Uninsured Motorist Coverage Arizona: Do You Need It in 2026?

Yes, most Arizona drivers should carry uninsured motorist coverage because the state does not require drivers to have insurance to register a vehicle, and a surprising number of drivers on Arizona roads carry no coverage at all. Without this add-on, you could be left paying your own medical bills and repair costs after a crash caused by someone who cannot pay.

Arizona law does not force insurers to include uninsured motorist coverage automatically; insurers must only offer it, and you can reject it in writing.
Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage pays when the at-fault driver has no insurance at all.
Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage pays when the at-fault driver has insurance, but not enough to cover your losses.
Arizona’s minimum liability limits are often too low to cover serious injuries, which is why UM/UIM matters even if every driver were insured.
You generally have 2 years from the crash date to file an injury claim, including a UM/UIM claim, under A.R.S. § 12-542.

What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Arizona?

Uninsured motorist coverage is an optional add-on to your auto policy that pays for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering when the driver who caused your crash has no liability insurance. Underinsured motorist coverage works the same way, but it applies when the at-fault driver has some insurance that simply is not enough to cover what you lost.

Arizona does not require every policy to include this coverage. Instead, A.R.S. § 20-259.01 requires insurance companies to offer UM and UIM coverage to every policyholder. If you want it, you have to say yes, and if you do not want it, you have to reject it in writing. Many drivers do not realize they declined this coverage years ago when they first bought a policy, and only find out after a crash that they have no protection.

Why Uninsured Motorist Coverage Arizona Drivers Rely On Matters So Much

Arizona has one of the higher rates of uninsured drivers in the country. Even when a driver does carry insurance, state law only requires fairly low minimum liability limits under A.R.S. § 28-4009. Those minimums can be wiped out quickly by a single emergency room visit, let alone surgery, physical therapy, or missed months of work. This is exactly the gap that uninsured motorist coverage Arizona policies are designed to fill.

How Arizona’s Minimum Insurance Requirements Fall Short

Arizona law sets minimum liability coverage that at-fault drivers must carry under A.R.S. § 28-4009. These numbers are a floor, not a guarantee you will be made whole after a serious wreck. A driver can be fully insured under Arizona law and still carry far less coverage than what a serious injury actually costs.

You can review current statewide crash data, including how often crashes involve unknown or inadequate insurance, through the Arizona Department of Transportation’s crash facts reports. These numbers help explain why so many injured drivers rely on their own UM/UIM coverage rather than the at-fault driver’s policy.

What Happens If You Don’t Have Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Arizona

If you are hit by an uninsured driver and you declined UM coverage, your options narrow quickly. You can try to sue the at-fault driver personally, but many uninsured drivers have little or no money or assets to collect from, which makes a court judgment hard to collect even if you win. Your own health insurance may cover some medical bills, but it will not pay for lost wages, pain and suffering, or long-term disability related to the crash.

Without UM/UIM coverage, injured drivers sometimes have to absorb thousands of dollars in costs on their own. This is one of the main reasons Arizona personal injury attorneys recommend reviewing your policy before a crash, not after.

How Much Uninsured Motorist Coverage Arizona Drivers Should Carry

There is no single right answer, but a common approach is to match your UM/UIM limits to your liability limits, or at least carry enough to cover a realistic worst-case medical bill. Many Arizona drivers choose limits between $100,000 and $300,000 per person, depending on their budget and family situation. Talking with your insurance agent about stacking options and household coverage can also affect how much protection you actually have across multiple vehicles.

Filing an Uninsured Motorist Claim in Arizona

A UM/UIM claim is filed with your own insurance company, not the at-fault driver’s insurer, since that driver either has no coverage or not enough coverage. Your insurer will investigate the crash much like it would investigate any other claim, including reviewing police reports, medical records, and repair estimates.

Because you are filing against your own policy, some insurers slow-walk these claims or offer less than what you deserve. Arizona’s comparative fault rules under A.R.S. § 12-2505 can also reduce a payout if you are found partly at fault for the crash. Keeping detailed records of your medical treatment, lost income, and vehicle damage from day one makes a real difference in how these claims resolve.

For general background on how Arizona courts handle civil claims, including personal injury matters, the Arizona Judicial Branch offers public resources on how the court system works.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is uninsured motorist coverage required by law in Arizona?

No. Arizona law requires insurance companies to offer uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage to policyholders, but it does not require drivers to buy it. You can reject the coverage in writing, and many drivers do so without fully understanding what they are giving up.

Does uninsured motorist coverage Arizona law allows cover hit-and-run accidents?

Yes, in most cases. If you are hit by a driver who flees the scene and cannot be identified, your UM coverage typically treats that driver as uninsured, since there is no insurance policy to pursue. You will usually need to report the hit-and-run to police promptly to support the claim.

Can I stack uninsured motorist coverage on multiple vehicles?

Some Arizona policies allow stacking, which combines UM/UIM limits across multiple vehicles on the same policy to increase your total available coverage. Whether stacking is available depends on your insurer and policy terms, so ask your agent directly.

What if the at-fault driver has some insurance but not enough?

That is where underinsured motorist coverage applies. UIM pays the difference between what the at-fault driver’s insurance covers and your actual losses, up to your policy limits. Because Arizona’s minimum liability requirements are low, this situation comes up often in serious injury crashes.

How long do I have to file a UM/UIM claim after a crash in Arizona?

Arizona’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims is generally 2 years from the date of the crash under A.R.S. § 12-542. However, your insurance policy may have shorter notice deadlines, so notify your insurer as soon as possible after any crash involving an uninsured or underinsured driver.

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