Full Coverage Auto Insurance In Oregon: What You Need To Know

Full coverage auto insurance in Oregon includes liability coverage, as well as comprehensive and collision coverage. This means that, in addition to the minimum liability insurance requirements, full coverage insurance will also cover damage to your own car when you are in an accident, even if you are at fault. It also covers damage resulting from events beyond your control, like hail or theft.

Bodily injury liability

In Oregon, drivers must carry a minimum of $25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person and $50,000 per accident. This type of insurance covers the cost of injuries to other people if you are at fault in an accident. It also covers legal fees in the event that the other party sues you, but only up to the stated limit. Your own medical bills are also covered under this policy.

The minimum coverage requirements in Oregon are not usually enough for most people. While it is enough to drive legally, it may not provide sufficient financial protection in the event of an accident. Therefore, it is recommended that Oregon drivers consider purchasing higher liability limits.

In addition to bodily injury liability and PIP, Oregon drivers are also required to carry property damage liability coverage and uninsured motorist coverage. The minimum property damage liability requirement is $20,000 per accident, while the minimum uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage is $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.

Property damage liability

In the state of Oregon, drivers are required to have a minimum amount of property damage liability insurance to drive legally. This is usually written as 25/50/20, with the final '20' referring to property damage liability. This means that drivers are required to have $20,000 per accident in property damage liability coverage.

In addition to property damage liability insurance, Oregon drivers must also carry bodily injury and uninsured motorist coverage. The minimum requirement for bodily injury coverage is $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage has the same minimum requirements. This type of coverage protects you if you are in an accident with a driver who does not have sufficient insurance.

While the minimum coverage requirements in Oregon are necessary to drive legally, they may not be sufficient to fully protect you financially in the event of a serious accident. As such, it is recommended that most drivers in Oregon consider a full coverage auto insurance policy, which includes liability coverage, as well as comprehensive and collision coverage. Collision coverage pays for damage to your vehicle, even if you are at fault, while comprehensive coverage pays for damage resulting from events beyond your control, such as hail or theft. These types of coverage are typically required if you have a car loan or lease.

Personal injury protection (PIP)

Oregon law requires a minimum of $15,000 in PIP coverage, but you can purchase a policy with higher limits, often up to $100,000 per person. PIP insurance provides coverage for all necessary and reasonable medical expenses incurred within two years of an accident, as long as they don't exceed your policy limit. Medical expenses covered can include X-rays, surgery, and dental treatments, and transportation costs for necessary trips to the hospital or doctor's offices, known as "medical mileage". It's important to keep detailed records of all miles driven and transportation receipts to submit with your claims.

In addition to medical coverage, PIP insurance provides wage loss coverage. It covers 70% of any wages lost due to injury in a car accident, up to a maximum of $3,000 per month. These benefits kick in after you've missed at least 14 consecutive days of work and will continue for up to 52 weeks. To claim these benefits, make sure to provide documentation from your doctor confirming that your injuries caused you to miss work, as well as evidence of your income prior to the injury.

PIP insurance also provides coverage for several other expenses that might result from a car accident. This includes funeral expenses of up to $5,000, household replacement services of up to $30 per day for up to 52 weeks, and child care expenses of $25 per day for up to 30 days if you are hospitalized for more than 24 hours and have a minor child.

Filing a PIP claim in Oregon will not increase your insurance premiums. However, Oregon's statutes of limitation are strict, so it's important to file a claim as soon as possible if you're injured in an accident involving a vehicle. To do so, contact the insurance company and request a PIP application, which should be completed with all relevant information about your injuries, treatment, and expenses.

Uninsured motorist protection

In the state of Oregon, drivers are required by law to have insurance and carry proof of their current insurance coverage with them while driving. Oregon law also requires that every insurance policy issued in the state provides Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage. This means that if you are injured in an accident caused by an uninsured driver, whether you were driving or were a pedestrian, your own insurance will provide coverage up to the limits of your UM policy.

UM coverage provides a substitute when the at-fault driver does not have any insurance. It enables you to recover non-economic and economic damages, up to your UM policy limits, that you would have been entitled to recover from the uninsured driver. Economic damages include medical expenses and wage loss, while non-economic damages include pain and suffering, interference with normal activities, and permanent injury.

You may also be able to obtain UM coverage in a hit-and-run accident or when a "phantom vehicle" causes an accident with no contact made between the vehicles. In such cases, the injured party must report the accident to the police or Motor Vehicles Division within 72 hours and notify their insurance company within 30 days of the claim for damages.

Additionally, underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage may be available if your UM limits are greater than the minimum required by law ($25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident). UIM coverage entitles you to the difference between the limits on your UM policy and the limits on the policy of an insured driver who caused your injuries. For example, if a driver with the minimum requirement of $25,000 in liability coverage injures you, and your UM policy limit is $100,000, then your policy would provide up to $75,000 in UIM insurance.

It is important to note that you must obtain consent from your UIM carrier before settling with the liability carrier to avoid losing UIM benefits. You must also make your UIM claim within the specified time period. While having lower UM limits may save you on premiums, it increases the risk of insufficient coverage in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver.

Furthermore, you can purchase additional uninsured motorist coverage to pay for damages to your vehicle or property. While this coverage is not required by law, insurance companies in Oregon are mandated to offer it as an option when purchasing a policy.

Collision coverage

In the state of Oregon, full coverage auto insurance includes liability coverage, as well as comprehensive and collision coverages. While collision coverage is not legally required in Oregon or any other state, it is an essential component of full coverage.

The primary benefit of collision coverage is that it eliminates the need for out-of-pocket expenses, except for the deductible. The deductible is the amount you must pay out-of-pocket before the insurance company covers the remaining costs. Deductibles can range from $500 to upwards of $5,000, and it is important to choose a deductible that aligns with your financial situation.

When deciding whether to opt for collision coverage, it is crucial to consider your financial situation and the value of your vehicle. If your vehicle is brand new or still holds significant value, collision coverage can provide peace of mind by helping with expensive repairs or replacement costs. On the other hand, if you own an older vehicle with a low resale value, the cost of collision coverage may outweigh the benefits.

In Oregon, if you lease or finance your vehicle, collision coverage is typically mandatory to protect the lender's investment. However, if you own your vehicle outright, you have the option to waive collision coverage. Without collision coverage, you would be responsible for all repair or replacement costs in the event of an accident, unless the other driver is found to be at fault.

Frequently asked questions