Updated June 2026
What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
Uninsured Motorist Coverage pays for your injuries and property damage when the at-fault driver has no insurance, carries limits below your policy minimums, or leaves the scene. In Colorado, approximately 13% of drivers operate without insurance, making UM coverage a practical hedge against out-of-pocket costs after a collision you didn't cause. The coverage mirrors your liability limits — if you carry $100,000 per person in bodily injury liability, your UM bodily injury coverage typically matches at $100,000 per person unless you select different limits. Claims pay through your own carrier, not the at-fault driver's nonexistent policy.
- A driver sideswipes your car on I-25 near Denver and flees. You suffer $18,000 in medical bills and $6,000 in vehicle damage. If you carry UM bodily injury at $25,000 per person and UM property damage, your policy pays the medical costs up to your limit and covers the vehicle repair minus your deductible. Without UM coverage, you pay all costs yourself unless the hit-and-run driver is identified and prosecuted, which occurs in fewer than 20% of hit-and-run cases.
- An uninsured driver rear-ends you at a red light in Colorado Springs, causing $9,000 in vehicle damage and $14,000 in medical bills. Your UM bodily injury coverage pays the $14,000 in medical costs. Your UM property damage coverage pays the $9,000 vehicle repair minus your $500 deductible. The at-fault driver has no insurance, so without UM coverage your only recourse is suing the driver personally, which typically recovers nothing if they lacked insurance due to inability to pay premiums.
- You're riding a motorcycle when an uninsured driver turns left across your lane near Boulder, causing $42,000 in medical bills and totaling your $11,000 motorcycle. If your UM bodily injury limit is $50,000 per person, your carrier pays the full $42,000 in medical costs. Your UM property damage pays the $11,000 motorcycle value minus your deductible. Colorado law allows UM property damage claims for motorcycles, but coverage must be explicitly added to your motorcycle policy — auto UM coverage does not automatically extend to motorcycles.
Who Needs Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
Suspended drivers reinstating with SR-22 filings should carry UM coverage because you're legally required to maintain continuous insurance during reinstatement, and a hit-and-run or collision with an uninsured driver during that period leaves you paying out-of-pocket without UM protection. Drivers purchasing non-owner SR-22 policies face the same risk as passengers or when driving borrowed vehicles — UM bodily injury covers your medical costs regardless of which vehicle you occupy when hit by an uninsured driver. If your suspension stems from financial hardship like unpaid fines or lapsed insurance, UM coverage prevents a second financial crisis when an uninsured driver causes a collision you can't afford to absorb.
Calculate your out-of-pocket exposure if an uninsured driver hits you tomorrow: add your health insurance deductible, vehicle loan balance or replacement cost, and lost wage risk if injured. If that total exceeds $5,000 and you lack savings to cover it, carry UM coverage at limits matching your liability policy. Reject UM only if you're judgment-proof with no assets, no vehicle equity, and health coverage with zero auto exclusions — and understand that Colorado carriers will require written rejection, which means acknowledging the risk in a signed document.
How Much Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance Cost?
Uninsured Motorist Coverage typically adds $8–$18 per month to a Colorado auto policy, or approximately $96–$216 annually, depending on the limits selected and your driving record.
- UM bodily injury limits — higher per-person and per-accident limits increase premiums proportionally, typically $4–$8 more per month for each $25,000 increase in per-person coverage.
- UM property damage limits and deductible — lower deductibles and higher property damage limits add $3–$6 per month compared to minimum coverage or high-deductible options.
- Your ZIP code and county uninsured motorist rate — Denver, Adams, and Pueblo counties have higher uninsured driver rates than Boulder or Douglas counties, increasing UM premiums by 10–15%.
- Stacked vs. non-stacked coverage — stacked UM coverage, which multiplies your per-person limit by the number of vehicles on your policy, costs 20–40% more than non-stacked coverage but provides significantly higher payout potential.
- SR-22 filing status — if you're reinstating after suspension and carry an SR-22, carriers price UM coverage 12–25% higher due to elevated claim likelihood among high-risk drivers.
- Prior UM claims history — a history of UM claims in the past three years increases premiums by 8–15%, as carriers view you as more likely to encounter uninsured drivers again.