Maine & Utah are the states with the lowest uninsured motorist rates
A growing number of American drivers are either uninsured or lack sufficient insurance coverage, exposing themselves and others to financial risk, according to a new study by the Insurance Research Council (IRC), an affiliate of The Institutes.
The report, Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists: 2017–2023, found that in 2023, one in three drivers (33.4%) were either uninsured or underinsured, marking a 10-percentage point increase in the combined rate since 2017. The data underscores a troubling trend in insurance affordability and coverage adequacy across the country.
Despite liability insurance being legally required in 49 states and the District of Columbia, a significant number of motorists remain uninsured. New Hampshire, the only state without a compulsory insurance law, requires drivers to demonstrate financial responsibility if they forgo coverage.
Rising UM and UIM Rates
Auto insurers offer uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage to protect policyholders when at-fault drivers lack adequate insurance. UM coverage compensates accident victims for injuries or damages caused by uninsured or hit-and-run drivers, while UIM coverage addresses costs exceeding an at-fault driver’s liability limits.
“With the abrupt changes in the economy and impacts on household income, UM rates rose in nearly every state from 2019 to 2020,” said Dale Porfilio, FCAS, MAAA, president of the IRC. “We have been watching for UM rates to improve with lower unemployment and household income increases, but the IRC’s latest research shows UM rates continue to tick upward in most states. We presume deteriorating insurance affordability is more than offsetting economic improvements.”
Porfilio, who also serves as chief insurance officer at the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I), noted that UIM rates have surged more dramatically since 2020. “The increase in UIM rates points to higher UIM premiums in the future, worsening affordability and potentially increasing the likelihood of more uninsured drivers. This demonstrates the complex interconnectedness of these two coverages as insurers protect consumers from insufficient coverage by at-fault drivers.”
State-by-State Trends
The IRC report highlights significant disparities in uninsured rates across states:
- In 2023, more than one in seven drivers nationwide (15.4%) were uninsured, a 3% increase over the six-year study period.
- Mississippi had the highest uninsured motorist rate in 2023 at 28.2%, followed by New Mexico (24.1%) and the District of Columbia (23.1%).
- Maine (5.7%), Utah (6.2%), and Idaho (6.4%) had the lowest uninsured motorist rates.
- Most states saw an increase in UM rates in 2020 at the onset of the pandemic, though trends from 2020 to 2023 varied. Michigan experienced the largest decline in UM rates, while Washington saw the largest increase.
- UIM rates have risen in nearly every state since 2017, with New York and the District of Columbia as the only exceptions.
Economic conditions, insurance costs, and state-specific regulations play key roles in the variations in UM and UIM rates, the study found.
With affordability concerns continuing to impact insurance decisions, the trend of rising uninsured and underinsured rates presents ongoing challenges for insurers and policyholders alike.
