Guides
Uninsured drivers by state
The share of uninsured drivers in every state and D.C. from Insurance Research Council 2023 estimates, how they are made, and how to protect yourself.
About one in seven U.S. drivers had no car insurance in 2023: 15.4% nationally, according to the Insurance Research Council's 2025 study, reported by the Insurance Information Institute. The rate ranged from 28.2% in Mississippi, more than one driver in four, to 5.7% in Maine. Every state requires insurance or proof of financial responsibility, but enforcement and affordability vary, and the uninsured share has risen since 2019.
The national trend
The Insurance Research Council (IRC) estimates the uninsured share every year or two. Its figures from the 2025 study, as reported by the III (earlier study editions published slightly different estimates for the same years):
| Year | Uninsured drivers |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 12.4% |
| 2018 | 12.1% |
| 2019 | 11.6% |
| 2020 | 14.3% |
| 2021 | 14.6% |
| 2022 | 15.2% |
| 2023 | 15.4% |
The jump in 2020 coincided with the pandemic's economic disruption, and the rate has stayed higher since, as premiums rose sharply in 2022 through 2024. More on the IRC's work is in Insurance Research Council studies on uninsured drivers and claims.
How the estimate is made
There is no national registry of insured cars, so the IRC estimates the uninsured share from insurance claims. It compares claims paid under uninsured motorist coverage (when an insured driver is hurt by an uninsured one) with claims paid under bodily injury liability coverage (when an insured driver hurts someone). If uninsured drivers crash about as often as insured ones, the ratio of the two claim types approximates the share of drivers who are uninsured.
That method has limits:
- It measures uninsured drivers involved in injury crashes, not uninsured registered vehicles.
- States with no-fault systems, low uninsured motorist coverage purchase or unusual claim patterns can skew the ratio.
- Small states have fewer claims, so their estimates move more from year to year.
Treat a state's figure as an indicator of risk, not a precise count, and compare ranks rather than tenths of a percent.
Highest and lowest
| Highest, 2023 | Rate | Lowest, 2023 | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | 28.2% | Maine | 5.7% |
| New Mexico | 24.1% | Utah | 6.2% |
| District of Columbia | 23.1% | Idaho | 6.4% |
| Michigan | 22.3% | Wyoming | 6.7% |
| Tennessee | 21.3% | Montana | 7.2% |
Michigan's figure is notable because its 2019 no-fault reform aimed partly at making insurance affordable enough to reduce uninsured driving. A study for the state found its uninsured rate moved closer to the national average after the reform, but it remains among the highest; see michigan's no-fault reform explained.
All states, from highest to lowest
Estimated share of uninsured drivers in 2023 (Insurance Research Council, 2025 study), as recorded in each state's guide on this site.
| State | Uninsured, 2023 |
|---|---|
| Mississippi | 28.2% |
| New Mexico | 24.1% |
| District of Columbia | 23.1% |
| Michigan | 22.3% |
| Tennessee | 21.3% |
| Missouri | 20.7% |
| Florida | 20.6% |
| California | 20.4% |
| Colorado | 19.7% |
| Washington | 19.1% |
| Georgia | 19.0% |
| Ohio | 18.5% |
| Delaware | 17.6% |
| Maryland | 16.9% |
| Alabama | 16.8% |
| Wisconsin | 15.6% |
| Illinois | 15.2% |
| Oregon | 14.7% |
| Texas | 14.5% |
| Kentucky | 14.1% |
| New Jersey | 14.1% |
| Indiana | 14.0% |
| Virginia | 12.9% |
| Alaska | 12.5% |
| Rhode Island | 12.4% |
| Arkansas | 12.1% |
| Kansas | 12.0% |
| Oklahoma | 12.0% |
| Connecticut | 11.8% |
| North Carolina | 11.8% |
| Vermont | 11.8% |
| Louisiana | 11.7% |
| Iowa | 11.4% |
| Minnesota | 11.3% |
| Nevada | 11.1% |
| Pennsylvania | 11.0% |
| Arizona | 10.6% |
| North Dakota | 10.6% |
| South Carolina | 10.3% |
| New Hampshire | 10.0% |
| Hawaii | 9.6% |
| Nebraska | 9.5% |
| South Dakota | 9.4% |
| New York | 8.6% |
| Massachusetts | 7.9% |
| West Virginia | 7.8% |
| Montana | 7.2% |
| Wyoming | 6.7% |
| Idaho | 6.4% |
| Utah | 6.2% |
| Maine | 5.7% |
Why rates differ between states
Several factors are commonly cited, and no single one explains a state's rank:
- Affordability. Where incomes are lower relative to premiums, more drivers go without.
- Enforcement. States differ in how quickly they detect lapses and what happens next; see state insurance verification systems and penalties for driving without insurance.
- Penalties for being uninsured in a crash. Some states limit what uninsured drivers can recover; see no pay, no play laws.
- Low-cost options. A few states offer subsidized programs for income-eligible drivers; see state low-cost auto insurance programs.
What it means for your coverage
If you are hit by an uninsured driver, their missing liability coverage leaves you to collect from your own policy. That is the job of uninsured motorist coverage, plus underinsured motorist coverage for drivers who carry too little. Some states require these coverages; others only require insurers to offer them and let you reject them in writing. The state car insurance requirements lookup shows your state's rule.
A hypothetical example: say you live in a state where about one driver in five is uninsured, and another driver causes a crash that leaves you with $30,000 in medical bills and lost wages and $12,000 in damage to your car.
| Your coverage | Who pays the $30,000 injury loss | Who pays the $12,000 car damage |
|---|---|---|
| Liability only | You, through health insurance and savings; you can sue the driver, who may have no assets | You |
| Liability plus collision ($1,000 deductible) | You | Your insurer, minus $1,000 |
| Liability, collision and UM 50/100 | Your UM coverage | Your insurer, minus the deductible; some states also offer uninsured motorist property damage |
In practice, the higher your state's uninsured rate, the more weight UM and UIM limits deserve when you set your coverage. A sensible starting point is UM limits equal to your liability limits; the How much car insurance do I need? helps size both.
Steps to take
- Find your state's rate in the table above and check your state guide for its UM requirements.
- Review your declarations page for UM and UIM limits, and whether you signed a rejection.
- Price UM at your liability limits. The cost difference is often modest compared with the protection.
- Consider collision if you could not afford to repair or replace your car yourself, since UM property damage is limited or unavailable in many states.
- Know what to do after a crash with an uninsured driver: report to police and your insurer quickly. See what to do after an accident with an uninsured driver.
Key takeaways
- The Insurance Research Council estimated 15.4% of U.S. drivers were uninsured in 2023, up from 11.6% in 2019.
- Mississippi (28.2%), New Mexico (24.1%) and D.C. (23.1%) were highest; Maine (5.7%), Utah (6.2%) and Idaho (6.4%) were lowest.
- The figures are estimates based on the ratio of uninsured motorist claims to bodily injury claims, so compare ranks rather than small differences.
- In higher-rate states, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage at your liability limits deserves a close look.