Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Texas: Rules, Deductible, Limits, and Claims
Texas uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage can protect you when an at-fault driver has no applicable insurance, does not have enough insurance for the covered loss, or cannot be found after certain hit-and-run crashes. Texas insurers must offer UM/UIM, and a named insured who does not want the coverage must reject it in writing.
The Texas Department of Insurance says UM/UIM can pay for car repairs, property in the car, a rental car when needed, medical bills for you and passengers, pain and suffering, and diminished value. TDI also lists a $250 deductible when the coverage is used for car repair [1].
How Texas UM/UIM Coverage Works
UM applies when the at-fault driver has no applicable insurance, while UIM applies when the at-fault driver’s insurance is not enough for the covered damages. Texas policies can include bodily injury and property-damage protection, subject to the policy limits and conditions.
Your own liability coverage does not fill this gap because liability is designed for covered claims made against you. UM/UIM creates a first-party claim path through your own insurer when the loss fits the UM/UIM provisions.
UM bodily injury
Can address covered injury-related losses for you and passengers after an accident caused by an uninsured driver.
UIM bodily injury
Can address covered injury losses when the at-fault driver has liability insurance but insufficient limits.
UM property damage
Can address covered vehicle and property losses in Texas, including car repair, subject to the applicable limit and deductible.
Why Texas Drivers Review UM/UIM
Texas liability requirements do not guarantee that every vehicle encountered on the road is insured or that every at-fault driver carries enough liability limits for a serious loss. UM/UIM gives the insured another coverage path when the at-fault driver’s insurance cannot fully respond.
In March 2025, TDI reported that more than 2.4 million Texas-registered vehicles—about 12% of registered vehicles—were not matched to an insurance policy [2]. That is not the same as a measured uninsured-driver rate, but it is a Texas-specific indicator of uninsured-vehicle exposure.
UM/UIM may help with:
- Medical bills for you and passengers.
- Lost wages after injury.
- Car repairs after a covered uninsured-driver accident.
- Property in your vehicle.
- Rental car needs after a covered claim.
- Pain and suffering, depending on the claim.
- Diminished value, subject to policy terms.
Without UM/UIM, you may face:
- Higher out-of-pocket repair costs.
- A collision deductible that may be higher than $250.
- Medical bills not fully covered by health insurance.
- Lost income that health insurance may not replace.
- Difficulty collecting money from an uninsured driver.
- More stress after a hit-and-run crash.
Texas UM/UIM Rules Drivers Should Know
Texas policy-review guidance states that UM/UIM must be provided unless the named insured rejects it in writing [3]. The declarations page should then show whether the coverage, limits, and property-damage protection are part of the policy.
| Texas point | What it means | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Must be offered | Texas insurers must offer uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. | You should compare the price before rejecting it. |
| Written rejection | If you do not want UM/UIM, you must turn it down in writing. | Do not rely on memory; check your policy documents. |
| $250 deductible | TDI lists a $250 deductible for UM/UIM car repair claims. | This may be lower than your collision deductible. |
| Hit-and-run | TDI says UM/UIM can apply if the other driver cannot be found to pay for damages. | Prompt reporting and documentation are important. |
| Coverage limits | The UM/UIM limits on your policy cap the amount available for a covered loss. | A low limit can leave part of a serious injury or property loss uninsured. |
Cost Should Be Compared at the Same Limit Level
There is no single statewide UM/UIM price. The premium can change with the insurer, driver, vehicle, location, selected limits, and whether the policy includes bodily injury, property damage, or both. Compare the same coverage and limits before deciding that one option is cheaper.
Useful comparison
Compare the total premium difference at two or three matching UM/UIM limit levels.
Misleading comparison
Comparing a higher-limit policy with UM/UIM against a lower-limit policy without it and treating the price gap as a pure insurer difference.
What Happens After a Texas Uninsured-Driver Crash
A UM/UIM claim can require evidence about the crash, the other driver’s insurance status, the covered damages, and the policy in force on the loss date. Photos, police information, medical records, estimates, receipts, and insurer correspondence can all matter.
Hit-and-run losses can involve additional policy or state requirements. Report the loss promptly, preserve the available evidence, and ask which UM/UIM, collision, PIP, MedPay, rental, or other coverage applies.
Report the loss
Notify the insurer and contact police when the circumstances call for a crash report.
Preserve evidence
Save photos, witness details, medical records, repair estimates, receipts, and claim communications.
Confirm the coverage
Ask which UM/UIM coverage, limit, deductible, and other policy provisions apply.
Track the claim
Keep the claim number, adjuster information, payments, estimates, and written coverage decisions together.
Choosing and Reviewing Texas UM/UIM Limits
There is no single limit that fits every Texas household. The useful comparison is the amount of bodily injury and property-damage protection available against the passengers, vehicle value, income, savings, and losses you could realistically face after a serious crash.
TDI says drivers can usually add more UM/UIM coverage in $5,000 increments and suggests carrying enough property-damage protection to replace the vehicle [4]. Available bodily injury limits and selection rules should be confirmed with the insurer.
| Coverage decision | Question to ask | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury limits | Can UM/UIM limits match my liability limits? | Serious injuries can exceed low limits quickly. |
| Property damage limits | Would this limit repair or replace my vehicle? | Low property limits may not cover a newer or financed car. |
| Deductible | Does the $250 UM/UIM deductible apply to this claim? | It may compare favorably with a higher collision deductible. |
| Passengers | How are passengers covered? | Family, friends, and children can increase injury exposure. |
| Hit-and-run | What documentation is required? | Hit-and-run claims can require prompt reporting and proof. |
How UM/UIM Fits With Other Texas Auto Coverages
UM/UIM does not replace every other auto coverage. Liability addresses covered losses you cause to others; collision addresses covered crash damage to your vehicle; PIP or MedPay can address certain injury expenses; and health insurance is a separate contract for covered medical treatment.
| Coverage | Main purpose | Possible gap |
|---|---|---|
| Liability | Pays others when you cause injuries or property damage. | Usually does not pay your own losses after someone else hits you. |
| Collision | Helps repair your car after a crash, subject to deductible. | Usually does not cover injuries, lost wages, or pain and suffering. |
| PIP / MedPay | May help with medical costs after an accident. | Limits may be too low for a serious injury or multiple passengers. |
| Health insurance | May help with medical treatment. | May not cover lost wages, vehicle damage, passengers, or every accident-related cost. |
| UM/UIM | Helps with covered losses caused by uninsured, underinsured, or some hit-and-run drivers. | Still limited by policy limits, exclusions, deductibles, and claim requirements. |
FAQ: Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Texas
What is uninsured motorist coverage in Texas?
Texas UM coverage can apply when an at-fault driver has no applicable insurance, while UIM can apply when the at-fault driver’s liability insurance is not enough for the covered damages. Depending on the policy, the coverage can address bodily injury and property damage.
Is uninsured motorist coverage required in Texas?
Texas UM/UIM must be provided unless the named insured rejects the coverage in writing. Check the declarations page and any selection or rejection forms to confirm what is currently on the policy.
What is the Texas UM/UIM deductible?
TDI lists a $250 deductible when Texas UM/UIM is used for car repair. Confirm how the deductible applies to the property-damage claim shown on your policy.
Does UM/UIM cover hit-and-run accidents in Texas?
TDI says UM/UIM can pay when the other driver cannot be found after a hit-and-run, subject to the policy and claim requirements. Prompt reporting and documentation can matter.
How much UM/UIM coverage should I buy?
The amount depends on the limits your insurer offers, vehicle value, passengers, savings, income, and the size of a loss you could absorb yourself. Compare several limit levels and confirm the property-damage protection separately.
Can I add UM/UIM after rejecting it?
You can ask the insurer whether the coverage can be added or changed during the policy term. The process for adding UM/UIM to an active policy should include the new limits, effective date, premium adjustment, and updated declarations page before you rely on the change.
Final Thoughts
Texas UM/UIM is designed for a specific gap: another at-fault driver cannot fully respond to the covered loss because insurance is missing, insufficient, or the driver cannot be found after a covered hit-and-run.
Use the declarations page to confirm the coverage, limits, deductible, and effective dates. Then compare the cost and limits against the vehicle, passengers, savings, and losses you would otherwise need to absorb yourself.
References
- Texas Department of Insurance, What is uninsured motorist coverage, and do I really need it?, including covered losses, the $250 car-repair deductible, hit-and-run guidance, written rejection, and limit increments. Source↩
- Texas Department of Insurance, Protect against other drivers with uninsured motorist coverage, including the March 2025 statement that more than 2.4 million Texas-registered vehicles, about 12%, were not matched to an insurance policy. Source↩
- Texas Department of Insurance, Review Requirements Checklist — Personal Automobile, including Texas Insurance Code §§1952.101–1952.110 and the written-rejection requirement for UM/UIM. Source↩
- Texas Department of Insurance, Texas UM/UIM consumer guidance, including the statement that drivers can usually add more UM/UIM coverage in $5,000 increments and the property-damage replacement rule of thumb. Source↩