Margaret Huntley Last Updated On: July 25, 2023

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What to Expect When Shopping for Oregon Car Insurance

Oregon is known for its scenic beauty and gorgeous outdoors. There’s no shortage of reasons to find an excuse to hop on the highway and take in the sights. But if costly car insurance is stopping you from taking full advantage of the state’s beauty, then we’ve got news for you: affordable car insurance in Oregon is within reach.

Don’t go anywhere. Below, we break down everything you need to know about car insurance coverage, average costs, and how to find the best auto insurance in Oregon.

Like the beaver that the state is nicknamed after, let’s get to work.

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Oregon Minimum Auto Insurance Coverage

Car insurance is designed to protect you from paying out of pocket for expensive accidents. But not everyone can afford the same level of coverage, and that’s okay. Each state sets out a minimum amount of required coverage you need to have before hitting the road, so that if you are involved in an accident, you and the other driver are at least somewhat protected.

These are the Oregon car insurance requirements:

Bodily injury and property damage liability
- $25,000 per person
- $50,000 per crash for bodily injury to others
- $20,000 per crash for damage to others’ property

Personal injury protection
- $15,000 per person

Uninsured motorist
- $25,000 per person
- $50,000 per crash for bodily injury

Oregon is one of the states with the most strict minimum car insurance requirements. As long as you have this amount in place, you’re legally allowed to drive in Oregon.

But keep in mind, even though Oregon has more required coverage than most states, this minimum coverage is exactly that: the bare minimum. Car accidents can quickly escalate out of control in terms of costs, especially once you factor in medical costs, totalled vehicles, damages and legal fees if you’re sued, and more. And anything that your insurance doesn’t cover, you’re on the hook for the balance.

By having more than the minimum coverage in place, you can get behind the wheel with peace of mind. But if insurance jargon confuses you, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading for a simplified breakdown of your Oregon car insurance options.

Do You Need Insurance to Register a Car in Oregon?

Yes, you will need proof of insurance when registering a car in Oregon. You will need to have at least the minimum amount of coverage in place to be able to register your car.

If you’re tempted to skip this step, think again: driving without your vehicle registration and proof of insurance can cost you in hefty fines, a suspended vehicle, and suspended license.

Getting insurance is easier than you might think. Keep reading for all the info you need to get on the road safely.

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Oregon Car Insurance Coverage Options

Car insurance policies have advanced over the years. While you can still choose from basic coverage, you can also beef up your policy with different coverage options that better protect you from the road’s hazards.

Before diving into optional coverage, let’s quickly review the required insurance coverage types and what they mean:

Bodily Injury Liability: This helps pay for the other driver’s medical costs if you cause an accident, as well as provides you a legal defense if you’re sued.
Property Damage Liability: This helps pay for damage you cause to someone else’s property in an accident, as well as your legal fees or damages if you’re sued.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist: If you’re involved in an accident with someone who doesn’t have insurance or doesn’t have enough of it, this coverage helps pay for the difference.
Personal Injury Protection: Also referred to as PIP, this helps pay for your own medical expenses after an accident, as well as any other costs that arise, like childcare, lost wages, and more.

Oregon has some of the most comprehensive minimum car insurance requirements out there. While it can initially feel like a burden to have to have all this coverage, it’s designed to protect you and your wallet should something happen.

After all, should you be injured, you will definitely appreciate your lost income being covered so that you can properly rest and heal. And if you’ve ever experienced the frustration of another driver zooming off after an accident, then you’ll know how handy uninsured motorist coverage is.

But that’s not all. You can also choose from the following coverage options when building out your life insurance policy:

Collision: This covers you if you collide with another vehicle or a stationary object on the road, like a telephone pole. It covers repairs or replacement of your vehicle, up to your coverage limits.
Comprehensive: This covers any other damage that might happen to your car, including weather, animals, theft or vandalism, and more. It covers repairs or replacement of your vehicle, up to your coverage limits.
Gap: If your vehicle is leased or financed and becomes totaled, this coverage helps pay off what you still owe on the vehicle, if it’s more than the depreciated value.
Roadside Assistance: If you break down on the road, this covers a tow to a nearby service shop and minor roadside quick fixes.
Ridesharing: If you drive for a service like Lyft or Uber, this coverage protects you and your passengers (regular auto insurance doesn’t).
Classic Car: If you have an antique or classic car, you need special insurance to help cover the more expensive repairs and parts and the higher value of the vehicle.

These are just some of the car insurance options you have available to you. Each provider offers different coverage options, so it’s important to shop around to make sure you have the coverage you want and need.

The Average Cost of Car Insurance in Oregon

We know you’d love to have all the coverage possible if cost weren’t a factor, but unfortunately it is. The good news is that Oregon offers reasonable car insurance, given the state’s lower highway density and low number of uninsured drivers (likely thanks to the minimum required coverage!).

So, what’s the damage? Here are some numbers to help you budget accordingly:

The average driver pays $1,181 per year for car insurance in Oregon
Minimum coverage costs an average of $802 per year
Drivers with a speeding ticket on their driving record will pay an average of $1,541 per year
Drivers with an at-fault accident will pay an average of $1,785 per year
An 18-year-old driver will pay an average of $2,171 per year

There are a number of factors that go into each car insurance quote. The amount you’ll pay depends on things like:

Your age and gender
Your location
Your vehicle make and model
Your driving history
Your credit score

As you can see, quotes could vary significantly from driver to driver just based on these factors. But each insurance provider also weighs each factor differently, which means quotes can also be quite different at each provider. This is why it’s so important to shop around for car insurance, because you could be paying way more than you need to just by virtue of not having compared quotes.

We’ve got more tips to save on car insurance up our sleeve. Keep reading for those and more.

In the meantime, you can get a more accurate idea of what you’ll pay by getting access to free quotes here.

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Average Car Insurance Costs by Location

You already know that where you live impacts your car insurance quotes. Why? You might live in a densely populated urban neighborhood, that’s more likely to see car accidents or car thefts. Or maybe you live out in the middle of nowhere, where accidents are less likely. You might also live in an area that sees intense winter weather, like snow and ice that translates to more frequent accidents.

Insurers associate your location with a certain level of risk and quote your car insurance accordingly. To help give you an idea, here are some of the average costs by city in Oregon:

Eugene residents pay an average of $847 per year
Gresham residents pay an average of $1,230
Hillsboro sees an average of $1,055
Portland jumps to $1,181 per year
Salem pays $1,041 on average

While moving just to save on car insurance likely isn’t in the cards, paying more for car insurance just because of your location might motivate you to drive more carefully or park your car more carefully (if crime rates are higher).

How to Save on Oregon Car Insurance

Saving on car insurance in The Beaver State is more than possible. Some require a little more work on your part than others, but these savings can quickly add and put more money back in your pocket for whatever brings you joy, from a day at Carter Lake or driving up to Mount Hood.

Here are eight ways to save on your car insurance:

Shop around for quotes. Each insurance provider calculates quotes differently, so you’re leaving money on the table if you accept the first quote you get.
Don’t pay for coverage you don’t need. If you have an older vehicle that’s not worth the deductible it would cost to get it repaired, not to mention the potential raise in premiums, skip comprehensive or collision coverage.
Increase your deductible. If you can afford a higher deductible (the amount you pay to have a claim paid out), you’ll instantly save on premiums.
Drive less. By reducing your mileage, you’re less at risk for collisions and you’ll save on your premiums. Whenever possible, bike, walk or ride the bus to save money on insurance and gas.
Choose your next car carefully. A flashy, luxury car is more expensive to insure. Choose a vehicle with a lower theft rate and plenty of safety features to lower your insurance.
Ask for discounts. Every insurance provider offers some form of discount and some more than others. Asking for any discounts that you’re eligible for can save you anywhere from 5-30% on your car insurance.
Bundle policies. Bundle your home and auto insurance, or even multiple vehicles onto one policy, and save.
Maintain a clean driving history. Doing your best to avoid speeding tickets, accidents, and insurance claims will do the most to keep your premiums down. You can’t do anything about past mistakes, but they will eventually drop off your record and your premiums will drop, as long as you don’t incur any new ones. Find more info here.

Now that you’re armed with our best tips to save on car insurance in Oregon, you’re ready to start exploring quotes.

Shop Now for Oregon Car Insurance Quotes

Here comes the fun part: shopping for your new car insurance. Shopping for insurance can feel like a pain, but it’s even more painful to pay more than you need to each month on your car insurance. Now that you know what coverage to look for, what you can expect in terms of costs, and how to save, getting car insurance quotes is a breeze.

Start by getting access to free quotes here, and you’ll be armed with the best car insurance in Oregon just as fast as you can recite the state’s catchphrase: “She Flies With Her Own Wings”.

We’ve got you covered.

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Margaret Huntley Margaret Huntley is a creative writing and philosophy student at Western University. She has been working as a freelance writer for over two years and has written about everything from insurance, to poker, to health and wellness for international businesses.