Updated June 2026
What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
Uninsured Motorist Coverage (UM) pays for your injuries and vehicle damage when the at-fault driver has no insurance, carries limits too low to cover your losses, or leaves the scene. It functions as a backup liability policy that treats you as if the other driver had been properly insured. The coverage uses your own policy limits—if you carry $50,000 in UM bodily injury coverage and sustain $60,000 in medical bills after being hit by an uninsured driver, UM pays the first $50,000 and you absorb the remaining $10,000.
- You're stopped at a red light when an uninsured driver rear-ends you at 35 mph. You sustain $18,000 in medical bills and $9,000 in vehicle damage. The at-fault driver has no insurance. Your UM bodily injury coverage pays the $18,000 in medical costs up to your policy limit. Your UM property damage coverage (if purchased separately in Ohio) pays the $9,000 vehicle repair, minus your deductible if applicable.
- A driver sideswiped your parked car overnight and fled the scene. Repair costs are $4,200. You filed a police report but the driver was never identified. Your UM property damage coverage pays the $4,200 repair cost minus your deductible. Without UM, you would pay the full repair bill or file under collision coverage if you carry it, which also requires a deductible.
- You're injured in a crash caused by a driver carrying Ohio's minimum $25,000 bodily injury liability limit. Your medical bills total $42,000. The at-fault driver's liability policy pays its $25,000 limit. Your Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage pays the remaining $17,000 up to your UIM policy limit. Without UIM, you would absorb the $17,000 shortfall or pursue the at-fault driver personally, which rarely succeeds.
Who Needs Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
Drivers with suspended licenses navigating reinstatement should carry UM coverage during and after their suspension period. If you're required to maintain continuous coverage or file an SR-22 to satisfy Ohio reinstatement conditions, adding UM protects you from uninsured drivers while you're legally vulnerable and unable to pursue claims as easily. Drivers without collision or comprehensive coverage should carry UM property damage—it's your only protection for vehicle damage caused by an uninsured at-fault driver.
Calculate your out-of-pocket exposure if an uninsured driver hits you tomorrow and causes $25,000 in medical bills and totals your car. If you cannot absorb both losses, buy UM bodily injury and property damage at limits matching your liability coverage. If you carry SR-22 or are reinstating after suspension, add UM—it costs $10–$15 monthly and eliminates the risk of a financially devastating crash with an uninsured driver during your high-risk period.
How Much Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance Cost?
Uninsured Motorist Coverage typically adds $8–$18 per month ($96–$216 per year) to an Ohio auto insurance policy.
- Your UM bodily injury limit—choosing $50,000 per person instead of $25,000 increases premium by $3–$6 monthly.
- Whether you add UM property damage coverage separately, which costs an additional $2–$5 per month in Ohio.
- Your county's uninsured driver rate—Franklin County has a 14% uninsured rate and sees higher UM premiums than rural counties at 9%.
- Your coverage stacking election—stacking UM limits across multiple vehicles on one policy raises premiums but multiplies available coverage after a crash.
- Your SR-22 filing status—drivers with SR-22 requirements pay 18–30% more for UM coverage due to higher assessed risk.