Uninsured Motorist Coverage — New Mexico
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage pays your medical bills and vehicle damage when the at-fault driver has no insurance or insufficient coverage limits.
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What Is Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
Uninsured motorist coverage (UM) pays when the driver who hit you has no insurance. Underinsured motorist coverage (UIM) pays when their liability limits are too low to cover your damages. Both protect you from out-of-pocket costs when the at-fault party can't pay. UM/UIM typically covers medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and vehicle damage depending on your policy structure.
Who Needs Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
Carry UM/UIM if you drive frequently in areas with high uninsured driver rates, if your health insurance has high deductibles or excludes auto accident injuries, or if you're financing a vehicle and want protection beyond collision coverage. It's especially valuable if you carry liability-only coverage on an older vehicle — UM gives you injury protection even when you skip comprehensive and collision.
Compare your UM/UIM limits to your liability limits — most agents recommend matching them. Decide whether to stack coverage if you insure multiple vehicles. Stacking costs more but multiplies your available limit if you're seriously injured. Check whether your policy includes UMPD or only UM bodily injury — if you carry liability-only, UMPD is your only vehicle damage protection when an uninsured driver hits you.
How Much Does Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage Insurance Cost?
- Your county's uninsured driver rate — carriers price UM/UIM higher in counties with above-average uninsured motorist claim frequency.
- Bodily injury vs combined single limit structure — policies with separate UM bodily injury and UMPD endorsements may cost slightly more than combined structures.
