Updated June 2026
What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
Uninsured motorist coverage steps in when the driver who hit you has no liability insurance or can't be identified after a hit-and-run. It pays your medical expenses, lost wages, and in some states your vehicle damage, up to your policy limits. Your own carrier writes the check, but only after you prove the other driver was at fault and either uninsured or untraceable. This is not a substitute for your own collision or medical payments coverage — it's a backup that applies only when the at-fault party lacks insurance.
- You're sideswiped merging onto I-55 near Joliet. The other driver speeds off. You have $3,200 in medical bills from the ER visit and follow-up care. Your uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage pays the full amount because you reported the incident to police within 24 hours and your policy limit is $50,000 per person. Without this coverage, you're filing through your health insurance and paying the deductible out of pocket.
- A driver with no insurance runs a red light in Peoria and totals your car. You have $18,000 in medical bills and your vehicle is worth $11,000. Your uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage pays the $18,000 in medical costs up to your limit. Your vehicle damage is not covered by standard UM in Illinois unless you added the property damage endorsement — otherwise you're using your collision coverage and paying your deductible, or absorbing the loss if you dropped collision on your paid-off car.
- You're rear-ended in Springfield by a driver with no insurance. You have $42,000 in medical bills from surgery and rehab, but your uninsured motorist limit is only $25,000 per person. Your carrier pays the $25,000 limit and stops. The remaining $17,000 is your responsibility unless you have health insurance that covers accident-related costs. Many retirees on Medicare discover too late that UM limits below $100,000 per person leave significant exposure after a serious collision.
Who Needs Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
Retirees with savings, home equity, or other assets that could be targeted in a lawsuit after an accident with an uninsured driver should carry UM limits at least equal to their liability limits. If you no longer carry collision coverage on a paid-off vehicle because repair costs don't justify the premium, adding uninsured motorist property damage coverage for $40 to $80 per year gives you a fallback if someone with no insurance totals your car. Medicare does not cover all accident-related costs immediately, and supplemental health plans often apply deductibles — UM bodily injury coverage pays those gaps without a health insurance claim.
Match your UM limit to your liability limit if you have assets to protect — the same judgment that led you to carry $100,000 or $250,000 in liability applies in reverse when the other driver has nothing. If you dropped collision to save money, add UM property damage so a hit-and-run doesn't leave you replacing your car out of pocket. If your health insurance leaves you with high deductibles or coinsurance on accident care, UM bodily injury fills that gap and pays faster than health insurers process claims.
How Much Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance Cost?
Uninsured motorist coverage typically adds $8 to $18 per month to your Illinois premium, or roughly $95 to $215 annually, depending on your limits and the county you live in.
- Your selected UM limit — $25,000 per person costs far less than $100,000 or $250,000, but the gap in protection after a serious injury is substantial.
- Whether you add uninsured motorist property damage coverage, which can add another $3 to $7 per month if you no longer carry collision on a paid-off vehicle.
- Your ZIP code's uninsured driver rate — Cook County and Metro East near St. Louis show higher uninsured rates than collar counties, which raises UM premiums.
- Your carrier's claims experience with UM payouts in Illinois — insurers that process more hit-and-run claims in urban corridors charge more for this coverage statewide.
- Whether you stack UM limits across multiple vehicles on one policy, which Illinois allows and which roughly doubles the cost but also doubles the available limit after a serious accident.