Car Insurance in Oregon
Prospective car insurance policyholders of Oregon have a variety of car insurance options to choose from. Thorough research through extensive comparison shopping and/or through the assistance of a reliable car insurance broker can help a person find the car insurance best suited for him or her. In this article the reader will learn the keys to selcting the best Oregon car insurance policy.
Car Insurance in Oregon: What Resources Does the Oregon Department of Insurance Have to Offer?
The Oregon Department of Insurance offers its residents many useful tools on its website. These include a consumer guide to auto insurance, tips on assessing the total losses to a vehicle, a dictionary on car insurance terminology and more. Oregon’s Department of Insurance website is a great place to start shopping for car insurance in Oregon.
Car Insurance in Oregon: Why Have Car Insurance in Oregon?
Car insurance is the coverage that insurance companies offer a customer to protect him or her against (1) liability and/or (2) property damage. Most states require liability insurance, so it is the most frequently purchased car insurance. Liability insurance protects an insured vehicle owner against legal liabilities of bodily injury, property damage, and any uninsured or underinsured drivers also involved in an accident. Though not required in Oregon, property damage coverage is available and includes collision coverage (against collision with an object, such as a wall) and comprehensive coverage (against repairs needed because of an accident or against a stolen or totaled vehicle).
In the state of Oregon, proof of car insurance must be shown during vehicle registration after which current proof of insurance must be kept in the vehicle, ready at all times for inspection in a traffic stop. This proof may consist of the current insurance policy, a current insurance card (or a copy of it), a signed statement from the insurance company on official company letterhead, a certificate of self-insurance from the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicle or a license plate from a state car dealer. The state monitors residents’ compliance with its car insurance regulations not only through traffic stops, as in most states, but also by sending letters to randomly selected Oregon vehicle owners requesting proof of insurance. Various penalties are enforced if a driver fails to produce proof of insurance, including possible suspension of the driver’s license. Although the purchase of car insurance in Oregon is clearly enforced as state law, some vehicles such as antique and collector show cars, farm tractors, snowmobiles, mopeds, or vehicles no longer in operation are exempted from this law.
Car Insurance in Oregon: What Coverage Is Mandatory in Oregon?
Car insurance in Oregon must include, minimally: liability insurance, personal injury protection and both uninsured and underinsured drivers’ coverage. The bodily injury liability must provide $25,000’s worth of coverage per person injured (up to $50,000). The liability coverage against damages to other person’s property must pay up to $10,000. In Oregon, personal injury protection must provide a minimum of $15,000 toward medical treatments and non-medical expenses or losses due to an accident. In order to be prepared for instances when uninsured or underinsured persons may be at fault for an accident involving a policyholder, uninsured motorist bodily injury insurance and underinsured motorist bodily injury insurance must be provided on any car insurance policy in Oregon in order to supplement personal injury protection (with a minimum of $25,000 up to $50,000 per accident).
Car Insurance in Oregon: What Is a Tort System?
Oregon has chosen a tort system of insurance versus a no-fault system. This means that a person must be found at fault for an accident and that this person at fault and his or her insurance company must pay for all damages incurred by the accident. The horrific expenses that this system places upon one party simply underscore the necessity for all drivers in the state to comply with the law and purchase car insurance in Oregon. Car insurance has been given many different shapes and sizes and may be covered with many different companies’ wrappers, but essentially, as mentioned above, only two types of coverage exist: (1) liability, which is required, or (2) property damage, which may be purchased in addition to liability coverage.
Car Insurance in Oregon: Get a Free Quote!
Help is available in selecting the car insurance package best-suited for each insurance customer! A free comparison insurance quote for Oregon car insurance may be requested by entering your zip code at the top of this page.