Updated June 2026
What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
Uninsured Motorist Coverage pays for your injuries and vehicle damage when the at-fault driver has no insurance, insufficient coverage, or flees the scene. In Oregon, carriers must offer it at state minimum liability limits or higher — you can only drop it by signing a written rejection form. If you're reinstating a suspended license and need SR-22 filing, your policy must include this coverage unless you explicitly waive it. The coverage kicks in when the other driver is identified as uninsured or when they cannot be identified at all, such as in a hit-and-run crash.
- A driver merges into your lane on Highway 26 west of Portland, sideswiping your car and causing $4,200 in damage and $1,800 in medical bills for whiplash. The driver speeds off and is never identified. Your Uninsured Motorist Coverage pays the $6,000 total after you file a police report and your carrier verifies no other driver can be identified. Without this coverage, you would pay out of pocket or file against your collision coverage if you carry it, triggering your deductible.
- An uninsured driver runs a red light at Coburg Road and Franklin Boulevard in Eugene, T-boning your vehicle. You sustain $18,000 in medical bills and your passenger has $9,000 in injuries. Your vehicle suffers $11,000 in damage. Oregon requires minimum Uninsured Motorist Coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury. Your policy covers the $27,000 in medical costs up to your per-person and per-accident limits. If you carry Uninsured Motorist Property Damage, it pays the $11,000 vehicle repair. The at-fault driver has no insurance to file against, so your coverage is the only recovery option unless you sue the driver personally.
- You're driving on a hardship license in Salem while your full license is suspended for unpaid tickets. An uninsured driver rear-ends you at a stoplight, causing $3,400 in vehicle damage and $2,100 in chiropractic treatment. Your SR-22 policy includes Oregon's minimum Uninsured Motorist Coverage. The coverage pays your medical bills immediately and your vehicle damage if you opted for Uninsured Motorist Property Damage. Because you maintained continuous coverage during suspension as required, your claim processes normally and does not affect your reinstatement eligibility.
Who Needs Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
Suspended license drivers in Oregon should carry Uninsured Motorist Coverage during reinstatement because state law requires it unless you sign a written rejection, and most SR-22 reinstatement orders mandate it. If you're driving on a hardship or work permit, this coverage protects you when an uninsured driver causes a crash and you cannot afford out-of-pocket medical or vehicle repair costs. Drivers without collision coverage should add Uninsured Motorist Property Damage because it pays for vehicle damage caused by uninsured drivers without triggering a deductible, which matters when you're already paying elevated premiums due to SR-22 classification.
Check your reinstatement order first — if it specifies state minimum coverage, that includes Uninsured Motorist unless the order explicitly excludes it. If you're driving a vehicle worth more than $3,000 and do not carry collision coverage, add Uninsured Motorist Property Damage to avoid paying repair costs out of pocket when an uninsured driver is at fault. If your medical insurance has high deductibles or does not cover auto accidents, keep Uninsured Motorist bodily injury at limits matching your liability coverage to ensure you're protected at the same level as drivers you might injure.
How Much Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance Cost?
Uninsured Motorist Coverage adds approximately $8 to $18 per month to your premium in Oregon, or $96 to $216 annually for state minimum limits of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury.
- Oregon county — Multnomah and Lane counties see higher uninsured motorist rates than rural counties, increasing premium by 15 to 25 percent due to higher claim frequency.
- Coverage limits above state minimums — increasing bodily injury limits to $50,000/$100,000 or $100,000/$300,000 raises cost by $5 to $12 per month but provides better protection in serious crashes.
- Uninsured Motorist Property Damage — adding property damage coverage for your vehicle increases total cost by $3 to $7 per month but eliminates collision deductible if the at-fault driver is uninsured.
- SR-22 filing status — suspended license drivers with SR-22 requirements pay 10 to 20 percent more for all coverage components including Uninsured Motorist due to non-standard policy classification.
- Prior claims history — if you've filed Uninsured Motorist claims in the past three years, some carriers increase your rate by 8 to 15 percent even though you were not at fault.
- Stacking election — Oregon allows you to stack Uninsured Motorist limits across multiple vehicles on the same policy, which doubles or triples your per-accident coverage but increases premium by 40 to 60 percent of the base Uninsured Motorist cost.