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 (the latest year for which data was available), according to the Insurance Research Council; 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.
CarInsurance.com Insights
- If you carry collision, UMPD is largely redundant. If you don’t, it’s your only route to a paid repair after an uninsured driver hits you.
- Seven states and Washington, D.C. require UMPD. Twelve more make insurers include it unless you reject it in writing.
- UMPD usually pays with no deductible. Where one applies, it’s typically $250 or less — often less than your collision deductible.
Uninsured motorist coverage helps pay your costs when an uninsured or underinsured driver Uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) coverage answers one question: who pays to fix your car when the driver who hit you has no insurance? If you carry collision, your own policy already handles that, and UMPD mostly overlaps. If you skipped collision to keep your premium down, UMPD is the only thing standing between you and a repair bill you’d have to chase in small claims court.
Your state matters too. Seven states and Washington, D.C., require UMPD outright, and a dozen more make you decline it in writing. Here’s how the coverage works and when it earns its place on your policy.
UMPD vs. UMBI: what’s the difference?
Uninsured motorist coverage comes in two halves, and only one of them fixes your car. UMBI pays your medical bills after an uninsured driver hits you. UMPD pays for the damage to your vehicle. Many states let you buy them separately.
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 only applies when an uninsured driver is at fault, and it usually doesn’t carry a deductible.
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 cap it at $3,500. Others let you go up to your vehicle’s actual cash value, which is what it’s worth today, not what you paid. 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
UMPD is required in seven states and Washington, D.C. In 12 more states, insurers must include it in your policy unless you reject it in writing. Everywhere else it’s optional, and in about half of all states it isn’t sold at all. Where you live decides whether this is a choice or a line item you already have.
UMPD is required in these states:
- Maryland
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington, D.C.
- West Virginia
New Hampshire is a special case. It’s the only state that doesn’t require car insurance at all. But if you do buy a policy there, it has to include UMPD.
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 coverage, an uninsured-driver crash leaves you pursuing the at-fault driver directly, which can mean a lawsuit and often little or no recovery.
Sophie’s Tip
Pull your declarations page before you decide. If your collision deductible is $1,000 and UMPD costs a few dollars a month with no deductible, you’re buying down that $1,000 for uninsured-driver claims specifically. That’s the whole trade.
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 cover repairs if you are at fault. With neither coverage, an uninsured driver crash leaves suing the driver as your only option.
Is UMPD worth it?
If you don’t carry collision, UMPD is worth adding — it’s the only coverage that pays for your repairs when an uninsured driver is at fault, and it usually pays without a deductible. If you do carry collision, the two overlap, and the deciding number is on your declarations page: pull your collision deductible. The higher it is, the more UMPD’s no-deductible payout is worth to you in an uninsured-driver claim. And if you live in one of the seven states or D.C. that require it, the decision is already made.
Frequently Asked Questions: UMPD
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.
Can you have UMPD and collision at the same time?
In most states, yes. Carrying both is allowed, though the coverage overlaps, and your insurer will generally pay under one or the other, not both. Louisiana is the exception: you can’t buy UMPD there if your policy includes collision. If you’re carrying both elsewhere, the practical benefit is UMPD’s lack of a deductible in an uninsured-driver claim.
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
Sources
Insurance Research Council. “Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists: 2017–2023.” Accessed September 2026.
Insurance Information Institute. “IRC report reveals that one in three drivers were either uninsured or underinsured in 2023.” Accessed September 2026.
National Association of Insurance Commissioners. “Uninsured Motorists.” Accessed September 2026.
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