Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage is there for certain bodily-injury damages when the at-fault driver has no liability insurance, has less than Utah’s required limits, or cannot be identified after a hit-and-run. Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage is the related protection when the other driver has liability insurance, but not enough to cover the injury claim. These coverages protect you and other people the policy defines as covered persons. They are not a substitute for your own liability coverage, and they generally do not repair your car.
Coverage varies by policy; this is general information, not legal advice. Utah has detailed statutes on both coverages. What follows is a practical overview, not a claim decision.
Utah requires UM and UIM unless you reject them
Utah Code §31A-22-302 says that a policy purchased to satisfy the state’s owner’s or operator’s security requirement must include uninsured motorist coverage under §31A-22-305 and underinsured motorist coverage under §31A-22-305.3, unless the coverage is affirmatively waived as those sections allow.
For new policies written on or after January 1, 2001, the statutes say UM and UIM limits shall be equal to the lesser of your motor-vehicle liability limits or the maximum UM or UIM limits the insurer makes available on that policy — unless a named insured rejects the coverage or purchases a lesser amount by signing an acknowledgment form that meets statutory requirements. That form is provided by the insurer, is filed with the Utah Insurance Department, explains the purpose of the coverage in specified language, and discloses the additional premium to buy limits equal to that default.
You can also reject UM coverage entirely by an express writing on an insurer-provided form that includes a reasonable explanation of the purpose of the coverage. A similar formal rejection applies to UIM. A selection or rejection generally continues with that liability insurer until you request a change in writing. Read any such form slowly. If you do not understand it, ask before you sign.
What “uninsured” can include
Utah Code §31A-22-305 describes several situations that can fall within the definition of an uninsured motor vehicle, including:
- A vehicle that is not covered under a liability policy at the time of the injury-causing occurrence
- A vehicle with liability limits lower than Utah requires, to the extent of the deficiency
- An unidentified vehicle that left the scene of an accident proximately caused by its operator
- A vehicle whose liability insurer disputes coverage for more than 60 days
- Certain situations involving an insolvent liability insurer, to the extent a claim is not paid by a guaranty association or fund
The statutory definition has conditions and details beyond this list. Your policy and the facts of the accident control. For a crash checklist that is separate from a coverage explanation, see what to do after a car accident in Utah.
What UM and UIM usually pay — and what they usually do not
UM coverage under the statute provides coverage for covered persons who are legally entitled to recover damages from owners or operators of uninsured motor vehicles because of bodily injury, sickness, disease, or death. UIM is aimed at a similar injury claim when the other driver’s liability insurance is insufficient. These are injury coverages. They are not the part of the policy that pays to repair or replace your vehicle. Vehicle damage is typically a collision, comprehensive, or at-fault driver’s property-damage question, depending on the facts. See full coverage versus liability-only if you are unsure which part of your policy addresses the car itself.
UM is also different from personal injury protection. PIP is no-fault coverage for specified benefits such as limited medical expenses. UM and UIM are tied to legal entitlement to recover from another driver. A single accident can involve more than one of these coverages, with different limits, conditions, and offsets. Ask the insurer how they would work together in a claim; this article cannot allocate benefits for you.
Why the other driver’s minimum may not be enough
If another driver carries only Utah’s current standard minimum liability limits — 30/65/25 for policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2025 — a serious injury can exceed what that driver’s policy will pay. UIM is the coverage people review for that gap. Raising your own liability limits, and keeping UM and UIM aligned with them, is a common way to think about the issue, which is why this topic belongs with how much car insurance you need. That is not a requirement that you buy any particular limit, and it is not a prediction of what a claim would pay.
If you are considering a lower limit or a rejection
People sometimes reduce UM or UIM, or reject it, to lower a premium. Because the law requires a specific written process, this is not a casual checkbox. Ask:
- What limits do I have now, and how do they compare with my liability limits?
- What would change if I signed the acknowledgment or rejection form?
- Who is a “covered person” on this policy, including household members?
- How long would that selection stay in effect with this insurer?
A lower premium is not automatically a better policy. This site does not promise savings and does not recommend that you waive coverage.
Talk through your current declarations
Bring your declarations page to a review, or request a quote and ask specifically about UM and UIM. You can also explore Utah auto coverage questions or call (801) 229-8559. Local guides for West Jordan and Murray are useful for address and commute details, not for a one-size UM answer. A quote request does not bind coverage.
Is uninsured motorist coverage required in Utah?
On a policy purchased to satisfy Utah’s owner’s or operator’s security requirement, yes, unless you affirmatively waive it in the way Utah Code §31A-22-305 describes. The same structure applies to underinsured motorist coverage under §31A-22-305.3. A rejection or a lower-limit selection must follow the statutory form requirements.
Does UM pay to repair my car after a hit-and-run?
UM and UIM under these statutes are bodily-injury coverages for covered persons legally entitled to recover from an uninsured or underinsured driver. They are not a substitute for collision coverage on your vehicle. Ask your insurer which coverage would apply to vehicle damage in your situation.
What limits do I get if I do not sign a rejection form?
For new policies written on or after January 1, 2001, the statutes set default UM and UIM limits equal to the lesser of your liability limits or the maximum the insurer makes available on that policy, unless you reject the coverage or purchase a lesser amount on the required acknowledgment form.
Should I reject UM or UIM to lower my premium?
That is a formal decision with lasting effect for that insurer until you request a change in writing. This site does not recommend that you waive coverage and does not promise a savings amount. Read the form and ask questions before you sign. Coverage varies by policy; this is general information, not legal advice.
A quote request does not bind insurance. General education only; applicable law, eligibility, underwriting, and policy terms control.
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