Oregon follows a Tort insurance system — if you were found at fault in an accident then you and your insurance company are responsible for reimbursing the other parties for their material losses and, eventually, take care of their medical expenses.
As of January 1st, 2010, the state of Oregon asks all its motorists to get at least a 25/50/20 Liability policy with 25/50 UM limits:
The average insurance cost in Oregon is of $1,114, much lower than the country average figure of $1,678. Premiums in major cities are a bit more expensive, like $1,568 in Beaverton, 1,487 in Medford, $1,383 in Springfield, $1,780 in Gresham, $1,518 in Portland, $1,732 in Salem or $1,565 in Hillsboro. There are cheaper cities to be insured in too. Insurance costs $1,169 in Eugene, $1,198 in Bend or $1,150 in Corvallis.
The Oregon House Bill 2377 has put a ban on all text-based communication when operating a vehicle. Moreover, new drivers under 18 aren’t allowed to use cellphones altogether when behind the wheel. No further restrictions are in place, but authorities also recommend using hands-free devices when engaging in phone calls.
Oregon uses the Graduated Driver Licensing system, a concept meant to gradually introduce teenagers to driving on public roads. Kids are encouraged to get behind-the-wheel experience while keeping the incidence of stressful and risky situations down to a bare minimum. Several restrictions apply to GDL drivers:
Violating these restrictions can lead to the suspension of the driving privileges or even revocation of the provisional permit.
Driving without insurance in Oregon is a Class B traffic violation, same as being unable to show proof of evidence when being pulled over. You will be fined around $300, lose your driving privileges for 30 to 60 days and, in some areas, have your vehicle towed. If you are also convicted of driving without insurance you will have to file a SR22 certificate for three years.
If you are also involved in a car accident, whether or not you were at fault, your driver’s license will be suspended for a year and you will have a three year SR22 filing requirement once the suspension is over.