Uninsured Motorist Statistics 2021

Car insurance is required in almost every state, but that doesn’t mean that all drivers are insured adequately. While rates of uninsured motorists have declined in recent years, millions Americans still drive without minimum coverage — which can mean high costs in the event of an accident.

• There are 28 million uninsured drivers drivers in the U.S.
• 1 in 8 motorists (12.6%) don't have auto insurance.
• There were over 460,000 more uninsured drivers in 2019 than in 2015 due to growth in the overall population of licensed drivers.
• Mississippi has the highest rate of uninsured drivers (29.4%) and New Jersey has the lowest (3.1%).
• It’s estimated that insured drivers paid over $13 billion per year for costs related to uninsured motorists.

According to the most recent data available, Mississippi had the highest rate of uninsured drivers. The states with the 10 highest percentages of uninsured drivers are:

1. Mississippi: 29.4%
2. Michigan: 25.5%
3. Tennessee: 23.7%
4. New Mexico: 21.8%
5. Washington: 21.7%
6. Florida: 20.4%
7. Alabama: 19.5%
8. Arkansas: 19.3%
9. District of Columbia: 19.1%
10. California: 16.6%

States where the lowest percentage of the population is uninsured include:

1. New Jersey: 3.1%
2. Massachusetts: 3.5%
3. New York: 4.1%
4. Maine: 4.9%
5. Wyoming: 5.8%
6. Pennsylvania: 6.0%
7. New Hampshire: 6.1%
8. Connecticut: 6.3%
9. Utah: 6.5%
10. South Dakota: 7.4%

Some states have climbed or fallen in these rankings from 2015 to 2019, often due to changes in legislation or reforms in auto insurance requirements. Areas with notable changes in the percentage of uninsured drivers by state include:

• North Dakota: North Dakota’s rate of uninsured motorists rose by 6.2%, despite the state having some of the country’s cheapest auto insurance policies.
• Mississippi: Mississippi’s uninsured motorist rate went up 5.7%.
• Michigan: The percentage of uninsured motorists increased by 5.2%, likely driven in part by having the highest insurance premiums in the country.
• New Jersey: New Jersey’s rate of uninsured motorists dropped by 11.8%, largely due to low insurance prices caused by increased competition. Major insurance reforms enacted in 2003 have also helped the state maintain the lowest rate of uninsured drivers in the country.
• Florida: While Florida has some of the most expensive premiums in the country, the rate of uninsured motorists still fell by 6.3%.
• Texas: Texas’ rate of uninsured motorists dropped by 5.8%, partly due to the state’s online insurance verification system.

Twenty-one states and Washington D.C. require uninsured motorist coverage. This type of insurance protects drivers if they get into an accident with an uninsured driver, but also comes at an additional financial cost to policyholders.

As long as you’re not at fault in the accident, uninsured motorist coverage from your insurance policy will cover the cost of medical bills, repairs, fees and other expenses if you get into an accident with an uninsured driver. However — even with this coverage — insurance companies in many states can increase your rates after you file an uninsured motorist claim.

While these coverages come at an additional financial cost, they could save you thousands of dollars in the long run if you get into an accident with an uninsured driver. You can still find affordable insurance — even with these additional coverages — by comparing quotes from multiple providers.