What Car Insurance Do I Need in Oregon?

The required minimum amounts of car insurance in Oregon are:

• $25,000 in liability coverage per person injured or killed in an accident caused by the insured driver
• $50,000 in total liability coverage for all injuries or death liability resulting from an accident caused by the insured driver
• $20,000 in liability coverage for property damage resulting from an accident caused by the insured driver
• $15,000 in personal injury protection coverage, and
• uninsured motorist coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 total per accident.

Let's look at what these different requirements mean—including who and what they cover—and more.

What Does Liability Car Insurance Cover in Oregon?

Liability car insurance pays the medical bills, property damage bills, and other losses of drivers, passengers, and pedestrians who are injured or have their vehicle damaged in a car accident you cause, up to coverage limits.

You can (and in some situations should) carry more coverage to protect you in case a serious crash results in significant car accident injuries and vehicle damage. Once policy limits are exhausted, you're personally on the financial hook, so higher insurance limits can help protect your personal assets in the event of a serious crash.

Coverage questions can arise if you loan someone your car and they get into an accident, and they already have their own car insurance coverage. But in general your liability coverage will kick in for any family member who is driving your vehicle, and for anyone else who has your permission to use your vehicle. It will likely also cover you if you get into an accident in a rental car.

What Does Personal Injury Protection Car Insurance Cover in Oregon?

Personal injury protection coverage (or PIP) normally covers the policyholder and passengers in the policyholder's vehicle (unless they have their own coverage).

Personal injury protection benefits in Oregon include:

• the claimant's reasonable and necessary accident-related medical expenses incurred within two years of the crash, up to $15,000
• if the claimant is employed and is unable to work because of their car accident injuries, 70 percent of their lost income, up to $3,000 per month
• if the claimant is unemployed and is unable to perform household services and other essential tasks because of their car accident injuries, up to $30 per day for replacement services, and
• $25 per day for child care if the claimant is a parent and is hospitalized for 24 hours due to their car accident injuries, and is later unable to work or perform essential services.

The specifics of PIP benefits are laid out in detail at Oregon Rev. Stat. section 742.524. Your insurance company can also provide information on PIP benefits available under your policy.

What Does Uninsured Motorist Protection Cover in Oregon?

Uninsured motorist (UIM) coverage protects you and your passengers if the at-fault driver has no insurance, or if you're injured in a hit-and-run accident.

Keep in mind that UIM coverage will not apply to vehicle damage.

How Do I Show Proof of Car Insurance in Oregon?

If you're asked to provide proof of car insurance to a law enforcement officer in Oregon (during a traffic stop or after a car accident, for example), you can always present a physical copy of your official insurance card (issued by the company).

Is Digital Proof of Car Insurance Okay in Oregon?

Yes. You can show digital proof of car insurance in Oregon (and in neighboring Washington) by pulling up an official, company-issued electronic version of your insurance card or policy declaration page, or by providing other official digital documentation of your policy details.

What Are the Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in Oregon?

If you get caught driving without insurance in Oregon, you could be fined, lose your driving privileges, or have your vehicle towed, depending on the circumstances of the offense.

If you're convicted of driving without insurance, you will have to file proof of insurance with the state's Driver & Motor Vehicle Services (DMV) for three years. If you are in an accident, and you are uninsured, your driving privileges will likely be suspended for one year.

Of course, these penalties will likely pale in comparison to the financial hit you could take if you're in a car accident and you don't have car insurance.

What Is Oregon's "No Pay, No Play" Car Insurance Law?

Another penalty related to driving without insurance has to do with your legal options if you end up getting injured in a car accident. Oregon is one of a dozen or so states that follow some version of a "no pay, no play" law.

Under this law (which can be found at Oregon Rev. Stat. 31.715), if you file a lawsuit for car accident injuries and it turns out you were driving without insurance at the time of the crash, you'll be barred from recovering "non-economic" damages in court even if you win your case. This is a big deal because non-economic damages include compensation for your physical and mental "pain and suffering" and other subjective effects of your injuries, and losses like these are often the biggest determinants of case value.

There are a few exceptions to this rule. You can still recover non-economic damages in court against the other driver if they:

• were also driving without insurance at the time of the accident, or
• acted intentionally or recklessly (beyond mere negligence) in causing the crash.

What Are My Claim Options After an Oregon Car Accident?

Oregon follows a traditional "fault"-based system when it comes to financial responsibility for losses stemming from a car accident: injuries, lost income, vehicle damage, and so on. This means that the person who was at fault for causing the car accident is also responsible for any resulting harm (from a practical standpoint, the at-fault driver's insurance carrier will absorb these losses, up to policy limits).

In Oregon, getting compensation for injuries, vehicle damage, and other car accident-related losses usually means proceeding in one of three ways:

• by filing a claim with your own insurance company, regardless of who caused the crash, under your personal injury protection coverage (for car accident injuries) or under your collision coverage, if you have it (for your vehicle damage).
• by filing a third-party claim directly with the other driver's insurance company, under their liability coverage, if it's pretty clear that the other driver was at fault for the crash.
• by filing a personal injury lawsuit in civil court against the other driver. Note that car insurance coverage would still come into play here if one side is ordered to pay "damages" to the other, and the lawsuit could reach a settlement at any point before trial.

What's Next After an Oregon Car Accident?

You can learn more about the Oregon car accident laws that might affect any claim you decide to make after a crash, and for more details on car insurance in Oregon, check out the Division of Financial Regulation's Auto Insurance 101 page.

But if you've been involved in a car accident, you may need more than just the basics on how car insurance works. Especially if you've been injured, it might make sense to discuss your situation with an experienced legal professional. Learn more about when you might need a car accident lawyer's help, and get tips on finding the right injury lawyer.