Florida has one of the highest rates of uninsured drivers in the country. If you're hit by one, your UM coverage is your safety net. Here's how it works.
By Alexandra Linder Diaz · October 15, 2026
Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage is an insurance benefit that protects you when you're in an accident caused by a driver who has no insurance — or not enough insurance to cover your losses. In Florida, UM coverage also includes underinsured motorist (UIM) protection, which kicks in when the at-fault driver's liability limits are lower than your damages.
UM coverage pays for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages that the at-fault driver's insurance would normally cover. Without UM coverage, if an uninsured driver hits you, you could be left paying for everything out of pocket — even though the crash wasn't your fault.
Florida consistently ranks among the states with the highest percentage of uninsured drivers. Estimates suggest that approximately one in five drivers on Florida roads carries no auto insurance. That means every time you drive on I-95, Federal Highway, or Hollywood Boulevard, you're sharing the road with uninsured drivers.
Florida requires drivers to carry $10,000 in PIP and $10,000 in property damage liability — but it does not require bodily injury liability coverage. A driver can be legally insured with no coverage for your injuries at all. This makes UM coverage essential, not optional.
Florida law does not require UM coverage, but any policy that includes bodily injury liability must include UM unless you reject it in writing. Under Florida Statute § 627.727, your insurer must provide UM coverage in an amount equal to your bodily injury liability limits unless you reject it or select lower limits in writing.
Many drivers unknowingly reject UM coverage to save a few dollars on their premium. This is one of the most costly mistakes a Florida driver can make. The difference in premium is often small, but the protection it provides can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars after a serious accident.
UM coverage applies in several common scenarios:
UM coverage follows you as the insured person, not just the vehicle. If you're injured as a passenger in someone else's car, or as a pedestrian, you may still be covered under your own UM policy.
One of the most important decisions in Florida UM coverage is whether your policy is "stacked" or "non-stacked." This choice dramatically affects how much coverage you have after a crash.
Stacked coverage allows you to combine (or "stack") the UM coverage limits across multiple vehicles on your policy. For example, if you have two vehicles each with $50,000 in stacked UM coverage, you effectively have $100,000 in UM protection available after an accident. If you have three vehicles, that becomes $150,000.
Stacking also allows you to stack coverage across separate insurance policies in some cases. If you have UM coverage on your own policy and are also covered under a family member's policy, stacking may let you access both.
Non-stacked (sometimes called "non-stacking" or "excess") coverage limits your UM benefits to the coverage amount on a single vehicle. With two vehicles at $50,000 each in non-stacked UM, you can only access $50,000 — not $100,000.
Non-stacked coverage costs less, but it also provides significantly less protection. For most Florida drivers, the extra cost of stacked coverage is worth it given the high number of uninsured and underinsured drivers on the road.
Pull out your auto insurance policy's declarations page. Look for "UM" or "UIM" coverage lines. Check:
If you're unsure what your policy covers, call your insurance agent and ask specifically about your UM coverage. Many people discover — after an accident — that they rejected UM coverage years ago and forgot about it.
Filing a UM claim means you're essentially making a claim against your own insurance company for damages caused by someone else. While your own insurer should be on your side, UM claims can still be complicated:
Even though it's your own insurance, you should treat a UM claim with the same caution as any other injury claim. Don't give a recorded statement without consulting a lawyer. Don't accept a settlement offer before you know the full extent of your injuries. See our guide on what to tell the insurance company after an accident for more details.
Hit-and-run accidents are devastating — you're injured, and the responsible driver disappears. Many UM policies require a hit-and-run to be reported to police promptly, often within 24 hours, so report it right away. The driver generally must also be unknown and unidentifiable, not just uninsured.
If you're the victim of a hit-and-run, report it to the police immediately and preserve any evidence — dash camera footage, witness statements, and photos of the scene. Our car accident attorneys can help you pursue a UM claim and work with police to identify the driver.
Between the high percentage of uninsured drivers, the lack of a bodily injury liability requirement, and the constant influx of out-of-state drivers who may not carry Florida-level coverage, UM insurance is arguably the most important coverage a Florida driver can have. Without it, a crash caused by an uninsured driver could leave you with medical bills, lost income, and no way to recover compensation.
If you've been hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver in Hollywood, Aventura, or anywhere in South Florida, call Linder Diaz Law at (305) 853-8628. We review your policy, explain your options, and fight for the full value of your UM claim. No fee unless we win.
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