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 a hit-and-run driver who flees the scene.
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What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
Uninsured Motorist Coverage steps in when the at-fault driver has no liability insurance or flees the scene. It pays your medical expenses, lost wages, and vehicle repair costs up to your policy limits, functioning as a substitute for the liability coverage the other driver should have carried. California law requires every auto insurer to offer Uninsured Motorist bodily injury coverage at the same limits as your liability policy, though you can decline it by signing a written rejection form.
Who Needs Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance?
Accept Uninsured Motorist bodily injury coverage if you're maintaining liability insurance to satisfy SR-22 reinstatement requirements and plan to drive on a restricted or hardship license during your suspension. California's uninsured motorist rate is 16.6 percent — roughly one in six drivers — and if one of them injures you, this coverage is the only way you get paid without a lawsuit you're unlikely to win.
If you will drive during suspension under a restricted license, accept Uninsured Motorist bodily injury coverage at the same limits as your liability policy — the cost is low and the risk of being hit by an uninsured driver in California is statistically significant. If you're on a non-owner policy, property damage is not offered and bodily injury is your only decision — accept it unless you will never be a passenger or pedestrian, which is unrealistic.
How Much Does Uninsured Motorist Coverage Insurance Cost?
- Your ZIP code's uninsured motorist rate — areas with higher concentrations of uninsured drivers, such as parts of Los Angeles, Fresno, and the Central Valley, see slightly higher premiums because claim frequency is higher.
- Your liability limits — California requires carriers to offer Uninsured Motorist bodily injury at the same limits as your liability coverage, so raising your liability automatically raises the offer for this coverage.
