# Uninsured motorist coverage (UM)

> Uninsured motorist coverage (UM) defined: what it pays when a driver with no insurance injures you or damages your car, and how UMBI and UMPD differ.

Canonical page: https://statecover-guide.com/glossary/uninsured-motorist-coverage/  
Last reviewed: October 28, 2026 by the StateCover Guide editorial team  
General information, not legal or insurance advice.

## Quick answer

Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage pays for your losses when you are hit by a driver who has no liability insurance. Depending on your state and policy, it can also apply to hit-and-run crashes.

## How it works

California's insurance department explains that UM coverage comes in two parts:

- **Uninsured motorist bodily injury (UMBI)** pays for injuries to you and anyone in your car when an uninsured driver hits you.
- **Uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD)** pays for damage to your car when the uninsured driver is identified.

It matters because many drivers carry no insurance. The Insurance Research Council estimated that 15.4% of US drivers were uninsured in 2023.

Rules differ by state:

- **Offered and declined in writing.** California requires insurers to offer UM when you buy liability coverage, and you must sign a waiver to decline it. Texas also requires insurers to offer UM/UIM coverage and lets you reject it only in writing.
- **Hit-and-run.** In Texas, UM/UIM coverage pays for hit-and-run crashes, but only if you reported the crash to the police.
- **Deductibles.** In Texas, you pay a deductible on uninsured/underinsured motorist claims.

Requirements vary from state to state, so check your state's rules before you decline it.

## Related terms

- [Underinsured motorist coverage](https://statecover-guide.com/glossary/underinsured-motorist-coverage/)
- [Uninsured motorist property damage](https://statecover-guide.com/glossary/uninsured-motorist-property-damage/)
- [Hit-and-run](https://statecover-guide.com/glossary/hit-and-run/)
- [Stacking](https://statecover-guide.com/glossary/stacking/)
- Guide: [Uninsured motorist coverage: UM, UIM and how much to buy](https://statecover-guide.com/coverage/uninsured-motorist/)

## Sources

- [California Department of Insurance, Automobile Insurance Terms](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/95-guides/01-auto/autoterms.cfm) — UMBI and UMPD, offer and waiver
- [Texas Department of Insurance, Auto insurance guide](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/pubs/consumer/cb020.html) — UM/UIM offer and rejection, hit-and-run reporting, deductibles
- [Insurance Research Council, Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists: 2017–2023 (press release)](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250220231032/en), as of February 20, 2025