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Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage can help protect you when an at-fault driver has no insurance or does not have enough coverage to pay for your injuries. In Florida, choosing UM coverage also means deciding whether your coverage will be stacked or unstacked.
The difference can affect how much protection you have after an accident.
What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Florida?
UM coverage is an important part of your overall auto insurance coverage, helping protect you when you are injured by a driver who is uninsured or does not carry enough bodily injury liability insurance to cover your damages. It may help cover losses such as medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages resulting from an accident.
Florida does not require drivers to purchase UM coverage. However, insurers generally must offer it when a policy includes bodily injury liability coverage unless the insured rejects the coverage or selects lower limits in writing.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, an estimated 15.9% of Florida motorists were uninsured in 2022, compared with 14% nationwide.
What Is Stacked Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
Stacked UM coverage allows you to combine, or “stack,” the UM limits available across multiple covered vehicles.
For example, let’s say you insure two vehicles and carry $100,000 of UM coverage on each. With stacked coverage, you could potentially have up to $200,000 in UM protection, depending on the circumstances and terms of your policy.
Stacked coverage can also provide broader protection when you are injured while occupying certain vehicles you do not own.
Need Help Reviewing Your UM Options?
Choosing coverage based only on the lowest premium could leave you with less protection than expected after a serious accident. Talk with Biscayne Risk & Insurance Group about your Florida uninsured motorist coverage options before selecting stacked or unstacked coverage.
What Is Unstacked Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
Unstacked UM coverage does not allow you to combine the limits assigned to multiple vehicles. If the applicable UM limit is $100,000, having another insured vehicle generally does not increase that limit to $200,000.
The tradeoff is cost. Florida law requires insurers offering this more limited form of coverage to reflect a reduction of at least 20% in the UM premium compared with coverage without those limitations.
- Stacked: Higher potential coverage limits and broader protection.
- Unstacked: Lower premium, but more restrictions on available coverage.
Is Stacked or Unstacked UM Coverage Better in Florida?
There is no single option that works for every driver. Your decision may depend on:
- The number of vehicles your household insures
- Your UM coverage limits
- How much risk you are comfortable assuming
- The difference in premium
- How and where household members regularly drive
For drivers who want greater protection against uninsured or underinsured motorists, stacked coverage may be worth the additional premium. Unstacked coverage may appeal to drivers prioritizing a lower insurance cost.
Biscayne Risk & Insurance Group’s Private Client insurance solutions can help you evaluate coverage based on your vehicles, assets, and individual risk needs.
How Can You Choose the Right UM Coverage?
The lowest-cost option is not always the option that provides the protection you expect. Before signing a UM selection form, make sure you understand what coverage will be available if you or a family member is seriously injured.
Understanding the risk of being underinsured can help you look beyond premium alone when comparing insurance options.
Our team at Biscayne Risk & Insurance Group can help you compare your options and select coverage based on your vehicles, household, and risk needs.
Please contact us to review your uninsured motorist coverage options and find the protection that’s right for you.