Updated July 2026
What Is Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
Uninsured motorist coverage pays when the driver who caused your accident has no insurance. Underinsured motorist coverage pays when their liability limits are too low to cover your medical bills and vehicle damage. Both coverages step in after the at-fault driver's policy is exhausted or confirmed absent, paying up to your selected limits for injuries, lost wages, and property damage your own collision coverage doesn't address.
- You're rear-ended at a red light. The at-fault driver has no insurance. You have $15,000 in medical bills and $8,000 in vehicle damage. Your uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage pays the $15,000 in medical costs up to your policy limit. Your uninsured motorist property damage coverage pays the $8,000 vehicle repair after your deductible, if Georgia law and your policy include property damage under this coverage type.
- A driver runs a stop sign and T-bones your car. They carry Georgia's minimum $25,000 bodily injury liability. Your medical bills total $40,000. Their liability pays the first $25,000. Your underinsured motorist coverage pays the remaining $15,000, up to your selected limit, because their policy was insufficient to cover your actual damages.
- A vehicle sideswiped you on the highway and fled. You have $12,000 in medical expenses and $6,000 in vehicle damage. Your uninsured motorist coverage treats this as an uninsured driver claim, paying your medical costs and vehicle damage up to your policy limits, because the at-fault driver cannot be identified or located to file a liability claim against.
Who Needs Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
You should carry this coverage if you drive frequently in metro areas where uninsured driver rates are high, if your health insurance has high deductibles or excludes auto accident injuries, or if you cannot afford to pay out-of-pocket for medical bills and lost wages after an accident caused by someone without insurance. Drivers who carry only Georgia's minimum liability limits are especially vulnerable — the at-fault driver's $25,000 limit rarely covers serious injury costs.
Compare your health insurance deductible and out-of-pocket maximum to the cost of this coverage. If a $15,000 medical bill would financially strain you and your health plan does not cover auto injuries fully, carry uninsured motorist coverage with limits matching or exceeding your liability limits. If your health insurance and savings can absorb accident costs and you carry collision coverage, you can consider rejecting it — but you must do so in writing, and you lose protection against hit-and-run and underinsured driver scenarios.
How Much Does Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage Insurance Cost?
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage typically adds $5–$15 per month to your Georgia premium, or $60–$180 annually, depending on your selected limits and whether you include property damage coverage.
- Your selected coverage limits — higher limits cost more, but $50,000/$100,000 bodily injury limits typically add only $8–$12 monthly compared to $25,000/$50,000.
- Whether you add uninsured motorist property damage coverage — some carriers bundle it, others charge $3–$6 monthly as a separate line item.
- Your county's uninsured driver rate — metro Atlanta counties with higher uninsured motorist claim frequency see slightly higher premiums for this coverage.
- Your own driving record and claims history — carriers price this coverage based on your likelihood of filing any claim, not just uninsured motorist claims.
- Whether you stack coverage across multiple vehicles — stacking, where allowed, increases your available limits but raises the premium proportionally.