Updated June 2026
What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
Uninsured Motorist Coverage activates when the driver who caused your accident has no liability insurance or when a hit-and-run driver leaves the scene. The coverage has two components: Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury pays your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering up to your policy limits, while Uninsured Motorist Property Damage covers vehicle repair costs. Georgia requires carriers to offer this coverage but does not mandate you purchase it—you must decline in writing if you choose to go without.
- You're stopped at a red light when another vehicle rear-ends you and immediately drives away without stopping. You sustain $18,000 in medical bills and $6,500 in vehicle damage. Because you cannot identify the at-fault driver, your liability coverage cannot pursue their insurer. Your Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury coverage pays the $18,000 in medical costs up to your policy limits, and Uninsured Motorist Property Damage covers the $6,500 repair bill minus your deductible.
- An uninsured driver runs a stop sign and T-bones your car, causing $22,000 in injuries and $9,000 in vehicle damage. The other driver has no insurance and no assets to pursue in a lawsuit. Without Uninsured Motorist Coverage, you would pay all costs out of pocket or rely on limited personal health insurance. With $50,000 in Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury and $25,000 in Property Damage coverage, your policy covers the full $22,000 in medical expenses and $9,000 in repairs, minus any applicable deductible.
- You're injured in an accident where the at-fault driver carries only Georgia's minimum $25,000 liability limit, but your medical bills total $45,000. The other driver's policy pays its $25,000 maximum, leaving you with $20,000 in uncovered expenses. If you carry Underinsured Motorist Coverage with limits higher than $25,000, it pays the remaining $20,000. This bridge between inadequate liability limits and your actual costs is the primary reason suspended-license drivers add this coverage during reinstatement.
Who Needs Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
Suspended-license drivers reinstating in Georgia should carry Uninsured Motorist Coverage because one in seven Georgia drivers operates uninsured, and a single uncovered accident can derail your financial recovery and trigger a second suspension for unpaid medical bills or repair costs. Drivers purchasing non-owner SR-22 policies to satisfy reinstatement requirements without owning a vehicle benefit from Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury, which covers your injuries regardless of which vehicle you occupy. If you're financially rebuilding after suspension and cannot absorb a $20,000 medical bill or $8,000 repair cost from an at-fault uninsured driver, this coverage is essential.
Calculate your financial exposure by multiplying Georgia's 13.4% uninsured rate by the out-of-pocket cost you'd face in a serious accident—if that figure exceeds $10,000 and you lack liquid savings to cover it, carry the coverage. Compare the annual premium of $96–$264 against your vehicle's actual cash value and your health insurance deductible; if the combined exposure exceeds three years of premiums, purchase it. Suspended-license drivers should default to carrying this coverage during the SR-22 filing period unless comprehensive health insurance and liquid emergency reserves make self-insuring the risk viable.
How Much Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance Cost?
Uninsured Motorist Coverage typically adds $8–$22 per month to your premium, or $96–$264 annually, depending on your coverage limits and whether you stack policies across multiple vehicles.
- Coverage limits you select—higher bodily injury limits of $100,000 per person increase cost compared to the state-minimum $25,000.
- Whether you choose stacked or unstacked coverage—stacking multiplies your limits across all insured vehicles, raising premiums by 15–30%.
- Your ZIP code's uninsured motorist rate—counties with higher percentages of uninsured drivers see marginally higher premiums.
- Your driving record—suspended-license reinstatement with an SR-22 filing already places you in high-risk pricing tiers, but Uninsured Motorist Coverage itself adds a flat cost regardless of violation history.
- Deductible selection for Property Damage—choosing a $500 deductible instead of $250 reduces monthly cost by $3–$6.
- Bundling with Underinsured Motorist Coverage—purchasing both coverages together often costs less than adding each separately.