Nevada's UM/UIM written-rejection rule, explained

Quick answer. Under Nevada law (NRS 687B.145), auto insurers must offer uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage equal to a policyholder's liability limits, and that coverage generally applies to the policy unless the policyholder rejects it in writing. If an insurer cannot produce a signed rejection, the coverage is generally treated as part of the policy. This is a general overview, not a substitute for reading the statute or consulting an attorney about a specific policy.

What the statute requires of insurers

Nevada's insurance code, at NRS 687B.145, sets out requirements for how UM/UIM coverage is offered on auto policies issued in the state. In general terms, insurers are required to offer UM/UIM coverage in an amount equal to the policyholder's own liability limits, so a driver who carries higher liability limits is also offered a matching amount of UM/UIM coverage, unless that offer is declined. The statute's exact language, exceptions, and definitions control over any summary, and the current text is available through the Nevada Legislature's published statutes.

Why the "written rejection" requirement matters

The practical effect of this structure is that UM/UIM coverage is the default, not an opt-in. A policyholder who wants to decline it, or accept a lower amount than their liability limits, generally has to do so affirmatively, commonly through a signed rejection form kept in the insurer's file. Coverage isn't simply absent because a policyholder never thought about it or never actively requested it; the law places the burden on the rejection being documented, not on the coverage being requested.

This matters most after an accident, when a policyholder discovers that their UM/UIM coverage is being questioned or denied. If no rejection form was actually signed (even if a policyholder does not specifically recall being offered the coverage), the coverage is generally treated as included in the policy at the offered amount. The insurer's own paperwork is what resolves the question, not memory on either side.

What to ask your insurer for

Two documents commonly settle whether UM/UIM coverage applies to a given policy:

- The declarations page, which lists every coverage on the policy and the limits purchased for each, including UM/UIM if it is present. - Any signed rejection form, if the insurer claims UM/UIM coverage was declined. A legitimate rejection is generally a specific, signed document, not an assumption, a verbal note, or a default setting.

Requesting both in writing, and keeping copies, creates a clear record before any dispute develops. What an insurance adjuster typically asks for covers the broader documentation habits that tend to help throughout a claim, not just this one.

How this connects to Nevada's minimum liability limits

Nevada also sets minimum liability limits that every driver must carry, often summarized informally as 25/50/20, shorthand for the per-person, per-accident, and property-damage minimums defined in the state's insurance statutes. Those minimums set a floor for liability coverage, which in turn affects the UM/UIM amount an insurer is required to offer under NRS 687B.145, since the offer is tied to the policyholder's own liability limits. The specific dollar figures are set by statute and are best confirmed against the current text rather than a summary, since minimums can be revised over time.

Why this is worth checking even outside a fresh accident

Because the written-rejection requirement is about what is on file with the insurer, not what a policyholder remembers agreeing to, it is worth confirming UM/UIM status on an existing policy at any point, not only after a crash. A related explainer, what UM/UIM coverage is and why it matters, walks through what the coverage actually does and why declining it is a common source of regret after a serious accident with an underinsured driver.

Frequently asked questions

Does Nevada require every driver to carry UM/UIM coverage? Nevada law requires insurers to offer UM/UIM coverage equal to a policyholder's liability limits, and that coverage generally applies unless the policyholder rejects it in writing. Whether a specific policy includes it depends on what was offered and what the paperwork shows.

What if I don't remember rejecting UM/UIM coverage? If the insurer cannot produce a signed rejection, the coverage is generally treated as included. Requesting your declarations page and any rejection form on file is the way to find out what actually happened on your policy.

What are Nevada's minimum liability limits? Nevada requires minimum liability limits, commonly summarized as 25/50/20, a shorthand for the per-person, per-accident, and property-damage minimums set out in state law. Exact figures and definitions are set by statute and can change, so the current NRS 687B text is the definitive source.

This article is general information about a Nevada statute, not legal advice, and it does not cover every situation or policy. No attorney-client relationship is formed until a signed agreement, and results vary by case. A licensed Nevada attorney can advise on the facts of a specific policy or claim.