CarInsurance.com Insights
- About 15.4% of U.S. drivers were uninsured in 2023, according to the Insurance Research Council. That is roughly 1 in 7 drivers who could hit you with no coverage of their own.
- UMPD is required in eight states and Washington, D.C., including Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina. In 12 more states you must reject it in writing to opt out.
- UMPD usually has no deductible; collision usually does. If you skip collision, UMPD may be your only way to recover repair costs after an uninsured driver hits you.
UMPD coverage pays for your car repairs when an at-fault driver has no insurance, and unlike collision, it typically comes without a deductible. About 15.4% of U.S. drivers had no insurance in 2023, according to the Insurance Research Council, so this is a real-world decision most drivers face. The rate runs much higher in some states. In Florida, about 1 in 5 drivers were uninsured in 2023. Whether UMPD makes sense for you depends on your state and what else is in your policy.
If an uninsured driver hits you and you carry neither UMPD nor collision, you are left chasing the at-fault driver yourself to pay for the damage. Here is how the coverage works and when it is worth adding.
What is uninsured motorist coverage?
Uninsured motorist coverage helps pay your costs when an uninsured or underinsured driver hits you. It splits into two parts, and many states let you buy them separately or together:
- Uninsured motorist bodily injury (UMBI): Pays your medical costs after a crash with an uninsured driver. This is the injury half of the coverage.
- Uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD): Pays for damage to your property, usually your car, and sometimes other items such as a fence. This guide focuses on UMPD.
Coverage is often bundled as UM/UIM, which adds protection when an at-fault driver has some insurance but not enough to cover your damage.
How UMPD coverage works
UMPD steps in when an at-fault driver has no insurance to pay for your car repairs. Normally the other driver’s property damage liability coverage pays to fix your vehicle. If they have no coverage, or not enough, you would otherwise pay out of pocket. UMPD covers that gap, and in most states, it pays without a deductible.
A few details shape how it applies:
- Hit-and-run accidents are sometimes excluded, depending on your state, and may fall under your collision coverage instead.
- Coverage options, limits and requirements vary widely from state to state.
UMPD is often confused with collision coverage. Collision pays to repair your vehicle after any accident, regardless of fault, and usually carries a deductible. UMPD only applies when an uninsured driver is at fault and usually does not.
UMPD limits and deductibles
Your UMPD limit is the most your policy will pay for property damage in a single accident, and it usually varies by state. Some states set a cap such as $3,500, while others go higher, up to your vehicle’s actual cash value. Check with your state’s department of insurance for the specific maximum where you live.
Say you choose a $10,000 limit. That is the most your policy will pay to repair your car if an uninsured driver hits you. In most states, you can choose your amount up to a set ceiling and you may be required to match your UMPD limit to your liability limit.
UMPD usually has no deductible, though that can vary by state and insurer. When a deductible is required, it is generally low, often $250 or less.
Sophie’s Tip
If your collision deductible is high, UMPD’s lack of a deductible can make it the cheaper way to get your car fixed after an uninsured driver hits you. Compare the two before you decide which to carry.
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Where UMPD is required
Whether UMPD is required depends on where you live. In some states, you must carry it, in others, insurers must offer it, but you can decline, and in most, it is optional. Nearly every state requires some property damage liability to drive legally, but plenty of drivers ignore that, and many who follow the law carry only low state minimums.
UMPD is required in these states:
- Maryland
- New Hampshire*
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington, D.C.
- West Virginia
*New Hampshire does not require car insurance by law, but if you buy a policy, it must include UMPD.
In these states, insurers must include UMPD unless you reject it in writing:
- Alaska
- Arkansas
- California
- Delaware
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- New Mexico
- Rhode Island
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Washington
In Louisiana, UMPD is not available if your policy includes collision coverage.
Do you need UMPD?
You likely need UMPD if you do not carry collision coverage. UMPD pays for your car repairs when an uninsured, at-fault driver hits you, often with no deductible. If you already have collision, the two overlap heavily, so UMPD may be redundant. Your state may also require it regardless of what else you carry.
Without UMPD or collision, an uninsured driver crash leaves you pursuing the at-fault driver directly, which can mean a lawsuit and often little or no recovery.
Do you need UMPD if you have collision and comprehensive?
If you have collision coverage, UMPD is usually unnecessary. Collision repairs or replaces your car after an accident regardless of fault. Comprehensive only covers non-collision damage such as theft, hail or a fallen tree, so it does not fill the same role.
The one exception worth weighing: If keeping your premium low is the priority, carrying UMPD instead of collision can make sense. UMPD costs less, but it will not pay for repairs when you are at fault. With neither coverage, an uninsured driver crash leaves suing the driver as your only option.
Final verdict
UMPD is a smart add-on if you skip collision and live in a state where uninsured drivers are common. If you already carry collision, the overlap is significant, but UMPD’s lack of a deductible can still make it worth the small premium. The best move is to compare your current coverage against what UMPD would cost, then decide.
Frequently asked questions
Does UMPD have a deductible?
Usually not. Most UMPD policies pay out without a deductible, which is one reason some drivers choose it over collision. A few states and carriers do require one, but it is generally low, often $250 or less. Check your policy declarations page to confirm.
Does UMPD cover hit-and-run accidents?
It depends on your state. Some states include hit-and-runs under UMPD; others exclude them and route those claims to collision coverage. If you live in a state that excludes hit-and-runs from UMPD, carrying collision is the safer backup.
What is the difference between UMPD and collision coverage?
Both pay to repair your car, but they work differently. UMPD only applies when an uninsured driver is at fault and typically has no deductible. Collision covers accidents regardless of fault but requires a deductible. If you have both, UMPD may be redundant.
Is UMPD worth it if I already have full coverage?
If your full coverage includes collision, UMPD is likely redundant. The exception: if your collision deductible is high, UMPD could save you money in an uninsured-driver scenario since it usually has no deductible.
What happens if an uninsured driver hits me and I have no UMPD?
Without UMPD or collision coverage, your only option is to pursue the at-fault driver directly. That may require a lawsuit and often results in recovering little or nothing.
Resources & Methodology
Insurance Information Institute. “Facts + Statistics: Uninsured motorists.” Accessed July 2026.
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