Research Publications

Uninsured motorists (UM) are drivers who operate motor vehicles without having liability insurance coverage to compensate others for injuries or physical damage resulting from auto accidents in which they were at fault, despite near-universal legal requirements. This study, which updates previous Insurance Research Council (IRC) research, estimates the number of uninsured drivers on the nation’s roads, based on relative frequencies of auto insurance claims.

This study examines trends in the percentage of uninsured motorists by state and countrywide. This edition of the report updates trends with new data for the period 2013-2015.

This study seeks to measure the impact of no pay, no play laws on the percentage of uninsured motorists. It also estimates the costs of noneconomic damages awarded to uninsured motorists in states that have yet to enact such laws. The findings suggest that not only would a properly enforced no pay, no play law result in a moderate decrease in uninsured motorists, it may also reduce auto insurance costs.

Approximately one in six drivers across the United States may be driving uninsured by 2010, according to a recent study from Insurance Research Council (IRC). Although the estimated percentage of uninsured motorists decreased nationally, from 14.9 percent in 2003 to 13.8 percent in 2007, the recent economic downturn is expected to trigger a sharp rise in the uninsured motorist rate. The recently released study, Uninsured Motorists, 2008 Edition, estimates the percentage of uninsured drivers countrywide and by state for the period 2005 to 2007. The IRC estimates the uninsured driver population using a ratio of insurance claims made by individuals who were injured by uninsured drivers to claims made by individuals who were injured by insured drivers. The study contains recent statistics by state on uninsured motorists claim frequency, bodily injury liability claim frequency, and the ratio of uninsured motorists to bodily injury claim frequencies.