What is uninsured motorist coverage and is it required in California?

Uninsured motorist coverage pays your medical expenses and other covered losses when an at-fault driver who caused the accident carries no liability insurance. California law does not require drivers to purchase UM coverage, but every auto carrier must offer it, and you must decline it in writing if you choose not to add it. Given that the Insurance Research Council places roughly 16.6 percent of California drivers without coverage, most consumer advocates recommend carrying it.

What are California's current mandatory auto liability limits after SB 1107?

Since January 1, 2025, California's minimum liability limits are $30,000 per injured person, $60,000 per accident, and $15,000 for property damage. Senate Bill 1107 replaced the previous 15/30/5 floor that had been unchanged for decades. A second phase increases minimums to $50,000 / $100,000 / $25,000 on January 1, 2035, per the California Department of Insurance's published implementation guidance.

How does the California Department of Insurance enforce mandatory auto insurance?

The California Department of Insurance supports a random audit program that cross-checks registered vehicles against carrier databases to flag potential lapses. CDI also administers the California Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program, which reduces cost barriers for income-qualifying drivers. When market conduct examinations find carriers failing to properly notify policyholders of coverage requirements, CDI publishes enforcement actions on its website.

What should I do if I am in an accident with an uninsured California driver?

If the at-fault driver carries no insurance, file a claim under your own uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage if you purchased it. If you declined UM coverage, your options include filing a civil lawsuit against the driver directly, which can yield limited recovery if they have no assets. Your collision coverage, if you carry it, will cover vehicle repairs minus your deductible regardless of the other driver's insurance status.

California's Uninsured Driver Rate Hits 17%, Raising Insurer Costs in 2026

About one in six California drivers carries no auto liability insurance, according to the Insurance Research Council's uninsured motorist analysis, placing the state among the highest uninsured rates in the nation and adding a persistent cost burden to insured drivers across Los Angeles, the Central Valley, and the Inland Empire.

The challenge gained renewed scrutiny in 2026 as the insurance industry assessed the first full year under California's raised minimum liability limits. Senate Bill 1107, signed in 2022, increased the state's long-standing floor from $15,000 per person / $30,000 per accident / $5,000 for property damage to a new standard of $30,000 / $60,000 / $15,000 effective January 1, 2025. The California Department of Insurance issued guidance to carriers on processing out-of-compliance renewals ahead of that date.

How does California's uninsured driver rate compare to other states?

California's uninsured motorist rate stands near 16.6 percent, compared to a national average of about 12.6 percent, according to research from both the Insurance Research Council and the Insurance Information Institute. That roughly four-point gap means California consistently ranks among the top ten states for uninsured driver prevalence, a position the state has held across multiple measurement cycles.

States with strong electronic insurance verification systems at registration and renewal tend to cluster toward the lower end of uninsured rates. California's DMV does require proof of financial responsibility at registration, and the California Department of Insurance supports random compliance audits. The state also administers the California Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program, available to income-qualifying drivers in most counties, which offers liability-only coverage at state-negotiated rates to reduce the gap among lower-income motorists. Despite those tools, the Insurance Research Council's successive annual snapshots show the California rate has remained elevated.

What did California's 2025 minimum coverage increase change for drivers?

California drivers holding policies at the old 15/30/5 minimum limit received automatic notice of the coverage floor change at renewal beginning January 1, 2025. Under Senate Bill 1107, the new minimums are $30,000 per injured person, $60,000 per accident, and $15,000 for property damage, replacing the prior figures that had been in place for decades. A second phase of increases, to $50,000 / $100,000 / $25,000, takes effect January 1, 2035.

The practical effect for existing policyholders was straightforward. Any driver renewing a minimum-limit policy after January 1, 2025 received a revised declaration page at the new floor. The California Department of Insurance required carriers to notify policyholders of the change and to offer the updated minimum on renewal. For most drivers carrying only state-minimum liability coverage, the adjustment resulted in a modest premium increase because they were now required to hold nearly twice the prior per-person bodily injury limit.

How do uninsured drivers affect what California insured drivers pay?

Insured California drivers absorb a measurable cost premium each year because of the coverage gap among roughly one in six other drivers on state roads. When an at-fault driver carries no insurance, the injured party must turn to their own uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage, pay out of pocket, or pursue the at-fault driver directly in civil court, often with limited recovery. The Insurance Information Institute identifies uninsured and underinsured motorist claims as a significant contributor to auto insurance costs in high-uninsured states.

In California, uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage and uninsured motorist property damage coverage are both available but must be affirmatively purchased or declined in writing at policy inception. Carriers are required under California law to offer both at limits matching the policyholder's chosen liability limits. The California Department of Insurance advises consumers to add uninsured motorist coverage given the state's documented gap rate, particularly for drivers in dense urban counties where collision frequency is higher.