Updated July 2026
What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
Uninsured Motorist Coverage steps in when the at-fault driver has no insurance and cannot pay for the damage they caused. It covers your medical expenses, lost wages, and vehicle repair costs up to your policy limits. Oregon law does not require carriers to include it automatically, so you must request it when you buy a policy. Hit-and-run accidents where the driver cannot be identified also trigger this coverage, making it one of the few ways to recover costs when the responsible party disappears.
- You're driving southbound on I-5 near Salem when another car merges into your lane and sideswipes you, then speeds off without stopping. You have $4,200 in vehicle damage and $8,000 in medical bills from a fractured wrist. The police cannot locate the other driver. Your Uninsured Motorist Coverage pays the full $12,200 because the fleeing driver is treated as uninsured under Oregon law. Without UM coverage, you pay all costs out of pocket—your liability policy covers nothing.
- A driver with no insurance rear-ends you at a red light in Portland, causing $3,500 in bumper and frame damage and $6,200 in chiropractic bills for neck strain. The at-fault driver admits fault but has no policy. Your Uninsured Motorist Coverage pays the $9,700 total. If you had declined UM coverage to save $12 per month, you would need to sue the driver personally and wait months or years to collect, assuming they have assets to seize.
- Another driver runs a stop sign in Eugene and T-bones your car, totaling it. Damage is $14,000 and your medical bills reach $11,000. The other driver's license was suspended for unpaid tickets and they carry no insurance. You have $25,000 in Uninsured Motorist Coverage. Your UM policy pays the full $25,000. Collision coverage would pay for the vehicle only—you would still be responsible for the $11,000 in medical costs without UM.
Who Needs Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
You need Uninsured Motorist Coverage if you cannot afford to pay $10,000–$30,000 out of pocket after an accident caused by someone else. Drivers with SR-22 filings after a DUII or uninsured driving conviction should carry it because you already have one strike—a second uninsured incident, even as the victim, creates reinstatement complications. If you drive frequently in Portland, Salem, or Eugene where traffic density and uninsured driver rates are highest, the $10–$15 monthly cost is justified by collision probability alone.
Calculate your out-of-pocket risk: add your vehicle's value and $10,000 for potential medical costs. If that total exceeds six months of savings, buy UM coverage. If you're reinstating after suspension and need SR-22, include it—your next suspension will be longer and more expensive, and UM coverage is evidence of responsible risk management that benefits you in court or at the DMV if another incident occurs.
How Much Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance Cost?
Uninsured Motorist Coverage adds $8–$15 per month to your Oregon premium for $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident limits, or $96–$180 annually.
- Your UM coverage limits—choosing $50,000 per person instead of $25,000 increases cost by $4–$7 per month.
- Your county's uninsured driver rate—Multnomah and Lane counties have higher uninsured rates, which raises UM premiums by 10–15% compared to rural counties.
- Whether you elect stacked or unstacked coverage—stacking multiplies limits across vehicles you own, increasing cost by 30–40% but providing proportionally higher protection.
- Your liability limits—carriers typically cap UM limits at your liability limits, so increasing liability to $100,000/$300,000 unlocks higher UM limits but raises base premium.
- Your driving record—carriers price UM coverage lower for drivers with clean records because they statistically file fewer claims of any type.