Uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) is a car insurance coverage that pays to repair your vehicle when a driver with no auto insurance is at fault for the accident. The trigger is straightforward: an uninsured driver hits your car and you file a claim under your own UMPD coverage rather than pursuing the at-fault driver's nonexistent policy. UMPD does not cover medical bills for you or your passengers. That falls under uninsured motorist bodily injury (UMBI). Hit-and-run accidents are covered in some states but excluded in others, typically because the at-fault driver must be identified for a valid claim.
Uninsured Motorist Property Damage Coverage
Updated: June 8, 2026
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Key Takeaways
Uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) covers repairs to your car when an uninsured driver causes the accident. It does not cover your injuries (that is UMBI) or hit-and-run damage in most states.
UMPD costs less than collision and carries no deductible in several states, making it the more efficient option for drivers in those states with no lender requirement for collision.
More than a dozen states require UMPD. In Illinois and Utah, UMPD is only available if you do not carry collision. Confirm your state's rules before adding or dropping either coverage.
Uninsured Motorist Property Damage Coverage
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In states that offer UMPD without a deductible, it functions as a deductible-free claim for the scenario most likely to happen to you: someone with no insurance hits your car. The only reason not to carry it is if your state (like Illinois or Utah) requires you to drop collision to do so, or if your deductible advantage is negligible.
UMPD is most valuable for drivers in states where it carries no deductible and for those with older vehicles who are considering dropping collision. If your car's market value is low relative to your annual insurance costs, UMPD can fill the gap left by removing collision without leaving you exposed to uninsured-driver incidents.
What Uninsured Motorist Property Damage Covers
UMPD covers several property damage scenarios tied to uninsured or underinsured at-fault drivers, including vehicle repairs, other property damage, and in some states, hit-and-run incidents.
Vehicle repairs when an uninsured driver is at fault
Covers repairs to your car up to the UMPD limit when an uninsured driver is at fault for the accident.
Property beyond the car
Damage to property beyond the car (such as a fence, mailbox, or garage) caused by an uninsured driver, in states that include this benefit.
Hit-and-run damage
Hit-and-run damage in states that include this benefit, such as Maryland, Virginia, and several others that allow UMPD claims without driver identification.
Underinsured driver damage
Damage caused by an underinsured driver in states where UMPD also extends to underinsured motorist property damage (UIMPD) scenarios.
What UMPD Doesn't Cover
Your medical bills or passengers' injuries
Medical expenses for you or your passengers are not covered. Those require uninsured motorist bodily injury (UMBI) or personal injury protection (PIP).
Hit-and-run damage in certain states
States that require the at-fault driver to be identified, including California and Illinois, exclude hit-and-run damage from UMPD claims as a fraud-prevention measure.
Damage in excess of your UMPD limit
Any repair costs above your selected UMPD coverage limit are not covered and would need to be paid out of pocket.
At-fault accidents where you caused the damage
UMPD requires the other driver to be uninsured and at fault. It does not apply to accidents you caused.
DISCLAIMER
Coverage availability and hit-and-run rules vary by state. Confirm your state's rules before purchasing.
Uninsured Motorist Property Damage vs. Collision Coverage
Both UMPD and collision coverage pay for damage to your own vehicle, but they apply in very different situations. Collision covers any accident where your car is damaged, regardless of who is at fault or whether the other driver has insurance. UMPD only activates when an uninsured driver is at fault, a narrower trigger but one that comes at a substantially lower premium. UMPD typically costs a fraction of what collision costs annually, making it an efficient complement rather than a replacement.
The deductible distinction is where UMPD can clearly outperform collision for specific incidents. Collision policies carry your chosen deductible, commonly $500 to $1,000, which you pay before the insurer covers the rest. In several states, UMPD carries no deductible at all. For the precise scenario of an uninsured driver hitting your parked or moving vehicle, UMPD in a zero-deductible state means a full repair payout at no out-of-pocket cost. The important exception: in Illinois and Utah, drivers cannot carry both UMPD and collision simultaneously. If you live in either state and have a financed vehicle requiring collision, you cannot add UMPD. Always confirm your state's rules before making changes to either coverage.
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The most common misapplication: drivers who drop UMPD because they already have collision, without realizing that in states where UMPD has no deductible, they are paying a collision deductible for a situation UMPD would have covered at no out-of-pocket cost. If UMPD is available in your state without a deductible, carry both until you confirm the math.
Which States Require or Offer Uninsured Motorist Property Damage
UMPD is not available in every state, and where it is available, the rules differ. Some states mandate it as part of minimum coverage, others offer it as an optional add-on, and a handful, including Illinois and Utah, restrict it so that drivers who carry collision cannot also carry UMPD. Before deciding whether you need uninsured motorist coverage, check your state's specific rules using the table below.
State | UMPD Available | UMPD Required | Deductible | Hit-and-Run Covered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Alabama | Yes | No | None | Yes |
Alaska | Yes | No | None | Yes |
Arizona | Yes | No | None | Yes |
Arkansas | Yes | No | None | Yes |
California | Yes | No | $250 max | No |
Colorado | Yes | No | None | Yes |
Connecticut | Yes | Yes | None | Yes |
Delaware | Yes | Yes | None | Yes |
District of Columbia | Yes | Yes | None | Yes |
Florida | No | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Georgia | Yes | No | None | Yes |
Hawaii | No | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Idaho | Yes | No | None | Yes |
Illinois | Yes (if no collision) | No | None | No |
Indiana | Yes | No | None | Yes |
Iowa | Yes | No | None | Yes |
Kansas | Yes | Yes | None | Yes |
Kentucky | Yes | No | None | Yes |
Louisiana | Yes | Yes | None | Yes |
Maine | Yes | Yes | None | Yes |
Maryland | Yes | Yes | None | Yes |
Massachusetts | No | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Michigan | No | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Minnesota | Yes | Yes | None | Yes |
Mississippi | Yes | Yes | None | Yes |
Missouri | Yes | Yes | None | Yes |
Montana | Yes | No | None | Yes |
Nebraska | Yes | Yes | None | Yes |
Nevada | Yes | Yes | None | Yes |
New Hampshire | Yes | No | None | Yes |
New Jersey | Yes | Yes | None | Yes |
New Mexico | Yes | Yes | None | Yes |
New York | Yes | Yes | None | Yes |
North Carolina | Yes | Yes | None | Yes |
North Dakota | Yes | Yes | None | Yes |
Ohio | Yes | No | None | Yes |
Oklahoma | Yes | No | None | Yes |
Oregon | Yes | Yes | None | Yes |
Pennsylvania | Yes | No | None | Yes |
Rhode Island | Yes | No | None | Yes |
South Carolina | Yes | Yes | None | Yes |
South Dakota | Yes | No | None | Yes |
Tennessee | Yes | No | None | Yes |
Texas | Yes | Yes | None | Yes |
Utah | Yes (if no collision) | No | None | Yes |
Vermont | Yes | No | None | Yes |
Virginia | Yes | Yes | None | Yes |
Washington | Yes | No | None | Yes |
West Virginia | Yes | Yes | None | Yes |
Wisconsin | Yes | Yes | None | Yes |
Wyoming | Yes | No | None | Yes |
DISCLAIMER
Rules confirmed from state insurance department filings as of 2025. Verify current rules with your state's insurance department before purchasing.
When Uninsured Motorist Property Damage Is Worth Carrying
UMPD is most worth carrying for drivers in states that offer it without a deductible and for those with older vehicles where the annual collision premium is approaching 10% of the vehicle's market value. According to the Insurance Research Council's 2023 report, approximately 12.6% of drivers nationwide are uninsured, meaning roughly one in eight vehicles on the road poses a risk your own insurer would need to absorb. In a zero-deductible UMPD state, a single uninsured-driver incident fully justifies the annual cost of the coverage. For drivers comparing options, the cheapest car insurance companies often include UMPD as a low-cost add-on worth considering.
Drivers who can reasonably skip UMPD include those in Illinois or Utah who carry collision on a financed vehicle. State law prevents carrying both simultaneously, and lenders typically require collision. If your state's UMPD deductible matches your collision deductible, the financial advantage disappears and the coverage is largely redundant. Drivers in states where UMPD is not offered have no choice. Even if you decide UMPD is not right for you, always maintain uninsured motorist bodily injury (UMBI) coverage to protect against medical costs, and revisit whether you need uninsured motorist coverage as your vehicle's value and financial situation change.
What is uninsured motorist property damage?
Uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) is a car insurance coverage that pays to repair your vehicle when a driver who carries no auto insurance is at fault for the collision. It does not cover medical bills for you or your passengers. That protection falls under uninsured motorist bodily injury (UMBI). Hit-and-run accidents are covered under UMPD in some states, but many states require the at-fault driver to be identified before a UMPD claim can be filed. UMPD limits mirror the property damage liability limits you select for your policy.
Which states require UMPD?
States that require UMPD as part of mandatory minimum coverage include Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, among others. Requirements and availability change over time, so always confirm current rules with your state's department of insurance before purchasing or modifying coverage.
Does UMPD cover hit-and-run?
Whether UMPD covers hit-and-run accidents depends on your state. Most states, including Maryland, Virginia, and Colorado, allow hit-and-run claims under UMPD. California and Illinois explicitly exclude hit-and-run damage from UMPD claims, requiring that the at-fault driver be identified. This exclusion exists primarily as a fraud-prevention measure, since an unwitnessed hit-and-run is difficult to verify. If you live in a state that excludes hit-and-run from UMPD, collision coverage is your primary protection for that scenario.
Can I have both UMPD and collision?
Yes, in most states you can carry both UMPD and collision coverage simultaneously, and doing so is often advisable since they cover different scenarios. The notable exceptions are Illinois and Utah, where state law makes UMPD available only to drivers who do not carry collision. If you live in Illinois or Utah and have a financed vehicle (which typically requires collision), you cannot add UMPD. In all other states, carrying both provides the broadest protection against vehicle damage from both at-fault and uninsured-driver incidents.
How much does UMPD add to my premium?
UMPD is typically one of the least expensive optional coverages available, often adding only a few dollars to a few tens of dollars per year to your premium, which is a fraction of what collision costs. According to NAIC 2022 data, the average annual expenditure on uninsured motorist coverage (combined UMPD and UMBI) is well under $100 in most states. Where a deductible applies, it generally ranges from $100 to $1,000, though many states offer UMPD with no deductible at all. For a full picture of how UMPD fits into your overall costs, see average car insurance rates by state and coverage level.
What is the difference between UMPD and UMBI?
UMPD (uninsured motorist property damage) covers repairs to your vehicle when an uninsured driver is at fault. UMBI (uninsured motorist bodily injury) covers medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering for you and your passengers when an uninsured driver causes the accident. Both coverages require the other driver to be uninsured and at fault. They are complementary: UMPD protects your car while UMBI protects the people in it. For broader vehicle protection, also see comprehensive coverage, which covers non-collision events such as theft, weather damage, and falling objects.
State availability and requirement data for uninsured motorist property damage coverage was sourced from state insurance department filings and authoritative industry sources including the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and the Insurance Information Institute (III). Rate data, where queried, is from Quadrant Information Services and reflects ZIP-code-level premiums for a 40-year-old male driver with a clean record and good credit carrying 100/300/100 limits with a $1,000 comprehensive and collision deductible.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut, is MoneyGeek's resident insurance expert. He has spent nearly a decade analyzing the market, first at LendingTree and now at MoneyGeek, where he has produced original research on hundreds of carriers and millions of rates across auto, home, renters, health and life insurance.
He covers economics and insurance at MoneyGeek, and his work has been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR, among other outlets.
Like all MoneyGeek analysts, he draws on independent cost and consumer experience data. No insurance company partnership influences his recommendations.
Fitzpatrick earned his degrees from Johns Hopkins University (M.A. Economics and International Relations) and Boston College (B.A.). He began his career in financial risk management at State Street. He's also a five-time “Jeopardy!” champion.