Do We Need Uninsured Motorist Coverage With One Car
Having only one car doesn't lower your risk from uninsured drivers, so most people keep this coverage regardless of how many cars they own.
Yes, in most cases it's still worth keeping
The number of cars you own doesn't change how often uninsured or underinsured drivers are on the road. That risk is the same whether you have one car or three. Uninsured motorist coverage pays for your injuries and sometimes your damage when the other driver has no insurance or not enough of it, and that can happen on any trip, in any car.
Some states require this coverage and some let you decline it in writing. If your state allows you to drop it, the choice usually comes down to what your health insurance would cover and what you could afford to pay out of pocket if you were hit by a driver with no coverage at all.
What your state requires matters more than how many cars you own
Some states make uninsured motorist coverage mandatory on every policy. Others make it optional, and a few require insurers to offer it but let you reject it on paper. None of these rules change based on whether you insure one car or several.
If you're not sure what your state requires, your insurer or your state's department of insurance can tell you. This is worth checking before you decide to drop anything, since in a mandatory state it isn't a choice you can make anyway.
If your state does allow you to decline the coverage, ask your insurer to show you in writing what you'd be giving up. Some states also split this coverage into bodily injury and property damage portions separately, so declining one doesn't necessarily mean declining both.
What most people get wrong about owning just one car
Some drivers assume that with one car, their risk is lower, so the coverage matters less. The coverage isn't about your car. It's about what happens when someone else's uninsured car hits yours, hits you as a pedestrian, or hits you as a passenger in someone else's vehicle.
Another thing people miss is that health insurance doesn't always cover everything an uninsured motorist claim would. Health plans typically don't pay for lost wages or pain and suffering the way uninsured motorist coverage can, depending on your state's rules.
If you're considering dropping this coverage to save money, it helps to ask your insurer directly what it actually costs you to keep it. For many drivers the cost is a small part of the total premium, which makes it one of the less obvious places to cut.
Questions people ask about this
Does uninsured motorist coverage cover my passengers too?
In most policies, yes, uninsured motorist coverage extends to passengers in your car at the time of the accident. Check your policy's declarations page or ask your insurer to confirm how your specific policy defines who's covered.
What's the difference between uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage?
Uninsured motorist coverage applies when the other driver has no insurance at all. Underinsured motorist coverage applies when they have insurance but not enough to cover your costs. Many policies bundle both, but it's worth asking your insurer whether yours does.
Will dropping uninsured motorist coverage lower my premium?
It can lower your premium somewhat, but the amount depends on your insurer and your state. Ask your insurer for a side by side quote with and without the coverage so you can see the actual difference before deciding.
Can I be sued by an uninsured driver who hits me?
This isn't about being sued, it's about who pays your costs after the accident. If the other driver is uninsured, there's often no insurance money available on their end, which is exactly the gap uninsured motorist coverage is meant to fill.
Does my state require uninsured motorist coverage?
This depends entirely on your state. Some require it on every auto policy, others make it optional. Your insurer or your state's department of insurance can tell you exactly what applies where you live.
See what it would cost to keep this coverage versus drop it, side by side.
Pull out your current policy's declarations page and find the line for uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. Call your insurer and ask what you're paying for that coverage specifically, separate from the rest of your premium. Ask them directly whether your state requires it or allows you to decline it, and if you can decline, ask them to send you that in writing. Before you make any change, get a quote for your policy both with and without the coverage so you're comparing real numbers rather than guessing. If anything about your state's rule is unclear, your state's department of insurance website will have the answer.
