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Oregon Auto Insurance Guide

An car insurance quote for Oregon should offer you the following insurance coverage or financial responsibility at a minimum:

25/50/20 – This is shorthand for the liability policy limits required which means you need a minimum coverage of:

  • $25,000 for death or injury to one person;
  • $50,000 for death or injury to two or more people; and
  • $20,000 for property damage to others

You are also required to purchase Personal Injury Protection (PIP) with its own policy minimum limit of $15,000 per person. You are also required to have underinsured/uninsured coverage of $25,000 per person for bodily injury and $50,000 for bodily injuries to more than one person per accident.

Nearly all car insurance policies have a provision that will adjust your coverage from the minimums required in your state to the minimum insurance or proof of financial responsibility in another U.S. state. So you do not need to get a new insurance policy for each state you are driving through. However, if you buy a policy in a low limits state (like Ohio or Oregon) but live in a high limits state (like Wisconsin), insurers will only write a policy where your car is principally garaged. So if your home is in Wisconsin, you should buy the minimum limits for Wisconsin.

Oregon’s required insurance limits are low, considering the cost of repair and damages likely to occur in an accident (this holds true for all states in the US). If you are in a serious collision and the damages you caused are greater than the coverage limits you purchased, you may be personally liable to pay for those damages that exceed your insurance coverage. You might be better off if you check for additional coverage, which is usually rather cheap to add, but can more than just double your insurance coverage.

Oregon Car Insurance Laws and Requirements

Oregon is a modified comparative fault state with a 51% rule. This is a legal defense that means that a plaintiff can recover for an injury, reducing the amount that the plaintiff can recover based on the percentage of which the plaintiff is at fault if it is determined that his or her fault in causing the injury is less than 51%. If the plaintiff’s fault level reaches 51% or more, he or she cannot recover any damages resulting from the accident.

Driving Under the Influence (DUI)

In Oregon, a first time offense of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) is a misdemeanor offense. If you are 21 years or older, if you have a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) level of .08% or higher while driving, Oregon law presumes you are driving while intoxicated. If you are under 21, a lower BAC may apply to you.

1st DUI

If convicted, you may be sentenced to 48 hours minimum up to 1 year in jail, depending on whether aggravating factors are present (over .15 BAC, minor in vehicle at time of arrest, etc.). A court fine of at least $1000 may be imposed, with increases for aggravating factors. If you are found to be DUI with a minor in the vehicle who is three years younger than the driver, a $10,000 fine may be imposed. You will also be responsible for other court fees. Your license will be suspended for at least 1 year and you will be required to use an ignition interlock device for the year after suspension. SR-22 or FR-44 forms (cf. here) are required for DUIs in Oregon.

2nd DUI

If convicted, you may be sentenced up to 1 year in jail, depending on whether aggravating factors are present (over .15 BAC, minor in vehicle at time of arrest, etc.). Fines may be imposed of at least $1500, with increases for aggravating factors. Your license will be suspended for up to 3 years. You will be required to install an ignition interlock device for 2 years after your license revocation. Again SR-22 or FR-44 forms are required for DUIs in Oregon.

Oregon Car Insurance Reading

Source:

NAIC 2009 Market Share Information
Note: List does not contain duplicates of associated or affiliated insurance companies

More Information

Top Ten Car Insurance Companies in Oregon

Here are the ten most used car insurance companies as ordered by 2009 market share in the state:

  • Farmers Insurance Company
  • Safeco Insurance Company of Oregon
  • Progressive Group
  • American Family Mutual Insurance Company
  • Allstate Insurance Company
  • Geico General Insurance Company
  • Mid-Century Insurance Company
  • Country Mutual Insurance
  • Nationwide Mutual Insurance
  • Liberty Mutual Insurance Company