The Legal Framework: Texas Insurance Code §1952.101
Texas Insurance Code §1952.101 establishes the framework for Uninsured Motorist (UM) and Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage in Texas. The statute does not require drivers to carry UM/UIM, but it does require every insurer writing auto policies in Texas to offer UM/UIM coverage at limits equal to the policy's liability limits. The applicant may reject the coverage only by signing a written rejection on a form prescribed by the Texas Department of Insurance.
If no signed rejection exists, UM/UIM applies by default at limits matching the policy's liability — Texas courts have consistently enforced this presumption. The same statute also sets a $250 deductible on UMPD claims (Uninsured Motorist Property Damage), which the policyholder cannot waive.
For the related Personal Injury Protection (PIP) framework, see Tex. Ins. Code §1952.151 — also an offer-and-reject statute, with a $2,500 default limit.
The Four Types of UM/UIM Coverage in Texas
Texas UM/UIM is sold in four flavors covering bodily injury and property damage in both uninsured (UM) and underinsured (UIM) scenarios:
Why UM/UIM Matters in Texas
Approximately 14% of Texas drivers carry no auto insurance according to the most recent Insurance Research Council (IRC) estimates. Texas consistently ranks among the top 10 states by uninsured-motorist rate. The TexasSure electronic verification program flags lapses, but enforcement gaps and renewal delays mean meaningful numbers of vehicles operate uninsured at any given time.
Even insured Texas drivers are frequently underinsured. The state-minimum 30/60/25 liability limit has not been raised since 2011, while average vehicle replacement costs and medical bills have roughly doubled in that span. A driver carrying only state-minimum coverage who causes a serious injury simply does not have enough liability protection to make you whole. UIM closes that gap.
UM also covers hit-and-run drivers — a meaningful share of Texas accidents, especially in dense urban ZIPs.
What UM/UIM Costs at A-LA in Texas
UM/UIM is among the cheapest financial-protection upgrades you can add to a Texas auto policy. The table below shows typical A-LA add-on pricing for a clean-record Texas driver:
| Coverage Level | Typical Add-on | A-LA Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| UM/UIM 30/60 BI only | $8-$15/month | Minimum baseline |
| UM/UIM 30/60 BI + UMPD/UIMPD | $15-$25/month | Recommended for paid-off cars |
| UM/UIM 100/300 BI + UMPD/UIMPD | $22-$38/month | Recommended with full coverage |
| UM/UIM 250/500 BI + UMPD/UIMPD | $35-$55/month | High asset protection |
Non-binding 2026 A-LA add-on averages. Actual cost varies by ZIP, vehicle, driving record, and carrier.
When Rejecting UM/UIM Might Make Sense
Most A-LA Texas customers should keep UM/UIM. The narrow scenarios where rejection might be reasonable:
- You carry strong, high-limit private health insurance with no large out-of-pocket maximum, AND
- You do not own a vehicle (non-owner SR-22 only), AND
- You do not regularly carry passengers, AND
- Your budget is so tight that the $8-$25/month savings makes a measurable difference, AND
- You understand you are personally exposed if hit by an uninsured driver.
For anyone outside that narrow profile — virtually every owner-driver with passengers, kids, or savings — UM/UIM is the cheapest financial protection in personal insurance.
How to Add or Adjust UM/UIM at A-LA
A-LA Texas customers can add UM/UIM, increase UM/UIM limits, or revoke a prior rejection at any time during the policy period. Changes are effective the moment the additional premium clears — no waiting period.
- Call (866) 252-6116 or walk into any of A-LA's 14 Texas offices.
- Ask for a UM/UIM quote at 30/60, 50/100, 100/300, or 250/500 limits.
- A-LA agent updates the policy, prints a revised declarations page.
- Updated digital insurance ID card emailed/texted within minutes.