Do you have to pay a deductible for uninsured motorist coverage?

Uninsured motorist property damage insurance covers the cost to repair or replace the policyholder’s vehicle or other property if it is damaged in an accident caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver. Seven states and Washington, D.C., require uninsured motorist property damage insurance, and it’s optional in others.

Uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) coverage is meant to replace the … read full answerproperty damage liability insurance that an uninsured driver should have purchased. As a result, drivers generally buy uninsured motorist property damage insurance up to the same limits as their property damage liability policy.

UMPD can only be used when the policyholder is not at-fault. In some states, the at-fault driver must be identified in order for UMPD to apply. In others, uninsured motorist property damage coverage will pay for expenses resulting from a hit and run.

UMPD will usually also cover an accident caused by an underinsured driver. In this case, the policyholder would file a claim with their UMPD policy for expenses that exceeded the at-fault driver’s property damage liability limits.

Drivers who do not have uninsured motorist property damage coverage can file a collision claim if their car is damaged by an uninsured driver. Collision insurance pays to repair or replace the policyholder’s vehicle after an accident, regardless of fault. However, collision is usually more expensive to buy than UMPD, and it often has a higher deductible.

For more information, check out WalletHub’s guide to uninsured motorist coverage.

A collision deductible waiver is a collision insurance add-on that waives the policyholder’s deductible if their car is damaged in an accident caused by an uninsured driver. In general, collision damage waivers only apply to accidents where an identified driver without insurance is completely at-fault. A notable exception is California, where collision deductible waivers can be used in hit-and-run accidents. … read full answer

Collision deductible waivers are similar to uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) insurance, so a waiver is usually redundant if you are already required by your state to have UMPD. In states where UMPD is optional or unavailable, collision deductible waivers can be a great alternative for the same type of coverage. However, keep in mind that you cannot purchase a collision deductible waiver without collision insurance.

The cost of a collision deductible waiver is usually less than $50 for your entire policy term. Although collision deductible waivers can only be used in a limited number of situations, their low cost means they are a good investment if you want to avoid any out-of-pocket expenses in the event that you’re hit by an uninsured motorist.

Finally, it should be noted that collision deductible waivers are different from collision damage waivers, which are sold by rental car companies to cover damage to their vehicles.

Thanks for the question.

Im never quite sure what people mean when they say they have Full Coverage. However, in way of thinking Full Coverage would incorporate having all of the "main options", but not necessarily the minor options such as towing. Therefore I would consider "Full Coverage" to include having Uninsured Motorist.… read full answer

Uninsured motorist coverage is pretty much a must coverage for my clients. I find that most people do not understand that the coverage is to protect them.

Having Uninsured motorist may be required by the state you live in.

Lastly, I advise clients to keep Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage in the same amount as the general Bodily Injury Coverage amounts.

Don't cheat yourself, buy Uninsured Motorist.