What is UMPD Coverage? How Much Does It Cost?

Last Updated on October 17, 2020

Uninsured motorist property damage insurance (UMPD) covers vehicle repair and replacement costs after an accident with an uninsured driver.

UMPD also covers vehicle repair and replacement costs in situations where the other driver was unknown – say, in a hit and run.

Along with uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage (UMBI), UMPD is one of two components of uninsured motorist insurance.

UMPD is mandatory in a small number of states. In some states, UMPD coverage is not available at all.

What is UMPD?

Uninsured motorist property damage coverage, or UMPD, is a type of car insurance that covers damage to your property after a collision with a motorist who does not have insurance.

UMPD is one of two types of car insurance coverage in a typical uninsured motorist policy:

Uninsured Motorist Property Damage Coverage: Covers damage to your vehicle caused by an uninsured driver.

Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury Coverage: Covers medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other expenses caused by an uninsured driver.

Approximately 1 in 7 drivers nationwide do not have insurance. In some states, nearly 25% of drivers have no car insurance whatsoever. If you are involved in an accident, there’s a good chance the other driver has no car insurance.

What happens in a collision where the other driver has no car insurance? The other driver is still liable for any injuries or damages caused by the accident. You can sue the other driver to recover these damages. However, drivers who don’t have car insurance also do not typically have many assets to seize in a lawsuit. Ultimately, this can prevent you from ever getting compensation after an accident with an uninsured driver, which is why people get uninsured motorist coverage.

UMPD is required in some states, and these states have set minimum required levels of UMPD.

UMPD is not available in all states.

What Does UMPD Cover?

UMPD covers any damage to your vehicle after an accident with an uninsured driver. It also covers damage to your vehicle after a hit and run.

Certain UMPD policies cover damage to your vehicle and your personal property.

If someone strikes your truck at an intersection, causes $10,000 of damage, then flees the scene, then you can make a claim through your UMPD coverage and receive $10,000 to cover repairs.

Or, if an uninsured driver strikes your car and causes significant damage, then your insurance company might declare your vehicle a total loss. You file a claim through your UMPD coverage, and your insurance company compensates you based on the actual cash value (ACV) of your vehicle.

UMPD works similar to collision coverage. It covers the cost of repairing or replacing your own vehicle after an accident. In fact, if you already have collision coverage, then you may not need UMPD coverage.

Do I Need Uninsured Motorist Property Damage Coverage?

UMPD is required in a small number of states, including:

• Maryland
• New Hampshire
• North Carolina
• South Carolina
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington, D.C.
• West Virginia

UMPD is available in certain other states, although coverage is not mandatory. Those states include:

• Alaska
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Delaware
• Georgia
• Indiana
• Illinois
• Louisiana
• Mississippi
• Ohio
• Rhode Island
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Washington

In all other states not listed here, UMPD is not available at all.

Should I Get UMPD Coverage?

UMPD coverage is required in a small number of states. In most states, however, it’s up to you to decide whether or not UMPD is worth it.

If you already have collision insurance, then UMPD may not be necessary. Collision insurance is an optional car insurance coverage that covers damage to your own vehicle after an accident. If you are hit by an uninsured motorist, then your collision insurance will cover you.

One difference between UMPD and collision coverage, however, is that you need to pay your deductible. All collision insurance claims come with a deductible – typically between $500 and $1,500.

If you have an older vehicle, then you may have dropped collision coverage to save money. Collision coverage is not necessarily worth adding to older vehicles. In this situation, you may want to add UMPD coverage to protect your vehicle against hit-and-runs and other accidents with uninsured drivers.

How Much Does UMPD Cost?

The cost of UMPD varies widely between states and insurance companies.

UMPD can cost anywhere from $30 to $200 per year.

Coverage Limits for UMPD

UMPD policies, like other car insurance policies, have different coverage limits. You might see your uninsured motorist coverage expressed like this:

50/100/25

In this case, your uninsured motorist insurance covers $50,000 of uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage (UMBI) per person, $50,000 of UMBI per accident, and $25,000 of uninsured motorist property damage coverage (UMPD).

If you make a claim through your uninsured motorist coverage, then your insurance company will compensate you up to the limits of your policy.

Final Word

Approximately 1 in 7 drivers in America have no car insurance. In some states, approximately 25% of drivers have no car insurance whatsoever.

If you get into a collision with an uninsured driver, or if you get struck in a hit-and-run, then your uninsured motorist coverage can cover you. Uninsured motorist coverage consists of uninsured motorist property damage coverage (UMPD), which covers the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle, and uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage (UMBI), which covers medical bills and other expenses.

Compare car insurance policies online today to determine if UMPB is worth adding to your policy.