Agent Blog

Oregon auto insurance law is really clear on this subject. Auto insurance follows the car, not the driver. Only the registered owner can or should buy insurance on a vehicle. Most companies or agents don’t ask who the owner is when they sell you the insurance. They assume you or someone listed on the policy is the registrant.

The point of the whole SR22 process is to assure the DMV that you are complying with the auto insurance laws. You’ve got an SR22 requirement because you failed to carry insurance on a vehicle you were driving, got too many tickets and accidents in a short time, or you got a DUI.

Insurance

The police will know if you have presented an identification card that you manufactured or appears to cover a vehicle that is no longer covered on your existing policy. I just had a Clackamas County deputy call to verify whether a client’s vehicle was listed on the policy. I had no choice but to reveal that the car had been removed from the policy nearly two months prior. He said the DMV computer confirmed that date.

We live in strange times. Oregon has experienced devastating fires in recent years, which have burned a significant portion of its forests. These fires spread into towns and cities, destroying entire subdivisions. Thousands of homes and automobiles were damaged or destroyed. A shortage of contractors and materials has delayed the rebuilding of the homes. Insurance companies are often understaffed, which can hinder their ability to handle claims effectively. The cost of materials skyrocketed, making it difficult to predict the final settlement. The State of Oregon has extended the time insurers must pay due to this crisis.