Uninsured Motorist Coverage — California
Uninsured Motorist Coverage pays your medical bills and vehicle damage when you're hit by a driver with no insurance or who flees the scene.
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What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
Uninsured Motorist Coverage (UM) is optional in California but must be offered at limits equal to your liability coverage. It pays your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering when an at-fault driver has no insurance or can't be identified after a hit-and-run. Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UIM) works the same way but applies when the other driver's liability limits are too low to cover your damages. Both coverages apply to you and your passengers — not the other driver's losses.
Who Needs Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
You're legally required to carry liability to reinstate, but liability only pays the other driver — UM is the coverage that protects you when someone hits you and has nothing. If you're carrying SR-22 and maintaining a non-owner policy, UM still applies as a pedestrian or passenger in someone else's vehicle.
If your health insurance has a subrogation clause, UM is critical because your health plan will recover costs from your auto settlement and leave you with nothing. If you're already paying non-standard rates due to suspension, the incremental UM cost is proportionally small compared to the liability premium, making it a high-value add.
How Much Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance Cost?
- Your liability limits — UM/UIM is offered at equal limits by law, so higher liability means higher UM cost
- Zip code uninsured driver rate — Los Angeles and Fresno counties have higher uninsured rates than San Francisco or San Diego, raising UM premiums
- Claims history — prior UM claims, even if you weren't at fault, signal higher risk and raise future UM premiums
- Carrier pricing model — some non-standard carriers bundle UM into reinstatement policies at a flat rate rather than pricing it separately
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