Updated June 2026
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.
- You're rear-ended at a stoplight by a driver with no insurance. You have $8,200 in medical bills and $4,500 in vehicle damage. The at-fault driver has no liability coverage to pay your claim. Your Uninsured Motorist bodily injury coverage pays the $8,200 in medical costs up to your policy limit, and if you purchased the optional Uninsured Motorist Property Damage coverage, it pays the vehicle damage minus the $3,500 deductible — leaving you $1,000 after the deductible. Without this coverage, you'd pay both bills yourself or sue the uninsured driver, who likely has no assets to collect against.
- You return to your parked car and find $3,800 in damage from a hit-and-run driver who left no information. If you have Uninsured Motorist Property Damage coverage, it pays the damage minus the $3,500 deductible — netting you $300. Collision coverage would pay the full amount minus your collision deductible, typically $500 or $1,000, making collision the better option for this scenario. Most drivers skip Uninsured Motorist Property Damage because the $3,500 deductible makes it nearly useless for anything except total loss claims.
- You're driving legally under a restricted hardship license to and from work when an uninsured driver runs a red light and T-bones your vehicle. You sustain $22,000 in medical expenses and miss six weeks of work. Your Uninsured Motorist bodily injury coverage pays your medical bills and lost wages up to your policy limit, even though you're driving on a restricted license during suspension. The coverage applies as long as you were driving within the terms of your restricted license — the other driver's lack of insurance doesn't change your entitlement to the coverage you paid for.
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. The premium increase is small, typically under $15 per month for minimum limits, and you're already paying for liability coverage as a reinstatement condition.
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. Reject Uninsured Motorist Property Damage unless you own an expensive vehicle, don't carry collision coverage, and are comfortable with a $3,500 deductible. 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?
Uninsured Motorist bodily injury coverage typically adds $8 to $18 per month to your premium, or roughly $95 to $215 annually, for the state-minimum $15,000/$30,000 limits that match California's liability minimums.
- Your selected coverage limits — choosing $50,000/$100,000 instead of the minimum $15,000/$30,000 raises the premium by $12 to $25 per month but provides meaningful protection if you're seriously injured.
- 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.
- Whether you're an SR-22 filer — some carriers price Uninsured Motorist Coverage slightly higher for SR-22 customers because suspended drivers statistically face higher injury severity in accidents, though the increase is typically under $5 per month.
- Whether you add Uninsured Motorist Property Damage — this optional coverage adds $4 to $9 per month but delivers minimal value because of the mandatory $3,500 deductible, which exceeds most non-total-loss repair bills.