Uninsured Motorist Coverage — North Dakota
Free to compare
North Dakota Requires Uninsured Motorist Coverage on Every Vehicle
You just added a second vehicle to your North Dakota auto policy and noticed your premium jumped more than expected. The liability increase made sense, but there was also a separate uninsured motorist charge for the new car. You already carry uninsured motorist coverage on your first vehicle — why are you paying for it twice?
North Dakota is one of 20 states that mandate uninsured motorist coverage on every auto policy. The requirement is not optional, and it applies per-vehicle. When you add a car to your policy, you are adding another uninsured motorist coverage unit, not simply extending the coverage you already have. This article clarifies how North Dakota's uninsured motorist mandate works across multiple vehicles, what limits you must carry, and how the per-vehicle structure affects your premium when you insure two or more cars on one policy.
“Each car carries its own uninsured motorist unit, and each unit costs a separate premium.”
Find Coverage That Keeps You Legal in North Dakota
Get My North Dakota Car Insurance Quote10.6%
ND Uninsured Driver Rate
One in ten North Dakota drivers carries no insurance, which is why the state mandates uninsured motorist coverage on every policy. The mandate protects you when an at-fault driver cannot pay for the damage they cause.
Insurance Information Institute, 2023
Uninsured Motorist Coverage Applies Per Vehicle, Not Per Policy
North Dakota law requires uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage and uninsured motorist property damage coverage on every vehicle you insure. The coverage does not pool across your policy. Each car carries its own uninsured motorist unit, and each unit costs a separate premium.
When you own one car, you pay for one uninsured motorist coverage unit. When you add a second car, you pay for two. The coverage on your first vehicle does not automatically extend to protect your second vehicle — North Dakota treats each car as a separate insured unit for uninsured motorist purposes.
This is different from liability coverage, where a single policy limit covers any vehicle you drive. Uninsured motorist coverage is vehicle-specific. If an uninsured driver hits your second car and you only carried uninsured motorist coverage on your first car, your claim would be denied. The per-vehicle mandate prevents that gap.
Adding a vehicle to your North Dakota policy automatically adds another uninsured motorist coverage unit, even when you already carry the coverage on your other cars.
How the Per-Vehicle Requirement Affects Multi-Car Policies
When you insure multiple vehicles on one North Dakota policy, each vehicle carries its own uninsured motorist coverage unit. You cannot opt out of coverage on one car and keep it on another. The mandate applies to every vehicle on the policy.
This means your uninsured motorist premium scales with the number of cars you own. A household with three vehicles pays three uninsured motorist coverage units. The per-vehicle cost is typically lower than liability or collision premiums, but it is not negligible. Carriers calculate the uninsured motorist premium based on the vehicle's value, your coverage limits, and your driving history.
Some carriers offer a multi-car discount that reduces the total premium when you insure multiple vehicles on one policy, but the discount applies to the combined premium — it does not eliminate the per-vehicle uninsured motorist charge. You still pay for coverage on every car, just at a slightly lower rate.
North Dakota requires uniform uninsured motorist limits across all vehicles on the same policy.
$25,000 / $50,000
ND Minimum UM Bodily Injury
North Dakota requires uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident on every vehicle. These limits match the state's liability minimums and apply per car, not per policy.
North Dakota Department of Transportation
Underinsured Motorist Coverage Is Also Mandatory
North Dakota mandates underinsured motorist coverage in addition to uninsured motorist coverage. Underinsured motorist coverage applies when the at-fault driver carries liability insurance but their limits are too low to cover your damages.
Like uninsured motorist coverage, underinsured motorist coverage applies per vehicle. Each car on your policy carries its own underinsured motorist unit, and you pay a separate premium for each. The minimum limits match the uninsured motorist minimums: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage.
Compare Carriers That Write Multi-Vehicle Policies in North Dakota
Uninsured motorist premiums vary by carrier, and the per-vehicle structure means the difference compounds when you insure multiple cars.
North Dakota has 19 carriers writing auto insurance in the state, and most write multi-vehicle policies. State Farm, Progressive, Geico, Allstate, and Farmers all write policies covering two or more vehicles and offer online quotes. Comparing quotes from at least three carriers shows you how uninsured motorist premiums differ across your household's vehicles and helps you find the policy that fits your coverage needs at the lowest total cost.
What Limits North Dakota Requires
The bodily injury minimums protect you and your passengers when an uninsured driver causes injuries. The $25,000 per-person limit covers medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering for one injured person. The $50,000 per-accident limit is the total the policy pays when multiple people are injured in the same crash. If your medical bills exceed $25,000, you pay the difference unless you carry higher limits.
The property damage minimum covers repair or replacement of your vehicle when an uninsured driver is at fault. The $25,000 limit applies per accident. If your car is totaled and worth more than $25,000, you pay the gap unless you carry higher uninsured motorist property damage limits or collision coverage. Collision covers the same damage but applies regardless of fault, so many drivers carry both.
Get Your Free Quote
Get My North Dakota Car Insurance QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Can I reject uninsured motorist coverage in North Dakota?
No. North Dakota mandates uninsured motorist bodily injury and property damage coverage on every auto policy. You cannot reject the coverage or opt out. The requirement applies to every vehicle you insure.
Does uninsured motorist coverage apply when I drive someone else's car?
Yes, but only if the car you are driving does not have its own uninsured motorist coverage. North Dakota uninsured motorist coverage follows the vehicle first. If the vehicle has no coverage, your own policy's uninsured motorist coverage may apply as secondary coverage.
What happens if I carry higher uninsured motorist limits than the other driver's liability limits?
Your underinsured motorist coverage pays the difference up to your policy limit.
Do I need uninsured motorist property damage if I already carry collision coverage?
North Dakota requires both, but they cover the same damage differently. Uninsured motorist property damage applies only when an uninsured driver is at fault and has no deductible. Collision applies regardless of fault but requires you to pay a deductible. Many drivers carry both for flexibility.
How does North Dakota verify I carry uninsured motorist coverage?
Your insurance card lists all required coverages, including uninsured motorist bodily injury and property damage. Law enforcement and the DMV can verify your coverage electronically through the state's insurance database. Driving without the required coverage results in fines and license suspension.