What is the difference between UM and UIM in Spartanburg

What is the difference between UM and UIM in Spartanburg?

 

We’ve all been there. You’re cruising down Reidville Road, thinking about whether you want The Beacon or Willy Taco for dinner, when suddenly—BAM. Someone’s bumper is now intimately acquainted with yours.

 

After the initial shock (and maybe a few choice words), you realize that in the world of South Carolina driving, the person who hit you might not have their life—or their insurance—together. This is where the "Alphabet Soup" of insurance kicks in: UM and UIM.

 

At Select Source Insurance, we know these acronyms sound like a text message from a confused teenager, but they are actually the only thing standing between you and a very expensive bad day.

 

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UM: The "They Have Nothing" Coverage

 

UM stands for Uninsured Motorist coverage.

 

In South Carolina, this isn't a suggestion; it’s the law. If you have a registered vehicle, and an auto insurance policy, you have UM. Why? Because some people treat insurance like a gym membership—they sign up once and then never pay again.

• The Scenario: You get hit by someone who has $0.00 in insurance. Or, worse, a hit-and-run driver who disappears into the Spartanburg night like a ghost.

• The Hero: Your UM coverage steps in to pay for your medical bills and car repairs, up to the limits on your policy, as if it were the other person's insurance. It’s like having a backup parachute for when the other guy forgot to bring one.

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UIM: The "They Didn't Have Enough" Coverage

 

UIM stands for Underinsured Motorist coverage.

 

This one is optional in South Carolina, which is why it’s often the "forgotten middle child" of insurance. But in the Upstate, it might be the most important thing on your policy.

• The Scenario: You’re hit by a driver who has the state minimum liability ($25,000). That sounds like a lot until you realize a three-day stay at Spartanburg Medical Center and a new bumper can blow through $25,000 before you've even finished your first cup of hospital Jell-O.

• The Hero: Once the other person’s tiny policy is maxed out, your UIM kicks in, if you have higher limits, to cover the "gap." If your medical bills are $50,000 and they only have $25,000, your UIM pays the remaining $25,000.

Pro Tip: Without UIM, once the other guy's money runs out, the rest comes out of your pocket. And "paying with a firm handshake" rarely works with doctors.

 

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Why "Select Source" Recommends Both

 

As an independent agency, we see it all. We know that Spartanburg is growing, and with more people comes more... creativity on the roads.

 

While the state makes you buy UM, they only require us to offer you UIM. Some people decline it to save $10 a month—roughly the cost of a fancy latte. But we’d rather you have the coverage than the coffee.

 

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The Main Difference:

• UM is for when they have NOTHING.

• UIM is for when they have SOME, but not ENOUGH.

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Which One Do You Have?

 

Don't wait until you're on the side of I-85 to find out if you're protected. Give us a shout at Select Source Insurance right here in Spartanburg. We’ll look at your policy, explain it in plain English, and make sure you aren't one "oopsie" away from a financial meltdown.

 

Would you like us to do a quick, no-obligation "Gap Check" on your current policy to see if you’re actually protected against underinsured drivers?

 

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