Updated June 2026
What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
Uninsured Motorist Coverage steps in when the at-fault driver has no insurance or their liability limits don't cover your full loss. You file the claim with your own carrier, who pays your medical bills, lost wages, and vehicle damage up to your policy limits. Tennessee law doesn't mandate this coverage, but carriers must offer it when you purchase liability insurance — you have to reject it in writing if you don't want it.
- You're rear-ended at a stoplight. The other driver admits fault but has no insurance. You have $8,000 in medical bills and $5,000 in vehicle damage. Your Uninsured Motorist Coverage pays both if your limits are high enough. Without it, you sue the driver personally — and most uninsured drivers don't have assets to collect against.
- A driver runs a red light and T-bones your car. They have Tennessee's minimum $25,000 liability limit. Your medical bills total $45,000. Their liability pays the first $25,000. If you carry $50,000 in Underinsured Motorist Coverage, your policy pays the remaining $20,000. Without it, you're responsible for the $20,000 gap.
- A driver sideswibes you on I-40 and flees. You file a police report within 24 hours documenting the accident. Your Uninsured Motorist Coverage treats this as an uninsured driver claim and pays your medical bills and vehicle damage up to your limits. Without the police report filed promptly, most Tennessee carriers deny the claim.
Who Needs Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
If you're reinstating your license after a suspension, Uninsured Motorist Coverage protects you during the high-risk period when you're statistically more likely to encounter another high-risk driver. Many suspended drivers return to the road in areas with above-average uninsured driver rates, and without this coverage, a single accident with an uninsured driver can wipe out the progress you've made on reinstatement costs.
Compare the annual cost of this coverage to your health insurance deductible and your vehicle's actual cash value. If the coverage costs $150 per year and your health deductible is $5,000, you're buying $5,000 of protection for $150 — that math works. If your health deductible is $500 and your car is worth $1,200, the value proposition is weaker unless you're in a county where 20 percent or more drivers are uninsured.
How Much Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance Cost?
Uninsured Motorist Coverage typically adds $8–$18 per month to your Tennessee premium, or $95–$215 annually, depending on your liability limits and zip code.
- Coverage limits — higher Uninsured Motorist limits cost more, typically mirroring your liability limit choices ($25,000/$50,000 up to $100,000/$300,000).
- Zip code uninsured driver rate — counties with higher percentages of uninsured drivers see higher premiums for this coverage.
- Your liability limits — carriers price Uninsured Motorist Coverage as a percentage of your liability limits, so raising liability raises this cost proportionally.
- Claim history — if you've filed Uninsured Motorist claims before, carriers may raise this coverage's cost or your overall premium.
- Stacking election — choosing stacked Uninsured Motorist Coverage (combining limits across multiple vehicles) can double the cost compared to non-stacked.