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Oregon Car Insurance

When driving a State of Oregon registered vehicle, insurance is required at all times.

Oregon minimum car insurance requirements in Oregon are:

  • Auto Insurance liability policy with limits of at least 25/50/20, which means:
    • $25,000 of bodily injury to another person
    • $50,000 of bodily injuries to all other persons
    • $20,000 of injury to or destruction of property of others in any one accident
    • Personal Injury Protection (PIP), which provides limited coverage for loss of earnings, funeral expenses, essential services, child care, and medical services incurred up to one year after the accident, up to $15,000.
    • Uninsured motorist bodily injury and underinsured motorist coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury to the driver and passengers caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver.

Alternative Options to Insurance:

Self Insurance Certificates are available in Oregon if the following requirements are met:

  • You or your company must have at least 26 registered vehicles
  • You must qualify by application through the Department of Transportation

Required Proof of Insurance in Oregon

Insurance Card provided by Insurance company including all of the following:

    • Name of Insurance Company
    • Insurance Policy Number
    • Effective Date/Expiration Date of Policy
    • Accurate description of all vehicles covered under the policy
    • Name of Insured Driver

Self Insurance certificates are issued by the Department of Transportation and must include the following:

      • Certificate Number
      • Effective Date of Certificate
      • Accurate description of year, make/model of registered vehicle
      • Name of driver covered by certificate

Oregon Department of Transportation

1905 Lana Ave. NE
Salem, OR 97314

Phone numbers vary by region- check out Oregon.gov for your local DMV helpline.

In Oregon, drivers under 18 hold a provisional driver’s license, subject to restrictions, until they turn 18.

Obtaining a Provisional Driver’s License

Here are the requirements to obtain your license for residents under the age of 18:

  • Be at least 16 years old.
  • Have instruction permit for at least six months.
  • Pass a state-approved traffic safety education course.
  • Get at least 50 hours of supervised driving practice with a driver at least 21 years old who has been licensed for at least three years.

Restrictions for Provisional Driver’s Licenses

  • Drivers under 18 are not allowed to use a cell phone or any mobile communication device, hands-free or otherwise, while driving.
  • Drivers who have held their provisional license for less than six months may not drive with a passenger younger than 20 years old who is not an immediate family member.
  • Drivers who have held their provisional license for more than six months but less than one year may not drive with more than three passengers younger than 20 years old who are not immediate family members.
  • Drivers who have held their provisional license for less than one year may not drive between midnight and 5 a.m. unless driving to or from employment, driving to or from a school event for which no other transportation was available, or unless driving with a licensed driver at least 25 years old.

Here are the requirements to obtain your first license for residents over the age of 18:

  • Complete a driver’s license application.
  • If you have no driving experience, obtain an instruction permit. You may choose to enroll in a state-approved traffic safety education course.

Once you meet the requirements for either a provisional license or full license, visit your local DMV and apply for a driver license. Bring the following:

  • Proof of Oregon residency and legal presence in the United States
  • Original card proving completion of a state-approved traffic safety education course
  • Proof of high school enrollment, equivalency or completion, if under 18
  • Completed driver’s license application (with parent or guardian’s signature if under 18)
  • Proof of full legal name
  • Proof of social security number

You must also:

  • Pass the Class C knowledge test, if you do not have an Oregon instruction permit or have a permit that has been expired for more than one year.
  • Pass a Safe Driving Practices knowledge test based on the Oregon Driver’s manual. You may take this test no earlier than 30 days prior to your 16th birthday.
  • Make an appointment for a driving test.
  • Pass the driving test and show proof of insurance for the vehicle you use.
  • Pass a vision screening test.
  • Pay your licensing and testing fees: Class C licenses cost $60; permits cost $23.50. Knowledge and drive tests total $14.

Completing Driver Education

Students may enroll in a state-approved Traffic Safety Education Course when they turn 15. Courses are offered through approved driving schools and through local high schools and community colleges. A complete list of approved schools is available online.

Course requirements:

  • 30 hours of in-class instruction
  • Six hours of behind-the-wheel driving time and six hours of behind-the-wheel observation
  • Completion before the student’s 18th birthday

Knowing the Rules of the Road

Oregon provides its rules of the road online through its state legislature page in Oregon Revised Statutes chapters 801-826, known as the Motor Vehicle Code. Carefully obey these rules to avoid incidents and violations, and to qualify for the lowest auto insurance rates in Oklahoma.

Laws regarding reckless driving, child safety restraints, speed violations and other basic laws are in ORS 811. Laws pertaining to motorcycles and mopeds are in ORS 814. Laws and penalties regarding driving while intoxicated or while under the influence are in ORS 813.

Residents of Oregon typically fall into one of three insurance coverage markets: the preferred market, the standard market, and the nonstandard market. The preferred market offers the best car insurance rates in Oklahoma and is available to drivers considered to be the safest or “best risk.” Preferred drivers have had clean driving records for the past three years. Standard market drivers are considered moderate risk drivers and will pay slightly higher rates than preferred drivers, though they will still enjoy low cost car insurance in Oklahoma. They will typically drive family vehicles and have a few minor violations or accidents on their driving record. Nonstandard drivers are considered to be the riskiest drivers and will pay the highest insurance rates. They will have a lengthy history of accidents or tickets, have a poor record of paying premiums, or may have serious convictions, such as driving while intoxicated, on their records.

Know Your Rates

Auto insurance rates are calculated by carefully considering all of the licensed drivers in the household. The base rate that is used to evaluate all drivers is adjusted according to several factors including:

  • Age. Statistics indicate that drivers under the age of 25 are involved in more accidents than those aged between 25 and 65. For this reason, younger drivers may have to pay more than the average cost of car insurance in Oklahoma for coverage.
  • Gender. Statistical evidence suggests that men under the age of 25 are involved in more accidents than women in the same age group, so male drivers will usually pay higher rates than their female counterparts.
  • Driving record and claims history. If you have had multiple accidents, tickets, and insurance claims, you are automatically considered a riskier driver to insure. In Oregon, insurers will look at your record over the past three years to determine what rate to go by.
  • Make, model, and year of the vehicle. Especially for younger drivers, high-performance vehicles are typically the most expensive to insure because they are considered more likely to be involved in accidents and are expensive to repair.
  • Credit history. While someone’s credit score can be a factor companies use to determine whether or not to issue coverage and what to charge, the state of Oregon has limited in what ways credit score can be used. Insurers can’t cancel a policy or raise a policyholder’s rates simply due to credit score. They can look at credit scores when determining whether or not to issue a new policy, but they must be able to show how it is used. Consumers also must be informed their credit score will be used before a company runs a credit check.

Lower Your Rates

The Oregon Insurance Division offers tips to consumers about how they lower their auto insurance rates. You can start thinking about your insurance costs before you even purchase a vehicle, by asking your agent how much the vehicle you want to buy might affect your rates. Sports cars and other high-performance vehicles will be more expensive to insure than sedans and family-friendly vehicles.

Don’t just settle for the first policy and rates you are offered. Compare auto insurance rates in Oklahoma by shopping around with different companies and finding the policy that works best for you. Review your policy and coverage frequently: consider dropping collision coverage on cars that cost more to repair than they are worth, and consider carrying only the state minimum coverage on cars that are worth less than $1,000. Consider lowering your monthly rates by increasing your deductible, but first make sure you can afford to pay an increased deductible out-of-pocket if an incident occurs. Let your agent know if you move, significantly reduce your annual mileage, or if the number of drivers in your household changes.

Ask your agent about any discounts you may qualify for, including: multiple cars on a single policy, insuring your home with the same company, your young driver makes good grades in school, your young driver has completed driver education, you have completed a defensive driving course, you’re between the ages of 50 and 65. Your vehicle could earn you discounts as well if it comes with safety features such as an anti-lock brake system and airbags, or anti-theft devices. You could also earn discounts for being a low-mileage driver or for riding in a carpool. If you insure a driver who is away at college more than 100 miles away and without a car, you could qualify for another discount. Doing this extra work can help you get the best car insurance rates in Oklahoma for your needs.

Picking an Insurance Agent/Broker

Insurance agents who work for insurance companies aim to sell policies for commission. Insurance brokers, on the other hand, do not represent a company. Instead, they work with individual clients, assessing their clients’ needs and finding different insurance options to fit those needs. Like agents, they also receive a commission for the sales they make from different insurance companies. Both types of insurance experts can help you find the best car insurance in Oklahoma.

Whether you use an agent or broker, make sure that they are licensed to sell insurance in Oregon. You can find out vital information about your agent, including their data file, and find information about your company through the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services’ Insurance Division website.

If you have had issues with an insurance company, you can file a complaint online. The division investigates complaints against agents and companies, and its advocates try to settle disputes between companies and consumers, recovering about $2 million each year for consumers. The division’s advocates also answer general insurance questions through their hotline, available through email at cp.ins@state.or.us or by phone, (503) 947-7984 in Salem or 1(888) 877-4894 statewide.

After an Accident

Accidents happen. But it’s what you do after an accident that can really ease the situation for you and everyone involved. Before any incident occurs, make sure you really understand your policy and exactly what is covered.  If you do get in accident, exchange key information with any other drivers or property owners involved. You’ll want to share names, addresses, phone numbers, insurance provider names, and policy numbers, even if the other driver has no car insurance in Oregon. You can find that information on proof-of-insurance cards. Next, identify witnesses and get contact information from them in case their account of the incident is needed by your insurance company.

If the accident results in injury, death, or property damage worth at least $1,500, Oregon law states you have to file an accident report with the Department of Motor Vehicles within 72 hours. Report forms are available at any law enforcement office, at DMV field offices, and on the DMV’s website.

Call your insurance provider as soon as you can, even if you are not at fault for the accident, and an insurance adjuster will assess the damage and investigate the accident’s cause. If the accident wasn’t your fault, you can use your insurance or the other driver’s insurance to cover the repair or replacement of your vehicle. If you use the other driver’s insurance, you don’t have to file a claim with your insurance and won’t have to pay the deductible.

The Oregon Insurance Division recommends making sure all damages have been settled before relieving your insurance company of its responsibility. Consider settlement factors such as bodily injuries that may take a few days to become apparent, damage estimates, and the terms of your appraisal clause, which can be used to settle disputes related to the extent of damage.

Insurance for High-Risk Drivers

Your driving record may prevent you from receiving the insurance coverage through the voluntary market, especially if you have a lengthy history of accidents, tickets, or reckless or drunk driving. If you are having trouble finding someone who will provide you with auto insurance, you may qualify for liability coverage through the Automobile Insurance Plan of Oregon’s assigned risk pool. If you have been turned down for coverage because of your record, contact your local insurance agent and they can arrange for you to be covered through the Western Association Automobile Insurance Plans. With time, you can mend your driving record so that you can move back to more affordable auto insurance in Oregon.

Additional Help

The Insurance Division provides consumers with online resources, including frequently asked questions, various data reports on complaints and top insurance companies, and a place to sign up for automatic email alerts from the division.

The division’s advocates act for the benefit of consumers in general, examining specific problems and larger trends to advocate for changes in laws or regulations as necessary.

Online resources include: