Updated June 2026
What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
Uninsured Motorist Coverage steps in when the driver who caused your crash has no liability insurance or carries limits too low to cover your medical bills, lost wages, and vehicle damage. It covers you, your passengers, and family members listed on your policy. This coverage does not pay for damage to your vehicle in most states—that requires a separate Uninsured Motorist Property Damage endorsement. The coverage limit you select replaces the liability coverage the at-fault driver should have carried.
- You stop at a red light and an uninsured driver rear-ends your vehicle. You suffer $18,000 in medical bills and $6,000 in lost wages during recovery. The at-fault driver has no insurance to cover your claim. Your Uninsured Motorist Coverage with a $25,000 limit pays the full $24,000 in medical expenses and lost income. Without this coverage, you would file a lawsuit against the driver personally and likely collect nothing because most uninsured drivers lack assets to satisfy a judgment.
- A driver runs a stop sign and causes a three-car collision. Your injuries total $40,000 in medical costs and rehabilitation expenses. The at-fault driver carries Idaho's minimum liability limit of $25,000 per person. Their insurer pays the $25,000 maximum, leaving you $15,000 short. If you carry Underinsured Motorist Coverage with a $50,000 limit, your policy pays the remaining $15,000. This coverage works only when the at-fault driver's liability limit is exhausted and your damages exceed that amount.
- A driver sideswipes your vehicle on the highway and flees the scene. You never identify the driver or recover a license plate. You sustain $12,000 in injuries. Your Uninsured Motorist Coverage treats this as an uninsured driver claim and pays up to your policy limit. Most states require proof that contact occurred—paint transfer, witness statements, or a police report filed within 24 hours. If you cannot prove another vehicle struck you, the claim may be denied.
Who Needs Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
Drivers reinstating a suspended license after DUI or points accumulation should carry Uninsured Motorist Coverage because you already face higher premiums in the non-standard market and cannot afford out-of-pocket injury costs if an uninsured driver hits you during your reinstatement period. If you are required to file SR-22 in Idaho, you must maintain continuous liability coverage, and adding UM protection costs under $15 per month in most cases—cheap insurance against the 14% of Idaho drivers who carry no coverage. Drivers without health insurance benefit most because UM replaces the medical coverage you lack when someone else causes your injuries.
Calculate your out-of-pocket risk if an uninsured driver causes $30,000 in medical bills and three months of lost wages. If your health insurance deductible and lost income exceed $500 per month, UM coverage costing $12 per month pays for itself in a single claim. If you have no health insurance, no savings, and you are rebuilding after suspension, carry at least $50,000 per person in UM limits—you cannot afford to absorb injury costs personally and the premium difference between minimum and mid-tier limits is under $8 per month.
How Much Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance Cost?
Uninsured Motorist Coverage adds $8 to $18 per month to a full-coverage policy, or approximately $100 to $220 annually, depending on the limits you select and your driving history.
- Coverage limit selected—$25,000 per person costs significantly less than $100,000 per person, but higher limits protect against catastrophic injury claims that exceed the at-fault driver's nonexistent coverage.
- Your own driving record and claims history—carriers price this coverage based on your likelihood of filing any injury claim, not just uninsured motorist claims, because fraud and exaggerated claims are common in UM cases.
- County uninsured driver rate—Idaho counties with higher percentages of uninsured drivers show higher UM claim frequency, so premiums increase in areas like Ada County and Canyon County where uninsured rates exceed 15%.
- Stacking election—if you own multiple vehicles and select stacked Uninsured Motorist Coverage, you can combine the limits from all policies to cover a single claim, but premiums increase 30% to 50% to reflect the higher potential payout.
- Medical payment coverage on your policy—if you already carry MedPay or Personal Injury Protection, your insurer may reduce UM pricing slightly because those coverages pay first and reduce the likelihood of a large UM claim.