120+ moreEvery state has its own minimum car insurance requirements, and Oregon requires additional coverage. Oregon drivers must carry bodily injury and property damage liability, personal injury protection (PIP), and uninsured motorist (UM) insurance.
Keep reading to learn more about Oregon car insurance requirements and how to find the cheapest coverage for your needs.
In Oregon, it’s important to carry insurance at all times. Oregon is an at-fault state, meaning the insurance company of the driver who causes the accident covers the other party’s resulting injuries and property damage.1
The state of Oregon requires drivers to purchase the following minimum car insurance:2
If you cause a car accident, your bodily injury liability covers the other driver’s medical treatment and expenses related to injuries from the accident. Bodily injury can also pay for some costs related to the other driver’s resulting pain and suffering and lost wages, as well as your legal costs.
Property damage liability covers costs to repair any property that you damage in an at-fault car accident. Covered property includes other vehicles, houses, guardrails, mailboxes, and businesses. This insurance may also cover your legal costs for lawsuits filed against you related to the accident.
Personal injury protection helps pay for your expenses after a car accident — such as lost wages, medical bills, and funeral costs — regardless of fault. PIP coverage also extends to your injured passengers.
Keep in mind that this coverage can apply if you aren’t driving. If a car hits you while you’re walking, PIP coverage could help pay for your medical expenses.
Oregon requires drivers to carry car insurance, but that doesn’t mean everyone does. Around 12.3% of motorists in Oregon are uninsured, making uninsured motorist coverage very important.3 It protects you if a driver without car insurance hits you. Additionally, you could file an uninsured motorist claim if you’re ever the victim of a hit-and-run.
Uninsured motorist insurance covers your and your passengers’ injuries following a car accident. It also covers your vehicle damage if an uninsured driver hits you.
The Automobile Insurance Plan of Oregon provides car insurance coverage to high-risk drivers who have trouble finding coverage. Companies that write car insurance policies in Oregon share the risk with one another.
Oregon and several other states are part of an association of auto plans known as the Western Association of Automobile Insurance Plans. WAAIP is a processing center that connects people who have trouble buying automobile insurance with an insurance company that will insure them.4
While Oregon law requires you to carry only minimum liability coverage, you may want to consider adding more because the minimum car insurance limits don’t pay for your vehicle damage after an accident.
Insurance professionals encourage drivers to purchase more coverage than the state requires. If you cause an accident and only have liability coverage, you’ll face out-of-pocket costs for your accident-related expenses. You should consider getting a full-coverage policy, which includes liability, comprehensive, and collision coverages.
Liability-only car insurance typically costs less than full-coverage insurance. Oregon drivers pay an average of $93 per month for liability coverage and $146 per month for full-coverage insurance.
Your circumstances can help you decide if liability or full coverage is right for you. For example, liability coverage may meet your protection needs if you drive an inexpensive or old vehicle that you’ve paid off. You may want full coverage if you have a newer or more expensive vehicle. Your lender may even require you to carry this coverage if you have a lease or finance your vehicle.
It’s illegal to drive without car insurance in Oregon. If a police officer pulls you over or you have an accident without proof of insurance, you can face a number of penalties:
Fines: You’ll pay a penalty of at least $130, but up to $1,000, depending on the court’s decision.
License suspension: The Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Services Division (DMV) can suspend your driver’s license for one year. You’ll have to purchase a car insurance policy to get your license back.
SR-22 insurance: After you get your license back, your car insurance company will have to file an SR-22 certificate with the DMV — for an additional fee — to prove you have insurance. The SR-22 must stay on file with the DMV for three years.
Financial damages: You can face a lawsuit if you cause a car accident as an uninsured driver. If you can’t pay for the damages within 60 days, you can face license suspension until you pay.
Liability coverage pays for property damage and bodily injuries another person suffers due to a car accident you cause. It doesn’t cover your accident-related property damages. Liability coverage is a less expensive option than full coverage because it doesn’t pay for your vehicle damage.
Mile Auto offers the cheapest liability-only car insurance coverage in Oregon, at $68 per month.
You can compare quotes from Oregon insurers offering the cheapest liability car insurance below.
Full-coverage car insurance offers the same protections as a liability policy, plus comprehensive and collision coverages.
Comprehensive car insurance pays for vehicle damage from non-collision incidents, including events beyond your control, like theft, vandalism, and severe weather. Collision car insurance helps pay for vehicle repairs after you’ve hit another vehicle or object.
Mile Auto has the cheapest full-coverage car insurance rates in Oregon. The following table features the average monthly rates for full coverage.
Having more coverage provides better protection for you and your vehicle. Buying liability, comprehensive, and collision coverages is a good start, but you also have other optional insurance coverages to consider. Consider the following common insurance add-ons: