Best Cheap Auto Insurance in Portland, Oregon (2023)

If you live in Portland, Oregon, and are looking for a new car insurance company, you’ll want to consider insurers like State Farm, USAA, and GEICO. Each is a top insurer in the Portland area and a good place to start if you’re looking for affordable rates.

The average car insurance rate in Portland is $279, which is higher than the average American driver pays, at $212 a month. Portland is also the third most-expensive city for insurance in the state, according to Insurify data. This could be due to the crime rate in the city or an increased accident rate due to the large population and influx of tourists.

Fortunately, the information presented here can help you find affordable insurance that matches your needs.

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Best car insurance companies in Portland

If you’re looking to save money, you’ll want to start by researching your options with the insurers below.

Best insurer for low rates: State Farm

Best insurer for military members: USAA

Best insurer for discounts: GEICO

Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Portland

Liability-only car insurance protects you financially if you cause an accident that damages another person’s car or injures the other driver or passengers. All drivers in Oregon must carry at least liability-only coverage that meets the state’s minimum coverage requirements. In the table below, you can see the average quotes for liability-only coverage from many of the state’s top insurers.

Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Portland

While liability-only insurance generally covers the expenses incurred by others in an accident you cause, full-coverage car insurance goes beyond this to cover damage to you and your vehicle as well. Because of this, you may consider full-coverage car insurance if you have an expensive car or if you would find it a challenge to replace or repair your car if it were wrecked. Full-coverage insurance in Oregon also includes personal injury protection. If you think it would be hard to pay for hospital bills after an accident, you may want to consider full coverage.

“In today’s environment, older cars are holding their value a lot longer,” says Loretta Worters, vice president of media relations at the Insurance Information Institute. “So check with Kelley Blue Book or your bank to determine the car’s value. Auto dealers and banks can also tell you the worth of cars. Typically, if your car is worth less than 10 times the premium, purchasing full coverage may not be cost-effective.”

Here you can see a collection of average monthly quotes for full-coverage insurance in Portland.

Car insurance requirements in Oregon

To drive legally in Oregon, you need at least a liability-only car insurance policy that meets the requirements listed below.

This coverage threshold meets the minimum requirements in Oregon. But you can always enhance your coverage with any of the following:

• 

  Comprehensive coverage

  This covers you if you have damage to your vehicle that may not be related to an accident. For instance, if your car is stolen, it catches on fire, a rock smashes through the windshield, or an animal hits your vehicle, your insurance would pay for repairs or replacement.

• 

  Collision coverage

  Collision coverage fixes your vehicle when it’s damaged by another vehicle or an object, such as a tree or building.

• 

  Underinsured motorist coverage

  This protects you if you’re in an accident and the other driver is at fault but isn’t carrying enough insurance.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident

When a driver has an incident on the road — such as an at-fault accident, speeding ticket, DUI, or some other type of moving violation — it almost always leads to a spike in their premiums. Insurers see problematic driving behavior as a sign of increased risk and charge accordingly.

If you have an incident on your record, comparison shopping becomes even more important in order to find the best rates. In the following sections, you’ll see what you can expect to pay for car insurance based on your record.

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Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket

If you live in Portland and get a speeding ticket on I-84, for example, expect your car insurance premiums to go up. Oregon takes speeding seriously, and the state recently passed a law allowing every city to install speed cameras to enforce speed limits.^[3] Portland, meanwhile, has had speed cameras in the city for some time.

Below is a look at the average monthly quotes you can expect to receive with a speeding ticket on your record.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident

If you have an at-fault accident on your record, your premiums will climb, as insurers will see you as a higher risk. Fortunately, if you maintain a spotless record going forward, your rates should decrease after a couple years, depending on your insurer.

The table below provides you with an example of the average monthly quotes you can expect to receive with an at-fault accident on your record.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI

Insurers generally view DUIs as the most serious of incidents, and if you have one on your record, you can expect your rates to jump dramatically. Some insurers may even drop you if you’re cited for DUI. The table below shows what monthly quotes you would see, on average, for your insurance premiums with a DUI on your record.

Cheapest car insurance for seniors

Insurers calculate premiums based on many factors, including age. Teens pay some of the highest premiums before rates drop, often around age 25. However, those rates start increasing again as drivers reach senior status. The exact age for this status varies by insurer. This increase in premiums is due, in part, to the slower reflexes common with the aging process, as well as the increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

If you’re a senior, the table below shows what you would pay monthly, on average, for your insurance premiums.

Cheapest car insurance for teens

Because teenage drivers don’t have much driving experience, and because research shows that they’re more likely to have accidents, insurers charge higher premiums for this age group. Fortunately, you can find ways to reduce rates. For instance, a teenager driving a model that an insurer considers a safe vehicle would pay less than they would behind the wheel of a vehicle considered unsafe. Insurers also charge less when a teenage driver stays on their parents’ policy, and many insurers offer discounts for good grades.

Here’s a look at the average monthly quotes for teens in Portland.

How to get the cheapest car insurance in Portland

Finding cheap insurance rates in Portland depends largely on how much comparison shopping you’re willing to do and your unique personal factors. Here are a few rules of the road to keep in mind as you look for cheap car insurance:

• Liability-only coverage is always going to be cheaper than full coverage. Liability only means that you, instead of your insurer, will pay for your own damages and medical bills if you or your vehicle is in an accident where you’re at fault.

• If you decide to pay a higher deductible, you’ll pay lower auto insurance rates. However, make sure to never set your deductible so high you can’t afford to pay it should you need to file a claim.

• Check with your insurer to see if it has any discounts you qualify for that can bring your rates down.

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Is car insurance more expensive in Portland?

Yes, insurance coverage is more expensive for drivers in Portland than in many other parts of the country. The U.S. national average is $170 a month for liability-only coverage and $253 for full coverage. In Portland, Oregon, you’ll pay considerably more. On average, a driver will pay $227 for liability-only coverage and $332 for full coverage.

Rates may be higher in Portland due to the increased risk of crimes or accidents, as well as the higher cost of repairs after an accident.

More cities in Oregon

How does car insurance in Portland stack up against other cities across the state? The table below should give you an idea. On average, drivers pay $332 a month for full-coverage car insurance in Portland, which is higher than many other cities in Oregon.

Portland car insurance FAQs