Stacked vs. Single-Limit UM Coverage in New Hampshire

By the FigureMyTax Editorial Team · How we calculate

Stacking adds the uninsured motorist limits of several vehicles or policies together. New Hampshire's statutes do not mention it, and summaries of its Supreme Court decisions report that a clear and unambiguous anti-stacking clause is enforceable.

What stacking means

A household may have more than one vehicle or policy with UM. Stacking adds those limits after one injury, so $100,000 and $50,000 become $150,000. Single-limit coverage pays only the one limit that applies.

What the statutes say

RSA 264:15 requires UM and hit-and-run coverage in every policy for a vehicle registered or principally garaged in New Hampshire, at least equal to the liability limits, and says nothing about adding limits across vehicles or policies.

What decisions report

Summaries of New Hampshire Supreme Court decisions that we read, but not the opinions, report that a clear and unambiguous anti-stacking provision can bar adding UM or underinsured limits across vehicles, and that policy language that is unclear may be read in the insured's favor. A federal opinion applying New Hampshire law says the same for a single policy covering several vehicles.

A worked example

Suppose you are insured on two cars with $100,000 and $50,000 of UM, another driver has $25,000 available, and your damages are $250,000. If a clear clause bars stacking, UM pays up to $75,000, the $100,000 limit less $25,000. If the limits could be added, it could pay up to $125,000. Try your own numbers in the New Hampshire UM/UIM stacking calculator.

What to check

Read the limit-of-liability and other-insurance clauses and any notice about stacking on each policy. See what the statutes say and leave to your policy and how New Hampshire UM covers underinsured drivers.

This is general information, not legal advice, and the state comparisons above are illustrative, not an exhaustive survey. Confirm how New Hampshire's rules apply to your specific case with a licensed New Hampshire attorney.