Uninsured and Underinsured Insurance
Get affordable uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage online in minutes.
What is UM and UIM insurance?
Neither uninsured motorists insurance nor underinsured motorists insurance are required by law, but they’re important coverages to have anyway. (Especially since 1 in 8 drivers on the road are uninsured!)
The less you’re on the road, the less you’ll pay for car insurance. It’s a common-sense approach that could save you up to 47%* on your car insurance.
What does uninsured and underinsured motorists insurance cover?
There are two types of UM/UIM coverage for covered incidents: Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury (UMBI) pays for medical bills when you and passengers are injured, while Uninsured/Underinsured Property Damage (UMPD) pays out to repair or replace your vehicle.
If you’re hit by someone with no insurance:
• Uninsured Motorist Property Damage (UMPD) will pay for the damage to your own vehicle up to the coverage limit**
If you’re hit by a driver who doesn’t have enough insurance:
• UMPD covers the difference if the other driver’s insurance can’t pay the total cost of repairing your vehicle
How much is uninsured and underinsured insurance?
Uninsured and underinsured coverage usually costs less than many other kinds of car insurance coverage (though it may be a bit more expensive in states where there are a lot of uninsured drivers!). Your rate for UM/UIM will depend on where you are in the country as well as other factors (like the make and model of your vehicle).
The good news is that switching to pay-per-mile coverage can get you a great rate on UM/UIM—as well as a lot of other important coverages. With Metromile, you could get a reliable car insurance policy for as little as 6 cents per mile (plus a low monthly base rate). It’s a fair approach that saves Metromile customers an average of $741* per year.
How does uninsured & underinsured motorists coverage work?
You’re rear-ended while sitting at a red light. Your car is severely damaged, but the other driver tells you that they don’t have car insurance.
At Metromile, you can file this claim online or via our app! (Keep in mind that other insurers may require a longer process.)
After the UM/UIM claim is approved, you’ll get a check to cover the cost of repairing or replacing your car.
When would uninsured motorists coverage apply?
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverages come into play when you get into an accident that’s caused by a driver who either isn’t insured—or who doesn’t have enough liability insurance to pay all of your expenses.
Both scenarios are pretty common! As many as 1 in 8 U.S. drivers are completely uninsured, and many more drivers only carry the minimum amount of liability coverage required by their state. If a driver from either one of these categories hits you, it could be very expensive—for you.
Imagine, for example, getting hit by a driver who only carries their state minimum liability insurance policy of $30,000. Now imagine your hospital bill is $55,000 and the cost to replace your totaled vehicle is $25,000—a total accident cost of $80,000! Who is going to pay the difference?
That’s where UM/UIM comes in. It’s a great idea for peace of mind.
(Keep in mind that this is just a simple example of what could be covered! UM/UIM works differently in every state. Be sure to check with your insurer to see what’s covered under your policy.)
Is uninsured motorist’s coverage required?
Uninsured motorist’s coverage is required by law in some states. And even if you don’t live in one of those states, your lender may require you to purchase it if your vehicle is financed or leased.
Keep in mind that UM/UIM is often a good idea even if it isn’t required by your state or by a lender. (You don’t want to get stuck with a big bill because someone else didn’t purchase enough coverage!)
Do I need uninsured motorist’s coverage?
Getting uninsured/underinsured coverage is an excellent idea for most drivers, but here’s a question to help you think through whether UM/UIM is right for you:
- Do you want to be sure your car repairs and medical expenses are paid for—even if the driver who caused the accident doesn’t have enough coverage?
If your answer is Yes, then UM/UIM is likely a good choice for you. (Especially since 1 in 8 drivers are uninsured.)
See what customers are saying about Metromile
“For low mileage drivers, I think Metromile is the best options vs any other insurance, coverage is excellent include an friendly and professional service. Thank you!”
“I’ve had this insurance for about 5 months. It has been amazing so far! Love the app, the low rate, and the amazing customer service. I haven’t had to file a claim, so I can’t speak about that.”
“We have not had a claim so I can not review the claims process. As for the sales and service it has been great. Very easy to navigate the app and monitor our mileage. We are saving about 40% from our prior yearly insurance premiums. Highly recommend!”