How Much Coverage Should You Carry for Uninsured Drivers?

If you’re injured in a crash caused by someone who has no insurance—or if they flee the scene—you’ll need your own policy to step in. That’s what uninsured motorist coverage is for. But many people don’t know how much protection they actually have, or how much they might need in a serious accident.

This matters when you're reviewing your auto policy and thinking beyond collision repairs. You might think about it the next time your family rides with you, or if you rely on your car for work and can’t afford to be off the road for long.

What Uninsured Motorist Coverage Includes

This coverage pays for bodily injury when the at-fault driver has no insurance—or disappears after a hit-and-run. It can help cover:

Medical expenses and hospital care
Lost wages if you can’t work
Long-term rehabilitation or therapy
Funeral costs in fatal accidents
Pain and suffering compensation

Some provinces or insurers also allow optional uninsured motorist property damage coverage, but this isn’t always standard.

Tip: If you don’t carry collision coverage, uninsured motorist property protection can offer financial help for repairing your car after a hit-and-run or uninsured collision.

How Much Coverage Is Typically Included

Most provinces mandate a basic amount of uninsured motorist protection in standard policies—often between $200,000 and $1,000,000 for bodily injury. But that may not be enough in a serious accident involving multiple people or long-term recovery.

Coverage Level	What It May Cover	Who It May Suit
$200,000 (minimum)	Basic medical costs, limited wage loss	Drivers in low-risk areas with health insurance
$500,000 – $1,000,000	Medical, rehab, some lost income	Families or commuters with moderate risk exposure
$2,000,000 or more	Long-term care, serious injury, multiple people	High earners, families, or those without workplace benefits

Note: These limits apply per accident, not per person. Multiple injured parties can exhaust lower limits quickly.

How to Choose the Right Limit

Choosing a higher limit depends on your financial situation, health coverage, and what kind of losses your family could absorb.

Consider increasing your coverage if:

You support dependents or live in a single-income household
Lost income from injury would have a major financial impact.
You don’t have extended health or disability benefits
Your auto policy may be your only source of medical compensation.
You frequently drive in urban or high-risk areas
Hit-and-runs are more likely in dense traffic environments.
You drive with passengers often
Injuries to others in your car will also be paid from your coverage limit.

Caution: You can’t buy more uninsured motorist coverage than you carry for liability. If your liability limit is $1,000,000, that’s the maximum uninsured motorist protection you can have.

The Right Coverage Helps You Stay in Control