Underinsured Motorist Coverage — New Hampshire
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When New Hampshire Requires Underinsured Motorist Coverage
You bought coverage for both household vehicles and the policy includes uninsured and underinsured motorist protection. You did not ask for it, and you are not sure whether you can drop it to lower the premium. New Hampshire law requires UM/UIM coverage on every auto policy that includes liability insurance, but the requirement does not apply to drivers who choose not to carry insurance at all.
This creates a structural quirk: New Hampshire does not mandate that all drivers carry liability insurance, but if you do carry it, UM/UIM coverage is mandatory. The minimum limits are $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, matching the state's liability minimums. You cannot waive underinsured motorist coverage unless you reject it in writing, and most carriers require a signed rejection form before removing it from the policy.
“New Hampshire mandates UM/UIM coverage when you carry liability insurance, but allows drivers to reject it in writing—shifting the financial risk entirely to the policyholder.”
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NH Uninsured Motorist Rate
One in ten New Hampshire drivers operates without insurance. The state's financial-responsibility system allows drivers to self-insure or post a bond instead of carrying a policy, and some drivers simply go uninsured until a violation or accident forces compliance.
Insurance Research Council, 2023
How the Financial-Responsibility System Affects UM/UIM Requirements
New Hampshire is the only state that does not require all drivers to carry liability insurance. Instead, the state requires proof of financial responsibility only after certain violations: a DWI conviction, leaving the scene of an accident, or a second reckless-operation offense. Drivers who have not triggered one of these events can legally drive without insurance, as long as they can demonstrate financial responsibility if asked.
When you do carry a liability policy, the state mandates UM/UIM coverage at the same limits as your liability coverage. If you carry the state minimum of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury liability, your UM/UIM coverage must match those limits. If you carry higher liability limits, your UM/UIM limits must equal or exceed them, unless you reject the higher coverage in writing.
This means households insuring multiple vehicles face a structural decision: carry coverage on all vehicles and accept the UM/UIM requirement, or self-insure and accept the financial risk of an at-fault accident. Most households with two or more vehicles choose to carry coverage, because the cost of self-insuring multiple cars outweighs the premium savings from dropping UM/UIM protection.
You cannot drop UM/UIM coverage from an existing policy without submitting a signed rejection form. Carriers will not remove it based on a phone request alone.
How UM/UIM Coverage Works Across Multiple Vehicles
When you insure two or more vehicles on one policy, the UM/UIM coverage applies per person, not per vehicle. If both household vehicles are on the same policy with $25,000/$50,000 UM/UIM limits, those limits apply to any covered person injured in an accident, regardless of which vehicle they were driving or riding in. The per-person limit does not double because you own two cars.
Some carriers allow you to stack UM/UIM coverage across multiple vehicles, which multiplies the per-person limit by the number of insured vehicles. Stacking is not required by New Hampshire law, and not all carriers offer it. If your policy includes stacked UM/UIM coverage and you insure two vehicles, the per-person limit doubles to $50,000. Stacked coverage costs more, but it provides higher protection when the at-fault driver's liability policy is insufficient.
Households with three or more vehicles should compare stacked and non-stacked UM/UIM premiums carefully. The cost increase for stacked coverage rises with each additional vehicle, and the benefit depends on whether multiple household members are likely to be injured in the same accident.
$25,000 / $50,000
NH Minimum UM/UIM Limits
New Hampshire requires UM/UIM coverage at the same limits as your liability coverage. The state minimum is $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury. You can carry higher limits, but you cannot carry lower limits or drop the coverage without a signed rejection.
New Hampshire RSA 264:15
Rejecting UM/UIM Coverage and the Consequences
New Hampshire allows you to reject UM/UIM coverage, but the rejection must be in writing and signed. Carriers provide a rejection form that states you understand the coverage and choose to decline it. Once you sign the form, the carrier removes UM/UIM coverage from the policy. You can add it back later, but you must request it explicitly—it does not reinstate automatically at renewal.
Rejecting UM/UIM coverage lowers your premium, but it shifts the financial risk entirely to you. If an uninsured or underinsured driver injures you or a household member, you pay the medical bills, lost wages, and other costs out of pocket. New Hampshire's high uninsured-motorist rate—10% of drivers—means the probability of an accident with an uninsured driver is higher than in states with universal insurance mandates. Households with multiple vehicles face higher exposure because more drivers and passengers use the insured vehicles regularly.
Compare Carriers That Write Multi-Vehicle Policies in New Hampshire
Carriers price UM/UIM coverage differently, and the cost difference across carriers widens when you insure multiple vehicles. Compare New Hampshire carriers that write multi-vehicle policies and request quotes with and without UM/UIM coverage at several limit levels.
Use the comparison tool to see how stacked and non-stacked UM/UIM coverage affects the total premium for your household's vehicles. Enter each vehicle's year, make, and model, and specify the number of drivers. The tool shows quotes from carriers licensed in New Hampshire, including those that specialize in multi-vehicle policies.
What Underinsured Motorist Coverage Pays For
New Hampshire's $25,000 per person liability minimum is low compared to medical costs from serious injuries. A hospital stay, surgery, or extended treatment can exceed that limit quickly.
Underinsured motorist coverage also applies when the at-fault driver carries higher liability limits that still fall short of your damages. The coverage does not pay for vehicle damage—only bodily injury. Property damage from an underinsured driver is covered by collision coverage on your own policy, if you carry it.
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Get My New Hampshire Car Insurance QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Can I drop underinsured motorist coverage from my New Hampshire auto policy?
You can reject UM/UIM coverage by signing a written rejection form provided by your carrier. The rejection must be explicit and signed—you cannot drop the coverage by phone or email. Once rejected, the coverage does not reinstate automatically at renewal.
Does underinsured motorist coverage apply to all vehicles on my policy?
UM/UIM coverage applies per person, not per vehicle. If you insure two vehicles on one policy with $25,000 per person limits, those limits apply to any covered person injured in an accident, regardless of which vehicle they were in. Stacked coverage multiplies the limit by the number of vehicles, but not all carriers offer it.
What happens if an uninsured driver hits my car in New Hampshire?
Uninsured motorist coverage pays for your medical bills and lost wages up to your policy limit. Property damage to your vehicle is covered by collision coverage if you carry it. If you rejected UM coverage, you pay all injury-related costs out of pocket.
Do I need higher UM/UIM limits if I insure multiple vehicles?
Higher UM/UIM limits provide better protection when an at-fault driver's liability policy is too low to cover your damages.
Is stacked UM/UIM coverage required in New Hampshire?
No. Stacked UM/UIM coverage is optional and not all carriers offer it. Stacking multiplies the per-person limit by the number of insured vehicles, but it increases the premium for each additional vehicle. Compare stacked and non-stacked quotes to see which provides better value for your household.