Car Insurance in Oklahoma

Car Insurance in Oklahoma

Oklahoma law requires that all registered vehicles be insured. This is to help guarantee that drivers are able to pay for costs that arise from car accidents.

Oklahoma Car Insurance Requirements

To fulfill Oklahoma's car insurance laws, your policy must include liability insurance to help you cover the costs associated with injuries or property damage from an accident you cause.

Oklahoma requires that your liability insurance include the following minimum coverages per accident:

• $25,000 for injury or death, per person.
• $50,000 total for injury or death if multiple people were hurt in the accident.
• $25,000 for property damage.

Optional Car Insurance

While Oklahoma law only requires you to have liability coverage, you may want to purchase other types of coverage to help further protect you financially.

When shopping for car insurance, consider adding the following common coverage types to your policy:

• Collision – This will help pay for damages to your car after you've been in an accident.
• Comprehensive – This will assist you with non-accident-related damages to your vehicle, such as those that occur due to theft, fire, and water.
• Medical payments – This coverage will help cover your medical costs if you are injured in an accident.
• Uninsured motorist – This will help pay for your costs if you are hit by a driver who is uninsured.

NOTE: While collision and comprehensive coverages are not required by law, they are often required as part of a car loan or lease agreement.

Proof of Insurance

In Oklahoma, you must be able to provide proof of insurance when registering your car and during traffic stops.

Proof of insurance is issued to you by your insurance company and must include:

• Name of your car insurance carrier.
• Address of your insurance carrier.
• NAIC* number of your insurance company.
  • Inquire with your insurance carrier about this number.
• Your name.
• Your car's:
  • Year.
  • Make.
  • Model.
  • VIN.
• The beginning and ending dates of your policy.
• A warning to you that you must:
  • Surrender a copy of your proof of insurance upon registering your car.
  • Keep another copy with your car at all times.
• The following statement:
  • “Examine policy exclusions carefully. This form does not constitute any part of your insurance policy."

* National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

Insurance Verification System

In addition to asking for your proof of insurance during the registration process, Oklahoma has an electronic insurance verification system to help monitor your car insurance.

All car insurance companies in Oklahoma must report your car insurance status to the system.

Insurance Penalties

If you are caught driving without insurance, you face the following penalties:

• A fine of up to $250.
• 30 days in jail.
• Suspension of your driver's license.
• Suspension of your vehicle registration.

Oklahoma Automobile Insurance Plan

While all registered vehicles in Oklahoma must be insured, car insurance companies do have the right to refuse coverage to drivers they feel are high-risk.

If you are unable to find a company willing to insure you, you may be able to obtain your coverage through Oklahoma's Automobile Insurance Plan.

Contact the Plan at (405) 521-2828 to see if they can help you find car insurance.

Other Car Insurance Issues

Complaints

If you have a concern about how your insurance claim is being addressed, you can request the assistance of the Oklahoma Insurance Department.

You can submit a complaint with the Department:

• Online.
• By mail or fax:
  • Complete the Request for Assistance form and either:
    • Mail to the address on the form.
    • Fax to (405) 521-6652.
  • Submit supporting documentation with the form (see below).

When you submit a complaint, remember to:

• Complete every section on the form and sign it.
• Provide as detailed information as possible.
• Submit copies of:
  • Policies.
  • Riders.
  • Phone logs.
  • Other relevant documentation.

Car Insurance Fraud

Insurance companies lose a large sum of money annually due to insurance fraud. Those losses often get passed down to you through increases in rates.

Car insurance fraud commonly involves:

• Staging accidents.
• Falsifying or exaggerating injuries.
• Falsifying or exaggerating property damage.

If you suspect car insurance fraud, you can report it to the Oklahoma Insurance Department fraud unit:

• Online at the OID website.
• By mail:
  • Complete an Anti-Fraud Unit Complaint Form and mail it to the address listed on the form.
• By phone at (800) 522-0071.

Determining Your Car Insurance Premium

Several factors go into determining your car insurance rates in Oklahoma.

When comparing car insurance quotes, consider that the following will factor into your premium:

• Your driving record.
  • Insurance companies can review the past 3 years of your driving history.
• Your car's:
  • Make.
  • Model.
  • Year.
• The primary location where you keep your car.
• Your age and gender.
• Your credit history.

Car Insurance Discounts

A great way to save on Oklahoma car insurance is to take advantage of discounts.

As you are shopping for car insurance, inquire about the following common discounts:

• Good driver.
• Good student.
• Anti-theft device.
• Safety device.
• Homeowners.
• Multiple-car.

When you are comparison-shopping for the lowest insurance quote, remember to always ask about how discounts can help you get the cheapest rates. Don't forget, however, that the biggest factor in low rates is a clean driving record.

Oklahoma Car Insurance FAQs

Does insurance follow the car or the driver in Oklahoma?

In Oklahoma, auto insurance follows the car, rather than the driver. This means that, as long as someone has your permission to drive your vehicle, they are covered under your policy in the event of an accident.

What insurance coverage is required in Oklahoma?

Oklahoma requires drivers to maintain two types of liability insurance coverage: property damage and bodily injury. You must hold a minimum of $25,000 for property damage, $25,000 for bodily injury or death of a single person in an accident, and $50,000 for total bodily injury or death of multiple people in a given accident.

Can you register a car without insurance in Oklahoma?

No, you cannot register a car without insurance in Oklahoma. You must show proof of financial responsibility when applying for an Oklahoma car registration.

Can you get pulled over for no insurance in Oklahoma?

You can't get pulled over in Oklahoma solely due to a lack of car insurance. But if you are pulled over for another infraction and subsequently found to be without proof of car insurance, you can be fined up to $250 and possibly face 30 days in jail.

What happens if an uninsured driver hits you in Oklahoma?

If you're in an accident with an uninsured driver, your optional uninsured driver coverage could help cover the costs of the damage, but only if you've added that coverage to your policy. If you don't have uninsured driver coverage, your likeliest option is to sue the driver personally for damages.