UM/UIM Insurance: Why It May Be the Most Important Coverage a Cyclist Can Carry
Follow us on
social media!
UPDATED August 28, 2026
The Auto Insurance Coverage Most Cyclists Don't Know They Need
Insurance is a boring topic; I get it. But missing out on potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars in insurance protection because you never reviewed one coverage option on your auto policy is not.
Most cyclists I talk to have no idea how much uninsured or underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage they carry, or whether they have it at all. When I ask people I ride with about their UM/UIM coverage, they often look at me like I'm speaking a foreign language. Yet this is one of the most important forms of protection a cyclist can have.
And the risk is real. One in three U.S. drivers was uninsured or underinsured in 2023, according to the Insurance Research Council (IRC). If one of those drivers hits you while you're riding your bike, your own UM/UIM coverage may become one of the most important sources of compensation available to you. It may also protect you after a hit-and-run.
At Bike Legal, our #1 recommendation for cyclists is to review your auto policy and ensure you have adequate UM/UIM coverage.
It can be a relatively inexpensive way to add substantial financial protection when you need it most.
What Is Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage?
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, commonly called UM/UIM insurance, is coverage on your own auto insurance policy that may protect you when the driver who causes a crash has no insurance or not enough insurance to cover your injuries and damages.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage (UM)
Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage may protect you when an at-fault driver has no applicable auto insurance. It may also provide coverage in a qualifying hit-and-run when the driver cannot be identified.
UM = the driver has no insurance.
Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UIM)
Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage may apply when the at-fault driver has insurance, but their liability limits are not enough to cover your damages.
UIM = the driver has insurance, but not enough.
For cyclists, we are primarily talking about UM/UIM bodily injury coverage (UMBI/UIMBI). Depending on your policy, state law, and the circumstances of the crash, this coverage may provide compensation for medical expenses, lost income, future medical care, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, and other covered damages.
This is different from uninsured or underinsured motorist property damage coverage, which applies to property damage and varies significantly by state and policy.
Most importantly for cyclists, UM/UIM coverage may protect you even when you aren't driving your car. Depending on your policy and state law, your auto insurance may provide UM/UIM coverage if a motorist hits you while you're riding your bicycle.
Watch this informative video provided by Phil Gaimon, retired pro cyclist.
State Minimum Auto Insurance May Not Be Enough After a Bicycle Crash
Having insurance does not necessarily mean having enough insurance. State minimum requirements establish how much coverage a driver must carry to comply with the law, but those limits may be far below the cost of a serious bicycle crash.
California and Florida illustrate how significant that coverage gap can be.
California: The Driver Has Insurance, But Only $30,000
California increased its minimum auto liability requirements on January 1, 2025. Drivers must now carry at least:
- $30,000 for bodily injury or death to one person
- $60,000 for bodily injury or death to more than one person
- $15,000 for property damage
Those are commonly referred to as 30/60/15 limits.
Consider a cyclist who is hit by a driver carrying only California's minimum insurance and suffers $150,000 in damages from serious injuries, lost income, and other losses. The driver is legally insured, but their policy may provide only $30,000 in bodily injury liability coverage for the injured cyclist.
$150,000 in damages
$30,000 driver's bodily injury limit
$120,000 beyond the driver's liability limit
This is where the cyclist's own underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage may become critically important. Depending on the cyclist's UIM limits, policy terms, and California law, it may provide an additional source of compensation when the cyclist's damages exceed the at-fault driver's available liability coverage.
California cyclists also face the risk of drivers with no insurance at all. An estimated 20.4% of California drivers were uninsured in 2023, according to data reported by U.S. News based on Insurance Research Council estimates. That's approximately one in five California drivers.
In Los Angeles, the problem is compounded by the city's high rate of hit-and-run bicycle crashes, where the driver and their insurance may never be identified.
Florida: The Driver May Have No Bodily Injury Liability Coverage
Florida presents a different problem. Vehicle owners generally must carry $10,000 in PIP and $10,000 in property damage liability, but bodily injury liability generally isn't part of the basic insurance requirement for registering an ordinary private vehicle.
That means a driver may satisfy Florida's basic requirements yet have no BI liability coverage available to compensate a cyclist they injure. An estimated 20.6% of Florida drivers were also uninsured in 2023.
If a cyclist is seriously injured by a driver who has no applicable bodily injury liability insurance, the cyclist's own
uninsured motorist (UM) coverage may become an important source of compensation.
Hit-and-Run Bicycle Crashes: Another Reason UM Coverage Matters
A hit-and-run crash creates an especially difficult situation for an injured cyclist. If the driver leaves the scene and cannot be identified, there may be no at-fault driver's insurance policy to pursue for your injuries and other losses.
This is another reason uninsured motorist (UM) coverage can be so important. In a qualifying hit-and-run bicycle crash, your own UM bodily injury coverage may provide a source of compensation even when the driver is never found.
However, hit-and-run UM claims may have specific requirements for reporting the crash, notifying your insurance company, and providing evidence that another vehicle caused the collision. Acting quickly and preserving evidence can be critical.
How Much UM/UIM Coverage Should a Cyclist Have?
As cyclists, we do our best to prevent a crash and protect ourselves. We wear helmets to protect our heads, use lights to make ourselves more visible, and increasingly ride with cameras to preserve evidence if something goes wrong. But what are you doing to protect yourself financially?
You can't control whether the driver who hits you has insurance, carries enough insurance, or leaves the scene. But you can control how much uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage you carry.
Bike Legal recommends that cyclists consider carrying at least $250,000 in UM/UIM bodily injury coverage, with higher limits when available and financially feasible.
Depending on your state and insurer, obtaining higher UM/UIM limits may also require increasing your bodily injury liability limits.
Ask your insurance agent what it would cost to increase your bodily injury liability and UM/UIM limits to $250,000 or $500,000. In California, for example, the minimum bodily injury liability limit is only $30,000 per person. You may be surprised by how much additional protection you can purchase for a minimal additional premium.
Check Your Auto Insurance Policy Today
Find the declarations page of your auto insurance policy and look for Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury (UMBI), Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury (UIMBI), or UM/UIM. Pay particular attention to the per-person and per-accident limits.
Don't assume that having "full coverage" means you have adequate UM/UIM protection. In California, insurers must offer UM/UIM coverage, but you can reject it in writing.
No Car? Ask About Your UM/UIM Options
If you don't own a car or have an auto insurance policy, don't assume UM/UIM protection is unavailable.
One option to ask an insurance agent about is non-owner auto insurance. These policies are designed primarily for people who drive but don't own a vehicle. Depending on the insurer and state, a non-owner policy may offer optional UM/UIM coverage.
To learn more, read our Bicyclists' Guide to Insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions About UM/UIM Insurance for Cyclists
What does UM/UIM insurance coverage cover?
UM/UIM insurance may cover bodily injury damages when an at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough insurance to cover your losses. Depending on the policy and state law, coverage may include medical expenses, lost income, future medical care, loss of earning capacity, and pain and suffering. Uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage is separate and varies by state and policy.
Is UM the same as UIM insurance?
No. Uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) insurance cover different situations. UM generally applies when the at-fault driver has no applicable insurance or in a qualifying hit-and-run. UIM applies when the driver has insurance, but their liability limits are insufficient to cover your damages. Simply put, UM means no insurance; UIM means not enough insurance.
Does my auto insurance cover me if I'm hit while riding my bicycle?
Your auto insurance may cover you if a motor vehicle hits you while you're riding your bicycle. Uninsured and underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage may protect an insured person even when they are cycling rather than occupying the insured vehicle. Whether coverage applies depends on your auto insurance policy, state law, and the circumstances of the bicycle crash.
Do I need UM/UIM coverage if I have health insurance?
Health insurance is not a substitute for UM/UIM bodily injury coverage. Health insurance primarily helps pay medical expenses and may involve deductibles, copays, and other limitations. UM/UIM coverage may compensate for additional covered damages, including lost income, future economic losses, and pain and suffering. It may provide financial protection that health insurance alone does not.
Is UM/UIM worth it?
UM/UIM coverage can be a valuable addition to an auto insurance policy because it protects against drivers with no insurance or insufficient coverage. In 2023, 33.4% of U.S. drivers were uninsured or underinsured, according to the Insurance Research Council. For cyclists, UM/UIM can be especially important because coverage may apply if a motorist hits you while you're riding your bicycle.
Why would you reject uninsured motorist coverage?
Some people reject uninsured motorist coverage to lower their auto insurance premium or because they believe their health insurance or other coverage is sufficient. However, declining UM coverage can leave you financially exposed if an uninsured or hit-and-run driver injures you. Before rejecting coverage, consider what insurance would be available to compensate you if the at-fault driver has none.
What happens if the driver who hit me only has minimum liability insurance?
If your damages exceed the at-fault driver's liability limits, your underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage may provide an additional source of compensation. For example, California currently requires only $30,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person. If your damages exceed the driver's available insurance, applicable UIM coverage may help, subject to your policy limits, policy terms, and state law.
How do I know if I have UM/UIM coverage?
Check your auto insurance declarations page to determine whether you have UM/UIM coverage and how much you carry. Look for Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury (UMBI), Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury (UIMBI), or UM/UIM, along with the per-person and per-accident limits. If you're unsure, ask your insurance company or agent to confirm your coverage and limits.
Does UM/UIM cover damage to my bicycle?
UM/UIM bodily injury coverage does not automatically cover damage to your bicycle. Bodily injury coverage, commonly identified as UMBI or UIMBI, applies to eligible injury-related damages. Uninsured or underinsured motorist property damage coverage is separate, and whether it covers damage to a bicycle depends on state law and the specific insurance policy.
Injured by an Uninsured or Underinsured Driver? Bike Legal Can Help
If you have been injured while riding your bicycle or e-bike, determining what insurance coverage is available can be complicated, especially when the driver is uninsured, underinsured, or cannot be identified after a hit-and-run.
Bike Legal represents injured cyclists and will investigate the crash, identify applicable insurance policies, and pursue available sources of compensation, including potential UM/UIM coverage.
Request a free consultation with Bike Legal.
Call 877-BIKE-LEGAL (877-245-3534)
Bike Legal Spoke & Law Blog
Ride Protected
Ride Safe, with Bike Legal
At Bike Legal, our mission is to advocate for bicycle safety and to share the road responsibly through education. Our legal team is committed to supporting and representing cyclists across the United States, no matter where you ride or how you ride.
