Driving through Shreveport, crossing the Texas Street Bridge into Bossier City, or commuting along I-20 means sharing the road with drivers who may carry little—or no—automobile liability insurance.
Louisiana requires drivers to maintain liability coverage, but that requirement does not mean everyone complies. Even when another driver has insurance, their coverage limits may be insufficient to pay for a serious accident.
That's where uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage can become particularly valuable.
However, one of the most common misunderstandings about uninsured motorist insurance is assuming that it automatically covers both your injuries and damage to your vehicle. In Louisiana, those are different types of protection.
Understanding the distinction can help drivers throughout Shreveport, Bossier City, and Northwest Louisiana make more informed decisions about their auto insurance.
What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Louisiana?
Uninsured motorist coverage is designed to provide certain protections when an uninsured or underinsured driver is legally responsible for an accident.
In Louisiana, there are two important forms of coverage to understand:
- Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury (UMBI): Addresses qualifying bodily injury damages involving an uninsured or underinsured motorist.
- Uninsured Motorist Property Damage (UMPD): Provides a more limited option for damage to an insured vehicle caused by an uninsured motorist, subject to Louisiana's specific eligibility requirements.
These coverages do not accomplish the same thing.
For example, a driver could carry uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage without having uninsured motorist property damage coverage on the vehicle.
Louisiana's rules governing uninsured motorist coverage are primarily found in Louisiana Revised Statute 22:1295.
1. Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury (UMBI): Protection for Injuries
Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage may help compensate an insured person for qualifying injuries caused by a legally responsible uninsured or underinsured driver.
Depending on the circumstances, applicable damages may include:
- Medical expenses and hospitalization
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Lost wages or loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Other legally recoverable bodily injury damages
Consider a Shreveport driver injured in an accident caused by someone who has no liability insurance.
If that injured driver carries applicable UMBI coverage, the coverage may provide a source of recovery for qualifying bodily injury damages, subject to the policy's limits and conditions.
Without applicable UMBI coverage, recovering compensation from an uninsured at-fault driver may be difficult, particularly if that person lacks the financial resources to satisfy a judgment.
Is uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage required in Louisiana?
Louisiana generally requires uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage to be included in applicable personal auto liability policies unless the named insured makes an authorized selection to reject it, choose lower limits, or select economic-only coverage.
The selection must comply with Louisiana's statutory requirements.
Economic-only UM coverage is an important distinction. It is designed to exclude noneconomic damages, such as pain and suffering, while addressing eligible economic losses.
Drivers should understand which form of UM coverage they have selected rather than assuming every UM policy provides identical benefits.
2. Uninsured Motorist Property Damage (UMPD): Protection for Your Vehicle
Uninsured motorist property damage coverage addresses a different problem: damage to your insured vehicle caused by a legally responsible uninsured motorist.
For example, imagine your paid-off vehicle is damaged in a collision with an uninsured driver in Bossier City.
If you do not carry collision coverage, UMPD may offer a way to recover certain repair costs under the applicable policy.
However, Louisiana's statutory UMPD coverage has several important limitations.
Under Louisiana Revised Statute 22:1295, the statutory UMPD option:
- Is available upon written request under specified circumstances when the insured vehicle does not have collision coverage and UM coverage has not been rejected.
- Is limited to the lesser of the vehicle's actual cash value or Louisiana's minimum required property damage liability limit, currently $25,000.
- Has a statutory $250 deductible per accident.
- Does not provide coverage for loss of use of the vehicle.
- Is subject to specific requirements concerning uninsured motorists and certain unidentified-driver accidents.
UMPD is not the same as comprehensive or collision insurance.
Its narrower scope makes it important to understand exactly what it covers before using it as an alternative to collision coverage.
3. UMPD vs. Collision Insurance: What's the Difference?
Collision coverage generally addresses covered damage to your vehicle resulting from a collision, subject to the policy's deductible, limits, and exclusions.
Unlike UMPD, collision coverage is not generally dependent on establishing that the other driver was uninsured.
For example:
| Situation | Collision coverage | Louisiana statutory UMPD |
|---|---|---|
| You cause a covered collision | May apply | Generally does not apply |
| An uninsured driver damages your vehicle | May apply | May apply if requirements are met |
| An insured driver damages your vehicle | May apply | Generally does not apply |
| Deductible | Depends on your policy | $250 under the statute |
| Coverage amount | Subject to policy terms and vehicle value | Limited by statute |
In Louisiana, the statutory UMPD option is designed for qualifying vehicles without collision coverage.
For owners of older, paid-off vehicles, comparing the cost and scope of collision coverage with available alternatives may be worthwhile.
However, UMPD is not a full substitute for collision insurance. A driver who removes collision coverage gives up protection for many types of losses that UMPD does not cover.
For more information about available vehicle insurance options, visit our Auto Insurance page.
4. What Happens When the At-Fault Driver Has Insurance but Not Enough?
An uninsured driver is not the only concern. An underinsured driver can also create a serious financial problem after an accident.
Louisiana's minimum required auto liability limits for most private passenger vehicles remain:
| Liability coverage | Required minimum |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury per person | $15,000 |
| Bodily injury per accident | $30,000 |
| Property damage per accident | $25,000 |
These limits are commonly described as 15/30/25.
Consider an accident in which an at-fault driver carries only $15,000 of bodily injury liability insurance, but the injured person sustains $80,000 in legally recoverable bodily injury damages.
The at-fault driver's insurance may be insufficient to compensate the injured person fully.
Applicable underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage may provide an additional source of recovery, subject to policy limits, coordination rules, and the circumstances of the claim.
One particularly important distinction: UMBI is bodily injury coverage, not insurance for the remaining cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle.
Louisiana's minimum liability requirements are established by Louisiana Revised Statute 32:900.
Drivers wanting a more detailed discussion of liability limits can read our guide, How Much Auto Insurance Do I Need in Louisiana?.
5. Louisiana's No Pay, No Play Law: Important Changes in 2025
Louisiana's No Pay, No Play law is another reason drivers should understand the consequences of operating a vehicle without the required liability insurance.
The law generally limits certain damages that uninsured vehicle owners or operators can recover after an accident, even when another driver is responsible.
Effective August 1, 2025, Louisiana increased the No Pay, No Play recovery limitations to:
- The first $100,000 in bodily injury damages
- The first $100,000 in property damage
Previously, the thresholds were $15,000 for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage.
The increased thresholds resulted from Act 16 of Louisiana's 2025 Regular Legislative Session.
Does No Pay, No Play apply in every situation?
No. Louisiana law includes specific exceptions and distinctions, including circumstances involving certain conduct by the other driver and protections applicable to particular passengers.
The law's application depends on the circumstances of the accident and the parties involved.
It is also important not to confuse No Pay, No Play with Louisiana's minimum liability insurance limits.
The No Pay, No Play recovery thresholds increased to $100,000, but the standard minimum auto liability limits remain 15/30/25.
Those are two different legal requirements.
You can review the current law in Louisiana Revised Statute 32:866.
6. Does Uninsured Motorist Insurance Cover Hit-and-Run Accidents?
Hit-and-run accidents raise questions about uninsured motorist coverage because the driver responsible for the accident may never be identified.
For example, suppose another vehicle forces a driver off the road along I-49 and disappears before anyone can identify it.
Whether uninsured motorist coverage applies depends on the circumstances, available evidence, the type of loss, and the applicable policy.
Louisiana law specifically addresses certain accidents involving unidentified vehicles, including accidents where there was no physical contact between the vehicles.
For certain no-contact bodily injury UM claims, Louisiana requires proof from an independent and disinterested witness establishing that the injury resulted from another driver's actions.
The statutory UMPD provisions also include specific requirements involving physical contact or qualifying independent witness evidence.
This means that an unidentified hit-and-run driver is not automatically treated the same as a confirmed uninsured driver for every type of claim.
If you are involved in a hit-and-run, obtaining a police report, documenting the scene, identifying witnesses, and preserving available video evidence may help with the reporting and investigation process.
7. How Much Uninsured Motorist Coverage Should Louisiana Drivers Consider?
There is no single uninsured motorist limit that is appropriate for every household.
When comparing available UM options, drivers may want to consider:
- Their bodily injury liability limits
- Available uninsured motorist limits
- Whether standard or economic-only UM coverage is selected
- Household income and potential lost earnings
- Health insurance and other available financial resources
- Vehicle value and whether collision coverage is maintained
- Differences in cost between available coverage options
For example, increasing bodily injury liability limits while maintaining very low UM limits may leave a driver with substantially different protection when causing an accident versus being injured by an uninsured motorist.
Comparing these limits can be useful when evaluating a policy.
Uninsured motorist options, limits, and availability vary based on the insurance company, policy, and applicable Louisiana law.
Frequently Asked Questions About Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Louisiana
Is uninsured motorist coverage mandatory in Louisiana?
Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage is generally included in applicable personal auto liability policies unless the named insured properly rejects it, selects lower limits, or chooses authorized economic-only coverage. Louisiana has specific requirements governing these selections.
Does uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage pay to fix my car?
No. UMBI addresses qualifying bodily injury damages. Vehicle damage is a separate issue that may involve collision coverage, applicable UMPD, or another driver's property damage liability coverage.
Can I get uninsured motorist property damage coverage without collision coverage?
Louisiana provides a statutory UMPD option for qualifying insured vehicles without collision coverage, subject to the law's requirements. It has a $250 deductible and specific coverage limitations.
Does Louisiana UMPD cover a totaled vehicle?
UMPD may provide compensation for an eligible total loss caused by a legally responsible uninsured driver, subject to the vehicle's actual cash value, the statutory coverage limit, deductible, and other applicable conditions.
Does uninsured motorist coverage protect me from underinsured drivers?
Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage may also apply when a legally responsible driver's bodily injury liability insurance is insufficient to compensate qualifying damages. Coverage depends on the applicable limits, legal requirements, and claim circumstances.
Does a hit-and-run automatically qualify for uninsured motorist coverage?
No. Louisiana has specific legal and evidentiary requirements for certain unidentified-driver claims, particularly when there was no physical contact. Coverage depends on the facts, evidence, and applicable insurance provisions.
Did Louisiana increase minimum auto insurance limits to $100,000?
No. The $100,000 amounts relate to the state's updated No Pay, No Play recovery limitations. Louisiana's standard minimum auto liability limits remain $15,000 per person, $30,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage.
Can an independent insurance agency help me compare uninsured motorist coverage?
Yes. Independent insurance agents can help customers compare available uninsured motorist coverage options, liability limits, deductibles, and premiums from participating carriers. Available choices depend on the insurer and individual circumstances.
Compare Louisiana Auto Insurance Options With Muslow Insurance
Uninsured motorist coverage is one of several important considerations when comparing auto insurance in Louisiana. Understanding the differences between bodily injury protection, vehicle damage coverage, and available limits can help you make a more informed purchasing decision.
Muslow Insurance has served Shreveport-Bossier and Northwest Louisiana since 1980.
As a locally owned independent insurance agency, we work with multiple A-rated insurance carriers to help drivers compare available auto insurance premiums, coverage options, and deductibles.
Our experienced local agents can explain differences between available policy options and help you explore uninsured motorist coverage as part of your auto insurance quote.
You can complete the entire quoting and purchasing process remotely by phone, email, or online, or visit our Shreveport office if you prefer face-to-face service.
If you're comparing auto insurance rates or considering changes to your current policy, we're happy to help.
Request a Free Auto Insurance Quote