Yes, since January 1, 2009 all auto policies in North Carolina have to have Uninsured Motorist coverage (UM or UM/UNDUM, and UMPD) with limits equal to the highest limits of Bodily Injury Liability. In addition, Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury (UM/UNDUM) must be on a policy where the liability limits are greater than 30/60/25 (BI and PD).

The North Carolina Financial Responsibility Laws require that Automobile Liability coverage be maintained. The minimum requirements of liability insurance for private passenger vehicles in North Carolina are 30/60/25. These numbers stand for $30,000 for bodily injury for 1 person, $60,000 bodily injury for 2 or more people in one accident and $25,000 for property damage occurring in one accident.

North Carolina Motor Vehicle General Statute 20-279.21(b)(3) and (b)(4) was revised by NC House Bill 738 and now requires that all licensed drivers carry Uninsured/Underinsured (UM/UIM) motorist coverage on their motor vehicle insurance policies without the option of rejecting it as they could before 2009.

Under this new requirement, your policy’s UM/UIM coverage limits must at least equal the highest Bodily Injury Liability limit on any one motor vehicle insured under the policy unless the insured elects to purchase higher limits.

Underinsured Motorist Coverage is required for insureds that purchased a policy with Bodily Injury Liability Coverage with limits greater than $30,000 per person/$60,000 per accident. The NC law requires the Underinsured Motorist Coverage to be equal to the highest limits of Bodily Injury Liability Coverage for any one vehicle insured under the policy, unless the insured elects to purchase higher limits.

NC is different regarding UM coverage because they have two coverage options for Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury coverage. You can purchase Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury without Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury coverage, or you can purchase combined Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury.

Some carriers will not offer Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury and will only offer the combined coverage Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury. Uninsured Motorist Property Damage is now required too with limits equal to Property Damage Liability limits.

You can see the premium trends since these changes have went affect, using the North Carolina's car insurance average premium are trending tool.

North Carolina's new Uninsured Motorist requirements can be confusing to say the least. CarInsurance.com makes it easy with pre-select coverage packages to assist you when purchase insurance online.