Updated June 2026
What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
Uninsured Motorist Coverage protects you when another driver causes a crash but has no insurance to pay for your injuries or vehicle damage. It covers medical bills, lost wages, vehicle repairs, and sometimes pain and suffering up to your policy limits. You file the claim with your own carrier, who pays you directly and then pursues the at-fault driver for reimbursement. This coverage functions as a safety net when the other driver cannot meet their legal obligation to compensate you.
- A driver runs a red light and T-bones your car. You have $8,500 in medical bills and $6,200 in vehicle damage. The other driver has no insurance. Your Uninsured Motorist Coverage pays the full $14,700 because it falls within your $25,000 per-person limit. Without this coverage, you would sue the at-fault driver personally, but most uninsured drivers have no assets to collect against.
- You're rear-ended at a stoplight. The other driver flees before you get their plate number. You file a police report within 24 hours. Your Uninsured Motorist Coverage treats this as an uninsured driver claim and pays your $4,800 in medical costs and $3,200 in vehicle repairs. Your carrier waives your deductible because the other driver is unidentified. Without this coverage, you pay out of pocket or file under collision coverage and pay your deductible.
- You're hit by a driver with Nevada's minimum liability limits of $25,000 per person. Your medical bills reach $42,000. The at-fault driver's policy pays its $25,000 maximum. Your Underinsured Motorist Coverage pays the remaining $17,000 if your UM limits are $50,000 or higher. This scenario shows why UM/UIM limits should match or exceed your own liability limits.
Who Needs Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
Drivers reinstating a suspended license in Nevada should carry Uninsured Motorist Coverage because 15% of Nevada drivers are uninsured and an at-fault uninsured driver leaves you with no recovery path for medical bills or vehicle damage. If you are filing SR-22 after a DUI or points suspension, adding UM costs under $15 per month and protects you during the high-risk reinstatement period when you cannot afford another financial hit. Non-owner SR-22 policies include UM coverage automatically in most cases, covering you as a passenger or pedestrian hit by an uninsured driver.
Match your UM limits to your liability limits. If you carry $50,000/$100,000 liability, carry the same in UM. The cost difference between minimum and higher UM limits is small, and an uninsured driver hitting you creates the same financial exposure as you hitting someone else. If you are filing SR-22 and rebuilding after suspension, prioritize UM over collision because the uninsured driver risk in Nevada is statistically higher than your own at-fault accident risk.
How Much Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance Cost?
Uninsured Motorist Coverage typically adds $8 to $18 per month to a Nevada liability policy, or $96 to $216 annually.
- Your UM coverage limits — higher limits cost more, but the gap between $25,000/$50,000 and $100,000/$300,000 is often under $6 per month.
- Whether you add Underinsured Motorist Coverage alongside it — most carriers bundle UM and UIM together at a combined price.
- Your ZIP code's uninsured driver rate — areas with higher uninsured rates see slightly higher UM premiums because claim frequency is higher.
- Your driving record and violation history — carriers price UM coverage based on your overall risk profile, not just other drivers' behavior.
- Whether you carry collision coverage — if you already have collision, UM property damage becomes redundant for vehicle repairs and costs drop.
- Your SR-22 filing status — SR-22 drivers often see bundled pricing that includes UM as a standard component of reinstated policies.