Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 56-7-1202 (2026)
"Uninsured motor vehicle" defined - Coverage of government vehicles
✓ current as of May 2026
- (a)
- (1) For the purpose of uninsured motor vehicle coverage, "uninsured motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle whose ownership, maintenance, or use has resulted in the bodily injury, death, or damage to property of an insured, and for which the sum of the limits of liability available to the insured under all valid and collectible insurance policies, bonds, and securities applicable to the bodily injury, death, or damage to property is less than the applicable limits of uninsured motorist coverage provided to the insured under the policy against which the claim is made; and
- (2) "Uninsured motor vehicle" does not include a motor vehicle:
- (A) Insured under the liability coverage of the same policy of which the uninsured motor vehicle coverage is a part;
- (B) Owned by, or furnished for the regular use of, the insured or any resident spouse or resident relative in the same household;
- (C) Self-insured within the meaning of the Tennessee Financial Responsibility Law, compiled in title 55, chapter 12, or any similar state or federal law;
- (D) Designed for use mainly off public roads or any off-highway vehicle, as defined in § 55-8-101, except while the vehicle is operated on public roads pursuant to § 55-8-185 or other law; or
- (E) While located for use as premises.
- (b) Notwithstanding any other law, the applicable limits of liability for a governmental unit, political subdivision or agency thereof for claims arising out of the operation of a motor vehicle shall be considered as liability coverage available under a valid and collectible insurance policy.
Amended by 2017 Tenn. Acts, ch. 186,s 1, eff. 7/1/2017.
Acts 1967, ch. 371, § 2; T.C.A., § 56-1149; Acts 1982, ch. 835, § 2; 1988, ch. 769, § 1; 1999, ch. 196, §§ 2, 3.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 33
cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1981–2024 · leading case: Edward Martin v. Gregory Powers, 505 S.W.3d 512 (Tenn. 2016).
Edward Martin v. Gregory Powers, 505 S.W.3d 512 (Tenn. 2016). “This provision is less ambiguous than the Policy language under consideration because it makes specific reference to a particular piece of legislation. Indeed, IDS relies upon one particular -11- section of the FR Law6 as rendering the Rental Car not an uninsured motor vehicle.”
Dockins v. Balboa Ins. Co., 764 S.W.2d 529 (Tenn. 1989). “1 The Court of Appeals acknowledged that under Holt the exclusions in the Dockins’ policy would be given effect, but construed a 1982 amendment to T.C.A. § 56-7-1202 to require a different result.”
Ivy Joe Clark & Vicky Clark, Individually & as Husband & Wife v. Joyce Ann Shoaf, 302 S.W.3d 849 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2008). “Analyzing the question under the definition of “uninsured motor vehicle” provided by section 56-7-1202 as it existed prior to amendments of 1982, 5 the Bolin court held *857 that the statute “embrace[d]” a situation in which an insured claimant proceeded against a tortfeasor who…”
Randall D. Kiser v. Ian J. Wolfe, 353 S.W.3d 741 (Tenn. 2011). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 56-7-1202 (a)(1). An additional statutory provision provides as follows: [I]f a party .”
Jerry Garrison v. Rita Bickford, 377 S.W.3d 659 (Tenn. 2012). “Even if section 56-7-1201(a) was determined to be ambiguous, we note that section 56-7-1202(a)(l) defines an "uninsured motor vehicle” for purposes of uninsured motorist coverage as "a motor vehicle whose ownership, maintenance, or use has resulted in the bodily injury, death,…”
Stallcup v. Duncan, 684 S.W.2d 643 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1984). “Plaintiff further contends that in any event the vehicle of defendant Duncan is not excluded as an uninsured motor vehicle or uninsured automobile because of the statutory definition of such vehicle contained in T.C.A. § 56-7-1202 (1983). “Uninsured motor vehicle” defined.”
Morris Slutsky, et ux v. City of Chattanooga, 34 S.W.3d 467 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2000). “On the same date, T.C.A. § 56-7-1202 provided that a vehicle owned by a governmental entity was not an “uninsured motor vehicle” for the purposes of uninsured motorist coverage.”
Green v. Johnson, 249 S.W.3d 313 (Tenn. 2008). “00 or more the Greens received from the Settlement, it was relieved of all obligations under the Policy and therefore was entitled to summary judgment as a matter of law.”
Seymour v. Sierra, 98 S.W.3d 164 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2002). “They base this argument on the definition of an “uninsured motor vehicle” in Tenn.Code Ann. § 56-7-1202(a): For the purpose of this coverage, “uninsured motor vehicle” means a motor vehicle whose ownership, maintenance, or use has resulted in the bodily injury, death, or damage…”
Simpson v. Rodgers (In Re Rodgers), 266 B.R. 834 (Bankr. W.D. Tenn. 2001). “Rodgers, at times relevant here, was an uninsured motorist as defined under Tenn.Code Ann. § 56-7-1202; • State Farm Insurance Company was the issuer of an uninsured motorist policy of his employer, American Photocopy of Memphis, Inc.”
Gabel v. Lerma, 812 S.W.2d 580 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1990). “T.C.A. § 56-7-1202 unambiguously dictates the applicable uninsured motorist coverage when, as in the present case, one is injured while occupying an automobile which he does not own.”
Hindman v. Doe, 241 S.W.3d 464 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2007). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 56-7-1202(a); see also Nicely v.”
Tenn. Code Ann. § 56-7-1202(1980): 1 case
Ivy Joe Clark & Vicky Clark, Individually & as Husband & Wife v. Joyce Ann Shoaf, 302 S.W.3d 849 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2008). “Analyzing the question under the definition of “uninsured motor vehicle” provided by section 56-7-1202 as it existed prior to amendments of 1982, 5 the Bolin court held *857 that the statute “embrace[d]” a situation in which an insured claimant proceeded against a tortfeasor who…”
Tenn. Code Ann. § 56-7-1202(a): 7 cases
Green v. Johnson, 249 S.W.3d 313 (Tenn. 2008). “00 or more the Greens received from the Settlement, it was relieved of all obligations under the Policy and therefore was entitled to summary judgment as a matter of law.”
Seymour v. Sierra, 98 S.W.3d 164 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2002). “They base this argument on the definition of an “uninsured motor vehicle” in Tenn.Code Ann. § 56-7-1202(a): For the purpose of this coverage, “uninsured motor vehicle” means a motor vehicle whose ownership, maintenance, or use has resulted in the bodily injury, death, or damage…”
Hindman v. Doe, 241 S.W.3d 464 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2007). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 56-7-1202(a); see also Nicely v.”
Sherer v. Linginfelter, 29 S.W.3d 451 (Tenn. 2000).
West v. Pratt, 871 S.W.2d 477 (Tenn. 1994).
Tenn. Code Ann. § 56-7-1202(a)(1): 3 cases
NC Farm Bureau Mut. Ins. Co. (N.C. Ct. App. 2020).
Christopher Hinds v. Patsy Selman Oliver (Tenn. Ct. App. 2024).
NC Farm Bureau Mut. Ins. Co. (N.C. Ct. App. 2020).
Tenn. Code Ann. § 56-7-1202(a)(l): 2 cases
Jerry Garrison v. Rita Bickford, 377 S.W.3d 659 (Tenn. 2012). “Even if section 56-7-1201(a) was determined to be ambiguous, we note that section 56-7-1202(a)(l) defines an "uninsured motor vehicle” for purposes of uninsured motorist coverage as "a motor vehicle whose ownership, maintenance, or use has resulted in the bodily injury, death,…”
Randall D. Kiser v. Ian J. Wolfe, 353 S.W.3d 741 (Tenn. 2011). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 56-7-1202 (a)(1). An additional statutory provision provides as follows: [I]f a party .”
Tenn. Code Ann. § 56-7-1202(a)(l)(2008): 1 case
Ivy Joe Clark & Vicky Clark, Individually & as Husband & Wife v. Joyce Ann Shoaf, 302 S.W.3d 849 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2008). “Analyzing the question under the definition of “uninsured motor vehicle” provided by section 56-7-1202 as it existed prior to amendments of 1982, 5 the Bolin court held *857 that the statute “embrace[d]” a situation in which an insured claimant proceeded against a tortfeasor who…”
Tenn. Code Ann. § 56-7-1202(b)(4): 1 case
Morris Slutsky, et ux v. City of Chattanooga, 34 S.W.3d 467 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2000). “On the same date, T.C.A. § 56-7-1202 provided that a vehicle owned by a governmental entity was not an “uninsured motor vehicle” for the purposes of uninsured motorist coverage.”
Tenn. Code Ann. § 56-7-1202(b)(l): 1 case
Dockins v. Balboa Ins. Co., 764 S.W.2d 529 (Tenn. 1989). “1 The Court of Appeals acknowledged that under Holt the exclusions in the Dockins’ policy would be given effect, but construed a 1982 amendment to T.C.A. § 56-7-1202 to require a different result.”
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