Best car insurance in Salem, OR (2024)

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Meredith NapolitanoFreelance contributorAs a content writer, Meredith has written most extensively about home renovation, vocational training, the automotive industry, real estate, family law, and data protection.&Rachael BrennanSenior Editor & Licensed Auto Insurance ExpertRachael Brennan is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. Her work has also been featured in MoneyGeek, Clearsurance, Adweek, Boston Globe, The Ladders, and AutoInsurance.com.

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Anna SwartzAnna SwartzSenior Managing EditorAnna Swartz is a senior managing editor who specializes in home, auto, renters, and disability insurance at Policygenius. Previously, she was a senior staff writer at Mic and a writer at The Dodo. Her work has also appeared in Salon, HuffPost, MSN, AOL, and Heeb.
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Maria FilindrasMaria FilindrasFinancial AdvisorMaria Filindras is a financial advisor, a licensed Life & Health insurance agent in California, and a member of the Financial Review Council at Policygenius.

Updated|2 min read

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The average cost of full coverage car insurance in Salem is $1,575 per year, which is $132 more expensive than the average cost in Oregon. You can always find ways to save money on car insurance, but one of the best ways to do is to shop around and make sure you’re getting coverage that fits all your needs.

Ready to shop car insurance?

With Policygenius, you can compare quotes from many insurers, and our experts can help you find a policy that works best for you.

Key takeaways

  • State Farm has the lowest average rate for full coverage in Salem at $992 per year.

  • GEICO has the lowest rates for drivers with bad credit, at $1,671 per year.

  • Oregon drivers are required to have uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage equal to the liability coverage minimums.

Methodology & why you can trust our rates

Policygenius has analyzed car insurance rates provided by Quadrant Information Services for every ZIP code in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C. For full coverage policies, the following coverage limits were used:

  • Bodily injury liability: 50/100

  • Property damage liability: $50,000

  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist: 50/100

  • Comprehensive: $500 deductible

  • Collision: $500 deductible

In some cases, additional coverages were added where required by state or insurer.

Rates for overall average rate, rates by ZIP code, and cheapest companies determined using averages for single drivers ages 30, 35, and 45. Our sample vehicle was a 2017 Toyota Camry LE driven 10,000 miles/year.

Rates for driving violations and “Poor” credit determined using average rates for a single male 30-year-old driver with a credit score under 578.

Some carriers may be represented by affiliates or subsidiaries. Rates provided are a sample of costs. Your actual quotes may differ.

Cheapest car insurance companies in Salem, OR

Comparing rates is the only way to know if you are getting the best policy for you. One company may be better for one driver than another, and your rates will change from company to company depending on the factors they consider, including your age, ZIP code, driving report, and credit score.

Company

Average cost

JD Power Rating

State Farm

$83/month

882

USAA

$88/month

890

COUNTRY Financial

$93/month

--

GEICO

$101/month

874

Travelers

$103/month

854

Cheapest car insurance rates by ZIP code in Salem, OR

Insurance companies in Salem will look at data that shows frequency of car theft and accidents, available secured parking, and other relevant data, to determine the risk of driving a car in your area. The safer the area, the lower your premiums will be.

ZIP code

Average cost

97306

$1,539

97304

$1,546

97302

$1,549

97317

$1,574

97301

$1,666

Choosing the right car insurance company in Salem, OR

The best way to get the best rate is to compare rates between insurance companies. All insurance companies use the same factors, but each insurance company has their own formula to interpret that data into your insurance premiums.

The insurance experts at Policygenius can help you find a policy that meets your needs, and you can compare rates across the top car insurance companies to make sure the policy is affordable, too.

Car insurance rates for drivers with driving violations in Salem, OR

When calculating your premiums, insurance companies will be able to see the accidents and moving violations on your motor vehicle record. This report has one of the biggest impacts on your insurance rates when compared to other data, but companies may weigh different violations in various ways, so it’s important to know which companies offer the best rates for your own situation.

Violation

State Farm

USAA

COUNTRY Financial

GEICO

Travelers

At-fault accident

$1,272

$1,629

$1,774

$2,043

$1,734

Suspended license

$1,077

$1,716

$1,857

$2,964

$1,923

Open container

$1,077

$1,694

$1,581

$2,553

$1,635

Expired registration

$1,077

$1,392

$1,581

$1,306

$1,635

Driving without lights

$1,077

$1,091

$1,581

$1,582

$1,635

Running a red light

$1,077

$1,392

$1,581

$1,582

$1,635

Following too closely

$1,077

$1,392

$1,581

$1,582

$1,635

Hit and run

$1,077

$1,903

$1,857

$2,964

$1,923

Not-at-fault accident

$1,001

$1,091

$1,187

$1,350

$1,295

Passing a school bus

$1,077

$1,694

$1,581

$1,582

$1,923

Reckless driving

$1,077

$1,694

$1,857

$2,964

$1,923

Collapse table

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI in Salem, OR

Company

Rates for drivers with DUIs

State Farm

$1,077

USAA

$1,805

COUNTRY Financial

$1,857

Travelers

$1,923

GEICO

$2,553

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket in Salem, OR

Company

Rates for drivers with speeding tickets

State Farm

$1,077

USAA

$1,392

COUNTRY Financial

$1,581

Travelers

$1,923

GEICO

$2,553

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with bad credit in Salem, OR

Your credit score will be factored into your rate calculation. A low credit score is considered a higher risk to insure, so the lower your score, the higher your premiums will be. A rising credit score and on-time payments demonstrate to the insurance companies that you are a lower risk to insure.

Company

Rates for drivers with bad credit

GEICO

$1,671

COUNTRY Financial

$2,026

Nationwide

$2,098

Oregon Mutual

$2,110

Travelers

$2,217

Ready to shop car insurance?

Buying car insurance in Salem, OR

The minimum liability requirements in Salem follow state law. You must have the following amounts of coverage:

  • Bodily injury liability coverage per person: $25,000

  • Bodily injury liability coverage per accident: $50,000

  • Property damage liability coverage: $20,000

  • Personal injury protection: $15,000 per person

  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: Equal to the state’s liability minimums ($25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident)

Oregon is an at-fault state, meaning that the driver at fault for the accident will be responsible financially for paying out damages to all affected parties. You may even want to buy more coverage beyond the minimum, as the minimum may not be enough to cover some accidents.

How to get cheap car insurance in Salem, OR

Multiple discounts are available when searching for car insurance in Salem, including:

  • Bundling discount: drivers who have car, home, and other insurance coverage with the same company are often able to get bundling discounts..

  • Safe driver discount: drivers with a clean record may be eligible for discounts.

  • Good-student discount: young drivers who maintain a high GPA can get discounts on their insurance.

  • Employer and professional discount: many companies and industries offer discounts for certain insurance companies.

  • Low-mileage discount: drivers with low mileage can often get discounts for driving less.

  • Military discount: both active duty and veterans are often eligible for discounts.

By comparing rates, you can still find the most affordable insurance for you, even if you don’t qualify for any discounts.

Frequently asked questions

Which insurance company has the lowest average rates?

State Farm has the lowest rates for coverage for drivers in Salem at $992 per year.

Which violations will raise my rate the most in OR?

A DUI will usually cause your rates to increase the most, although an at-fault accident can also make a significant impact. After a DUI, assuming you are able to keep your license, you can expect high rates for several years.

How much is car insurance per month in Oregon?

The average monthly cost of car insurance in Oregon is $120, or $1,443 per year.

Is car insurance in Oregon expensive?

The cost of car insurance in Oregon is cheaper than the national average. Auto insurance costs $1,443 per year in Oregon, but $1,624 nationally.

Authors

As a content writer, Meredith has written most extensively about home renovation, vocational training, the automotive industry, real estate, family law, and data protection.

Rachael Brennan is a senior editor and a licensed auto insurance expert at Policygenius. Her work has also been featured in MoneyGeek, Clearsurance, Adweek, Boston Globe, The Ladders, and AutoInsurance.com.

Editor

Anna Swartz is a senior managing editor who specializes in home, auto, renters, and disability insurance at Policygenius. Previously, she was a senior staff writer at Mic and a writer at The Dodo. Her work has also appeared in Salon, HuffPost, MSN, AOL, and Heeb.

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