Oregon is an add-on state with 25/50/20 minimum liability. Here's exactly what the law demands, what it costs to ignore it, and how SR-22 filings work — with statutes cited.
| Coverage OR law requires | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability — per person | $25,000 |
| Bodily injury liability — per accident | $50,000 |
| Property damage liability | $20,000 |
| Personal injury protection (PIP) | $15,000 |
| PIP | Personal injury protection with at least $15,000 per person in medical benefits (expenses |
| UM/UIM | Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per a |
Effective Current liability limits set out in ORS 806.070; the $20,000 property damage minimum dates to 2009 legislation (Or. Laws 2009, ch. 66). Source: Oregon DMV - Insurance Requirements (Oregon Department of Transportation) · ORS 806.010, ORS 806.070 (liability); ORS 742.520 and ORS 742.524 (PIP); ORS 742.502 (UM/UIM)
First offense: Driving uninsured is a Class B traffic violation under ORS 806.010, carrying a presumptive fine of $265, a minimum fine of $135, and a maximum fine of $1,000 (ORS 153.018, 153.019, 153.021).
Repeat offenses: Each violation carries the same Class B fine range, but a conviction triggers a three-year proof-of-financial-responsibility (SR-22) filing obligation, and failing to file or maintain it leads to additional suspension under ORS 809.415 and penalties under ORS 806.230.
License impact: A driver involved in an accident while uninsured faces suspension of driving privileges under ORS 809.417, and anyone convicted of driving uninsured must file and maintain proof of financial responsibility with Oregon DMV for three years. (source: ORS 806.010 and ORS 153.018-153.021 (Oregon Revised Statutes); Oregon DMV)
ORS 806.010 requires a driver convicted of driving uninsured to file and maintain proof of financial responsibility (an SR-22 certificate) with Oregon DMV for three years; non-owner policies can be used to satisfy the filing for drivers who do not own a vehicle.
Typically required after: conviction for driving uninsured, involvement in an accident while uninsured, suspension of driving privileges for financial-responsibility violations. Filing period: 3 years in most cases. Non-owner option: available — you can file without owning a car.
Need one filed? Our SR-22 service page explains the process; a licensed professional at (866) 370-6395 can usually file the same day.
Oregon requires personal injury protection on every auto policy: at least $15,000 per person for reasonable and necessary medical, hospital, dental, surgical, ambulance and prosthetic expenses incurred within two years of the injury, plus wage-loss benefits (70% of lost income up to $3,000 per month for up to 52 weeks) and other benefits under ORS 742.524. Oregon adds PIP on top of the tort system, so injured people keep full rights to sue the at-fault driver.
Oregon's mandatory package is broader than most states' - liability, $15,000 PIP, and 25/50 UM/UIM (including underinsured motorist protection) are all required on every policy.
UM coverage must be written at the same limits as your bodily injury liability coverage unless you elect lower limits in writing, and it can never drop below 25/50 (ORS 742.502).
License and registration consequences: A driver involved in an accident while uninsured faces suspension of driving privileges under ORS 809.417, and anyone convicted of driving uninsured must file and maintain proof of financial responsibility with Oregon DMV for three years.
| City | Population | Median income | 30+ min commute | No-vehicle households |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | 641,165 | $90,919 | 32.3% | 13.7% |
| Eugene | 179,591 | $66,562 | 12.5% | 10.2% |
| Salem | 178,865 | $75,487 | 24.8% | 7.7% |
| Gresham | 112,378 | $77,795 | 37.7% | 8.8% |
| Hillsboro | 108,231 | $106,409 | 30.5% | 6.1% |
| Bend | 103,390 | $96,394 | 11.8% | 4.8% |
| Beaverton | 97,812 | $98,622 | 33.0% | 8.7% |
| Medford | 86,315 | $73,230 | 12.4% | 6.8% |
| Springfield | 61,499 | $68,761 | 15.6% | 8.3% |
| Corvallis | 59,960 | $65,012 | 14.4% | 9.7% |
Source: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-year estimates.
Oregon beyond Portland splits into distinct driving worlds. Eugene and Springfield work the I-5 and Beltline grind with winter rain and fog off the valley floor. Medford and Grants Pass live with the Siskiyou Summit — chain requirements, snow closures, and the steady I-5 truck flow to California — plus wildfire smoke seasons that have become a summer fixture. Bend and Redmond deal with US-97's mix of tourists, ice, and high-desert snow zones, with deer and elk crossings a constant on 97 and 126. Studded-tire wear and cinder-rock windshield chips keep glass coverage relevant, and long rural stretches make UM and roadside choices worth real consideration.
Portland-area driving means I-5 through the Rose Quarter squeeze, the Sunset Highway tunnel backup, Highway 217's short merges, and I-84 into the Gorge, where east wind and ice create conditions found nowhere else in the metro. Vancouver commuters live and die by the Interstate Bridge lifts. Rain is the baseline hazard, months of slick pavement and low visibility, but the rare snow-and-ice day paralyzes the hills entirely, and locals know exactly which ones to avoid. Catalytic converter theft keeps comprehensive coverage relevant across the metro. Salem and the mid-valley add I-5 fog banks. With Oregon and Washington rules differing across the river, a licensed agent can sort your situation cleanly.
641,165 residents
179,591 residents
178,865 residents
112,378 residents
108,231 residents
103,390 residents
97,812 residents
86,315 residents
61,499 residents
59,960 residents
56,839 residents
56,011 residents
52,389 residents
40,381 residents
39,311 residents
39,082 residents
37,755 residents
36,092 residents
34,596 residents
27,875 residents
27,763 residents
26,974 residents
26,935 residents
26,738 residents
Every legal claim on this page traces to:
Laws change. We refresh state pages on a rolling schedule and date-stamp every change; verify with your state before acting.