Cheapest Car Insurance in Salem (2026 Rates)


Quick Take
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GEICO: Most affordable for diverse driver types in Salem. Full coverage costs $102 monthly while minimum coverage runs $51 per month, matching the city average for competitive pricing.

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Progressive: Runner-up for affordability with $99 monthly full coverage and $56 minimum coverage rates. It's affordable for drivers with an accident record or drivers with a DUI.

Cheapest Monthly Rates by Coverage and Driver Profile in Salem:

Cheapest Car Insurance in Salem by Coverage Type

Travelers offers Salem's cheapest full coverage at $96 monthly, 24% below the city average. Progressive follows at $99 per month with the same savings rate. GEICO leads minimum coverage options at $51 monthly, 25% under Salem's average. State Farm charges $52 per month for basic coverage, 20% below typical rates. Your final premium depends on your ZIP code and driving record, so compare quotes from several insurers.

Geico$51$102-25%
State Farm$53$112-20%
Country Financial$56$104-22%
Progressive$57$99-24%
Travelers$60$96-24%

Not in Salem? Read more about the cheapest car insurance or the best providers in Oregon.

Cheapest Salem Car Insurance for Teen and Young Drivers

Salem drivers under 25 pay the highest premiums due to limited driving experience. COUNTRY Financial charges the lowest rates at $147 monthly. Travelers follows at $201 per month, with GEICO at $229 monthly. You'll save money by staying on your parents' policy rather than purchasing separate coverage; family policies cost less than individual teen plans. Defensive driving courses reduce premiums by 5% to 15% with most insurers.

Country Financial$147$1,768-51%
Travelers$202$2,422-33%
Geico$230$2,760-24%
State Farm$242$2,909-20%
Mutual of Enumclaw$265$3,175-12%

Cheapest Salem Car Insurance for Senior Drivers

GEICO offers Salem's cheapest senior rates at $108 monthly for full coverage. COUNTRY Financial charges $111 per month, and Progressive costs $122 monthly. Salem seniors save up to 10% through defensive driving courses, with discounts lasting three years. Most insurers provide accident forgiveness programs for drivers 65 and older. GEICO includes additional age-specific discounts beyond its base rates.

Geico$108$1,299-34%
Country Financial$112$1,341-32%
Progressive$123$1,472-25%
Travelers$126$1,517-23%
State Farm$135$1,626-17%

Cheapest Salem Car Insurance by Driving Record

Violation rates vary between Salem insurers. State Farm charges the lowest rates across all violation types. Drivers with a DUI pay $56 monthly for minimum coverage through State Farm, compared to $65 at Progressive. State Farm also leads for speeding tickets at $56 per month, while GEICO charges $66. After an at-fault accident, State Farm costs $66 monthly and Progressive charges $76. Speeding tickets affect your rates for three to five years. DUIs impact premiums for up to 10 years. Compare quotes from multiple insurers after any violation; rates differ between companies.

At-Fault AccidentState Farm$67-37%
At-Fault AccidentProgressive$76-28%
DUIState Farm$56-54%
DUIProgressive$66-47%
Speeding TicketState Farm$56-39%
Speeding TicketGeico$67-28%

Salem Car Insurance Costs by ZIP Code

Salem car insurance rates vary by ZIP code. Drivers in 97305 pay around $153 monthly for full coverage, while 97302 residents pay $119. Traffic density, crime rates and accident frequency in your area determine your premium. These location factors create the $34 difference between Salem ZIP codes. Insurers analyze neighborhood-level risk data to set rates, causing price variations even between adjacent areas.

Most Expensive ZIP Codes in Salem
97305$153
97306$145
97301$128
97317$123
97302$119
97304$119
Least Expensive ZIP Codes in Salem
97302$119
97304$119
97317$123
97301$128
97306$145
97305$153

Choose Your Best Salem Car Insurance Company

Progressive leads Salem insurers with a MoneyGeek score of 97 out of 100. The company offers comprehensive coverage options and strong customer service for Oregon drivers.

Travelers, GEICO, State Farm and Allstate complete Salem's top five insurers. These companies combine competitive premiums with quality customer support and coverage.

Progressive98322
Travelers98214
Geico93146
State Farm93536
Allstate90763
Progressive

Progressive: Best Overall

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  • 24/7 claims reporting and customer support

  • Snapshot program rewards safe driving habits

  • Coverage options for high-risk drivers

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  • Higher premiums for young and high-risk drivers

  • More policy exclusions than customers expect

  • Mixed reviews for online claim resolution

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

Progressive covers Salem's weather-related risks, including heavy rain, snow accidents and wildlife collisions. Salem drivers manage policies and file claims 24/7 through Progressive's digital platform. The Snapshot program adjusts rates based on driving behavior. Progressive charges competitive rates for seniors and drivers with violations. The company includes rental reimbursement and custom parts coverage, valuable options in Salem's limited public transit environment.

Travelers

Travelers: Second Best Overall

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  • Top-rated customer service with 24/7 support

  • Mobile app for digital claims filing

  • Safe driving rewards up to 20% discount

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  • Limited add-ons require separate costly endorsements

  • IntelliDrive savings unavailable in some areas

  • Fewer standard coverage options than competitors

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

Travelers ranks first overall in Salem for customer service and rates. The company ranks second for young drivers and fourth for seniors with full coverage. Travelers offers 24/7 claims filing through its mobile app, with quick response during winter storms. Local agents provide personalized service. Accident forgiveness and gap coverage protect against weather damage in Salem and high-traffic accidents.

How to Lower Your Car Insurance Rates in Salem

Salem car insurance costs add up, but these strategies reduce your premiums.

  1. 1
    Bundle and save

    Combine auto with home or renters insurance for 15% to 25% savings. Add multi-car discounts (10% to 25% per vehicle) with good driver and paperless billing rewards. Multiple discounts can reduce your total premium by 30% to 40%.

  2. 2
    Consider a higher deductible

    Raising your deductible from $500 to $1,000 cuts premiums by 10% to 15% annually. Choose an amount you can pay out-of-pocket after an accident.

  3. 3
    Review your policy yearly

    Insurance companies update rates annually based on claims data and risk factors. Your driving record improves after three years, qualifying you for lower rates with other insurers.

Cheap Salem Car Insurance: FAQ

Find answers about Salem insurance costs and coverage options.

Is car insurance in Salem expensive?

How We Chose the Best and Cheapest Car Insurance in Salem, OR

Finding affordable car insurance in Salem starts with understanding how insurers price policies across the city. Traffic congestion, theft risk and Oregon’ insurance requirements all shape your premium. Even within city limits, drivers in ZIP code 97305 often pay much more than those in 97302.

We partnered with the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation and Quadrant Information Services to analyze hundreds of thousands of quotes from 12 insurers across every Salem ZIP code. 

Our ratings for the best car insurance in Salem are calculated by a weighted score incorporating affordability (60%), customer experience (30%) and coverage options (10%). 

Read more about our methodology, which shows which insurers maintain competitive rates across Salem neighborhoods and driver categories while delivering reliable claims service, not just advertised rates for perfect-record drivers.

About Mark Fitzpatrick


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Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!

He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.


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