General Concepts
Stacking
Stacking allows policyholders to add together the limits of separate policies or separate vehicles on the same policy to create a larger pool of coverage for a single loss.
Last reviewed: May 2026 · Editorial methodology
Definition
Stacking most commonly arises in uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: if you own two cars each with $100,000 UM/UIM limits, stacking lets you access $200,000 for one accident. It also appears in multi-policy scenarios — for example, stacking a primary liability policy with an umbrella. Whether stacking is permitted depends on state law and policy language; many policies include anti-stacking provisions, and some states prohibit inter-policy stacking while permitting intra-policy stacking. Stacking can dramatically improve recovery in serious injury cases where a single policy limit is insufficient. If your insurer offers a non-stacking policy at a discount, carefully weigh the savings against the reduced ceiling — especially if you have multiple household drivers.
Where this term matters
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Cover Forge USA Editorial Team
Editorial Lead
This article was researched and written by the Cover Forge USA editorial team against federal sources (NAIC, CMS, FEMA, DOL, SSA, state DOIs) and standard policy forms. Bylines organize content by topic — they do not assert individual licensure. See our editorial-policy for details.
Reviewed 2026-06-14
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