Getting Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage Even If You Don’t Own a Car

Why UM and UIM Matter for Motorcyclists and Bicyclists in California

If you ride a motorcycle, commute by bicycle, or live car‑free in California, you already understand risk differently than someone sealed inside a car. You are exposed. You have fewer physical protections. And when something goes wrong, the injuries are often serious.

What many riders and cyclists don’t realize until after a crash is this: the most important financial protection is often not health insurance, and it’s often not the at‑fault driver’s policy. It is uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage that you carry for yourself.

There’s an important clarification that matters for riders:

If you own a motorcycle but no car, your motorcycle policy itself can include UM and UIM coverage.
If you don’t own any vehicle, you may still be able to buy UM and UIM through non‑owner or personal mobility insurance.

This page explains how UM and UIM work for motorcycle‑only owners, car‑free cyclists, and riders who move through California without a traditional auto policy, and why these coverages are essential for anyone sharing the road with motor vehicles.

The Core Problem: The Driver Who Hits You Often Can’t Pay

California requires drivers to carry liability insurance, but real‑world crashes tell a different story. Many drivers are uninsured. Many more carry only minimum limits that disappear almost immediately after a serious injury.

For motorcyclists and bicyclists, this mismatch is amplified. A low‑limit policy can be wiped out by:

An ambulance ride
An emergency department visit
Imaging and initial treatment

And that’s before surgery, rehabilitation, time off work, or long‑term impairment.

UM and UIM coverage exist because the system already knows this problem is built in. These coverages are designed to protect you when the other driver simply doesn’t have enough insurance to cover the harm they caused.

UM vs. UIM in Plain English

Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage generally applies when:

The driver who hit you has no insurance, or
The crash is a hit‑and‑run and the driver cannot be identified

Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage applies when:

The at‑fault driver has insurance, but
Their policy limits are too low to fully compensate your injuries and losses

UM and UIM are designed to pay the damages you would have been legally entitled to recover from the at‑fault driver, including:

Medical expenses
Lost income
Future medical care
Pain and suffering

For serious motorcycle or bicycle crashes, the difference between “the other driver had minimum limits” and “you carried meaningful UIM” can determine whether recovery is possible or financially devastating.

If You Own a Motorcycle but No Car

If you insure a motorcycle in California, your motorcycle policy itself can, and should, include UM and UIM coverage unless you reject it in writing. For many riders who own only a motorcycle, this is the primary, and sometimes the only, way they protect themselves against uninsured drivers and low policy limits.

This is where riders often make a costly mistake. They focus on the bike’s value and overlook the coverage that protects their body and their livelihood.

Motorcycle UM/UIM coverage typically applies when:

You are injured while riding your motorcycle, and
The at‑fault driver is uninsured, underinsured, or flees the scene

The most important decision is not the deductible or comprehensive coverage. It is the UM/UIM limits you choose.

Experienced rider advocates put it simply:

Don’t insure your motorcycle like property. Insure it like personal protection.

Does Motorcycle UM/UIM Cover You Off the Bike?

This is where policy language matters.

Some motorcycle UM/UIM policies are written broadly and may apply if you are hit as a pedestrian or cyclist. Others are more narrowly tied to the use of the motorcycle itself.

This is not something to assume. If you own only a motorcycle, it is worth asking your agent, and confirming in writing, whether your UM/UIM coverage follows you when you are not riding.

You Don’t Own Any Motor Vehicle. Can You Still Buy UM and UIM?

Yes. California recognizes that many people live car‑free but still face motor‑vehicle risk every day.

There are two main insurance products that matter for car‑free riders and cyclists.

Non‑Owner Auto Insurance

Non‑owner policies are designed for people who don’t own a motor vehicle but still want insurance coverage. They are commonly used by people who:

Borrow or rent cars
Use car‑sharing services
Want to maintain continuous insurance coverage

While these policies are often described as liability protection, many can include uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. The key is asking for UM and UIM explicitly and confirming the limits on the declarations page.

Personal Mobility Insurance

Some insurers offer California‑specific “personal mobility” coverage designed for people who rely on rideshare, rentals, public transit, bicycles, scooters, and walking.

For cyclists in particular, this type of policy is important because at least one major insurer explicitly states that its coverage can apply if you are hit by an uninsured motorist while riding a bicycle or motorized scooter.

The principle is simple:

You don’t need to own a car to need protection from cars.

Why UIM Is Essential for Motorcyclists

Motorcyclists are uniquely vulnerable. There is no steel frame, no airbags, and no controlled cabin. When a collision happens, the rider’s body absorbs the force.

Even moderate‑speed crashes can result in:

Medical costs in motorcycle cases routinely reach six figures. Even when the at‑fault driver is insured, their limits are often nowhere near enough to cover the real harm caused.

UIM coverage exists specifically to address this reality. It is how riders protect themselves from the “minimum limits” problem that turns clear liability into a financial disaster.

Why UIM Is Just as Important for Bicyclists

Bicyclists face the same physics problem. You are exposed, and the striking vehicle is heavy and fast.

If you are struck by a motor vehicle while riding a bicycle, UM and UIM coverage can apply, even though you were not inside a car. These coverages are commonly written to protect the insured person, not just vehicle occupants.

For car‑free cyclists, the takeaway is straightforward:

You are not buying car insurance. You are buying protection from cars.

UM and UIM Often Follow the Person, Not the Vehicle

UM and UIM claims are typically first‑party claims against your own insurer. The key question is whether you were injured by an uninsured or underinsured motorist, not whether you were driving.

That is why UM and UIM can apply when you are:

Riding a motorcycle
Riding a bicycle
Walking as a pedestrian
Occupying a vehicle you don’t own

Personal mobility and non‑owner policies are built around this idea: people move in different ways, and insurance can be structured to protect the person across those modes.

How UIM Pays in a Real‑World Example

UIM is often described as “gap coverage.” Here is what that looks like in practice:

A driver carries $30,000 in liability insurance. Your damages from a motorcycle crash total $230,000. If you carry $250,000 in UIM limits, you may be able to recover the $30,000 from the at‑fault driver’s insurer and pursue the remaining damages through your own UIM coverage, subject to policy terms.

This is why minimum UM/UIM limits are rarely enough in serious injury cases.

Hit‑and‑Run Crashes: Why UM Coverage Matters Even More

Hit‑and‑run collisions leave injured riders without an obvious source of compensation. UM coverage is designed for this exact scenario, but these claims often have strict requirements.

If you are hit and the driver flees:

Call law enforcement immediately
Document the scene
Notify your insurer as soon as possible

These steps can make the difference between a valid UM claim and a denied one.

How to Get the Right Coverage: A Practical Checklist

Step 1: Identify Your Situation

Motorcycle owner with no car → Start with your motorcycle policy
No vehicle at all → Ask about non‑owner or personal mobility coverage

Step 2: Ask Specifically for UM and UIM

Do not assume it is included. Ask what limits are available and confirm them in writing.

Step 3: Choose Meaningful Limits

Minimum limits disappear fast. Many Californians choose $100,000 or $250,000 in UM/UIM coverage as a more realistic starting point, depending on budget and exposure.

Step 4: Consider Medical Payments Coverage

Medical payments coverage can provide no‑fault reimbursement for immediate medical expenses after a crash.

A Note About E‑Bikes and Micromobility

Coverage can be more complicated when a vehicle is motorized. If you ride an e‑bike or scooter, tell the agent exactly what you ride and ask for written confirmation that UM/UIM applies.

Why This Matters to a Motorcycle Law Firm

Motorcycle law firms see what happens when coverage runs out. We see clear‑liability cases turn into financial battles because the at‑fault driver carried minimal insurance, and the rider did not have UM or UIM in place.

UM and UIM claims are technical. They involve policy language, arbitration rules, and insurer resistance. In motorcycle cases, coverage issues often are the case.

Key Takeaways

Motorcycle policies can include UM and UIM even if you own no car
Car‑free riders and cyclists can often buy UM/UIM through non‑owner or personal mobility policies
UIM is essential due to the severity of motorcycle and bicycle injuries
UM coverage is critical in hit‑and‑run crashes
Minimum limits are rarely enough

If You Were Hurt on a Motorcycle or Bicycle

If you were injured by an uninsured driver, a hit‑and‑run driver, or a driver with minimal insurance, UM or UIM coverage may still provide a path to compensation.

These claims are different. Insurance companies often fight them. We help injured riders and cyclists identify every available policy and pursue the coverage they paid for.