TENNESSEE — A new study shows Tennessee has one of the highest uninsured driver rates in the country, with more than one in five motorists reportedly driving without auto insurance coverage.
According to research released by Kuzyk Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers, Tennessee ranks fifth nationwide for uninsured motorists. The report states that 21.30% of drivers in the Volunteer State lack coverage, which equals approximately one uninsured motorist for every 4.7 people behind the wheel.
The study examined 2023 uninsured motorist data from the Insurance Research Council, along with state minimum bodily injury liability requirements, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage rules, and average liability premiums published through the Insurance Information Institute and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
Researchers found that Tennessee’s minimum bodily injury liability limit is $25,000 per person. The state’s average liability premium was listed at $542 in 2023. Despite that relatively low premium compared to several other high-risk states, the report suggests affordability challenges, rural conditions and economic pressure continue to play a role in the number of people driving without protection.
Another key issue noted in the study is that Tennessee does not require drivers to carry uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, often listed on policies as UM/UIM coverage. That means even people who pay for auto insurance may not automatically be protected if they are hit by someone who has no coverage, or not enough to cover serious damages.
The report compares Tennessee to Maine, which had the lowest uninsured motorist rate in the nation at 5.70%. Maine also has a $50,000 minimum bodily injury limit and requires UM/UIM coverage. Tennessee’s uninsured rate is nearly four times higher than Maine’s, creating what the study describes as a major policy and protection gap.
Mark Anderson, an attorney with Kuzyk Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers, said the findings should concern both drivers and policymakers in Tennessee.
“The data from Tennessee should concern every driver and policymaker in the Volunteer State. When roughly one in 5 motorists on your roads is completely uninsured, every commute and school drop-off carries real financial risk,” Anderson said.
He added that Tennessee’s lack of a UM/UIM mandate, combined with the state’s $25,000 minimum bodily injury limit and economic strain facing some residents, has created what he described as one of the country’s most serious uninsured motorist problems.
Nationally, Mississippi ranked first for uninsured drivers at 28.20%, followed by New Mexico at 24.10%, the District of Columbia at 23.10%, Michigan at 22.30% and Tennessee at 21.30%. Missouri, Florida, California, Colorado and Washington rounded out the top 10.
Among those 10 states and jurisdictions, only Missouri and the District of Columbia require UM/UIM coverage, according to the study. The report points to that difference as one reason insured drivers in many high-risk states may carry more financial exposure after a crash.
For Tennessee drivers, the findings serve as a reminder to carefully review auto insurance policies and confirm whether uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is included. Without that protection, a crash involving an uninsured driver could leave injured motorists facing medical bills, vehicle damage and lost wages with fewer options for financial recovery.
