Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage Required in California?

Short answer: No. California does not require you to buy uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage as part of an ordinary personal auto policy. But the insurance company must offer it. If you choose not to buy it, California’s Department of Insurance says you must sign a written waiver showing that the coverage was offered and declined.

That distinction matters because “not legally required” and “not useful” are not the same thing.

What does uninsured motorist coverage do?

Uninsured motorist coverage is designed for an accident where the at-fault driver does not have liability insurance.

California’s Department of Insurance describes several related protections:

• Uninsured motorist bodily injury: can pay for injuries to you and people in your vehicle when an uninsured driver is at fault.
• Underinsured motorist bodily injury: can apply when the at-fault driver’s liability coverage is not enough for the covered bodily injury loss.
• Uninsured motorist property damage: can pay for damage to your vehicle in a covered accident with an identified uninsured at-fault driver, subject to policy terms and limits.
• Collision deductible waiver: can cover your collision deductible in certain accidents involving an uninsured at-fault driver when the policy includes this protection.

What is actually required in California?

California requires drivers and vehicle owners to satisfy the state’s financial responsibility law. Most people do that by purchasing auto liability insurance.

For standard auto liability policies, California’s current minimum limits are 30/60/15:

• $30,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $60,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $15,000 property damage liability per accident

Those limits apply to liability coverage for damage or injuries you cause. They are different from uninsured and underinsured motorist protection.

If UM/UIM is optional, why compare it?

Because liability insurance protects against your responsibility to others. UM/UIM addresses a different problem: what happens when someone else causes the crash but does not have enough liability insurance to cover a covered bodily injury loss.

A shopper comparing two California auto quotes should check whether both quotes include the same UM/UIM choices. A lower quote may not be directly comparable if one includes the protection and the other does not.

What should I compare on two California quotes?

Item	Question to ask
Liability limits	Are both quotes using the same bodily injury and property damage limits?
UM/UIM bodily injury	Is it included, declined or offered at different limits?
Uninsured motorist property damage	Is it included, and how does it interact with collision coverage?
Collision	Are the deductibles the same?
Comprehensive	Are the deductibles and covered vehicle the same?
Drivers and vehicles	Are both quotes rating the same household and vehicles?

What if I already have collision coverage?

California DOI notes that you may not need uninsured motorist property damage in the same way if you already carry collision coverage. That does not mean the coverages are identical. Review how your collision deductible and any collision deductible waiver would apply.

How does this fit with California’s minimum insurance rules?

The legal minimum tells you what liability coverage is required. It does not answer every coverage decision.

If you are deciding whether California’s legal minimum is enough for you, read Is California’s Minimum Car Insurance Enough in 2026? and California’s minimum car insurance requirements explained.

You can also visit the California Auto Insurance page.

How to shop without accidentally comparing different coverage

Use your current declarations page as the baseline. When you request quotes, line up the liability limits, UM/UIM choices, collision and comprehensive deductibles, drivers, vehicles and optional coverages.

Ensurance helps people organize one insurance-shopping request so the comparison can start from clearer information.

For broader Auto shopping guidance, visit the Auto Insurance authority page. If you are ready to shop, start the Auto quote request form.

You can also review how to compare insurance quotes without looking at price alone before deciding whether two California quotes are truly equivalent.

Sources

• California Department of Insurance: Automobile Insurance Guide
• California Department of Insurance: Auto Insurance Information Guides

This article is general educational information, not individualized insurance or legal advice. Coverage is controlled by the actual policy terms and applicable law.