Car Insurance Discounts in Oregon

Auto insurance is very important no matter where you live. It protects you from financial disaster if you are in an accident.

If you are living in Oregon, the state minimum requirements include:

• $25,000 for the injury or death of a passenger
• $50,000 for the injury or death of multiple passengers or others in a single accident
• $10,000 property damage insurance
• $15,000 in personal injury protection

These are the minimum state requirements for Oregon. Make sure you have the right coverage to cover all of these minimums when driving in Oregon to avoid possible fines or worse financial consequences.

If you are looking for the best auto insurance rates Oregon has to offer, start comparison with our FREE online quote tool! Enter your ZIP code here!

Oregon: A Fault Plus PIP State

It is important to know the difference between a fault and no-fault state.

If you are in a no-fault state, it means that your car insurance will pay regardless of who is at fault. When you are driving in a fault/no-fault hybrid state such as Oregon, it means that you pay only if you were the one who is considered negligent.

Negligence is the litmus test that decides whether someone is at fault. The law usually rules that someone not obeying traffic regulations is negligent, regardless of the cause.

– Wanton Disregard

Investopedia defines gross negligence as a state of wanton disregard, whereby the person is obviously reckless or careless with their decisions, putting others at risk. In such cases, the courts will almost always rule for the victim.

Since negligence is applied in every case in Oregon under the fault state clause, it is important that drivers carry sufficient personal injury protection (PIP) so that they will be able to pay any court fees, medical expenses, or other costs in the event they are negligent or found at fault in a motor vehicle collision.

Insurance Provides Security

It is important to keep in mind that not all auto insurance is created equal.

If you live in a crime-prone area, you may want to purchase additional insurance for your vehicle to cover security concerns.

• Accidents – Insurance covers most accidents you will encounter under a basic policy.
• Theft – Depends on whether you have comprehensive coverage as part of your insurance policy.
• Natural Disasters — Acts of God or natural disasters are covered through comprehensive coverage as well.

Car Insurance Options in Oregon

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The following are the primary car insurance options in Oregon that you should consider when driving in Oregon:

– Basic Policy

A basic policy will always include the minimums that the state requires. In Oregon, this coverage amounts to:

• Bodily injury liability – Covers individuals who have been harmed during an incident.
• Property damage liability – Covers any piece of property damaged during an accident.
• Personal injury protection – Protection you purchase beyond your main policy that covers any medical expenses or supplemental expense such as loss of wages for the person you hit in an accident.
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist – Required in Oregon. Know the minimums before you purchase your policy.

– Additional Coverage Types

While the following are not included in a basic policy in Oregon, they can be added to your policy for an additional charge to your premium:

• Collision – Covers anything that occurs to your car as a result of an accident, including engine malfunctions, broken glass, etc.
• Comprehensive – Takes care of anything that happens to your car outside of a collision, including natural disasters, falling debris, etc.

Types of Insurance Discounts in Oregon

Car insurance discounts are sometimes available when shopping and comparing your insurance options. Ask an agent to point you to the discounts in Oregon that you can take advantage of.

Some of the types of discounts include:

• Prior insurance — Based on insurance the person had before where they illustrated a degree of responsibility and accident-free driving.
• Multi-car discounts — If you own more than one vehicle, you may qualify for reduced premiums to cover all of them.
• Homeowner discount — You may qualify for a homeowner discount if you own your home.
• Mature driver — If you are 65 or older you may qualify for a mature driving discount.
• Anti-theft device — As a deterrent to stop auto theft, some insurance companies allow discounts for installing an anti-theft device in your car.
• Passive restraint systems — This is just a fancy word for “air bags.” Does your car have them? If so, you might get some money off your premium.
• Driver training — This type of discounts usually applies to drivers under 21 who has passed a certified driver’s training course.
• Anti-lock brake system — Anti-lock brakes can sometimes avoid accidents in certain road conditions. If you have these, you could save some money.
• Bill plan — Certain bill plans might qualify you for reductions in your premium, especially if you do an automatic payment.
• Early shopper, renewal — Planning on renewing your policy early? You might qualify for a reduction in payments. The early bird gets the worm!
• Transfer — You may qualify for a transfer discount if you transfer funds to pay your bill.
• Higher Limit — If you choose a higher deductible, you might pay less in premiums.
• Paid-in-full — You can sometimes save a lot of money by paying your premium in full at the time you take it out.
• Club Membership — Ask if you are eligible for a discount due to being a member of civic groups or other organizations.
• Carpool — Do you carpool? If so, you may be reducing your risk and qualify for a discount.
• Marital status — Marital status can sometimes change your premiums. You could save money if your status changes.
• Good student discounts — If you maintain a “B” average or better in a college or school, you may qualify for this discount.
• Uninsured with cause — If you are uninsured with a good reason such as a disability where your driving distance is restricted to only specific instances, you may also qualify for a discount.

In all of these cases, you will need to ask your insurance agent if you qualify. Learn more by visiting this site.

Other Ways to Lower Your Insurance Costs

Remember when looking for discounts, you cannot control every factor. Focus on the things you can control.

Two other factors that you should keep in mind are your credit history, which can sometimes affect your rates, and your driving history, which is the main reason premiums can be increased. Work on both of these factors to improve your premium rates.

Ultimately, the one thing you can control is where you are getting your auto insurance. Shop around and compare prices for the best auto insurance rates.

It would also help if you know exactly what kind of coverage you need beforehand; that way you don’t end up with unnecessary auto insurance and the costs that go along with it.

If you have any questions while shopping online for auto insurance rates, your insurance agent is one phone call away. They would be able to give you details about what you may qualify for.

Looking to lower your auto insurance costs today? Start comparison shopping by entering your ZIP code below!