Most Arizona drivers carry the state minimum liability limits, and that is exactly why uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage matters. If another driver causes a crash and cannot pay for your injuries, your own policy is often the only place that money can come from. Uninsured motorist coverage in Arizona is the part of your auto policy that steps in when the other driver has no insurance at all or not enough of it.
Riseson Insurance is an independent Arizona broker, so we do not work for a single carrier. We compare auto policies from multiple top-rated companies and check that your uninsured and underinsured motorist limits actually match the protection you think you bought. This guide explains how the coverage works, what Arizona law says insurers must offer, and how to choose limits that make sense.
Why uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage matters in Arizona
According to a MoneyGeek summary of the Insurance Research Council's 2025 study, about 10.6% of Arizona drivers were uninsured in 2023, compared with 15.4% of drivers nationwide. That is better than the national average, but it still means roughly one in ten cars sharing the road on I-10, I-17 or the Loop 101 may have no liability coverage behind it.
The bigger gap is often the driver who is insured but underinsured. Arizona's minimum bodily injury limits are 25,000 dollars per person and 50,000 dollars per accident, set under
A.R.S. 28-4009. A single hospital stay after a serious crash can pass those numbers quickly, which leaves you holding the difference.
How uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage work
Uninsured motorist coverage applies when the driver who caused the crash has no liability insurance, or when a hit-and-run driver cannot be identified. It pays for your injuries and, depending on your policy, for the injuries of passengers in your vehicle. For a hit-and-run where no vehicles touched, Arizona law expects corroborating evidence that another vehicle was involved.
Underinsured motorist coverage applies when the at-fault driver has insurance, but their limits are lower than your total damages. Under
A.R.S. 20-259.01, your UIM coverage pays the difference, up to your own UIM limit. UM and UIM are separate coverages written for different situations, although they are commonly sold together.
What Arizona law requires insurers to offer
Arizona does not force every driver to buy UM and UIM coverage, but it does require insurers to offer it. Under A.R.S. 20-259.01, an auto liability insurer must offer both coverages to the named insured in writing. The coverage can be purchased at limits up to your policy's bodily injury limits, and the offer must be made on a form approved by the state.
After the policy is issued, your declarations page is the record of whether you bought or declined the coverage. That is worth reading closely. Many drivers assume they are protected, and a quick look at the declarations page is the only way to know for sure what limits are in place.
How much uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage to carry
A common starting point is to set UM and UIM limits equal to your bodily injury liability limits. The logic is simple: the protection you give to other people if you cause a crash should be the same protection you have if someone else causes one. Arizona law allows you to choose limits at or below your bodily injury limits, but dropping lower saves little and can leave real gaps.
Your household situation matters too. Drivers who commute long distances, carry passengers regularly, or have dependents who rely on their income may want to think about higher bodily injury limits across the whole policy, which also raises the ceiling on UM and UIM. Our guide to
understanding policy limits walks through how to choose those numbers.
How UM and UIM compare with collision and medical payments coverage
Drivers often mix up these coverages, so it helps to separate them. Collision coverage repairs your own vehicle after a crash no matter who is at fault, subject to your deductible. Medical payments coverage helps with medical bills regardless of fault, up to its stated limit. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is different because it is built for injuries caused by a driver who cannot fully pay.
These coverages work as a team rather than as substitutes. Our overview of
what each type of car insurance covers shows where UM and UIM fit alongside liability, collision and comprehensive.
How an independent broker reviews your uninsured motorist coverage
Because Riseson is an independent broker, we can look at how several carriers structure UM and UIM instead of showing you one company's version. We start with your current declarations page, confirm which limits you actually carry, and compare them against your bodily injury limits and your household's needs.
We also look at the bundling angle. Pairing home and auto with one carrier can offset the cost of stronger limits, and our breakdown of
how much you can save by bundling home and auto shows where those savings tend to come from. Coverage and pricing vary by carrier and by driver, so we review real quotes rather than guessing.
Frequently asked questions
Is uninsured motorist coverage required in Arizona? No. Arizona requires insurers to offer uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage in writing, but you are not required to buy it. Your declarations page shows whether you bought it and at what limits.
What is the difference between uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage? Uninsured motorist coverage applies when the at-fault driver has no liability insurance or flees the scene. Underinsured motorist coverage applies when the at-fault driver has insurance, but their limits are lower than your damages, and it pays the difference up to your own limit.
How many Arizona drivers are uninsured? A MoneyGeek summary of the Insurance Research Council's 2025 study reports that 10.6% of Arizona drivers were uninsured in 2023, compared with 15.4% nationally. The share varies by year and by how it is measured.
How much uninsured motorist coverage should I carry in Arizona? A common approach is to match your uninsured and underinsured limits to your bodily injury liability limits. Arizona law allows you to choose any amount up to those limits, and an independent broker can help you compare the options across carriers.
Get your uninsured motorist coverage quote today
If you drive in Arizona and have not looked at your uninsured and underinsured motorist limits in the last year, now is a good time to check. Riseson Insurance is an independent Arizona broker, which means we work for you, not for one carrier. We will pull quotes from multiple top-rated companies, walk you through what is actually covered, and find the bundling angle that saves the most. Reach out for a free Arizona auto quote and see your options in one place.
