Coverage Questions

Oregon requires Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability, Personal Injury Protection (PIP), and Uninsured Motorist coverage.

The minimum limits are $25,000 per person and $50,000 per crash for bodily injury, $20,000 per crash for property damage, $15,000 per person for PIP, and $25,000/$50,000 for uninsured motorist bodily injury.

PIP pays for medical expenses for you and your passengers for up to two years after a crash, regardless of fault.

It provides no-fault coverage for reasonable and necessary medical, dental, and related expenses up to your chosen limit (minimum $15,000 in Oregon). It can also cover lost wages and essential services in certain conditions.

Uninsured Motorist coverage protects you if you are hit by a driver without insurance or in a hit-and-run.

It covers bodily injury expenses that the at-fault driver would have been responsible for. Oregon law requires this coverage to match your bodily injury liability minimums.

No, standard homeowner policies in Oregon do not cover earthquake damage.

You typically need to purchase a separate earthquake policy or add a specific earthquake endorsement to your existing policy to be covered for seismic events.

Replacement cost covers rebuilding your home at current construction prices, while market value is what your house would sell for today.

Your home insurance should be based on replacement cost so you can afford to rebuild after a total loss. Market value includes the land price and real estate factors, which do not burn down or blow away.

Water backup covers water entering from sewers or drains, while flood insurance covers rising surface water.

Standard policies rarely cover flood damage, requiring a separate National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or private policy. Water backup is generally an optional endorsement you can add directly to a standard homeowner policy.

Combining policies often provides management simplicity and can unlock multi-policy incentives.

Having one carrier for both lines makes it easier to track renewals, coordinate comprehensive coverage strategies (like an umbrella policy), and avoid coverage gaps. Many insurers offer preferred pricing when you "bundle."

You can verify the license status of any insurance agent or agency operating in Oregon through the state's official license lookup tool.

Using this tool helps ensure you are dealing with a legitimate professional authorized to discuss binding coverage and provide individual advice.