Updated July 2026
What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
Uninsured Motorist Coverage (UM) and Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UIM) protect you when the at-fault driver has no insurance or carries limits too low to cover your damages. UM pays when the other driver is completely uninsured or flees the scene. UIM kicks in when the other driver's liability limit is exhausted but your bills exceed it. Both coverage types pay your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and vehicle damage up to your selected policy limits.
- You're rear-ended at a stoplight by a driver with no insurance. You have $6,200 in medical bills and $4,800 in vehicle damage. The at-fault driver has zero coverage to pay your claim. Your UM coverage with $25,000/$50,000 limits pays all $11,000 because it falls under your per-person limit. Without UM, you'd sue the driver personally and likely collect nothing.
- You're T-boned by a driver carrying Georgia's minimum $25,000 per person liability. Your injuries result in $48,000 in medical bills and lost wages. The at-fault driver's carrier pays their $25,000 limit and closes the claim. Your UIM coverage pays the remaining $23,000 if you carry $50,000 per person UIM limits. Without UIM, you absorb the $23,000 shortfall.
- Your parked vehicle is sideswiped overnight and the driver flees. You have $3,200 in repair costs. If you carry UM property damage coverage, it pays the $3,200 minus your deductible. Collision coverage would also pay this, but UM property damage often carries a lower or zero deductible and doesn't count as an at-fault claim on your record.
Who Needs Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
Suspended drivers reinstating their license in Georgia should carry UM/UIM at least at state minimum limits. DUI reinstatement requires proof of liability insurance, and rejecting UM coverage complicates the reinstatement filing because you must sign a separate rejection form that delays processing. If you're buying a non-owner SR-22 policy to satisfy reinstatement without owning a vehicle, UM bodily injury is critical because you have no collision coverage and no vehicle equity to absorb a loss—your only financial protection after being hit by an uninsured driver is your UM limit.
Match your UM/UIM limits to your liability limits unless you have a strong reason to diverge. If you're reinstating after suspension and buying minimum liability to satisfy SR-22 requirements, accept the UM coverage the carrier offers—rejecting it saves under $10 per month and leaves you with zero protection if you're hit by another uninsured driver. If you carry health insurance but no collision coverage, prioritize UM property damage so you're not paying out-of-pocket for repairs after a hit-and-run.
How Much Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance Cost?
Uninsured Motorist Coverage typically adds $8–$18 per month ($96–$216 annually) to a Georgia auto policy at state minimum limits. Higher limits of $100,000/$300,000 cost $15–$35 per month depending on location and driving history.
- Your selected UM/UIM limits—higher limits cost more, but the incremental cost from $25,000/$50,000 to $100,000/$300,000 is usually under $15 per month.
- Georgia county uninsured driver rate—metro Atlanta and rural South Georgia counties with higher uninsured motorist rates see slightly higher UM premiums.
- Whether you bundle UM bodily injury with UM property damage—adding property damage coverage typically costs $3–$8 more per month.
- Your at-fault accident history—a recent at-fault claim can increase UM premiums by 10–20% even though UM covers you as the victim, because carriers price the entire policy as a risk bundle.
- Stacking election—if you insure multiple vehicles and choose stacked UM limits, premiums increase 30–60% but your total available UM coverage multiplies by the number of vehicles.