Best Car Insurance in Oregon

Last Updated on March 31, 2021

Oregon has lower-than-average car insurance premiums compared to the rest of the United States. The average Oregon driver pays $1,345 per year for car insurance, or around $100 less than the average American.

However, Oregon is a large and diverse state. Drivers pay different rates in western and eastern Oregon. Drivers in urban areas also tend to pay significantly more than drivers in rural areas. A driver in Newport has different car insurance needs than a driver in Bend, and a driver in Portland uses a car differently than a driver in Ashland.

Keep reading to find the best car insurance in Oregon for your unique needs.Best Car Insurance in Oregon

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Top 10 Auto Insurance Companies in Oregon

Oregonians can buy car insurance from nationwide firms and smaller, local providers. Depending on your driving history and unique needs, you may want to choose from any of the following best car insurance companies in Oregon:

  1. USAA: USAA is the cheapest car insurance company in Oregon, but don’t let the low price fool you. USAA combines great claims satisfaction with strong customer service – all while charging cheaper prices than its competitors in most states. USAA charges drivers roughly $783 per year for full coverage car insurance, on average, across Oregon. USAA products are restricted to military personnel and their families.
  2. State Farm: America’s largest property insurance company has a strong presence in Oregon. State Farm has cheap rates, average customer service and claims satisfaction, and average rates of around $812 per year. They’re not fancy, but they’ll get the job done.
  3. GEICO: GEICO is the third cheapest car insurance company in Oregon, charging around $834 per year for full coverage car insurance. Like State Farm, GEICO is a massive nationwide insurance company with millions of policyholders. You get the amenities of a large insurance company at a discount rate.
  4. Progressive: Progressive charges drivers around $968 per year for full coverage car insurance, making them one of the best-value insurers in the state.
  5. Travelers: Although not as well-known as the companies above, Travelers remains one of the top 20 largest insurance companies in the United States. Today, Travelers is known for its competitive pricing and flexible service, charging cheaper-than-average rates to drivers across Oregon. Expect to pay around $974 per year with Travelers in Oregon.
  6. MetLife: MetLife manages employee benefits programs around the world while also selling reasonably-priced car insurance. MetLife charges Oregon drivers around $989 per year, on average, making them a surprisingly affordable option in the state.
  7. Country Financial: Expect to pay around $1,067 per year with Country Financial in Oregon. Country Financial is particularly popular in smaller cities and rural areas of Oregon.
  8. Oregon Mutual: Oregon Mutual Insurance Company is an Oregon-based insurer offering auto, home, business, farm, and winery insurance, among other insurance products. They’re popular throughout the state, covering both rural and urban drivers across Oregon. The company also has 125+ years of experience. Expect to pay around $1,103 per year for full coverage car insurance with Oregon Mutual, although multiple discounts are available to drop the price even further.
  9. Grange: Grange is a popular insurance company throughout the United States, charging around $1,211 per year for full coverage car insurance in Oregon.
  10. California Casualty: California Casualty is popular with teachers and other professional groups in Oregon, as the company partners with groups to provide discount rates. California Casualty charges around $1,234 per year for car insurance in Oregon.

Oregon Insurance Requirements

Drivers in Oregon must carry bodily injury liability coverage and property damage liability coverage at all times. If you do not have valid insurance coverage, then you cannot legally drive.

According to Oregon’s Driver & Motor Vehicle Services, drivers must carry the following minimum insurance limits:

  • $25,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per person
  • $50,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per accident
  • $20,000 of property damage liability coverage per accident
  • $15,000 of personal injury protection (PIP)
  • $25,000 of uninsured motorist bodily injury liability coverage per person and $50,000 per accident

The Oregon DMV will ask for your insurance policy number when you register your vehicle. You will also need to provide your insurance policy number when buying a light vehicle trip permit.

Driving Without Insurance in Oregon

People who drive without insurance in Oregon will face severe penalties. Your car insurance rates could rise significantly. You might face fines and jail time. Your vehicle could be impounded, and you may lose driving privileges.

The penalties for driving without insurance in Oregon include:

  • $260 presumptive fine
  • $130 to $1,000 in additional fines
  • Loss of driver’s license and driving privileges
  • Suspension of vehicle registration
  • Possible vehicle impoundment
  • SR-22 requirement for 3 years
  • $75 license and registration reinstatement fee

Oregon does not technically charge different penalties based on the number of offenses. However, you may face higher fines, longer suspensions, and other penalties if you have been caught driving without insurance multiple times.

If you are required to carry SR-22 coverage, then you must provide proof of compliance (via monthly insurance verification) for three years. Most insurance companies provide SR-22 certificates to verify coverage, although SR-22 insurance is significantly more expensive than ordinary car insurance.

You are required to present proof of insurance when registering a vehicle, when at the scene of an accident, or when asked by law enforcement.

Car Insurance in Oregon with DUI

Oregon, like most states, treats DUIs seriously. If you have one or more DUI convictions in Oregon, then you’ll pay significantly more for car insurance. Some drivers may even be rejected for car insurance, forcing them to rely on high-risk insurers or state-run insurance collectives.

Fortunately, insurance companies treat DUIs differently. Request a quote from any of the following insurers if you have a DUI in Oregon:

  • GEICO: $1,798 per year
  • Progressive: $1,921 per year
  • State Farm: $2,034 per year
  • Oregon Mutual: $2,092 per year
  • Allstate: $2,323 per year

Car Insurance in Oregon with At-Fault Accidents

If you have a history of causing accidents, then you’ll pay more for car insurance than drivers with a clean record. However, insurance companies treat at-fault accidents differently. Some have accident forgiveness. Others only raise rates slightly for your first minor accident. The best car insurance companies in Oregon for drivers with an at-fault accident include:

  • GEICO: $1,698 per year
  • Progressive: $1,881 per year
  • State Farm: $1,934 per year
  • Oregon Mutual: $1,992 per year
  • Allstate: $2,003 per year

Car Insurance in Oregon with Speeding Tickets

Getting a speeding ticket in Oregon could raise car insurance rates – or it might not, depending on your insurer’s policy. Some insurers ignore a single minor speeding ticket if you have a clean record over the last three years. Other insurers punish drivers harshly for even the slightest infractions. The best car insurance companies in Oregon for drivers with speeding tickets include:

  • USAA: $997 per year
  • GEICO: $1,008 per year
  • Allstate: $1,019 per year
  • GEICO: $1,023 per year
  • State Farm: $1,101 per year

Car Insurance in Oregon for Young Drivers

If you are a young driver in Oregon, then you inevitably pay higher rates for car insurance than older, more experienced drivers. Young drivers in Oregon are the riskiest drivers to insure. If you are under age 25, expect to pay as much as $4,000 per year for full coverage car insurance in Oregon.

There is good news: some Oregon insurance companies welcome young drivers to balance out their pool. The best car insurance companies in Oregon for drivers under 25 include:

  • USAA: $2,031 per year
  • GEICO: $2,129 per year
  • State Farm: $2,221 per year
  • Oregon Mutual: $2,367 per year
  • Travelers: $2,402 per year

Car Insurance in Oregon with Poor Credit

Most Oregon insurance companies check your credit-based insurance score before assigning premiums. This credit-based insurance score is similar to your ordinary credit score, but it’s used for insurance purposes. Drivers with a low credit score will struggle to find affordable rates, while drivers with average or strong credit scores should have plenty of options.

Consider any of the following Oregon insurance companies if you have a poor credit score:

  • USAA: $1,782 per year
  • GEICO: $1,825 per year
  • Nationwide: $1,968 per year
  • State Farm: $2,332 per year
  • Progressive: $2,525 per year

SR-22 Insurance in Oregon

Need SR-22 insurance in Oregon? If you have a bad driving record, a history of insurance lapses, or other high-risk behavior on your record, then you may require an SR-22 certificate. The SR-22 certificate verifies you have valid insurance coverage that meets Oregon’s minimum liability limits.

Drivers who require SR-22 insurance need to prove their coverage monthly. If you are unable to prove you have valid insurance coverage, then you may lose driving privileges.

Most insurance companies can provide an SR-22 certificate in Oregon. You may need to pay a small fee (around $50) for the insurance company to file the SR-22 certificate with the DMV.

However, if you are a very high-risk driver, then you may not be able to find ordinary car insurance through the open market. You may need to find alternative high-risk insurance companies like The General and others. These companies specialize in providing minimum liability insurance to high-risk drivers, including insurance that meets Oregon’s minimum requirements.

Conclusion: How to Find the Best Auto Insurance in Oregon

Finding the best auto insurance in Oregon isn’t easy. It requires you to shop around, compare quotes, and work to find the best rates based on your unique driving record and demographic profile.

However, with a bit of research, drivers with all different backgrounds can easily find the best auto insurance in Oregon.