Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage in Arizona
Arizona uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage gives you a way to recover when the other driver’s insurance is not enough. Arizona does not require drivers to carry this coverage. But your insurance company must offer it to you in writing when you first buy a policy. If you turn it down, you sign a rejection form.
How Arizona Treats UM and UIM Differently
Arizona handles uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage differently than many states. Under Arizona law, UM and UIM are legally separate and distinct coverages. They apply to two different accident situations. Uninsured motorist coverage applies when the other driver has no policy at all. Underinsured motorist coverage applies when the other driver has a policy but the limits are too low.
You could technically carry one without the other. Many carriers bundle them together in practice, but the legal distinction matters if you ever need to file a claim.
Arizona’s Minimum Liability Limits
Arizona requires every driver to carry at least 25/50/15 in liability coverage. That breaks down to $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident, and $15,000 for property damage. If you choose to carry UM or UIM coverage, the minimum amount you can select is 25/50, matching the state’s bodily injury minimum.
Those minimums do not go far in a serious crash. A rear-end collision on the I-10 in Phoenix or a T-bone at a Tucson intersection can produce medical bills that exceed $25,000 before the first surgery is finished. When the at-fault driver carries only the minimum, the gap between what their policy pays and what you owe becomes your problem.
Who Pays When the Other Driver Cannot
Both UM and UIM claims go through your own insurance company. You file the claim on your own policy, even though the other driver caused the accident. Your carrier steps in where the other driver’s coverage fell short or did not exist at all.
Health insurance may cover some medical costs, but it does not cover lost wages while you recover. It does not cover pain and suffering. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage fills that gap through your auto policy.
How Much to Carry in Arizona
Match your UM and UIM limits to your bodily injury liability limits. If you carry 100/300 in liability, carry the same in uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. This is not the cheapest piece of your auto policy. The cost reflects the fact that the risk is real and carriers are paying these claims.
If you have passengers in your car regularly – kids going to school in Scottsdale, a carpool to work in Mesa, family trips through Flagstaff – your UM and UIM coverage protects everyone in the vehicle, not just you.
Check Your Dec Page
Pull out your auto declarations page and look for lines labeled uninsured motorist bodily injury and underinsured motorist bodily injury. If those lines are missing, you either signed a rejection form at some point or the coverage was never added. Call your agent to find out.
Get a Quote in Arizona
Western Pacific Insurance writes auto insurance in Arizona and can review your current UM and UIM limits. If there is a gap, we can show you what it would cost to close it. Get an Arizona auto insurance quote here, or visit our Arizona insurance page to learn more.
