CheapInsurance.com has put together tips with attention to affordable car insurance quotes to help find cheap car insurance in Oregon.
Oregon boasts a diverse landscape. From snow-capped mountains and expansive river canyons to verdant valleys and rugged coastlines.
Whether you’re driving along the blue green waters of the Pacific Ocean, or taking a trip, you will need to have car insurance.
Beaver State Cruising: Updates & Insurance Insights on Cheap Car Insurance in Oregon
Get ready to explore rugged coastlines, lush forests, and vibrant cities in Oregon with these recent key updates for drivers.
Oregon Vehicle Code Changes:
- No major code changes implemented in 2024: Existing laws regarding distracted driving, speeding, and other critical regulations remain in effect. (Source: Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 811)
- Continued focus on pedestrian and cyclist safety: Increased enforcement of crosswalk laws and other initiatives remain ongoing. Stay updated through the Oregon Department of Transportation. (Source: Oregon Department of Transportation)
- Expansion of electric vehicle (EV) incentives: Increased tax credits and other benefits available for purchasing and using electric vehicles. See the Oregon Department of Energy website for details. (Source: Oregon Department of Energy)
As mentioned, these are just highlights, and other changes may apply. Visit the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles website for complete information.
Minimum Liability Car Insurance in Oregon
Minimum liability car insurance is also referred to as state minimum auto insurance or minimum coverage car insurance.
It’s an insurance policy that provides financial protection for a driver who has an accident with someone else or their property while operating a vehicle.
Liability insurance only covers injuries or damages to third parties and their property. The driver’s injuries or property damages can be separately covered by other parts of their policy.
Consequently, failing to carry the minimum required auto insurance in Oregon can result in hefty fines. Additionally, you may be personally liable if you cause an accident.
The low coverage limits of minimum liability insurance could end up costing you more in the long run if you are the cause of an accident.
It may be worthwhile to compare the difference in price between minimum liability insurance and full coverage insurance.
What Is Full Coverage Car Insurance?
Full coverage car insurance is made up of three different types of car insurance policies:
- Comprehensive coverage: This type of insurance will compensate you if your car is damaged or totaled due to something other than a collision, such as fire, theft, vandalism, natural disasters, and falling objects.
- Collision coverage: This type of auto insurance will compensate you if your car is totaled or damaged in a car accident.
- Liability insurance: This type of insurance covers you for damage you may cause to another person’s property or injury/death you may cause while driving.
Although each U.S. state has different minimum liability insurance requirements, it always includes the following:
- Bodily injury liability coverage per person: This covers medical bills, legal fees, or lost wages you might be required to pay to an individual third party.
- Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: This is the maximum amount your insurer will pay out for medical bills, legal fees, or lost wages in the event of an accident, regardless of how many people are injured.
- Property damage liability coverage per accident: This is the maximum amount your insurer will pay out for repairs or a replacement if you cause damage to another person’s property.
In Oregon, the minimum insurance requirements presently:
- $25,000 per person bodily injury liability.
- 50,000 per accident bodily injury liability.
- $20,000 per accident property damage.
- $15,000 personal injury protection.
- $25,000 per person uninsured motorist coverage.
- $50,000 per accident uninsured motorist coverage.
All drivers in Oregon have to meet these liability requirements.
If you’re found to be at-fault in a car accident and do not meet the minimum liability insurance requirements, you will be held personally responsible for paying the other party’s medical bills, legal bills, and lost wages.
Drivers in Oregon who settle for minimum coverage insurance are pay the lowest car insurance in Oregon.
However, most insurance companies recommend that drivers purchase more coverage than the minimum insurance requirement.
Car accidents can be expensive, nonetheless state minimum coverage might not cover a driver’s full financial responsibility of an accident.
Drivers in Oregon are also required to carry personal injury protection (PIP) coverage, which pays out for medical expenses regardless of who caused the accident.
You can purchase higher levels of coverage, in reality the minimum level of personal injury protection pays for:
- Up to $10,000 of medical expenses per person in an accident.
- 85% of lost wages due to the injury (with a maximum of $200 per week).
What Is PIP Coverage?
Personal injury protection, also known as no-fault insurance, covers medical expenses and lost wages for you and your passengers if you’re injured in an accident.
PIP coverage protects you regardless of who caused the accident. Depending on the state you live in, you may be covered for:
- Medical bills for you and those covered on your policy.
- Lost wages if you or your passengers are injured and can’t work.
- Disability and rehab costs.
- Death benefit (paid to your family if you’re in a fatal car accident).
Full coverage auto insurance is optional. It’s worth considering unless you have savings that can cover the following types of damage to your vehicle:
- Theft or theft of parts.
- Non-crash damage (e.g., natural disasters, fire, floods).
- Broken windshield.
- Car damage from hitting an animal.
Consequently, without full coverage car insurance, you risk facing a situation where your car is undriveable due to repair costs. This can lead to significant inconvenience and financial hardship.
Cheap Car Insurance Quotes for Drivers with Clean Driving Records
Good drivers (drivers with a clean driving record) are in a good position to find cheap car insurance quotes. Car insurance companies consider good drivers at the present time:
- Not been the cause of any car accidents.
- Committed no traffic violations.
- Have a good credit score.
- No speeding tickets.
- Have no reckless driving charges.
- No DUI convictions.
As an incentive, many car insurance companies offer a good driver discount for your auto insurance, saving you more money.
Some car insurance companies will offer an additional discount if you have completed an accredited defensive driving course.
These courses teach a variety of skills and strategies to handle difficult situations on the road, as well as educate drivers on state traffic laws.
Insurers believe completing such a course could lead to safer driving habits and result in fewer insurance claims.
Affordable Car Insurance in Oregon for High-Risk Drivers
Drivers with incidents on their record such as an at-fault accident or a DUI (driving under the influence) citation tend to pay higher automobile insurance rates.
The reason for this is that insurance companies believe these drivers are more likely to make future claims against their auto insurance policy.
Some of the offenses that may lead to someone being considered a high risk driver include:
- Receiving a DUI conviction.
- Reckless driving.
- Speeding tickets.
- Being found at-fault in a major accident.
- Having too many points on your driving record.
- Driving without meeting the minimum liability coverage requirements.
- Unpaid child support payments.
- Unpaid insurance policy premiums.
- A poor credit rating.
Cheap auto insurance in Oregon with bad credit
Your credit score affects your risk profile in most states, even though it has nothing to do with your ability to drive safely.
Drivers with a poor credit score are seen as being more of a risk and they often pay more for their vehicle insurance policies.
Insurance companies regard drivers’ credit scores as a measure of their level of responsibility.
Inexpensive Car Insurance for Young Drivers
Insurers tend to charge young drivers higher rates because they have less experience behind the wheel.
Teens get into accidents more often than adult drivers, so they’re more likely to benefit from having repairs on their car covered.
A full coverage policy is recommended for teen drivers if they can afford it.
A minimum coverage policy though it is much cheaper could ultimately cost more if a teen gets into a serious accident. They would have to pay the difference when the insurance policy falls short for the repair.
Tips for Finding The Cheapest Car Insurance
Take note of lender requirements
If your car is financed or leased, your lender is likely to require that you have full coverage insurance. As a result, these coverages are required, liability insurance, comprehensive coverage, and collision insurance.
Many car dealerships won’t let you drive the car off the lot until you can prove you have full coverage car insurance.
Full coverage car insurance protects your lender if you’re in a car accident. When your car is stolen, or in a total loss accident, in short, it pays the lender for the loan.
If you lose your required insurance coverage, your lender could add single interest insurance to your loan. This is for their protection.
You should avoid allowing your car insurance to lapse, because single interest car insurance is much more expensive than standard car insurance.
Compare cheap car insurance quotes in Oregon from different insurance companies
Even if you think you’ve found a good deal on car insurance, it’s always a good idea to shop around for inexpensive auto insurance quotes.
You can do this yourself, but going through an insurance agent can save you time and money.
The only way to be completely certain that you’re getting the best car insurance rates is to compare the cheapest car insurance quotes from multiple insurers.
Additional Information For Oregon Car Insurance
Is Oregon a no-fault accident state?
Oregon is an “at-fault” car accident state, which means that drivers are financially responsible for any accident they cause.
However, the resulting costs will typically be covered under your car insurance policy.
If you don’t have insurance, the other driver can file a lawsuit against you to get you to cover the cost of their injuries and damages.
How much is car insurance in Oregon?
Keep in mind that what you pay for car insurance will depend on your age, gender, driving record, credit score, and other factors in your unique driving profile.
What is the average cost of car insurance in Oregon?
In addition, insurance companies use different methods to calculate premiums. To find the best deal, it’s recommended to obtain quotes from at least three companies.
What car insurance discounts are available in Oregon?
You can get car insurance discounts in Oregon based on how you drive, the car you own, and your relationship with your insurance company.
In Oregon, car insurance companies consider factors such as employment, credit rating, residential, and marital status when setting premiums.
Is it illegal to drive without insurance in Oregon?
Yes, it is illegal to drive without insurance in Oregon.
A convicted driver will also be prohibited from obtaining a driver’s license for at least 180 days.
What Is the Best Way to Find Cheap Insurance?
To find the cheapest car insurance rates in Oregon, we recommend comparing cheap insurance rates from multiple companies.
