Uninsured drivers by state

Which states have the most uninsured drivers?

Nearly every state requires drivers to carry liability coverage, yet a large share still drive without it. The estimates below come from the Insurance Research Council (IRC), a research organization affiliated with The Institutes, whose state figures the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) republishes. The table pairs each state's rate with its rule on uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, because the two together tell you how exposed a driver there is.

The contrast is striking. In Mississippi, the state with the highest estimated rate, uninsured motorist coverage is optional. In Michigan it is optional as well. New Mexico includes it unless you reject it, and lawmakers there have debated making it mandatory. A 2025 bill to make UM/UIM mandatory with no right to reject (HB 97) died; rejection is still allowed. The District of Columbia and Missouri, by contrast, require it on every policy.

At the other end of the ranking, these states have the fewest uninsured drivers:

Even in Maine, Utah and Idaho, a small rate is not zero. One crash with an uninsured driver can still leave you with bills, which is why UM coverage matters everywhere. The full ranking for every state is further down this page.

How the Insurance Research Council estimates the rate

There is no national list of uninsured drivers, so the IRC works from insurance claims instead. According to the Triple-I, it compares how often people file uninsured motorist claims with how often they file bodily injury liability claims.

The logic is simple. A bodily injury liability claim means an insured driver hurt someone. An uninsured motorist claim means an uninsured driver hurt someone who had UM coverage. Comparing the two claim frequencies gives an estimate of how many crashes involve a driver with no insurance, and so of the share of drivers who are uninsured.

A few points help when reading the numbers:

• They are estimates. The method relies on claims, so it reflects drivers involved in crashes and claims, not a headcount of every vehicle.
• They are a few years old. The latest study, published in February 2025, covers data through 2023.
• They change over time. The national rate was 12.4% in 2017, dipped to 11.6% in 2019 and climbed to 15.4% by 2023. The IRC found that nearly every state's rate rose when the pandemic began, with a more mixed picture afterward. Over the whole period, the largest increases were in the District of Columbia, New Jersey and Missouri.
• Underinsured drivers are a growing share. The combined uninsured-or-underinsured rate rose by 10 percentage points since 2017, and the IRC says nearly every state's underinsured rate went up.

The IRC also studies why rates differ between states, looking at economic conditions, insurance prices and state insurance laws.

What uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage does

Uninsured motorist coverage is part of your own policy. It steps in when the driver who caused the crash should have paid but cannot.

• Uninsured motorist bodily injury (UM) pays for injuries to you and your passengers when the at-fault driver has no liability insurance. In many states it also covers hit-and-run crashes where the driver is never found.
• Underinsured motorist bodily injury (UIM) pays when the at-fault driver has insurance, but too little to cover your losses. With 33.4% of drivers uninsured or underinsured, this gap is common.
• Uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) pays for damage to your car in some states. California, for example, offers it up to $3,500, and only when the uninsured driver is identified. Elsewhere, your collision coverage usually handles the car, minus your deductible.

Example: an uninsured driver runs a red light and hits you. Your medical bills and lost wages come to $40,000. With $50,000 of UM bodily injury coverage, your insurer can pay the full $40,000. Without UM, you would rely on your health insurance, any MedPay or PIP, and a lawsuit against a driver who may have nothing to collect. These figures are hypothetical.

Some states let you stack UM limits across several cars or policies, which combines the limits for a higher premium. Our glossary entry on stacking explains how it works, and our guide to uninsured motorist coverage goes deeper on UIM calculations.

Which states require uninsured motorist coverage?

The Triple-I counts 20 states and the District of Columbia that require UM or UIM coverage, and it advises checking with each state insurance department. Our own state facts, drawn from statutes and regulators, sort the rules into three groups. The exact wording matters, because "required" sometimes still allows you to choose lower limits.

The "included unless you reject it" group deserves attention. In those states you have the coverage unless you sign a rejection form. Rejecting it lowers your premium, but it removes your protection against the drivers in the tables above. Each state's exact rule, with its source, is in the state minimum lookup and the table at the end of this page.

What happens to drivers caught without insurance

States punish driving uninsured, but the penalties fall on the uninsured driver, not on the person they hit. A few examples from state motor vehicle agencies show the range:

These rules push people back into the system, often through an SR-22 filing. What they do not do is pay your medical bills or fix your car. A driver without insurance may have little you can collect, so even a successful lawsuit may not recover much. That is the gap uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is designed to fill. If you are the one whose coverage slipped, our post on a car insurance lapse explains how to get back on track.

How to protect yourself from uninsured drivers

1. Check your declarations page. Look for uninsured and underinsured motorist lines and their limits. If they are missing, you may have rejected them in writing at some point.
2. Consider matching UM and UIM to your liability limits. Many states let you buy UM up to your liability limits. Higher limits protect you if an uninsured driver causes serious injuries.
3. Read any rejection form before signing. In states where UM is included unless rejected, the form is the only thing that removes it.
4. Decide how to protect your car. Ask about uninsured motorist property damage, or rely on collision coverage. Compare the deductibles of each.
5. Look at stacking if your state allows it. Stacking can raise your protection across several vehicles.
6. Keep coverage for your own injuries. Health insurance, MedPay or personal injury protection pay regardless of who is at fault.
7. After a hit-and-run, act quickly. Report it to the police and your insurer promptly. Our guide to hit-and-run claims covers the deadlines.

The coverage checklist can help you weigh these choices against your budget. A licensed agent or your state insurance department can explain the forms used in your state.

Uninsured drivers in every state

The table ranks every state and the District of Columbia from the highest to the lowest estimated share of uninsured drivers. Each row links to the state's guide, which covers its uninsured motorist rules.

Ranked from the highest to the lowest estimated share of uninsured drivers.