How Much Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Cost in Texas?
There is no single statewide price for uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage in Texas. The added premium depends on the insurer, selected limits, driver profile, vehicle, location, and whether the policy includes bodily injury, property damage, or both.
Texas insurers must offer uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, and a named insured who does not want the coverage must reject it in writing. TDI also says Texas UM/UIM can pay for items such as car repairs, property in the car, rental needs, medical bills, pain and suffering, and diminished value [1].
The price makes more sense in context because Texas UM/UIM rules and protections determine what is being added to the policy, what losses may be covered, and what you give up if the coverage is rejected.
What You Are Paying For
UMBI, UIMBI, and property-damage protection solve different problems, so their prices should not be compared as if they were interchangeable. The cost of a quote depends partly on which of those protections are actually included.
For Texas drivers, the relevant question is how much additional premium buys a given amount of injury or property-damage protection. That makes the coverage type and selected limit just as important as the dollar amount added to the bill.
UMBI
Uninsured motorist bodily injury may help pay covered medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and injuries to passengers after a covered crash.
UIMBI
Underinsured motorist bodily injury may help when the at-fault driver has insurance, but their liability limits are not enough for the full injury claim.
UMPD
Uninsured motorist property damage may help with car repairs, property in the vehicle, diminished value, and related costs, subject to Texas policy terms.
National Cost Benchmarks vs. a Texas Quote
Texas insurers do not use one statewide UM/UIM price. A driver’s actual premium can vary with insurer, location, driver profile, vehicle, selected limits, prior coverage, and the mix of bodily injury and property-damage protection.
For a national benchmark, Forbes Advisor reports average annual costs of $136 for UMBI, $90 for UIMBI, $36 for UMPD, and $46 for UIMPD, based on its stated coverage assumptions [4]. Those figures are context only; a Texas quote can be materially different.
| Coverage type | National average annual cost | What it may protect | Texas shopping tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| UMBI | $136 | Injuries after a covered crash with an uninsured driver. | Ask whether limits can match your bodily injury liability limits. |
| UIMBI | $90 | Injuries when the at-fault driver has insurance but not enough coverage. | Ask if UIM is bundled with UM or priced separately. |
| UMPD | $36 | Vehicle damage and property losses after a covered uninsured-driver accident. | Compare the $250 UM/UIM deductible with your collision deductible. |
| UIMPD | $46 | Property damage when the at-fault driver has too little property damage liability. | Confirm how your insurer handles property damage limits and deductibles. |
Texas Rules That Affect Cost and Selection
Texas law requires UM/UIM to be provided with an auto liability policy unless a named insured rejects the coverage in writing [2]. TDI also says insurers must offer the coverage, lists a $250 deductible for UM/UIM car repair, and notes that drivers can usually add more coverage in $5,000 increments [1].
| Texas detail | What it means | Cost impact |
|---|---|---|
| Must be offered | Your insurer must offer UM/UIM when you buy Texas auto insurance. | You should compare the policy price with and without UM/UIM before rejecting it. |
| Written rejection | If you do not want UM/UIM, the rejection must be in writing. | Do not assume you have the coverage unless your declarations page lists it. |
| $250 deductible | TDI says the deductible for UM/UIM coverage is $250. | This may be lower than your collision deductible, depending on your policy. |
| Hit-and-run situations | TDI says UM/UIM can pay if you are in a hit-and-run and the other driver cannot be found. | Documentation and police reporting can be important for claim handling. |
| Limits still apply | The UM/UIM limits on the policy set the maximum available protection for a covered loss. | A lower premium may simply reflect lower limits, so compare the same limit level before judging cost. |
What the Extra Premium Is Protecting Against
The financial value of UM/UIM depends on the size of the loss you would otherwise need to absorb through collision coverage, health insurance, savings, or recovery from the at-fault driver.
NAIC reports that 15.4% of U.S. motorists were uninsured in 2023 [3]. That national figure does not set a Texas premium, but it helps explain why insurers and drivers treat uninsured-driver exposure as a real loss scenario rather than a theoretical one.
Possible benefits
- A claim path through your own insurer.
- Potential help with medical bills and passenger injuries.
- Potential help with car repairs and rental needs.
- Protection for certain hit-and-run situations.
- Less dependence on collecting from an uninsured driver.
Possible gaps without it
- You may have to use collision for car repairs.
- Health insurance may not cover lost wages or passengers the same way.
- Legal recovery from an uninsured driver may be difficult.
- Your collision deductible may be higher than the UM/UIM deductible.
- Hit-and-run recovery can be harder without the right coverage.
Factors That Influence Your UM/UIM Premium in Texas
Uninsured motorist coverage is not priced in isolation. It is part of your broader auto insurance profile. That means the same driver may see different UM/UIM prices from different companies, especially when the policy also includes liability, collision, comprehensive, PIP, MedPay, rental reimbursement, or roadside coverage.
Driving history
Recent accidents, tickets, claims, and lapses in insurance can increase the total cost of an auto policy. A clean record may help you qualify for better rates or safe-driver discounts.
Coverage limits
Higher UM/UIM limits usually cost more, but they may provide stronger protection if injuries, passengers, or vehicle damage create a larger claim.
ZIP code and vehicle
Traffic density, theft risk, repair costs, claim frequency, vehicle value, and local accident patterns can all affect how insurers price your policy.
Simple Cost-Benefit Example
Assume a driver compares two Texas quotes. One policy is cheaper because it excludes UM/UIM. The other costs more but includes UM/UIM bodily injury and property damage. The cheaper option may look better upfront, but after a crash with an uninsured driver, the driver may have fewer ways to recover medical costs, repair costs, rental needs, and diminished value.
With UM/UIM
You may have a direct claim path through your own insurer for covered losses, subject to policy limits, deductibles, and claim requirements.
Without UM/UIM
You may need to rely on collision, health insurance, savings, or legal recovery from a driver who may not have enough money to pay.
How to Compare UM/UIM Quotes Without Overpaying
A Texas UM/UIM quote is only comparable when the coverage type and limits match. Using UM/UIM plans with matching limits makes it easier to separate a real pricing difference from a cheaper quote that simply provides less protection.
Check your current policy
Look at your declarations page for UM, UIM, UMPD, limits, and deductibles.
Match quote limits
Ask each insurer for the same UM/UIM limits so the price comparison is fair.
Compare deductibles
Review the UM/UIM deductible and compare it with your collision deductible.
Confirm in writing
Make sure the final declarations page shows the coverage before relying on it.
Common Mistakes That Can Make UM/UIM More Expensive
Some drivers pay more than necessary because they only compare the final premium and do not review the coverage details. Others reject UM/UIM without checking the actual cost difference. A better approach is to compare the coverage side by side and ask direct questions before making a decision.
Costly mistakes
- Rejecting UM/UIM without seeing the actual premium difference.
- Comparing quotes with different coverage limits.
- Assuming collision covers medical bills and lost wages.
- Assuming health insurance covers every accident-related cost.
- Choosing very low limits because the quote looks cheaper.
- Not checking whether UMPD is included.
Better shopping habits
- Compare at least three insurers when possible.
- Ask for quotes with and without UM/UIM.
- Review the declarations page at renewal.
- Ask about safe-driver and multi-policy discounts.
- Keep documentation after any accident or hit-and-run.
- Re-shop after moving, changing vehicles, or improving your driving record.
UM/UIM vs. Collision, PIP, MedPay, and Health Insurance
Collision, PIP, MedPay, health insurance, and UM/UIM can all be involved after the same accident, but they pay different losses and can have different limits, deductibles, or coordination rules. The cost question is therefore whether UM/UIM adds protection that is not already available on equivalent terms elsewhere in the policy.
| Coverage | What it may help with | Possible gap |
|---|---|---|
| Collision | Vehicle repairs after a crash, usually regardless of fault. | Usually does not cover injury losses, lost wages, or pain and suffering. |
| PIP | Medical bills and certain nonmedical costs, depending on policy terms. | Limits may be too low for a serious injury claim. |
| MedPay | Medical bills for you and passengers, depending on policy terms. | Usually does not cover vehicle damage or pain and suffering. |
| Health insurance | Medical treatment after an injury. | May not cover car damage, passengers, wage loss, deductibles, or every accident-related cost. |
| UM/UIM | Covered losses caused by uninsured, underinsured, or certain hit-and-run drivers. | Still limited by selected limits, deductibles, exclusions, and claim requirements. |
Cost Questions Can Become Claim Questions After a Crash
After a loss, the UM/UIM claim process can determine whether the coverage actually responds to medical bills, vehicle damage, rental costs, or other claimed losses. Police information, photos, repair estimates, medical records, and proof about the other driver’s insurance status may all matter.
Coverage first
Confirm which UM/UIM coverage and limits were active on the loss date.
Documents matter
Keep police information, photos, estimates, bills, receipts, and insurer correspondence.
Deductibles and limits
The final out-of-pocket result depends on the applicable deductible, covered amount, and policy limits.
FAQ: Uninsured Motorist Coverage Costs in Texas
Is uninsured motorist coverage required in Texas?
No. Texas does not require every driver to buy UM/UIM coverage, but insurers must offer it. If you do not want it, TDI says you must reject it in writing.
How much does uninsured motorist coverage cost in Texas?
There is no single statewide price. The premium depends on the insurer, driver, vehicle, location, selected limits, and whether the policy includes bodily injury, property damage, or both. National cost studies can provide context, but the Texas quote controls.
What is the deductible for UM/UIM coverage in Texas?
TDI lists a $250 deductible for uninsured/underinsured coverage when it is used for car repair. Your declarations page and policy should be checked for how that deductible applies to your specific property-damage claim.
Does UM/UIM coverage apply to hit-and-run accidents?
TDI says uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage also pays if you are in a hit-and-run accident and the other driver cannot be found to pay for damages, subject to policy terms and claim requirements.
Can I lower the cost of UM/UIM coverage?
You may be able to lower your total policy cost by comparing insurers, keeping a clean driving record, asking about discounts, bundling policies, adjusting limits carefully, and reviewing your coverage at renewal.
Should I match UM/UIM limits to my liability limits?
Many shoppers ask for UM/UIM limits similar to their bodily injury liability limits so they have a comparable level of protection for themselves and passengers. The right amount depends on your budget, risk tolerance, vehicle, passengers, and financial situation.
Final Thoughts
The cost of uninsured motorist coverage in Texas should be judged at the same limits and coverage type you would actually carry. A cheaper policy without UM/UIM is not an equivalent comparison if it transfers substantially more accident risk back to you.
Before accepting or rejecting the coverage, the Texas UM/UIM quote details should show the selected limits, property-damage protection, deductible, premium change, and effective coverage. Those numbers make it possible to judge the actual cost instead of relying on the monthly payment alone.
References
- Texas Department of Insurance, What is uninsured motorist coverage, and do I really need it?, including Texas UM/UIM benefits, written rejection, the $250 car-repair deductible, hit-and-run guidance, and $5,000 limit increments. Source↩
- Texas Insurance Code Chapter 1952, Subchapter C, including the requirement for UM/UIM coverage unless a named insured rejects it in writing. Source↩
- National Association of Insurance Commissioners, Uninsured Motorists, including the 15.4% U.S. uninsured-motorist estimate for 2023. Source↩
- Forbes Advisor, What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage?, including average annual cost estimates for UMBI, UIMBI, UMPD, and UIMPD based on its stated coverage assumptions. Source↩