The Cheapest Auto Insurance in Oregon in 2023

Oregon drivers pay some of the highest insurance costs in the Pacific Northwest, at an average rate of $154 per month. That’s even higher than California and Washington drivers, who squeak by paying an average of just $109 and $110 per month, respectively.

Auto insurance is more expensive in Oregon for a few reasons. The state requires drivers to purchase more coverage compared to other states, and higher auto theft rates aren’t helping either.

The good news is you still have a lot of power to find affordable coverage. We’ll help you zero in on the cheapest car insurance in Oregon.

Key Takeaways:

• GEICO is the cheapest car insurance company in Oregon for most drivers.
• You’ll need to purchase bodily injury liability, property damage liability, personal injury protection, and uninsured motorist coverage to drive legally in Oregon.
• Beaverton, Gresham, and Portland residents pay the highest car insurance costs in the state.

Oregon’s Cheapest Car Insurance Companies

Oregon drivers pay an average of $154 per month for car insurance, but you can still save money in many ways. Let’s take a look at the five cheapest car insurance companies in Oregon and how much they charge for coverage.

GEICO ranks as the cheapest car insurance in Oregon for most drivers, but that may not be the case for you. Companies base your car insurance premiums on many different factors, so we’ll walk through some of the common scenarios below, along with which companies offer the cheapest rates for each.

The Average Cost of Oregon Car Insurance

The average Oregon driver pays $154 per month for car insurance, making it the 13th most expensive state in the country. That’s more expensive than the national average and even most of its neighboring states, except Nevada.

Insurance costs more in Oregon because drivers must purchase more types of coverage — and higher coverage limits — than in nearby states. Oregon is also unfortunately plagued with higher rates of auto theft, which increases risk levels for insurers.

Cheapest Car Insurance Rates for State-Minimum Insurance: GEICO

Most drivers looking to save money will purchase the state’s minimum required coverage level to meet the legal requirements to drive. But be aware that this coverage may not protect you in many other cases. For example, your vehicle and passengers won’t be covered if you cause a collision. But state-minimum insurance can still be a great fit if you’re on a strict budget or own an inexpensive car since it’s the cheapest coverage you can get.

Let’s take a look at which companies offer the cheapest state-minimum liability policies in Oregon.

GEICO offers the cheapest coverage if you’re looking for liability-only coverage, with a monthly premium cost of just $46. It’s 25% less expensive than the next-cheapest option, COUNTRY Financial, which charges $61 per month.

Cheapest Car Insurance Rates for Full-Coverage Insurance: GEICO

Full-coverage insurance — which includes collision and comprehensive coverages — is required by most lenders if you’re financing your car, but it’s otherwise optional. But it’s a good idea to purchase because it protects your car against damage (a minimum-coverage insurance policy doesn’t, except in limited cases).

Once again, GEICO is the cheapest option for full coverage in Oregon, costing 24% less than COUNTRY Financial.

Compare Oregon Auto Insurance Rates by Age

Our ability to drive our cars well improves as we mature and gain experience dealing with challenging conditions. But at some point, those factors start to decline. This means that the peak years for safe driving — and low rates — are typically between ages 40 and 65.

The sections below break down how rates change as we age, as well as the cheapest Oregon companies for different age groups.

Cheapest car insurance for Oregon teens: COUNTRY Financial

As any parent knows, teen drivers can be expensive to insure because of their lack of driving experience. But once you reach age 25, rates usually start to go down as you gain more experience.

Here’s how much an 18-year-old driver in Oregon can expect to pay with the cheapest options for minimum coverage:

COUNTRY Financial has a bit of an edge over other companies when it comes to low rates for teenage drivers. That’s because it offers more discounts for younger drivers, such as for completing defensive driver courses, earning good grades, and more.

Cheapest car insurance for Oregon seniors: GEICO

Rates tend to decrease as drivers near retirement age. Once you retire, rates tend to drop even further, because you may not be driving to work every day. Rates tend to increase again as you advance in age, since elderly drivers are statistically more likely to cause accidents than middle-aged drivers.

Here’s what the average older driver in Oregon can expect to pay, based on data for 65-year-old drivers:

GEICO generally offers the cheapest car insurance for Oregon seniors, coming in at an average of $42 per month for minimum coverage. The company tends to offer many discounts for seniors, including ones for retired military members and government employees.

Compare Oregon Auto Insurance Rates by Driving Record

Your driving record is — perhaps more than any other factor — a key data point that insurers use to set your rates. Drive well, and you could be rewarded with cheap car insurance. But if you have dents and dings on your record, you’ll have to work a bit harder to find affordable coverage.

We’ll cover how rates change for different driving records in the sections below, as well as which companies offer the cheapest rates to Oregonians with less-than-stellar driving records.

Cheapest car insurance for good drivers in Oregon: GEICO

If you’ve worked hard to be a good driver with no stains on your record, insurance companies know they’re not as likely to have to pay out any claims for you. That’s why they typically charge drivers with spotless records much less than those with a history of risky behaviors or claims.

Here are the five cheapest companies for drivers in Oregon who don’t they have any traffic violations or accidents on their record:

Once again, GEICO offers the cheapest car insurance in Oregon for good drivers. It offers a telematics program through its mobile app that you can use to record your driving habits. And if you drive well, you’ll be eligible for discounts that can really knock the price down even more.

Cheapest car insurance in Oregon after a ticket: GEICO

If you get a ticket, it shows insurers that you have the potential for riskier driving and a higher likelihood of getting into an accident and filing a claim. Compared to rates for good drivers, the top insurer — GEICO — charges 20% more for a minimum-coverage policy if you’ve had a ticket.

The table below showcases the five cheapest companies in Oregon if you have one speeding ticket under your belt:

GEICO still offers the cheapest coverage for drivers with a speeding ticket, although it’s slightly more expensive than if you had a spotless record. Still, there are plenty of ways to save — even after a ticket — such as taking a defensive driving course or shopping around to compare quotes.

And if you’ve recently gotten a speeding ticket, don’t worry. Insurance companies typically only look back three to five years — so your rate increase will only be temporary if you drive safely in the meantime.

Cheapest car insurance in Oregon after an accident: GEICO

If you’ve caused an accident in the past, insurance companies consider you a high-risk driver. People often repeat the same behavior, after all, and that’s why many insurers charge even higher rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their driving record. For example, GEICO charges 78% more if you’ve had an at-fault accident on your record compared to good drivers with no negative marks.

Here’s how much the top insurers charge Oregon drivers with one at-fault accident on their driving record:

Oregon drivers with a recent insurance claim tend to be in good hands with GEICO, whose average rates are just $82 per month after an accident. GEICO and many other companies offer discounts for drivers who’ve taken defensive driving courses and who have cars with safety features installed — both of which are good ideas if you’ve caused an accident in the past.

Cheapest car insurance in Oregon after a DUI: State Farm

Getting convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) is a serious offense, especially because drivers with a DUI are more likely to repeat their mistakes. Many insurers may decline to offer you coverage at all — and others will charge you sky-high rates. GEICO, for example, charges 143% more for Oregon drivers with a DUI conviction, compared to those with clean records.

But that doesn’t mean you’re stuck paying astronomical rates for car insurance. The five companies in the table below offer the cheapest average rates to Oregon drivers with a single DUI conviction on their record:

State Farm offers the cheapest car insurance quotes for Oregon drivers with a DUI on their record. It’s the largest insurer in the country for private passenger cars and carries the highest AM Best rating for financial strength, so it has a larger capacity to insure risky drivers than many of its competitors.

The Cheapest Cities for Car Insurance in Oregon

Car insurance companies base your premiums on how risky your situation may be, and driving a car is riskier in some areas than in others. For this reason, insurers generally use your city or even your ZIP code to determine your rates.

The table below breaks down average rates for cities all across Oregon.

Rates in bigger urban areas, like Portland, tend to be higher than those in lower-population areas, like Tualatin and Grants Pass. Auto theft risk may be higher in these areas, too, and that can be one reason driving up costs, says Kenton Brine, president of the NW Insurance Council.

“Insurers are also dealing with a dramatic rise in auto theft,” Brine says, “particularly certain Hyundai and Kia models.”

5 Ways to Get Cheap Car Insurance in Oregon

If you’re frustrated by the high cost of insurance, here are some of the best ways to save money:

• Build your credit score: Drivers with good credit pay less for insurance than those with poor credit scores. The same goes for other financing costs too, such as mortgages and auto loans.

• Check for discounts: Check with your agent to make sure you’re getting all the discounts you’re eligible for with your current auto insurance company.

• Increase deductibles: Choosing a higher deductible means you’ll pay less for your premiums, but make sure you can still pay your new deductible if you need to file a claim.

• Opt out of certain coverages: If you’re still carrying full coverage on older-model, paid-off cars, it’s a good idea to consider whether it’s really necessary.

• Shop around: “Consumers who see premium increases should contact their company or agent to see if there are steps they can take to reduce their costs, and shop around for coverage if necessary,” says Brine.

Oregon Auto Insurance Requirements

Oregon law requires drivers to have higher auto insurance coverage requirements than in other states. Here’s what you’ll need to purchase, according to the Oregon Driver & Motor Vehicle Services Department:

• Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person, up to $50,000 per accident

• Property damage liability: $20,000 per accident

• Uninsured motorist: $25,000 per person, up to $50,000 per accident

• Personal injury protection: $15,000 per person to cover medical bills

Penalties for driving without auto insurance in Oregon

Driving without insurance is a serious risk. Even if you don’t get into an accident, you’ll pay a fine ranging from $130 to $1,000 if you’re caught driving without insurance. The state will also suspend your driver’s license for one year, and you’ll need to purchase insurance coverage to reinstate it later (even if you no longer own a car). You’ll also need to purchase SR-22 insurance for the next three years.

SR-22 auto insurance in Oregon

Oregon, like many other states, requires drivers convicted of serious offenses to purchase coverage that offers a Form SR-22. This form is prepared by your insurance company so that you can submit it to the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles to show proof of coverage.

SR-22 coverage is often more expensive because, risk aside, it’s more work to prepare the form. Before you purchase a policy, check to see if the insurer charges any extra fees for this service.

Oregon Auto Insurance FAQs

If you’re still looking for answers on Oregon car insurance, check out answers to these commonly asked questions from drivers like you.

Who is the cheapest auto insurance company in Oregon?

GEICO is the cheapest insurance company in Oregon. It charges just $65 per month, on average. But that doesn’t mean GEICO will necessarily be the cheapest company for you. All sorts of factors — from your age to your driving record, and even credit score — affect your rates, so it’s important to shop around and compare quotes from multiple companies.

How much is car insurance in Oregon?

The average driver pays $154 per month for car insurance in Oregon, according to Compare.com data. That makes it the 13th most expensive state in the country for auto insurance.

Why is car insurance so expensive in Oregon?

Oregon has increased coverage requirements for drivers and high auto theft rates — both factors contribute to higher car insurance rates compared to other states.

How much car insurance is required in Oregon?

You’ll need to purchase coverages for bodily injury liability ($25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident), property damage liability ($20,000), personal injury protection ($15,000 per person), and uninsured motorists ($25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident) to legally drive in Oregon.

What happens if you get caught driving without insurance in Oregon?

Your license will be suspended for one year, you’ll face fines of $130 to $1,000, and you’ll need to pay for SR-22 insurance for three years to reinstate your driving privileges in Oregon.

Methodology:

Data scientists at Compare.com analyzed more than 50 million real-time auto insurance rates from more than 75 partner insurance providers in order to compile the quotes and statistics seen in this article. Compare.com’s auto insurance data includes coverage analysis and details on drivers’ vehicles, driving records, insurance histories, and demographic information.

All the quotes listed in this article have been gathered from a combination of real Compare.com quotes and external insurance rate data gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. Compare.com uses these observations to provide drivers with insight into how auto insurance companies determine their premiums.

Sources:

1. Oregon Driver & Motor Vehicle Services, “Insurance Requirements,” Accessed August 19, 2023.
2. National Insurance Crime Bureau, “NICB Report Finds Vehicle Thefts Continue to Skyrocket in Many Areas of U.S.,” Accessed August 19, 2023.
3. Insurance Information Institute, “Automobile Financial Responsibility Laws By State,” Accessed August 19, 2023.
4. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “DWI Recidivism in the United States: An Examination of State-Level Driver Data and the Effect of Look-Back Periods on Recidivism Prevalence,” Accessed August 19, 2023.
5. National Association of Insurance Commissioners, “PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE INDUSTRY,” Accessed August 19, 2023.
6. Oregon State Bar, “Uninsured and Underinsured Drivers,” Accessed August 19, 2023.
7. Oregon Driver & Motor Vehicle Services, “SR-22 Information,” Accessed August 19, 2023.