Commercial Auto Uninsured & Underinsured Motorist Coverage

What Is UM/UIM Coverage for Commercial Auto?

Commercial auto uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage addresses the gap for the insured and scheduled drivers when the other party in an incident carries no insurance or insufficient coverage to pay the full extent of the damages. Commercial auto liability addresses the insured's responsibility to others.

UM/UIM addresses the counterpart—what happens when the other party cannot fulfill their own responsibility.

The Difference Between Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage

Both coverages work together to address what commercial auto liability alone is not designed to cover. An appointed agent can confirm how UM and UIM are structured for a specific state and operation.

What Does Commercial Auto UM/UIM Cover?

Coverage scope and limits vary by state.

• Bodily Injury—medical expenses, lost wages, and related costs for the insured driver and scheduled occupants when the other party's insurance is absent or insufficient; available without requiring the insured to pursue recovery through a third party.

• Property Damage—covers repair or replacement costs for the covered vehicle when damaged by an uninsured driver; coverage availability varies by state.

Who Is UM/UIM Coverage For?

UM/UIM coverage is available through the program across a wide range of trucking classes and business auto operations in the states where it is offered.

Commercial Vehicles We Cover

Uninsured motorist coverage and underinsured motorist protection are available for a wide range of commercial vehicles across the states where they are offered. An appointed agent can confirm eligibility for a specific vehicle type and state.

Commercial UM/UIM Coverage in the States We Serve

Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage requirements and availability vary significantly by state. In some states, UM/UIM is mandatory for commercial auto policies. In others, it is optional. The minimum limits where UM/UIM is mandatory also vary by state.

Commercial auto UM/UIM coverage is available in select states through the program.

UM/UIM requirements and availability are subject to regulatory updates—an appointed agent can confirm the current structure available for a specific state and operation.

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Why UM/UIM Matters for Trucking Operations

Commercial auto liability addresses what the insured owes others.

UM/UIM addresses what the insured is owed when the other party cannot pay.

For owner-operators and motor carriers, both coverages work together to address what commercial auto liability alone is not designed to cover.

• Severity—when the other party carries minimum personal auto limits, those limits are rarely sufficient to address the full extent of damages involving a commercial vehicle; UIM addresses the gap.

• Interstate exposure—long-haul and regional operators cross state lines regularly; UM/UIM structure varies significantly by state; coverage that follows the vehicle addresses the operator's exposure regardless of which state the incident occurs in.

• Business continuity—for owner-operators whose income depends on their ability to operate, time away from the road has financial consequences that go beyond the vehicle itself; UM/UIM coverage addresses the gap so the operator is not left absorbing costs that the other party cannot cover while the operation recovers.

Hit-and-Run Incidents and Uninsured Motorist Coverage

When a vehicle involved in an incident leaves the scene without being identified, the other party’s insurance, if any, is effectively inaccessible. Uninsured motorist coverage addresses these circumstances: when the responsible party cannot be identified or reached, it is the available mechanism for addressing the damages.

Whether uninsured motorist coverage applies to a hit-and-run depends on the state and the specific terms of the policy. In many states, UM coverage may respond to hit-and-run situations without a physical contact requirement. In others, documented physical contact between the covered vehicle and the departing vehicle is a requirement under some state regulations for UM coverage to respond.

An appointed agent can confirm how UM coverage applies to hit-and-run incidents for a specific state and operation.

Coverage Limits: How Much UM/UIM Coverage Is Appropriate?

UM/UIM coverage limits determine the maximum amount available under the coverage when the other party cannot cover the full extent of the damages. The appropriate limit depends on the nature of the operation, the vehicles involved, and the liability limits carried on the commercial auto program.

Should UM/UIM Limits Match Liability Limits?

Many state regulations tie uninsured and underinsured motorist limits to the liability limits carried on the commercial auto policy, and industry practice follows the same logic. If a $1,000,000 liability limit is carried to cover third-party bodily injury and property damage, applying the same limit to UM/UIM means equivalent coverage is in place when the other party cannot cover the full extent of the damages. An appointed agent can confirm the appropriate limit structure for a specific operation and state.

Does Commercial UM/UIM Coverage Have a Deductible?

UM bodily injury coverage typically carries no deductible in most states where it is available. UM property damage coverage may carry a deductible, the amount of which varies by state and policy terms. UIM deductible structure varies by state and policy form. An appointed agent can confirm the deductible applicable to a specific state and operation.

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UM/UIM Coverage Frequently Asked Questions