Uninsured Motorist Coverage for Seniors in Oregon
Oregon requires uninsured motorist coverage on every policy, and it matters for older drivers because the other driver's insurance often isn't enough to cover a serious injury.
Yes, and Oregon makes it mandatory
Oregon law requires every auto insurance policy sold in the state to include uninsured motorist coverage and underinsured motorist coverage. You can't waive it entirely the way you can in some other states. It's already part of your policy whether you asked for it or not.
This coverage pays when the other driver has no insurance, or when they have insurance but not enough to cover what you're owed after a crash. For an older driver, that second part matters more than it sounds. Injuries tend to take longer to heal and cost more to treat, so a policy limit that would have covered a younger driver's claim can fall short of yours.
Your coverage limit, not just whether you have it
Having uninsured motorist coverage is required, but the amount you carry is a separate choice, and Oregon sets only a minimum. Many drivers carry just that minimum without realizing it.
If you're in a serious crash with a driver who has little or no insurance, the minimum may not come close to covering the medical costs, lost time, or ongoing care an older driver is more likely to need. Raising your uninsured motorist limit is usually one of the cheaper changes you can make to a policy, because it doesn't touch the parts insurers price around things like moving violations.
Check your declarations page for the uninsured and underinsured motorist limits listed separately from your liability limits. If you don't understand what you're reading, ask your insurer to walk through it line by line.
Underinsured motorist coverage works differently than you'd expect
Underinsured motorist coverage is the part that pays when the at-fault driver has insurance but not enough. It only applies after their insurer pays out its full limit, and only up to your own underinsured motorist limit minus what they paid.
This matters because a lot of drivers on the road carry only the state minimum liability coverage. If one of them causes a serious crash, their insurer might pay very little, and you'd be relying on your own underinsured motorist coverage to make up the difference.
Some insurers also offer stacking, which lets you combine the uninsured and underinsured limits across multiple vehicles on your policy. Whether that's available and how it works depends on the insurer, so ask directly if you have more than one car insured.
Questions people ask about this
Can I drop uninsured motorist coverage in Oregon to lower my premium?
No, Oregon requires it on every policy and doesn't allow drivers to waive it outright. If you're looking to lower your premium, ask your insurer about other parts of the policy instead, like your deductible or discounts you may qualify for.
Does uninsured motorist coverage pay for medical bills or just car damage?
It typically covers injury to you and your passengers, not damage to your vehicle. Damage from an uninsured driver is usually handled through collision coverage instead, so check which coverages apply to which type of loss on your policy.
What happens if a hit-and-run driver can't be identified?
A hit-and-run where the driver is never found is generally treated as an uninsured motorist claim, since there's no other driver's insurance to pursue. The exact requirements for reporting and documenting the accident are set by your insurer and by Oregon law, so ask your insurer what proof they need.
Will my uninsured motorist coverage go up if I file a claim?
That depends on your insurer's rules, since Oregon doesn't set a statewide answer on this. Ask your insurer directly whether filing an uninsured or underinsured motorist claim affects your renewal rate before you file.
Does my health insurance or Medicare cover what uninsured motorist coverage doesn't?
Health insurance and Medicare can cover medical treatment regardless of who caused the crash, but they don't cover lost income, pain and suffering, or other costs that uninsured motorist coverage is meant to address. The two work differently and aren't a substitute for each other.
See what other Oregon drivers your age are paying for this coverage before you decide what limit makes sense.
Pull out your current declarations page and find the line that lists your uninsured and underinsured motorist limits. Call your insurer and ask them to explain what those numbers mean in plain terms and what raising them would cost. Ask specifically whether stacking is available if you insure more than one vehicle. If you've had a recent birthday, renewal notice, or rate increase, mention it and ask whether your current limits still make sense for your situation. Then compare what you're paying against quotes from a couple of other insurers to see whether the same coverage is available for less elsewhere.
