Updated June 2026
What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
Uninsured Motorist Coverage pays your medical expenses, lost wages, and vehicle repair costs when you're hit by a driver with no insurance, insufficient coverage, or who leaves the scene. It functions as a backup liability policy that covers you instead of relying on the at-fault driver's nonexistent insurance. The coverage applies to you, your passengers, and family members driving your vehicle. Mississippi law allows carriers to offer it but doesn't mandate that you purchase it, creating a gap most suspended-license drivers don't realize exists until after a crash.
- A driver sidesipes you on I-55 near Jackson and flees. You have $4,200 in vehicle damage and $1,800 in medical bills. Your liability-only policy pays nothing because the at-fault driver isn't identified. Uninsured Motorist Coverage with collision would pay the $4,200 vehicle damage minus your deductible. Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury would pay the $1,800 medical bill. Without this coverage, you pay both out of pocket.
- An uninsured driver runs a red light and T-bones you in Gulfport. You have $6,500 in vehicle damage, $9,200 in medical bills, and miss two weeks of work. The at-fault driver has no insurance and no assets to sue. Uninsured Motorist Property Damage covers the $6,500 vehicle repair. Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury covers the $9,200 medical bill and lost wages up to your policy limit. Your liability policy pays zero because you didn't cause the crash.
- A driver rear-ends you at a stoplight with $18,000 in combined medical bills and vehicle damage. The at-fault driver carries Mississippi's minimum $25,000 liability limit, but after their own injuries and the passenger in their car, only $7,000 remains for your claim. Underinsured Motorist Coverage — the companion to uninsured motorist — pays the $11,000 gap up to your policy limit. Without it, you settle for the $7,000 and absorb the rest.
Who Needs Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
Suspended-license drivers reinstating in Mississippi should carry Uninsured Motorist Coverage because the state's 16.4% uninsured rate is nearly double the national average, and SR-22 filers are statistically more likely to be hit by another high-risk or uninsured driver. Drivers without collision or comprehensive coverage need uninsured motorist property damage to cover vehicle repair costs after a hit-and-run or uninsured driver crash. If you're purchasing a non-owner SR-22 policy to satisfy reinstatement without owning a vehicle, uninsured motorist bodily injury is the only coverage protecting you as a passenger or pedestrian hit by an uninsured driver.
Compare the monthly cost of uninsured motorist coverage ($8–$18) against Mississippi's uninsured driver rate (1 in 6) and your own financial capacity to absorb a $5,000–$15,000 loss from an uninsured driver crash. If you cannot afford to replace your vehicle or cover medical bills out of pocket, and your health insurance has a high deductible or excludes auto accidents, carry at minimum $25,000/$50,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury and $25,000 property damage. For suspended drivers reinstating with SR-22, this coverage is one of the cheapest risk transfers available.
How Much Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance Cost?
Uninsured Motorist Coverage typically adds $8–$18 per month or $95–$215 annually to a Mississippi policy, depending on coverage limits and whether you add bodily injury only or bodily injury plus property damage.
- Coverage limit selected — $25,000/$50,000 bodily injury costs less than $100,000/$300,000
- Whether you add Uninsured Motorist Property Damage alongside bodily injury coverage
- Your county's uninsured driver rate — higher in DeSoto and Hinds counties than in coastal areas
- Stacking vs. non-stacking — stacking multiplies limits across multiple vehicles and costs 15–30% more
- Your underlying liability limits — carriers often cap uninsured motorist limits at your liability limits
- SR-22 filing status — suspended-license drivers pay 20–40% more for all coverages including uninsured motorist