Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Mississippi: Do You Need It?
Uninsured motorist coverage might not be a legal requirement in Mississippi—but driving without it is a huge risk for drivers.
Written by Mariza Morin
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Uninsured motorist coverage isn’t required in
Mississippi
, but it's highly recommended as the state is ranked number one for the most uninsured drivers in the nation. According to
Mississippi car insurance laws
, all drivers must purchase a minimum amount of liability car insurance
before hitting the road. However, many of the state’s drivers don’t. With this in mind, you should consider adding uninsured motorist insurance to your current coverage to avoid paying the high out-of-pocket costs that are connected with car accidents.That’s why
Jerry
is here to walk you through everything you need to know about uninsured motorist coverage in Mississippi. RECOMMENDED
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Do you need uninsured motorist coverage in Mississippi?
No—
uninsured motorist coverage
is not required by Mississippi law. But is it worth the extra expense? According to the latest study from the
Insurance Information Institute (III)
, Mississippi has the highest rate of uninsured drivers in the entire nation at an astounding 29.4%. This means that you have nearly a one in three chance of getting into a car accident with an uninsured driver in Mississippi.
As the worst state for uninsured drivers, we’d highly recommend you purchase uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. This low-cost addition will go beyond the other driver’s minimum liability insurance to help cover essential medical expenses related to an auto accident.
Best of all, it’s relatively affordable to add to your policy! On average, many Mississippi drivers pay about $50 to $75 extra per year for this important coverage.
How uninsured motorist insurance works in Mississippi
Let’s dig a little deeper into Mississippi’s car insurance laws. Minimum auto insurance requirements in the state follow a 25/50/25, which breaks down into the following amounts:
- $50,000 for bodily injury liability per accident
Considering the sheer number of drivers on the road without insurance, you’re left at high financial risk—even with the required coverage. Uninsured motorist coverage will help protect you and your property in an accident with an uninsured driver or a driver whose liability coverage won’t be enough to cover your damages or medical expenses.
And if a serious injury occurs, Mississippi is the 29th most expensive state for ER visits with an average price tag of $1,583 per visit. Then add on the ambulance bill, along with possible medical expenses, rehabilitation, and lost wages and the cost could easily exceed another driver’s coverage limits, even if they meet the Mississippi minimum amounts.
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So what are your options for uninsured motorist coverage in Mississippi?
UM/UIM insurance in Mississippi falls into two main categories:
- Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage (UMBI), which helps cover your medical bills (along with your passenger's expenses) due to an accident with an uninsured driver
- Uninsured motorist property damage coverage (UMPD), which helps cover repair costs to your vehicle after an accident with an uninsured driver
You’re not obligated by law to purchase either UMBI or UMPD, but according to Section 83-11-102 of the Mississippi Code—car insurance companies are required by law to offer drivers UM/UIM coverage. If you still want to forgo it, you must reject UM/UIM coverage in writing.
What it covers
Typically, uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage in Mississippi helps cover medical expenses for you and your passengers. But your medical bills aren’t the only expenses covered by your policy. Your UM/UIM insurance coverage will also generally cover:
- Future medical bills
- Loss of income
- Rehabilitation costs
- Pain and suffering
- Funeral costs
Furthermore, uninsured motorist property damage coverage will help cover repairs to your vehicle if you’ve been hit by an uninsured driver so you can avoid paying out-of-pocket costs yourself.
Collision coverage
will also cover damages to your vehicle after an accident, so you may not need UMPD coverage if you have collision insurance. How to make a claim
There's a lot to do
after a car accident
, but first and foremost, remember to exchange insurance information with the other driver(s) involved before making a claim. If you or one of your passengers are injured due to the accident but the other driver lacks sufficient coverage (or any coverage)—you’ll have to file a UM/UIM claim. When filing an insurance claim with your UM/UIM coverage, the process is rather straightforward. Before you call your insurance company, make sure you have all necessary documents prepared, including your police report, medical records, and any medical bills you may have received from the hospital or doctor so you can explain yourself in great detail to make the evaluation process even quicker.
But be aware that if your medical expenses or damages go beyond your uninsured motorist insurance limit, you’ll have to pay the rest through your health insurance or by other means.
Why it’s a good idea to buy uninsured motorist insurance in Mississippi
It’s true—adding uninsured motorist insurance to your current insurance policy will cost you slightly more than just sticking to the mandatory Mississippi minimums. But it's a small price to pay when you consider the following reasons why it's usually a good idea to purchase this coverage.
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Mississippi is #20 for traffic-related deaths—including hit-and-run accidents
Mississippi is one of the most dangerous states to drive in. Not only does UM/UIM coverage help cover medical expenses or repairs if you get into an accident with a driver who’s uninsured or lacks sufficient coverage, but it also covers you if you’re involved in
a hit-and-run
. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (2019), Mississippi ranks at #20 in the nation for traffic-related deaths. While not all traffic-related deaths are the result of hit-and-run accidents, there’s still a high likelihood you could become a victim of one with the high amount of uninsured drivers in Mississippi who would rather flee than face the legal consequences.
But if you get into an accident with a driver who leaves the scene without swapping insurance information, you won’t be able to file a claim with their insurance and you’ll be left uncovered.
You may not be able to recover any damages from a
Mississippi hit-and-run
without UM/UIM coverage on your auto insurance policy. Nearly one in three Mississippi drivers is uninsured
As we mentioned several times already: the state of Mississippi has the highest rate of uninsured drivers on the road—29.4%.
This means that Mississippi drivers have nearly a one in three chance of getting into an accident with a driver who lacks insurance or sufficient coverage to help pay for their medical bills or damages. With this in mind, adding the cost of UM/UIM insurance to your current policy is well justified.
How to save on uninsured motorist coverage in Mississippi
Even though adding UM/UIM coverage to your insurance policy in Mississippi is not as expensive as in other states, it’s still an added expense nonetheless! But if the cost is the only thing holding you back,
Jerry
is here to help you find the lowest rates in less than one minute. All you have to do is download the Jerry licensed broker app, enter your information, and in about 45 seconds you’ll instantly access multiple competitive rates from a national pool of over 55 top insurance providers. Once you find a new policy that works with your budget, our team of skilled agents will handle the rest—including helping you cancel your old policy.
On average, Jerry users save over $800 a year on car insurance when they make the switch!
“UsingJerryis a super straightforward process, and at each step, you can see exactly what coverage you’re paying for. Thanks to Jerry, I’m paying $900 less each year while keeping full coverage for my new car!” —Martin H.
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