Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Tennessee: What Happens When the Other Driver Has Nothing
Draft only: Keyword Gap Batch approved by Alexis Goines on September 24, 2026. Not for publication until Linda completes compliance review and Alexis approves the final version.
If you are searching for uninsured motorist coverage Tennessee, you are probably trying to answer a simple question: What happens if another driver hits me and has no insurance?
Here is the plain-language answer:
Uninsured motorist coverage, or UM coverage, can help pay for covered injuries and related losses when an at-fault driver has no insurance. It may also apply in some hit-and-run situations. Underinsured motorist coverage, or UIM coverage, may help when the other driver has insurance but not enough to cover your damages. Tennessee requires insurance companies to offer uninsured motorist coverage, but a named insured may generally reject it or choose lower limits in writing.
Tennessee’s required liability floor is 25/50/25:
- $25,000 for bodily injury to one person
- $50,000 for bodily injury in one accident
- $25,000 for property damage in one accident
Those limits are the state minimum for liability coverage. They are not necessarily enough to cover a serious injury, multiple injured people, or major vehicle damage.
At The Goines Agency, we recommend that households discuss at least 50/100/50 liability coverage: $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident, and $50,000 for property damage. That is an educational starting point, not individualized advice. Your own limits and coverage options should be reviewed based on your household, vehicles, assets, and needs.
“What if I get hit by someone who has no insurance?”
That is a question I hear from drivers in Clarksville, Fort Campbell, and surrounding Tennessee and Kentucky communities.
If the other driver is at fault and has no insurance, you may have to rely on your own policy for help. That is where UM coverage can matter. It is designed to protect covered people under your policy when the driver responsible for the accident cannot provide liability insurance.
UM coverage may help with covered losses such as:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income, depending on the policy and circumstances
- Injury-related damages allowed under the policy and applicable law
- Injuries to covered passengers
- Injuries caused by an unidentified hit-and-run driver, when the policy and state requirements are met
The exact people covered, damages included, limits, exclusions, deductibles, and claim requirements depend on the policy. Your insurer may also require specific proof that an accident involved an uninsured or unidentified driver.
UM and UIM are not the same thing
People often use “uninsured” and “underinsured” as if they mean the same thing. They address different situations.
Uninsured motorist coverage
UM coverage applies when the at-fault driver has no applicable liability insurance. A hit-and-run driver may also be treated as an uninsured motorist under the terms of the policy and applicable state law.
Underinsured motorist coverage
UIM coverage applies when the at-fault driver has insurance, but that driver’s liability limits are too low to cover your covered damages.
For example, imagine another driver causes a crash and carries only the Tennessee minimum bodily injury limits. Your medical treatment, rehabilitation, and lost income could exceed the amount available under that driver’s policy. UIM coverage may help address some of the remaining covered damages, up to your policy limits and subject to the policy’s terms.
The other driver’s liability insurance generally comes into the picture first. Your UIM coverage does not simply create unlimited additional money. The way payments coordinate can depend on Tennessee law, your policy language, the other driver’s limits, and the damages involved.
That is why it is important to look at both the other driver’s liability limits and your own UM/UIM limits.
UM bodily injury and UM property damage are separate
Uninsured motorist coverage is not always one single bucket. It can include separate bodily injury and property damage components.
UM bodily injury
UM bodily injury coverage is intended to address covered injuries to you or other insured people when an uninsured or hit-and-run driver is responsible.
This can be especially important when an accident causes:
- Emergency treatment
- Follow-up care
- Extended medical treatment
- Time away from work
- Serious or permanent injuries
- Injuries to passengers or covered family members
UM property damage
UM property damage coverage, often called UMPD, is separate. It may help with damage to your vehicle caused by an uninsured driver or qualifying hit-and-run driver.
Tennessee requires an opportunity to select uninsured motorist property damage coverage when UM bodily injury coverage is purchased. However, the coverage, deductible, limits, and hit-and-run requirements must be reviewed carefully.
Collision coverage may also respond to damage to your vehicle after a crash, subject to its deductible and policy terms. Do not assume that having UM bodily injury coverage automatically means you have UM property damage coverage.
How UM works with Medical Payments coverage
Medical Payments coverage, or MedPay, is also different from UM coverage.
As we explain in our MedPay versus liability article, MedPay may help pay eligible medical expenses for you and covered passengers after an accident, regardless of who was at fault, up to the selected limit and subject to the policy.
A simple way to think about the coverages is:
- The other driver’s liability coverage: May pay for your covered losses when that driver is at fault and insured.
- Your UM coverage: May respond when the at-fault driver has no insurance.
- Your UIM coverage: May respond when the at-fault driver’s insurance is not enough.
- Your MedPay coverage: May help with eligible medical expenses, regardless of fault, up to its limit.
- Your collision coverage: May help repair or replace your vehicle after a covered collision, subject to the deductible.
These coverages can interact, and payments may be subject to coordination rules, exclusions, limits, and recovery rights. A coverage review can help you understand what each part of your policy is designed to do.
What to do after an accident with an uninsured driver
Your safety comes first. After a crash, consider these steps:
- Move to a safe location if you can. Turn on your hazard lights and call emergency services if anyone is injured.
- Call law enforcement. Request a police report, even if the damage appears minor.
- Document the scene. Take photos of the vehicles, damage, road conditions, traffic signs, and visible injuries when it is safe to do so.
- Collect information. Write down the other driver’s name, address, phone number, license plate, driver’s license information, and insurance details. Do not assume a card or policy is active without verification.
- Look for witnesses. Ask for names and contact information.
- Do not chase a hit-and-run driver. Give law enforcement the direction of travel and any details you remember.
- Notify your insurer promptly. Tell your insurer what happened and ask what documentation is needed for a UM or UIM claim.
- Keep records. Save medical bills, repair estimates, receipts, wage documentation, photographs, and the police report.
Your own policy may respond even when the other driver caused the accident because UM/UIM coverage is designed to protect you in that situation. This is one reason I encourage families to understand their policy before an accident occurs.
The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance, NAIC, and Triple-I offer additional consumer education about auto insurance and uninsured motorists.
Tennessee’s requirements and what your declarations page shows
Tennessee requires drivers to maintain financial responsibility, most commonly through liability insurance. The state’s official Financial Responsibility Law information explains the 25/50/25 liability minimum.
Tennessee also requires insurers to offer uninsured motorist coverage. Unless it is rejected or changed in writing, UM coverage may be included according to the policy and applicable Tennessee requirements. That does not mean every household has the same UM/UIM limits.
Your declarations page should show important details such as:
- Bodily injury liability limits
- Property damage liability limits
- UM or UIM bodily injury limits
- UM property damage, if selected
- Medical Payments limits
- Collision and comprehensive deductibles
- Listed vehicles and drivers
Our article, How to Read Your Auto Insurance Declarations Page in 10 Minutes, can help you identify where to look.
Why this matters for Clarksville and Fort Campbell families
Military families often move between Tennessee and Kentucky, sometimes during a PCS or while one vehicle remains registered in another state.
A vehicle registered or principally garaged in Tennessee may be subject to different insurance rules from a vehicle registered or principally garaged in Kentucky. Kentucky has its own requirements involving UM coverage, personal injury protection, and its choice no-fault system. Tennessee uses a different framework.
That means you should not assume a Tennessee policy and a Kentucky policy will respond in exactly the same way. A PCS, new duty station, change in vehicle registration, or change in garaging address is a natural time to review:
- Liability limits
- UM and UIM limits
- UM property damage
- Medical Payments coverage
- Vehicle registration and garaging information
- Any required filings
For a broader explanation, read Tennessee versus Kentucky Auto Insurance: What “Accepting Tort” Means for Clarksville Drivers.
If Tennessee requires an SR-22 filing after a qualifying event, remember that an SR-22 is generally proof that required liability insurance is in place. It is not a separate insurance policy and does not automatically mean you have higher UM/UIM limits. The Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security can provide official information about state filing requirements.
The bottom line
Uninsured motorist coverage can help protect you when an at-fault driver has no insurance. Underinsured motorist coverage may help when the driver has insurance but not enough. UM bodily injury and UM property damage are separate parts of coverage, and Medical Payments coverage serves a different purpose.
Tennessee’s liability minimum is 25/50/25, but serious accidents can cost much more. The Goines Agency recommends discussing at least 50/100/50 liability limits and reviewing UM/UIM limits separately.
I’m Alexis Goines: a Clarksville resident, military spouse, mother, and small business owner. My team and I help families understand what they are paying for, identify coverage gaps, and find peace of mind before a difficult situation happens.
If you are unsure what is on your policy, visit our auto insurance service page or contact The Goines Agency. Call 931-553-1970 if you would like to talk through your questions.
Frequently asked questions
What is uninsured motorist coverage in Tennessee?
Uninsured motorist coverage in Tennessee can help pay for covered bodily injury losses when an at-fault driver has no insurance. It may also apply in qualifying hit-and-run situations. Tennessee requires insurers to offer UM coverage, but a named insured may generally reject it or select lower limits in writing, subject to Tennessee law and the policy.
Does Tennessee require drivers to carry uninsured motorist coverage?
Tennessee requires insurers to offer uninsured motorist coverage, but drivers may generally reject the coverage or select lower limits in writing. Tennessee’s required financial responsibility floor is liability coverage of 25/50/25. Households should review their own UM and UIM limits rather than assuming they have protection for every possible loss.
What is the difference between uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage?
Uninsured motorist coverage applies when the at-fault driver has no insurance. Underinsured motorist coverage applies when the at-fault driver has insurance, but the available liability limits are not enough to cover your covered damages. Both are subject to the policy, limits, exclusions, and applicable state law.
Does uninsured motorist coverage pay for my car?
Uninsured motorist property damage coverage may help pay for covered vehicle damage caused by an uninsured driver or a qualifying hit-and-run driver. UM bodily injury coverage is separate. Collision coverage may also respond to covered vehicle damage, subject to its deductible and policy terms.
What should I do after a hit-and-run in Tennessee?
Move to safety, call law enforcement, request a report, document the scene, gather witness information, notify your insurer promptly, and preserve medical and repair records. Do not chase the other driver. Whether your policy responds depends on the facts, available coverage, and policy requirements.
Ready to review your protection?
Information in this article is for general education only. Insurance availability, eligibility, limits, exclusions, deductibles, claim procedures, and legal requirements vary by policy and circumstances. This article is not legal advice or individualized insurance advice.