Uninsured motorist coverage with State Farm is an optional add-on to your auto insurance policy that pays for your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages when an at-fault driver has no liability insurance or cannot be identified, such as in a hit-and-run. This coverage is not available in every state, and in some jurisdictions State Farm must offer it while allowing you to reject it in writing. The sections below explain what the coverage protects, how it differs from underinsured motorist coverage, when it makes sense to carry, and common limitations to understand before you buy.
What Uninsured Motorist Coverage Protects
Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage is first-party protection you purchase for yourself and your passengers. It applies when the other driver is legally at fault but has no bodily injury liability insurance, or when the driver flees the scene and cannot be identified. In those situations, your own State Farm UM coverage steps in to pay damages you would otherwise seek from the at-fault driver.
State Farm’s UM coverage typically pays for:
- Medical expenses for you and your passengers, including emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, and follow-up treatment
- Lost wages and loss of earning capacity if injuries prevent you from working
- Pain and suffering and other non-economic damages, where allowed by state law and your policy terms
- In some states, a separate uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) option that helps cover vehicle repairs when the at-fault driver is uninsured, often subject to a deductible and lower limits than your liability coverage
UM does not pay for damage to the other driver’s car or their injuries. It also does not apply if you are at fault. In those cases, your liability coverage and collision coverage (if you carry it) are the relevant parts of your policy.
UM vs. Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UIM)
Uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist coverages are related but distinct. UM applies when the at-fault driver has no liability insurance at all or is a hit-and-run driver who cannot be identified. Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage applies when the at-fault driver has insurance, but their liability limits are too low to fully cover your injuries and related losses.
With UIM, your State Farm policy generally pays the difference between your UIM limit and the amount paid by the at-fault driver’s insurer, up to your UIM limit. For example, if your medical bills and lost wages total $80,000, the other driver’s liability pays $25,000, and you carry $100,000 of UIM, your UIM could pay up to $55,000, depending on your policy terms and state rules. Some states and policies use different formulas, so the exact calculation can vary.
Both UM and UIM are tied to your own policy, not the other driver’s. You file the claim with State Farm, and you must generally be able to show that the other driver was at fault and that your damages exceed what their insurance (if any) will pay.
Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage Required with State Farm?
Whether UM coverage is required, optional, or must simply be offered depends on your state. State Farm follows state insurance laws, so the rules differ by jurisdiction.
- In some states, UM coverage is mandatory and automatically included in your auto policy unless you meet specific exceptions.
- In other states, insurers must offer UM coverage, but you can reject it in writing. If you do not sign a rejection form, UM may be added by default.
- In a few states, UM is purely optional and may not be offered at all for certain coverages, such as property damage.
State Farm agents are required to present UM options according to local law and explain how rejection works where applicable. Because the rules change and can be nuanced, it is important to review your declarations page and ask your agent whether UM and UIM are included, optional, or must be actively declined in your state.
When Uninsured Motorist Coverage Is Most Useful
UM coverage is most valuable in situations where you would otherwise have no source of payment for serious injuries. It is particularly useful if:
- You live in or frequently drive in areas with high rates of uninsured drivers
- You rely on your vehicle for work and cannot afford extended time off due to injury
- You have limited health insurance or high deductibles and copays
- You carry higher liability limits and want your UM/UIM limits to match, so you are equally protected when others are at fault
Many insurance professionals recommend matching your UM and UIM bodily injury limits to your liability limits. This approach ensures that your protection is balanced: you are covered for the same amount whether you cause an accident or someone else causes one and lacks adequate insurance.
Common Limitations and Exclusions to Understand
Like all insurance, UM coverage has conditions and exclusions. Typical limitations in State Farm policies and under state laws include:
- Fault requirement: You must be able to establish that the other driver was at fault. UM is not a no-fault medical payments coverage.
- Hit-and-run rules: Some states require a police report, timely notification, or physical contact between vehicles for a hit-and-run UM claim to qualify.
- Vehicle and use restrictions: Coverage may not apply while occupying certain vehicles (for example, motorcycles) or while using your car for excluded commercial purposes, depending on your policy.
- Other insurance and offsets: If you have medical payments coverage, health insurance, or workers’ compensation, those may pay first, and your UM benefits may be reduced accordingly.
- Policy limits: UM pays only up to the limits you select. If your damages exceed those limits, you may not recover the full amount unless you have additional coverage or assets to pursue.
Uninsured motorist property damage, where available, often has lower limits and a deductible, and it may not apply if you already have collision coverage. In many cases, collision is the primary coverage for vehicle damage, and UMPD serves as a secondary option in states that allow it.
How to Decide on UM Coverage for Your State Farm Policy
When reviewing your State Farm auto policy, focus on three practical questions. First, does your state require UM, require an offer, or allow you to skip it entirely? Second, what bodily injury limits make sense given your health coverage, income, and risk tolerance? Third, do you want UMPD, or do you prefer to rely on collision coverage for vehicle damage?
If you are unsure, ask your State Farm agent to walk through your current limits, show how UM and UIM would respond in a sample accident scenario, and explain any state-specific forms you must sign to accept or reject coverage. That conversation will give you a clear picture of what is uninsured motorist coverage with State Farm in your situation and whether your current limits adequately protect you.
