Uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD)

Uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) pays for damage to your vehicle, and sometimes other property, when an uninsured driver is at fault. It is the property counterpart to uninsured motorist coverage, which pays for injuries. Not every state offers it; where it is available, it may be required, included unless rejected, or optional.

UMPD rules vary more than most coverages. Many states require the at-fault driver to be identified, so damage from an unknown hit-and-run driver often is not covered and falls to collision instead. California is an example: UMPD there requires that the driver or the license plate be identified and that the accident be reported within 10 business days, and it is capped at $3,500 or the car's actual cash value for drivers without collision coverage. Many versions carry a small deductible, such as $250.

Example: an uninsured driver hits your parked car, causing $3,000 in damage. With UMPD and a $250 deductible, you collect $2,750. Relying on collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible instead, you collect $2,000 and wait to see whether your insurer can recover the deductible (hypothetical figures). Drivers who carry collision may find a collision deductible waiver a cheaper way to close that gap, where it is offered. See what to do after an accident with an uninsured driver.