Why Oklahomans Experience Some Of The Highest Car Insurance Rates

Insuring a vehicle in Oklahoma is among the top 3 most expensive states with a premium average of $1,869.39. The population of Oklahoma, being near 3,687,050, is ranked 28 in the country. With a low comparative population, what sets the car insurance premium near the top of the list?

Examining the legal traffic requirements for the state of Oklahoma reveals partial reason as to why insuring a vehicle in the OK state has a less than o.k. price to pay.

In Oklahoma, the average speed limit in both city and highway is listed at 70 mph. Compare to other states which average at 55 mph for city and 65 mph for highway. Increased speeds in Oklahoma raise the potential for accidents at higher speeds of travel, lessens overall reaction time for drivers in an emergency, ultimately contributing to higher risk driving conditions and more costly car insurance. Another law to be considered is the ‘The Open Container Law.’ In Oklahoma this law prohibits only the driver from having an open alcoholic beverage. While each state is free to implement how an open alcoholic beverage is lawful in a vehicle, the federal government passed TEA-21 (Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century), serving as a guideline for open containers of alcohol in vehicles hoping to encourage states to make illegal any open alcohol beverage in a vehicle. An open container does not guarantee an intoxicated driver; it only implies a higher risk.

Oklahoma’s legal proceeding for drivers who violate the 0.08 Blood Alcohol Percentage Limit is another factor when assessing the state’s car insurance rates. On the first offense for DUI-DWI, suspension of the driver’s license will be for a period of 180 days, during which time, driving privileges may be restored. Many states require, (additional to arrest and suspension of license), a mandatory alcohol education and assessment/ treatment program. Seemingly permissive laws affect the risk of driving according to insurance companies.

Gaining attention as a contributing element to car accidents is the cellular phone. Whether talking or texting, states have been passing laws enforcing the use of hands free devices and no texting while driving laws. For the Oklahoma resident, there is no current ban on cell phone usage (hands free or otherwise) to obey. Without a ban encouraging proper visual coverage of the road and wheel coverage, such as the 10 and 2 grip, requiring both hands to operate the vehicle, drivers once again pay the price statewide.

The above factors may not be the only reasons behind the higher car insurance rates in Oklahoma; they are, however, pieces of the equation of which the price ads up in the price for residents.

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