Uninsured Motorist Property Damage: Do You Need It? (2025)

What Is Uninsured Motorist Property Damage Coverage?

UMPD insurance covers damage to your car caused by a driver who is uninsured. In some states, it also covers damage to personal property in your vehicle. This coverage is required in some states and optional in others.

The process for filing a claim under UMPD is fairly simple. After an accident, you can file a claim with your own insurance company for compensation. Since this coverage is intended to step in when the at-fault driver lacks insurance, you will deal only with your own insurance provider.

But what if your insurance provider is unwilling to pay? If you run into this or any other issue with your claim, a car accident lawyer may be able to help.

Uninsured Motorist Property Damage vs. Underinsured Motorist Property Damage

UMPD insurance sometimes is combined with underinsured motorist coverage. This type of insurance steps in when the other driver does have insurance, but their coverage is insufficient to cover the damage caused by the accident.

Uninsured Motorist Property Damage vs. Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury (UMBI)

Uninsured motorist insurance may include either property damage (UMPD) or bodily injury (UMBI) coverage. You may have the option to select both of these coverages. UMBI covers medical bills for you and your passengers after an accident caused by an uninsured driver. As with UMPD, coverage is up to your policy limits.

Uninsured Motorist Property Damage vs. Comprehensive Insurance

If you carry comprehensive insurance, this does not cover damage to your vehicle after an accident with an uninsured driver. Comprehensive coverage applies to scenarios outside of your control that do not involve collisions. For example, this coverage steps in if your vehicle is stolen or if the windshield is broken due to vandalism.

Uninsured Motorist Property Damage vs. Liability Insurance

Liability insurance pays if you’re at fault for an accident. If you’re hurt (or your car is damaged) in an accident caused by another driver, you would file a claim against their liability insurance.

If the responsible driver has no insurance, you may file a claim with your own uninsured motorist insurance provider instead. Your UMPD policy would cover damage to your vehicle.

Uninsured Motorist Property Damage vs. Collision Insurance

While UMPD is required in some states, collision insurance is always optional. There are a few reasons why you don't need uninsured motorist coverage if you already have collision insurance.

Most importantly, collision insurance will cover more scenarios than UMPD. For example, collision insurance would apply if you were at fault for the accident. UMPD only covers you for accidents where the uninsured driver was at fault.

Uninsured Motorist Property Damage vs. Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

Coverage from UMPD insurance requires that the fault for a crash lies with the uninsured driver. If you were at fault for the accident, uninsured motorist coverage likely won’t cover your damages. By comparison, PIP insurance provides coverage without regard to who was at fault.

Some so-called “no-fault” states require drivers to carry PIP insurance. However, PIP insurance typically only covers damages related to injuries, so UMPD could still be helpful to cover damages to your vehicle.

What Does Uninsured Motorist Property Damage Cover?

You can expect UMPD to cover damage to your vehicle or other property. Coverage typically includes:

• Car repairs or replacement. Covers damage to your vehicle or replacement value if your car is totaled.
• Personal property replacement. UMPD may include coverage for damage to personal property, but this can vary by state and individual policy.
• Hit-and-run accidents. UMPD covers damage from hit-and-run accidents in some states, but not all. Check your policy for details.

As with all insurance, it’s worth taking a close look at your policy, which will lay out your coverage and limits.

Does Uninsured Motorist Property Damage Cover Hit-and-Run Accidents?

Uninsured motorist coverage is meant to cover your damage if you’re hit by a driver with no insurance (or too little insurance). However, UMPD doesn’t always cover property damage after a hit-and-run.

Whether your policy covers damage from hit-and-run auto accidents depends on your state’s laws and the details of your policy. Before purchasing insurance, you should check both.

UMPD State Law Requirements

According to the Insurance Information Institute, drivers in 21 states are required to carry uninsured motorist coverage. Some of these states require only UMBI coverage, while others require both UMBI and UMPD. The locations that require UMPD are:

These are the states where UMPD is available but optional:

In these states, UMPD is not available:

As with any other coverage, you should shop around to make sure you are finding the best coverage and price for your auto insurance.

How to File a Claim for Uninsured Motorist Property Damage

Not sure how to file a claim with your insurance company? Here’s a quick guide:

• Gather Information: Immediately after the accident, get contact information from any other involved drivers and witnesses.
• Document Damage: Make sure to take photos of the damage from various angles.
• Start Your Claim: Contact your insurer and tell them you want to file a claim under your UMPD coverage.
• Cooperate With Your Insurer: Your insurance company will likely ask for the police report, photos of damage and other key pieces of documentation.

If you have questions about this process, consider consulting with a lawyer.

Should I Get Uninsured Motorist Property Damage Insurance?

When deciding whether to add UMPD to your insurance coverage, consider the following:

• As of 2022, 14% of drivers on U.S. roads were uninsured. This number has grown steadily over the past few years.
• Adding UMPD insurance costs $78 per year on average. The amount your insurance company charges usually varies by state.
• Some states require drivers to carry UMPD, in which case you will have no choice but to include this coverage in your insurance policy.

Unless you already have collision coverage, it’s wise to add UMPD to your car insurance if you can. The increase in your average car insurance cost per month is virtually nothing compared to what your insurance will pay for if an uninsured driver damages or destroys your car.

How Much Uninsured Motorist Property Damage Coverage Do You Need?

If your state requires uninsured motorist coverage, you will need to purchase at least the minimum required coverage. However, if uninsured motorist property damage coverage is optional, you might not know how much to purchase.

For uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage, a good general rule of thumb is to purchase the same coverage limits you have for your own liability insurance. Many states that require uninsured motorist coverage require you to have identical coverage limits.

For UMPD coverage, you should choose a coverage limit that’s close to the value of your vehicle. In the event of an accident, the maximum property damage claim you’ll have to file is for the value of your car — so carrying more UMPD coverage than that doesn’t make financial sense.

Do I Need Uninsured Motorist Property Damage If I Have Collision Coverage?

The short answer is no. Wondering why you don't need UMI for property damage if you already have collision coverage? Collision coverage will pay for repairs to your car in all types of car accidents — including those with uninsured drivers.

Can You Use Uninsured Motorist Property Damage for Rental Cars?

Many UMPD policies will cover more than just the cost to repair your vehicle — they also often cover the cost to rent a vehicle while yours is in the shop. However, you should never assume that your policy includes this coverage.

Policies vary greatly, and you should always make sure you thoroughly understand what’s included in a given insurance policy before you make a purchase.

You might also wonder whether your UMPD coverage will pay for damage to a rental vehicle. That depends on your insurance policy. Many personal auto policies cover rental vehicles involved in accidents — but not all of them do.

Even if your liability and collision coverage apply to rental vehicles, UMPD may not. If you aren’t clear on what your policy covers, call your insurance company before renting a vehicle. If your policy’s UMPD doesn’t apply, you may be able to purchase UMPD coverage from the rental company.

Not Sure Whether Uninsured Motorist Property Damage Is Right for You?

Whether you need to purchase UMPD or any other kind of insurance, ConsumerShield is here to help. Your car insurance policy is one of the most important purchases you’ll ever make. However, the world of insurance is exceptionally difficult to navigate, and many people end up with inadequate coverage as a result.

Whether you’re looking for auto lawyers to represent you after an accident or need help choosing the right insurance coverage, the ConsumerShield team is here for you. Explore our resources or fill out our contact form below for a free case review.