# Oregon car insurance: required PIP benefits, uninsured motorist rules and minimum liability

> Oregon auto insurance guide: the PIP benefits every policy must include, liability and UM/UIM minimums, cancellation notice rules and how costs compare.

Canonical page: https://statecover-guide.com/location/oregon/  
Last reviewed: October 28, 2026 by the StateCover Guide editorial team  
General information, not legal or insurance advice.

## Quick answer

Every Oregon car insurance policy must include personal injury protection (PIP) of at least $15,000 per person for medical costs, plus liability of $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident and $20,000 for property damage, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. PIP pays you and your passengers regardless of fault, but Oregon does not restrict lawsuits, so the at-fault driver's insurer still pays for the rest. Average auto insurance costs are below the national figure.

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Minimum liability | $25,000 / $50,000 bodily injury, $20,000 property damage |
| Fault system | At-fault (add-on PIP) |
| PIP | Required: $15,000 per person for medical expenses |
| Uninsured motorist (UM) | Required: equal to your bodily injury limits unless you elect lower limits in writing (not below $25,000/$50,000) |
| Underinsured motorist (UIM) | Required: included in uninsured motorist coverage |
| Proof at registration | Insurance policy number required each time you register |
| Average expenditure (2023) | $1,170.31 a year vs $1,281 nationally |
| Uninsured drivers (2023) | 14.7% vs 15.4% nationally |
| Regulator | Oregon Division of Financial Regulation, 888-877-4894 (consumer hotline, toll-free) |
| Motor vehicle agency | Oregon Driver and Motor Vehicle Services (ODOT DMV) |

## What Oregon's required PIP pays

Oregon law (ORS 742.520) requires PIP on every private passenger auto liability policy. It protects you, relatives in your household, children being raised in your home, your passengers and pedestrians your car hits. ORS 742.524 spells out the minimum benefits per person:

| PIP benefit | Oregon minimum |
|---|---|
| Medical, hospital, dental, ambulance and similar costs | Up to $15,000, for expenses within 2 years of the injury |
| Lost income (if you work) | 70% of lost income, up to $3,000 a month, for up to 52 weeks |
| Essential services (if you don't earn an income) | Up to $30 a day for help you hire, for up to 52 weeks |
| Funeral expenses | Up to $5,000 |
| Child care while a parent is hospitalized | $25 a day, up to $750 in total |

Income and essential services benefits start only if the disability lasts at least 14 days. Insurers can sell higher PIP limits, and some offer a small deductible on PIP for you and your household. Our [personal injury protection guide](https://statecover-guide.com/coverage/personal-injury-protection/) compares Oregon with no-fault states.

## Fault still matters: Oregon's add-on system

Required PIP can make Oregon look like a no-fault state, but it is not one. Oregon is an at-fault state with "add-on" PIP: the benefits are added to your policy without taking away your right to sue. After a crash:

1. **Your PIP pays first** for medical bills and other listed losses, whoever caused the crash.
2. **The at-fault driver's liability insurance** remains responsible for injuries and damage, including costs above your PIP and pain and suffering.
3. **Insurers sort out repayment.** When your insurer has paid PIP and another driver was at fault, the insurers settle reimbursement between themselves.

See [no-fault vs at-fault states](https://statecover-guide.com/blog/no-fault-vs-at-fault-states/) for how this compares with neighbors.

## Liability and UM/UIM minimums

Oregon's liability minimums are $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $20,000 for property damage. Uninsured motorist coverage must match your bodily injury limits unless you choose lower limits in writing, and it can never fall below $25,000 / $50,000. Underinsured motorist coverage is included in that UM coverage, so it also helps when an at-fault driver has too little insurance.

An estimated 14.7% of Oregon drivers were uninsured in 2023, just below the national 15.4%. Read our [uninsured motorist guide](https://statecover-guide.com/coverage/uninsured-motorist/) for how UM and UIM claims work.

## What Oregon drivers pay

Oregon's average auto insurance expenditure was $1,170.31 a year in 2023, below the national $1,281. The combined average premium for liability, collision and comprehensive was $1,268.47, compared with $1,438 nationally.

The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation stresses that prices vary between insurers, so comparing quotes matters. Insurers look at your driving record from the Oregon DMV and other states. Our [shopping at renewal](https://statecover-guide.com/saving/shopping-at-renewal/) guide lists what to compare.

## Cancellation, nonrenewal and new cars

State law limits when an Oregon insurer can drop you:

- **Nonpayment:** at least 10 days' notice before cancellation.
- **Other cancellations and nonrenewals:** at least 30 days' notice, with the reason.
- **Common nonrenewal reasons:** frequent claims, costly claims and a poor driving record.
- **New vehicles:** tell your insurer right away. Policies give only a short window to add a new car, and the regulator notes there is no law granting extra time, so check your policy.

If no insurer will cover you, you may qualify through the Western Association Automobile Insurance Plans, usually with an agent's help; the plan's number is 800-227-4659. See [canceled or nonrenewed](https://statecover-guide.com/blog/canceled-or-nonrenewed/) for next steps.

## Crash risk on Oregon roads

Oregon's crash death rate was 12.6 per 100,000 people in 2024, above the national 11.5 per 100,000 people. Measured by distance driven, it was 1.44 per 100 million miles, compared with 1.19 per 100 million miles. An estimated 33% of drivers killed were at or above the legal alcohol limit (national: 31%), and 54% of deaths were on rural roads (national: 41%).

## FAQ

### Is Oregon a no-fault state?

No. Oregon requires PIP, which pays regardless of fault, but it does not limit your right to sue the at-fault driver. That makes it an at-fault state with add-on PIP.

### How much lost income does Oregon PIP pay?

70% of lost income, up to $3,000 a month, for up to 52 weeks, once you have been disabled for at least 14 days.

### Does Oregon PIP cover pedestrians and passengers?

Yes. Required PIP covers your passengers and pedestrians struck by your car, as well as you and relatives in your household.

### Can I lower my uninsured motorist coverage in Oregon?

You can elect UM limits below your bodily injury limits in writing, but not below $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.

### How much notice must an Oregon insurer give before canceling?

At least 10 days for nonpayment, and at least 30 days with a stated reason for other cancellations or nonrenewals. If you are moving, compare [Washington](https://statecover-guide.com/location/washington/), [California](https://statecover-guide.com/location/california/) and [Idaho](https://statecover-guide.com/location/idaho/) rules too.

## Sources

- [Oregon Revised Statutes, Chapter 742](https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors742.html) — PIP requirement and benefits (ORS 742.520, 742.524), UM/UIM (ORS 742.502)
- [Oregon Revised Statutes, Chapter 806](https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors806.html) — liability minimums
- [Oregon Division of Financial Regulation, Auto insurance 101](https://dfr.oregon.gov/insure/auto/Pages/auto-insurance-101.aspx) — cancellation notices, assigned risk plan, shopping advice
- [Oregon DMV, Insurance requirements](https://www.oregon.gov/odot/DMV/pages/driverid/insurance.aspx) — minimums and proof at registration
- [NAIC, Auto Insurance Database Report](https://content.naic.org/sites/default/files/publication-aut-pb-auto-insurance-database.pdf) — average expenditure and premium
- [IIHS-HLDI, Fatality Facts: state by state](https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/fatality-statistics/detail/state-by-state) — crash death statistics
- [Insurance Information Institute, Facts + Statistics: Uninsured motorists](https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-uninsured-motorists), as of October 28, 2026
- [NAIC, 2022/2023 Auto Insurance Database Report](https://content.naic.org/article/naic-releases-20222023-auto-insurance-database-report), as of February 13, 2026
- [Insurance Research Council, Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists: 2017–2023 (press release)](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250220231032/en), as of February 20, 2025