Oregon Auto Insurance Basics

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The auto insurance is something that is mandatory in all states in the United States, regardless of where you might be driving. It is no different in Oregon, where you are supposed to have liability coverage as dictated by the law. Hence, a motorist should only operate a motor vehicle is he is confirming to the liability coverage as dictate by the state of Oregon. The liability is not very different, with only the figures differing from other states. Although the minimum figures are specified, you are allowed to have liability that is in excess of what has been dictated by the state.

The state says that motor insurance is needed for all forms of vehicles that have been registered with the state, with the exception of some like farm tractors, antique automobiles, motor assisted scooters and snowmobiles. Suppose you don’t use your vehicle, then you too can avoid getting insurance for it. However, in case you do need insurance, you should ensure that your policy covers the basic parts like bodily injuries arising while in a crash with the vehicle, property damage, uninsured motorist coverage as well as personal injury protection coverage. Some states don’t need uninsured coverage, but Oregon is not one of them.    

Also, any officer of the law has the right to ask you for your proof of insurance if you have been pulled over for any kind of a traffic violation. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are carrying a form of proof of the vehicle insurance while driving the vehicle. There are a number of different kinds of proofs that are acceptable by the law, some of which include the original or the copy of the valid insurance identification card, a copy of the insurance policy or even a letter from the insurance company that is printed on an official letter.

As with all other states, even Oregon has some strict fines for people who are caught driving without the necessary auto insurance. You need to be cautious with the fact that the DMV is equipped to perform random insurance checks. Hence, when you get a letter from the DMV asking for your license, you need to furnish it or fill out the SR 22 documentation that declares your financial responsibility. However, getting into an accident without the requisite insurance can further cause problems for you and you may have to foot large penalties that may be imposed on you by the state.  

Getting auto insurance before you hit the road is necessary so that you don’t get into problem without having the necessary money to get out of it. Besides, insurance policies are not very expensive and one should seriously get a coverage that is affordable and has adequate coverage if you ever need to make use of it. Oregon has all the popular insurance companies operating nationwide in addition to coverage that can be purchased from one of the local companies. Once you get the coverage that has been tailored for you, the next step would be to make sure that it is within your budget and finalize on it.