Reader’s Question:

Will I need to buy insurance coverage first from a vehicle insurance company before I can register my car here in Oregon?

Mick

Portland, OR

All states, including Oregon, require that coverage be obtained first from a licensed vehicle insurance company before registration. This is to insure that the car owner has existing insurance before he is granted permission to drive his car on the public roads. The coverage bought from the vehicle insurance company has to be maintained for the whole duration of the vehicle’s registration. In OR, each motorist is required to avail of at least $25,000 Bodily Injury Liability (BIL) to one person per crash, $50,000 BIL for two or more persons, and $10,000 Property Damage Liability (PDL) for any single accident. This state additionally requires Personal Injury Protection (PIP) of $15,000 per person and will take care of the insured’s medical and dental costs up to one year from the covered accident. This state also mandates that all motorists be covered with Uninsured Motorist Insurance pegged at $25,000 for one person while $50,000 should be there to cover bodily injuries per covered car crash. The OR Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) strictly enforces its insurance verification program to make sure that all cars on the streets are covered with sufficient insurance. Periodic checks are done by randomly choosing names of car owners who are then requested by the DMV to provide their insurance information. Failure to respond within ten days may result in payment of fines, revoked driving privileges and impounded vehicle.