Blog – Vernfonk Insurance

You need car insurance to travel legally and safely through Oregon. But how much coverage do you need, and what is the best car insurance for driving in the state? Keep reading to get the answers you need.

The Minimum Car Insurance for Driving in Oregon

Each state creates its own rules requiring the minimum level of insurance that all drivers are required to have. In Oregon, the minimum insurance needed is as follows:

Bodily injury and property damage liability

• $25,000 per person
• $50,000 per crash for bodily injury to others
• $20,000 per crash for damage to others’ property

Personal injury protection

• $15,000 per person

Uninsured motorist

• $25,000 per person
• $50,000 per crash for bodily injury

Keep in mind this is simply the legal amount of insurance you need. We always recommend getting more than the minimum car insurance, which is especially important if you’re going to be driving in Oregon.

The Weather Factor

Every state has different factors that affect which car insurance you should have. And in Oregon, one of the most recent factors you need to consider is the extreme weather.

In the summer of 2021, Oregon had an extreme heatwave where temperatures exceeded 110 degrees. This caused over 115 deaths and left us with a clear message: most people in Oregon weren’t ready for this kind of extreme heat.

At this point, you may be wondering how the heat impacts your insurance. In the heat, your tires are much more likely to either go flat or blow out. The extreme heat can also kill your car batteries. And, to top things off, crime rates usually rise when the temperature rises, with thieves and vandals taking advantage of the heat and chaos.

You can protect yourself from some of this with comprehensive insurance. This coverage not only protects against theft and vandalism, but it also protects against certain extreme weather and events such as fire. If you combine liability, collision, and comprehensive insurance, you have what is known as full coverage.

Additionally, you should consider adding towing and labor coverage to your existing insurance policy. If the heat or other factors leave you stranded on the side of the road, this additional coverage will pay for the towing and labor costs involved with bringing your car to a nearby mechanic.

The Importance of Collision Insurance

The state of Oregon only requires liability car insurance. Because of this, you may be tempted to save money by only getting the minimum insurance. But there are reasons why you might eventually wish you had collision coverage as well.

The state requires everyone to get liability insurance so that whoever is at fault will pay for the damage they cause. So typically, if someone causes an accident in which you are involved, you can count on their liability insurance to pay for any bodily damage and property damage.

But the person that hits you might not have enough coverage to pay for the damages. In some cases, they may not have any insurance at all. And this can leave you with a fairly large repair bill for your car.

Fortunately, collision insurance can cover damage to your car. And collision insurance also pays out even when you are liable for the damage. This means you can rest assured that a single mistake while driving will not be enough to ruin your car.

Extra Protection Against Other Oregon Drivers

Earlier, we touched on the possibility that you are involved in an accident that is the other driver’s fault. The driver may not have either sufficient insurance or any insurance at all. To some degree, you can protect your car in these cases with collision insurance. But two additional forms of coverage can offer better protection from the negligence of other drivers: underinsured/uninsured motorist bodily liability and property damage coverages.

As the name implies, these forms of coverage are designed to pay for the remaining property damage and medical bills if you are hit by a driver with insufficient insurance or no insurance at all.

Protecting the Whole Family

For many drivers, getting car insurance is about more than protecting themselves or protecting their car because they want to protect their families.

The best way to protect your family is by adding personal injury protection (PIP) insurance to your existing policy. So long as you already have liability insurance, you can add PIP to your policy and drive with true peace of mind.

PIP covers you, your family, and anyone else who was in the car with you. It helps pay for medical expenses and lost income if you are injured or die. It may seem grim to think about, but this kind of insurance is a way to help protect your family if you are seriously hurt or die in a car accident.

Get the Best Oregon Car Insurance Today

Now you know the types of car insurance you need for driving in Oregon. But do you know for sure who has all of the coverage that you need?

Vern Fonk has the information and services you need for your car insurance. To discover the difference Vern Fonk can make for your coverage and premiums, get an online quote today. You can also visit us in the nearest office, or give us a call at 1-800-455-8276.