Oregon Auto Insurance Quotes and
Coverage Guide
Oregon Motor Vehicle Insurance
Questions & AnswersQ: Is
auto insurance mandatory?
A: Yes. Oregon is home to the beautiful
Cascade Mountains, delicious Chinook salmon, rugged,
picturesque shorelines – and irresponsible drivers
menacing the roads. So Oregon law requires drivers
to carry proof of liability insurance. The Beaver
State also requires your insurance company to send
you an insurance card that shows the effective date
and expiration date of your policy. Keep this card
in your vehicle (away from any salmon you may have
caught) at all times to prove that you are an eager
beaver to uphold the laws of Oregon – and to not get
a ticket.
Q: Is Oregon a "no-fault" state?
A: Yes and no. Oregon is considered an
“add-on” state because of its system of insurance.
The no-fault or personal injury protection (PIP)
provision applies only to bodily injury. In Oregon,
each party in an accident is responsible for their
own medical bills and other injury-related costs
that are incurred as the result of an accident, but
you can still get your eager-beaver tail sued off if
you’re the one who got so taken up by the scenery
that you sailed off the highway and hit the person
parked on the side of the road innocently eating his
expensive Chinook salmon.
Q: What type of insurance is required to purchase
and maintain an Oregon tag and registration?
A: To get your tags and registration in
Oregon, you must certify that you have these minimum
insurance coverages:
-- Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability
(Oregon law requires a minimum of $25,000 per
person/$50,000 per accident for injury to others and
$10,000 for damage to the property of others)
-- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) (Oregon law
requires a minimum of $10,000 per person.)
-- Uninsured Motorist coverage (Oregon law requires
a minimum of $25,000 per person/$50,000 per
occurrence for bodily injury.)
-- EBSC (Eager Beaver Salmon Coverage) (Oregon laws
requires a minimum of one Chinook salmon per
eager-beaver victim to replace the one you ruined
when you hit him – ‘cause these fish are like gold.)
Q: What do insurance companies consider when they
decide whether to cancel or not renew policies?
A: Insurance companies evaluate the risks
associated with each policyholder to determine if
you are a "good risk" or if your policy should be
canceled or not renewed. Some of the areas insurance
companies review:
-- Claims: Do you file claims frequently or for
large amounts?
-- Driving record: Do you have a bad driving record
(speeding, DUI, etc.)
-- Credit history: Do you have bad credit? Have you
filed for bankruptcy?
-- Personal hygiene: Do you smell like Chinook
salmon when you come in to renew?
Q: What if I fail to keep insurance on my vehicle
that I’ve registered in Oregon?
A: Each month, DMV asks vehicle owners
selected at random to provide the name of their
insurance company and policy number. If you asked to
give this information, and you do not do so, your
driving privilege will be suspended, you will be
subject to Oregon’s financial responsibility law for
three years, and some judges may slap you upside the
head with a dead salmon. This is in addition to any
fines you may have to pay.
Q: Is my out-of-state insurance valid in Oregon?
A: Your out-of-state insurance is valid as
long as your premium is paid. You do need to carry
proof in your vehicle, preferably not next to your
dead salmon. If you are stopped by law enforcement
and cannot provide proof of insurance, or you hand
the officer a fishy-smelling insurance card, you
will be cited and subject to Oregon’s financial
responsibility law.
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