Significant Auto Insurance

Decide how much and what types of coverage you need. Insurance is there to mitigate risk, so before you begin to shop, you need to determine how much insurance is necessary. Obviously, you will begin with the minimum requirements, spelled out in “ORS 806.010,” but you must analyze your needs given the value of your car and your financial condition. Oregon’s minimum insurance requirements are similar to those of most other states, so you most major insurers will have coverage to meet your needs.

Determine how much personal service you are likely to need out of your insurer. Most drivers will rarely speak with their insurance agents, so they don’t require significant personal service. As a result, you may not need to work with an agent located in Oregon, and you are more likely to find a better deal if you shop among all insurers who are licensed to insure Oregon drivers.

Search the major insurers who licensed to provide insurance in Oregon. State Farm, Progressive, GEICO and Allstate are four of the major players that offer insurance to Oregonians, and they are among the most competitive–in terms of price and service. Each of these insurers provides online quotes with limited information about your specific situation. Review the terms and conditions along with the prices provided by the insurers. Carefully review the types of coverage provided by each. The Oregon State website provides a search-able database that includes all providers licensed to provide auto insurance in the state.

Create a scorecard ranking the top three or four quotes provided from your research. Setting the price as criteria, begin working down the scorecard. Other factors include the liability coverage amounts and service levels. From the scorecard, you should be able to narrow down your choice to the insurance provider that works best for you.