my car policy’s UM and UIM cover me while I ride my own motorcycle?
- Does either policy have a household or owned vehicle exclusion?
- Did I ever sign a form rejecting UM, UIM or stacking, and can I get a copy?
- Does my state allow stacking, and does my policy stack?
- What would it cost to raise my UIM limits to match my liability limits?
- How does my policy handle a hit and run, or a crash in which no vehicle touched me?
Frequently asked questions
Do insurers have to offer UM or UIM on a motorcycle?
It depends on the state. In Washington, insurers that sell motorcycle coverage must explain UIM and give named insureds a written chance to turn it down [4]. In Pennsylvania, riders can waive UM and UIM by signing a rejection form [6].
Does UM cover a hit and run?
Often, but conditions vary. Washington covers a phantom vehicle that never touched you if other evidence backs up your account and police got a report within 72 hours [4]. In California, one insurer’s form and a 2026 law firm guide say the vehicle must have made contact [14, 15].
The bottom line
Recommendation from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
In 2023, riders died at almost 28 times the rate of car occupants per mile. One in three drivers carried no insurance or too little [1, 3]. UM and UIM on your motorcycle policy may be the main protection you control. Until you have read its exclusions, do not count on your car policy to follow you onto the bike.
Rules on offering, rejecting, stacking and hit and run claims differ by state. Read both of your policies, ask your agent for answers in writing, and check the rules for your own state with your state insurance department.
Sources and further reading
- 1National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Traffic safety facts, 2023 data: motorcycles (DOT HS 813 732). July 2025. crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/…/813732
- 2Insurance Information Institute. Facts + Statistics: Uninsured motorists. 2025 (copy filed by United Policyholders, accessed October 2026). uphelp.org/…/Ex.-1.pdf
- 3Insurance Research Council. One in three US drivers are either uninsured or underinsured, new IRC study shows (news release on Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists: 2017 to 2023). Business Wire. February 20, 2025. businesswire.com/news/home/20250220231032/en
- 4Revised Code of Washington section 48.22.030 (as amended through 2015; current text checked October 2026). Underinsured, hit and run, phantom vehicle coverage. app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx
- 5Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Gallagher v. GEICO Indemnity Co., No. 35 WAP 2017 (opinion of the Court). January 23, 2019. hallapproved.com/…/4583683
- 6Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Erie Insurance Exchange v. Mione, No. 89 MAP 2021. February 15, 2023. pacourts.us/…/J-26-2022mo%20-%20105435840…
- 7National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month: motorcyclist fatality rate (press release). May 5, 2025. nhtsa.gov/…/motorcycle-safety-awareness…
- 8New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance, Insurance Ombudsman. Filing an uninsured/underinsured motorist claim. Copyright 2011, accessed October 2026. nj.gov/dobi/ins_ombudsman/wysk3.htm
- 9Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Gallagher v. GEICO Indemnity Co., No. 35 WAP 2017 (dissenting opinion). January 23, 2019. hallapproved.com/…/4583684
- 10Kentucky Court of Appeals. Black v. Nationwide General Insurance Co., No. 2013-CA-001439-MR (not to be published). September 5, 2014. cases.justia.com/…/2014-2013-ca-001439-mr.pdf
- 11Washington State Legislature. House bill report, EHB 2987, as passed Legislature: underinsured motorist coverage. 2004. lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/…/2987.HBR.htm
- 12Washington State Legislature. Final bill report, SHB 1257 (C 110 L 06): providing an opportunity to reject motorcycle or motor driven cycle insurance coverage. 2006. lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/…/1257-S.FBR.htm
- 13Kentucky General Assembly. House Bill 505 (2018 Regular Session): an act related to motor vehicle insurance. Record last updated September 2020. apps.legislature.ky.gov/…/hb505.html
- 14Hagerty. Uninsured motorists coverage, California (includes underinsured motorists coverage), endorsement form AC 002 CA 09 18. 2018 edition. hagerty.com/EDocs/Home/Download
- 15El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers. The physical contact rule: why some LA hit and run victims lose their UM claim. May 28, 2026. erlawyers.com/…/physical-contact-rule-hit-a…
This article reflects the safety priorities of motorcycle safety and crash recovery education. It offers general information and is not legal, insurance or financial advice. Insurance laws and policy terms differ from state to state and insurer to insurer. They change over time. Before you change your coverage, contact your state insurance department and go through your own policy. Reviewed October 2026.
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