Uninsured Motorist Coverage — New York
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage pays for your injuries and property damage when the at-fault driver has no insurance or insufficient coverage to pay your claim.
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What Is Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
Uninsured motorist coverage (UM) and underinsured motorist coverage (UIM) are two parts of the same protection. UM pays when the at-fault driver has no insurance at all. UIM pays when the at-fault driver's liability limits are too low to cover your medical bills, lost wages, and vehicle damage. Both coverages step in only after you've exhausted the at-fault driver's insurance, and they pay up to your own policy's UM/UIM limits, not beyond.
Who Needs Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
You should carry UM/UIM coverage if you drive regularly in New York, especially in areas with high traffic density or higher uninsured driver rates. This coverage is critical if you cannot afford to pay medical bills or vehicle repair costs out of pocket after a crash caused by someone else. New York law assumes you need this protection and includes it automatically unless you waive it.
If the cost of replacing your vehicle or covering a serious injury out of pocket would strain your finances, keep UM/UIM coverage at limits matching your liability coverage.
How Much Does Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage Insurance Cost?
- Your UM/UIM bodily injury limits relative to your liability limits — higher limits cost more but provide broader protection.
- Whether you add optional UM property damage coverage, which pays for vehicle damage when the at-fault driver is uninsured or unidentified.
- Your county's uninsured driver rate — areas with higher percentages of uninsured motorists see slightly higher UM premiums due to increased claim frequency.
- Whether you select stacked or unstacked coverage in states that offer stacking — New York does not allow stacking, so this factor does not apply here.
- Your driving record and claims history — a clean record reduces UM premiums just as it reduces liability premiums.
