Stacked vs Unstacked Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Florida

Stacked vs Unstacked Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) Coverage

The main difference comes down to how much protection you actually have.

• Unstacked UM: Your coverage is limited to the stated amount on your policy. If you have $100,000 in UM, that is the maximum no matter how many cars are insured.
• Stacked UM: Lets you combine coverage across multiple vehicles on the same policy. For example, if you insure three cars that each have 100/300 UM ($100k per person/$300k per accident), stacking gives you $300,000 in UM protection per person and $900,000 per accident.

Stacking is the default in Florida unless you specifically reject it in writing. Many insurance companies push customers to reject it or choose unstacked coverage as a way to reduce premiums.

Here’s where many people get confused: should you choose stacked or unstacked coverage? The difference can mean hundreds of thousands of dollars in protection.

Do You Need Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Florida?

We often get asked whether uninsured motorist (UM) coverage is really necessary. The short answer is yes, and it’s one of the first things we check for when evaluating a car accident case.

Florida has one of the highest rates of uninsured drivers in the country. Many people are shocked to learn that if the driver who hit them doesn’t carry bodily injury liability insurance, they might have no realistic way to recover compensation unless they have UM coverage on their own policy.

Uninsured motorist coverage can help pay for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering if the at-fault driver cannot. It can also apply in hit-and-run cases, where the other driver disappears and is never identified. We’ve helped many clients recover damages through their own UM policies when they thought they had no options left.

It is important to check your policy now, before something happens. Make sure UM coverage is included and that the limits are enough to protect you and your family. If you have questions about whether it applies to your case, we’re here to review it with you at no charge.

Florida is one of the few states that does not require drivers to carry bodily injury coverage. That means someone could cause a serious crash and legally be on the road with nothing more than the state minimums: personal injury protection (PIP) and property damage liability.

A significant percentage of drivers in Florida have no bodily injury coverage at all, and many others carry very low limits, such as $10,000. In a serious accident, that amount is nowhere near enough (see bodily injury payouts in Florida). UM coverage fills the gap, stepping in to cover medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering when the at-fault driver cannot.

How Florida Handles UM Differently Than Many Other States

Florida gives injured people more protection with UM than many other states. In some states, the amount you recover from the other driver is subtracted from your UM limits. In Florida, UM coverage is paid on top of what you recover from the at-fault driver’s policy. If the other driver had $25,000 and you had $100,000 in UM, you could potentially recover the full $125,000. This makes UM in Florida especially powerful.

When Stacked UM/UIM Coverage Applies

Stacked UM applies to you and your resident relatives, even if you are walking, biking, or riding in someone else’s car when an uninsured driver hits you.

If a friend is driving your car, however, they do not get the benefit of stacking. They would only be covered up to the single limit on the policy.

Costs and Downsides of Stacked Coverage

The main downside of stacking is that it costs more. Aside from the higher premium, there are no major disadvantages. Stacked coverage provides far greater protection than unstacked and can make the difference between being financially secure and facing years of medical debt after a crash.

Stories That Highlight the Value of UM

One case involved a driver who had only $10,000 in UM coverage. Because of the way the insurance company mishandled the claim, the case ultimately resolved for $625,000. While rare, this story shows that UM coverage can become the foundation for significant recoveries when insurers fail to act in good faith.

Another common story involves drivers who discover after an accident that they signed away their right to UM or to stacking because an insurance agent told them it would save money. After a crash, these drivers realize the difference between stacked and unstacked coverage can mean hundreds of thousands of dollars they will never see.

How UM Coverage Interacts With Bodily Injury

Your UM limits can never be higher than your bodily injury limits. However, stacking lets you multiply those limits across your vehicles, effectively increasing the available coverage. For example, if you have 100/300 bodily injury coverage and stacked UM with three vehicles, your UM protection could reach 300/900.

Should You Choose Stacked or Unstacked UM/UIM Coverage in Florida?

If you have more than one vehicle on your policy, stacked UM is almost always the better choice. It provides more protection in situations where you need it most and ensures you are not left financially vulnerable if you are hit by an uninsured driver in Florida or someone with no insurance or inadequate coverage.

UM is the most important coverage you can have. If you are buying it, and you have more than one vehicle, choose stacked.

When it comes to auto insurance in Florida, one of the smartest decisions you can make is adding uninsured or underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage to your policy. With so many drivers carrying little or no bodily injury insurance, UM coverage is often the only financial safety net available if you are seriously injured.

How Stacking Changes UM Coverage Limits for 1 vs 2 Vehicles

100/300 UM Insurance Policy – Stacked vs Unstacked

With unstacked coverage, adding more vehicles does not increase the limits. With stacked coverage, the limits multiply by the number of vehicles, giving you significantly more protection.

25/50 UM Insurance Policy – Stacked vs Unstacked

FAQs About Stacked and Unstacked UM Coverage in Florida

Can you stack coverage across different insurance policies?

Yes. If you and your spouse have separate auto policies, and both include stacked UM, you can stack coverage across those policies.

Does stacked UM apply if you are a passenger in someone else’s car?

Not on their policy. As a guest passenger, you are limited to the single UM limit on their policy. However, you can still use the stacked benefits from your own policy if you have them.

Is UM required to be offered with every auto policy in Florida?

No. UM coverage is only available if you first purchase bodily injury coverage. If you have BI, you are automatically entitled to UM in the same amount unless you reject it in writing.

Do insurance companies try to avoid paying stacked claims?

The bigger issue is at the start: many companies encourage drivers to reject UM or stacking altogether to keep premiums lower. Once you have stacked UM, insurers generally honor it, but they will still fight hard over the value of your claim.

Can stacking increase coverage beyond your bodily injury limit?

Yes, but only because you are multiplying the UM across vehicles. The UM amount per vehicle cannot be higher than your BI limit, but stacking across two or three vehicles effectively raises your total available protection.

What if I’m in a car accident without insurance not at fault?

Things can quickly get complicated. Consult an uninsured motorist claims lawyer or see that post to learn more.