Updated June 2026
What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
Uninsured Motorist Coverage pays for your injuries and vehicle damage when a driver with no insurance or too little insurance hits you. It acts as backup liability insurance for the other driver, filling the gap when they can't pay what they owe. Texas law requires carriers to offer it at the same limits as your liability coverage, but you can decline it in writing. Once you decline, you can add it back anytime, but it only covers accidents that happen after the add date — it won't help with a crash that already occurred.
- You're rear-ended at a stoplight by a driver with no insurance. You have $8,000 in medical bills and $4,200 in vehicle damage. The other driver is clearly at fault but has no policy and no assets. Your Uninsured Motorist Coverage pays the $8,000 medical and $4,200 vehicle repair up to your policy limits. Without it, you pay out of pocket or sue a driver with nothing to collect.
- A driver runs a red light and T-bones your car. You have $22,000 in medical expenses. The other driver carries Texas minimum liability of $30,000 per person, but their carrier pays another passenger $18,000 from that same pool, leaving only $12,000 for you. Your Underinsured Motorist Coverage pays the remaining $10,000. Without it, the $10,000 gap is your problem.
- You declined Uninsured Motorist Coverage during your SR-22 reinstatement policy to save $22/month. Six months later, an uninsured driver sideswipes you on I-35, causing $6,800 in vehicle damage and $3,400 in medical bills. You file a claim and learn your carrier will not pay because you signed the decline form. You can add the coverage now, but it won't apply retroactively to this crash.
Who Needs Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
Drivers with suspended licenses who are reinstating should strongly consider Uninsured Motorist Coverage once their license is restored. Texas has the 6th highest uninsured driver rate in the country at 13.3%, meaning roughly 1 in 8 drivers on the road carries no insurance. If you're driving a financed vehicle, your lender may require it. If you rely on your vehicle for work or cannot afford a $10,000 medical bill out of pocket, the $15–$30/month cost is justified.
Ask two questions: Can I afford a $15,000 medical bill and vehicle repair if an uninsured driver hits me tomorrow? Does my health insurance cover auto accident injuries without subrogation delays? If the answer to either is no, add Uninsured Motorist Coverage. If you're only carrying liability to satisfy SR-22 reinstatement requirements and plan to cancel the policy once your suspension ends, declining saves $180–$360/year with minimal risk during that short window.
How Much Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance Cost?
Uninsured Motorist Coverage typically adds $15–$30/month or $180–$360/year to a Texas policy with state minimum liability limits. Drivers with SR-22 filings often pay $20–$35/month because SR-22 carriers assume higher claim risk.
- Your liability coverage limits — Uninsured Motorist Coverage mirrors your liability limits, so higher liability limits mean higher uninsured motorist premiums.
- County uninsured driver rate — Harris County and Dallas County have higher uninsured rates than rural counties, which increases premiums by $5–$10/month in metro areas.
- SR-22 filing status — Carriers charge suspended license drivers 15–25% more for Uninsured Motorist Coverage because they statistically file more uninsured motorist claims.
- Prior uninsured motorist claims — If you've filed an uninsured motorist claim in the past 3 years, expect premiums to rise $8–$15/month.
- Stacked vs non-stacked — Texas allows stacking uninsured motorist limits across multiple vehicles on the same policy, which doubles the premium but also doubles the payout cap per accident.