Medford is one of the top small cities in the country, and there’s plenty to love about life here. Fortunately, that list includes affordable car insurance.

State law requires anyone who registers a car in Medford to carry at least the minimum insurance requirements.1 The average monthly cost for this liability coverage is $82, and the average monthly rate for full coverage is $124. These rates make Medford one of the more affordable cities for insurance in Oregon.

Multiple factors likely contribute to Medford’s lower rates. For example, Medford drivers have a relatively short commute time of just over 17 minutes. Less time on the road can mean a lower risk of getting into an accident. The city of more than 85,000 also has a comparatively low accident rate — Medford had just 2,011 crashes and 21 fatalities in 2021.1

While Medford’s average car insurance rates are lower than both the Oregon and national averages, comparing car insurance quotes could help you save even more.

Cheapest car insurance companies in Medford

The cheapest auto insurance for you depends on your coverage needs and situation. Insurance companies use numerous factors to decide how much to charge each driver for coverage. Each insurer also rates each component differently. All of this means the best way to find the affordable coverage you need is to shop around and compare quotes from several insurers.

As you begin your search, keep these three insurers in mind.

Best insurer for teen drivers: Country Financial

Best insurer for discounts: State Farm

Best insurer for low-mileage drivers: Mile Auto

How to get the cheapest car insurance in Medford

The easiest way to find the cheapest car insurance in Medford is to shop around. Insurance companies weigh their criteria differently from one another.

Generally, insurance companies look at a driver’s ZIP code, age, marital status, driving record, credit history, and more during the underwriting process.

Some of these factors are outside your control. Others aren’t, and you can always reduce your insurance expenses with the following tips:

• Focus on lowering your speed and driving safely. Speeding tickets, accidents, and DUIs can all affect your insurance premiums dramatically.

• Take advantage of as many discounts as you can. Be sure to ask your insurer what discounts are available. There may be some you hadn’t considered.

• Consider raising your deductible. The higher your deductible, the lower your monthly premium. However, make sure you don’t raise your deductible so high you can’t afford to pay it should you need to file a claim.

• Choose minimum coverage. Opt for the minimum car insurance coverages if you have older vehicles.

Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Medford: Mile Auto

Liability insurance is the minimum amount of coverage you must carry to register and legally drive in Oregon. Liability coverage pays for the other driver’s bodily injuries and vehicle repairs in an accident you cause.

The average rate for liability-only insurance in Medford is $82 per month, and you can see a collection of rates from leading insurers in the table below.

Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Medford: Mile Auto

Full-coverage insurance includes liability coverage plus comprehensive and collision insurance. If you’re at fault in an accident, your full-coverage policy will pay for the other party’s vehicle repairs and medical expenses, as well as to fix your car.

You can also add other coverages to your policy, including coverage for a rental car if your car is in the shop after an accident.

The average rate for full-coverage insurance in Medford is $124 per month, and you can find a list of leading insurers below.

Car insurance requirements in Oregon

Oregon is an at-fault state, which means whichever driver caused the accident is responsible for paying the injured party’s medical and repair expenses. However, personal injury protection is also a requirement, and this lets you receive payment for your medical expenses regardless of fault. The state also requires drivers to carry the minimum limits, outlined in the table below.

While drivers in Oregon aren’t required to carry more than the above minimum coverage types and limits, it may be prudent to increase these coverage amounts.

You may also want to consider adding the following coverages:

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident

An incident is an at-fault accident, speeding ticket, DUI, or other serious traffic violation that shows on your record. An incident will usually increase your car insurance rates because insurers see incidents as indicators of future dangerous driving behavior. DUIs are seen as being especially serious and may cause your insurer to drop you altogether.

Drivers with clean driving records get better rates overall, as illustrated in the table below.

Average cost of car insurance by age

Your age can have a dramatic effect on your car insurance rates. Teenagers pay some of the highest insurance premiums because of their lack of driving experience and an increased likelihood of being in an accident.

You can expect to enjoy your lowest insurance rates between the ages of 35 and 70. After age 70, rates start to increase again because reduced faculties make senior drivers more likely to be in an accident. In addition, seniors involved in an accident are more likely to require additional medical care.

This table illustrates the average rates you can expect to pay based on your age.

Medford car insurance quotes by credit tier

Oregon allows insurance companies to use a customer’s credit history to decide their rate; however, the state bars insurers from using it to affect rates at renewal.5

A licensed driver with excellent or good credit can enjoy lower rates because the company sees them as more financially stable. Companies see drivers with poor credit as less financially stable and more likely to file a claim if they’re in an accident.