What is uninsured motorist coverage and do I have it?

Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage protects you when the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough.

Underinsured is the part people overlook. Florida's minimum required liability coverage is low relative to what a serious injury costs. A driver carrying minimum limits can cause damages far exceeding them. UM covers the gap.

Do you have it? Check your declarations page. Florida requires insurers to offer it, and a rejection must be in writing — so if you don't remember rejecting it, you may have it.

Stacking. Where you insure multiple vehicles, stacked coverage multiplies the available limits across them. Whether your policy stacks is on the declarations page and it makes a substantial difference.

A practical point: UM is generally inexpensive relative to what it provides, and it's the coverage that protects you rather than others.

Making a UM claim means dealing with your own insurer as an adversary, which surprises people.