The Short Answer: Almost Certainly Yes
If you drive, uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage is one of the smartest, cheapest protections you can carry. It pays for your injuries and losses when an at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough — a situation that's far more common than most people realize. Skipping it to save a few dollars a month is one of the riskiest trade-offs on an auto policy.
The Risk Is Real and Common
- About 1 in 7 U.S. drivers is uninsured — and in some states it's closer to 1 in 4.
- Millions more are underinsured, carrying only their state's bare-minimum liability limits.
- Those minimums are low — often $25,000 per person, a figure a single serious injury blows past easily.
When one of those drivers hits you, their (nonexistent or tiny) policy won't cover your medical bills, lost wages, or pain. Without UM/UIM, that gap is yours.
What It Actually Protects
- Your medical bills and future treatment
- Your lost income while you recover
- Pain and suffering the at-fault driver would owe
- Your passengers and household family members
- You as a pedestrian or cyclist, in many states
- Hit-and-run crashes, in most states
Who Needs It Most
Everyone benefits, but it's especially critical if you:
- Live in a state with high uninsured-driver rates
- Commute in heavy traffic or long distances
- Have dependents who rely on your income
- Have health insurance with high deductibles (UM/UIM fills gaps health won't)
- Carry only state-minimum limits today
"But I Have Health Insurance"
Health insurance helps, but it won't pay your lost wages, your deductibles and copays, or your pain and suffering — and it may demand repayment out of any settlement. UM/UIM is built to cover the full harm an at-fault driver caused, not just part of your medical bills.
It Costs Less Than You Think
Because UM/UIM premiums rise slowly relative to the limits, you can buy a lot of protection for a little money — often just a few dollars a month to go well beyond state minimums. We help drivers compare their current limits against their real exposure. [Check your coverage](/quote) and see where you stand.