Reader’s Question:

If I buy a car here in Oregon, how long should have the registration and car insurance transferred under my name?

Alex,

Eugene, OR

Normally, there is no grace period for getting your car insured. Just the same, you are not allowed to drive an uninsured vehicle and say that you are still waiting for its insurance to be approved.

If you purchase a vehicle, you should have 30 days to transfer ownership without penalty. With regards to auto insurance, most car dealers require the buyer to have an auto insurance before taking the vehicle home. If you already have an auto insurance policy, you may use this to cover your new vehicle temporarily. However, you may have to take this matter to your insurance agent before doing anything to let them know of the situation.

Typically, if you are getting rid of an old insured car and transferring the insurance policy to the new one, then the insurance company may cover your new vehicle for the time being that the transfer is being processed. The insurance policy from the old vehicle would be the same once it gets transferred to the new vehicle. Therefore, if you did not get a collision and comprehensive coverage for the old vehicle, then that is what you should also expect from the insurance policy of your new vehicle.

If you are buying a vehicle for the first time, then you will have to refrain from driving the new vehicle until you get the insurance papers. Oregon has a mandatory insurance law written under ORS 806.010, stating that every driver is required to insure their vehicle/s and to carry the proof of insurance all the time. If you are caught driving without insurance, you may be subjected to payment of fines, driver’s license suspension, or vehicle impoundment.

Tags: car insurance, driving without insurance

Reader’s Question:

I live in Hillsboro, Oregon. I am just curious as to how many days does an insurance carrier settle a car insurance claim?

Karen

Hillsboro, OR

If you place a car insurance claim you have a right to be notified of the process to be used to settle your car insurance claim and the update of your claim. This is according to the Oregon Insurance Division. Insurance carriers must respond to the car insurance claim that has been filed within 30 days. Insurance carriers must finish an investigation of a claim within forty five days, unless they need additional time.

Generally, insurance providers try to pay car insurance claims in a reasonable amount of time.

In some situation, the progress of the car insurance claim may become slow due to special cases or if a claim adjuster has an increased case load or extreme weather events.

If you would like to know more about car insurance claim in Hillsboro, Oregon you may contact the Oregon Insurance Division directly. To check if your insurance provider has any time limits with regards to car insurance claims beyond the Oregon state laws, read over your car insurance policy and check with both your insurance agent and the claims adjuster working on your claim.

Tags: auto insurance claims, car insurance

Reader’s Question:

My daughter was paying for the car loan in Eugene, Oregon, the vehicle payment is due at the end of each month. Yesterday she was in an accident and totaled the vehicle on the first week of the month. My daughter said that she still needs to make that monthly payment on the vehicle even though the car is totaled. is this correct?

Trance

Eugene, OR

Yes it is possible that another automobile payment will be due to the finance company if the insurance carrier has not yet paid out on the car insurance claim. It seems like the insurance provider will be paying off the remainder of the loan amount however if they do not do so before the next payment is due then the individual whose name is on the car loan could get a black mark on their credit score if the car insurance payment was not made on time.

Once the lien holder in Eugene, Oregon gets the insurance payment that covers the remaining amount of the car loan monthly payments will no longer have to be paid. If what is owed on the automobile is less than the value the insurance carrier is paying for the totaled car there should be money coming to the owner of the vehicle at the end of the settlement.

Tags: auto insurance claims, car insurance

Reader’s Question:

We would really appreciate your help. We have three cars and a student driver. Our car insurance rates are through the roof. How do we find affordable car insurance in Eugene Oregon?

Josh

Eugene Ore

Hello Eugene,

Let’s see what we can figure out to help you find affordable car insurance. It seems that you have a couple issues working here. Affordable car insurance is available to families with student drivers and it helps if all the drivers have taken accredited driver safety programs. Most carriers will provide discounts that will make for affordable car insurance rates.

To get the most affordable car insurance rates in Eugene Oregon, you should also combine all three vehicles in one policy. Insurance companies feel multiple coverages reduce their risk in the long run. Another incentive for affordable car insurance is to combine your auto request with a request for your homeowner’s coverage.

Help the insurance company give you their most affordable car insurance rates by installing anti-theft devices in all three vehicles.

Most importantly, you will do well to complete the inquiry request form for affordable car insurance on this page. The finest carriers in the Eugene OR area will respond to this inquiry and you can study their proposals in the privacy of your home. Online applications for affordable car insurance are the most cost effective way to shop. Good luck, Josh.

Tags: auto insurance, cheap auto insurance

Reader’s Question:

What cars are exempt from the mandatory insurance requirement? I live in Gresham, OR.

Tyrone

Gresham, OR

State laws differ so you will need to check with your state’s Department of Motor Vehicle agency, or similar entity. The state of Oregon should have a list of cars that are exempt from your state’s mandatory insurance requirement laws.

In Oregon there are certain cars, such as antique motor vehicles, farm tractors, farm trailers, motor assisted scooters, snowmobiles, mobility devices, and all-terrain vehicles, which are exempt from the mandatory insurance requirements.

Remember if you take the car that is exempt from auto insurance in your state to a different state to check their laws since mandatory insurance laws do very between states.

Tags: auto insurance

Reader’s Question:

I would like to know if Oregon have an alcohol exclusion law?

Karen

Eugene, OR

Alcohol exclusions within insurance policies allow insurance companies to deny coverage to those injured while under the influence of alcohol. Exclusions can be used to deny payment to medical payments to hospitals and doctors. Some states laws is requiring proof only of alcohol use prior to injury and others being more require proof of a causal relationship between the injury and the use of alcohol.

From my understanding Oregon now prohibits insurance companies from using alcohol exclusions. Since legislature and court rulings vary by state, to check the exact status on alcohol exclusion and what the recent changes made to the Oregon Statutes lets say specifically regarding this concern, check with the Oregon Insurance Division. You may be able to research the issue by going through the Oregon Legislature site.

Reader’s Question:

I received a ticket while driving in Oregon. I have a CA license and I just want to know what I should do to take this off my record? Will going to traffic school help? I need to find the cheapest car insurance in the state of Oregon…I am a college student! Help!
Richard

Thank you for asking Richard.

Oregon and California are part of the Drivers License Compact so this means if you plead guilty to the Oregon speeding ticket and pay the fine, the traffic violation will be reported to the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

If the traffic violation is reported to your home state, the out of state points list would be 1 point on your CA driver’s license. It does not show that California would permit you to take a CA traffic school to clear the violation from your record since the offense took place out of state.

To check if you can take an Oregon traffic school, you may contact the county court of the area in which you received the ticket. Some counties in Oregon allow for traffic school for traffic violations while others do not. For example Douglas County does not use or offer traffic schools while Josephine County does.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

Reader’s Question:

I got pulled over in Eugene Oregon and I didn’t have car insurance at the time. What will happen to me and my how much is this going to cost me?

Allan

Thank you for asking Allan.

In Oregon, a mandatory insurance law requires every motorist to insure their motor vehicle. If you drive without insurance or if youre unable to provide proof of auto insurance to a law enforcement officer when requested, is considered a class B traffic violation in Oregon. .

If you drive without the mandated liability insurance in Oregon , you may face penalties such as suspension of your driving privileges ,fines of up to $300 and in some areas your vehicle can be towed. You will need to file proof of future financial responsibility (SR-22) with the DMV for 3 years if you get convicted of driving without insurance or else your driving privileges will remain suspended.

Your driving privileges will be suspended for a year if you get caught driving uninsured and got involved in an accident. After the suspension period ends you will have to carry an SR-22 for 3 years.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

Q: What are all of the different ways I can buy Eugene SR22 car insurance?

A: Oregon car insurance law allows you to take several routes when purchasing your Eugene SR22 car insurance policy, although for most people there is only one which is open and affordable, and that is buying your policy from a car insurance company. Car insurance companies must be licensed by the state of Oregon in order to sell valid insurance policies.

Another thing you could do is much more expensive, and requires you to pay the entire amount of your coverage up front in form of a bond with the DMV. If you do this, then you would be considered self insured and you would have to file your Eugene SR22 a different way.

Regardless of what kind of car insurance you have, you are required to carry proof of it on you anytime you are driving, as well as in some other situations, regardless of the fact that you file a Eugene SR22. You can do this in the form of an insurance card which states your coverage limits, or with a bond form from the DMV.