Is car insurance required in Oklahoma?

Yes, you need to have car insurance to drive in Oklahoma. Your policy must have a minimum of 25/50/25 as liability insurance coverage. If you are caught driving without one, you may face fines and penalties such as the suspension of your license or car registration and up to 30 days imprisonment.

Do you need car insurance to register a car in Oklahoma?

Yes. You will need to have valid insurance to register your car in Oklahoma. Besides providing proof of ownership for the car, you will also need proof of insurance, and the policy must meet the state’s 25/50/25 minimum limit.

What is “basic” car insurance in Oklahoma?

In Oklahoma, basic car insurance only includes the state minimums of 25/50/25. That means you will need at least $25,000 in bodily injury per person and a maximum of $50,000 per accident, as well as $25,000 as the property damage coverage limit. Therefore, your policy must meet these requirements for you to drive in Oklahoma without the risk of being penalized.

Does insurance follow the car or driver in Oklahoma?

In Oklahoma, Insurance follows either <a href="https://www.claimsjournal.com/news/national/2014/06/05/249762.htm" target="_blank">the driver or the car</a> depending on the insurer and the type of policy purchased. In most cases, auto insurance follows the car and in case of an accident, the owner’s insurance covers the liabilities caused. However, medical costs and PIP insurance follow the driver. Therefore, if you use your insurance policy to rent a car, you will have responsibility for insurance liabilities associated with the rented vehicle.

Can you get car insurance without a license in Oklahoma?

Insurance companies in Oklahoma use your license number to look up your driving history and other information that may be relevant to determining your car insurance rates. While some companies may hesitate to sell you insurance without a license, there is no law against it. If you are the car owner, you may need to list the license number of a person who will also use the car to get the insurance.

Is Oklahoma a no-fault state and what does this mean?

No. Oklahoma is an <a href="https://www.iii.org/article/background-on-no-fault-auto-insurance" target="_blank">at-fault state</a> and not a no-fault state. That means if you cause an accident in the state, you will be required to cover the medical expenses and property damage costs for the parties involved.

Is PIP coverage required in Oklahoma?

No, PIP is not a requirement in Oklahoma. While PIP coverage protects you if you are injured in a car accident, this is not mandatory in Oklahoma and drivers can only purchase it at will.

Does Oklahoma require uninsured motorist insurance?

Oklahoma does not require you to have uninsured motorist coverage. However, insurance providers always provide the coverage at an added cost should drivers need it. The coverage protects you and other passengers in your vehicle if you get involved in an accident and the at-fault party doesn’t have insurance. However, it does not protect against property damage.

Does Oklahoma allow for diminished value compensation after an accident?

Yes. Drivers in Oklahoma are entitled to a <a href="https://www.collisionclaims.com/oklahoma-diminished-value/#:~:text=Oklahoma%20is%20a%20diminished%20value,vehicle%20after%20an%20auto%20accident.&text=You%20can't%20submit%20a,something%20other%20than%20a%20collision." target="_blank">diminished value claim</a> if they get involved in an accident. However, the state’s limitation for filing a diminished value claim is two years, and there is no uninsured motorist coverage for the diminished value.

How do car insurance requirements change after a DUI in Oklahoma?

While your car insurance requirements remain the same after a <a href="https://www.dmv.org/ok-oklahoma/automotive-law/dui.php" target="_blank">DUI in Oklahoma</a>, you may face harsh penalties such as the suspension of your license. Generally, DUIs make you a high-risk driver, meaning that your premiums will likely be higher than Oklahoma residents with a clean driving history.

What is a CARCO inspection and is it required?

The pre-insurance CARCO inspection aims to document the condition, mileage and accessories, and existing options of your car. The whole process takes around 15 minutes. However, Oklahoma is one of the states that are excluded from this kind of inspection.

Oklahoma Minimum Car Insurance Requirements, Penalties and Other Auto Insurance Laws

Oklahoma has a minimum car insurance coverage of 25/50/25 and doesn’t have personal injury protection (PIP) as a requirement. If you are a driver in the state, your car insurance policy should include $25,000 in bodily injury per person up to $50,000 per accident and a property damage limit of $25,000. Not meeting the Oklahoma car insurance requirements may result in the suspension of your license, a penalty of up to $250 or 30 days imprisonment. The minimum car insurance coverage in Oklahoma only protects third parties during an accident. That means you will need to purchase additional coverage to protect yourself and your vehicle.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in Oklahoma
How Much Does Minimum Car Insurance Cost?
Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in Oklahoma
FAQs

What Is the Minimum Car Insurance Requirement in Oklahoma?

How much car insurance do you need in Oklahoma? Typically, Oklahoma car insurance laws require that you should meet the following minimum requirements:

$25,000 per person for bodily injury
$50,000 per accident for bodily injury
$25,000 per accident for property damage

Oklahoma does not require PIP coverage. You can increase the above limits based on your preferred level of coverage at an added cost.

What Does This Minimum Coverage Mean?

Liability car insurance protects you against loss in case of an accident where you are at fault. If you get liability coverage in Oklahoma, your insurer will cover third-party property damage and injuries if you cause an accident.

The State’s limit of 25/50/25 means that your policy covers at least $25,000 per person during injury and a maximum of $50,000 for everyone injured per accident. There is also a $25,000 property damage liability limit for another person’s property damaged in the accident, such as their home or car.

Personal injury protection and uninsured/ underinsured motorist coverages are not part of Oklahoma’s standard car insurance requirement.

Drivers are also entitled to the diminished value of their vehicle in Oklahoma for up to 2 years. The value refers to the lost market value when their car is damaged. However, the state does not include uninsured motorist coverage for diminished value or if you are involved in an at-fault accident or one that is not caused by a collision.

How Much Does the Minimum Car Insurance Cost in Oklahoma?

Car insurance rates in Oklahoma vary based on factors such as your driving history, credit score, age and ZIP code. The cost may also differ across various insurance providers.

The most affordable car insurance company in Oklahoma for all drivers is GEICO, with an average annual cost of $401. USAA is cheaper than GEICO, at $373 per year. However, it’s only available for former and current military members and their families.

These prices are only estimates based on rates for an average Oklahoma driver and should not be used to compare insurance prices.

MoneyGeek analyzed car insurance costs for the state minimum coverage limits of 25/100/25. The costs are for a 40-year-old male driver with a 2010 Toyota Camry car model. The driver has a clean record, as well as a good credit score.

MoneyGeek also ranked the best car insurance companies in Oklahoma for those who want strong service and affordable rates.

What Is the Minimum Car Insurance Requirement in Oklahoma While Leasing a Car?

While Oklahoma’s car insurance laws require you to meet the minimum liability limits, car leasing companies may have different requirements. The majority of these companies will ask you to get full coverage insurance with liability limits of 100/300/50. Be sure to find out from your leasing company what their minimum car insurance requirements are before finalizing any paperwork with them.

While you may decide on any amount of car insurance coverage in Oklahoma, Moneygeek recommends that you get a policy with a 50/100/50 limit at least, especially if you do not know how much insurance coverage you will need.

13.8% of the drivers in Oklahoma are uninsured. However, if you do not have full coverage car insurance, you will not receive compensation for personal injury and property damage if an uninsured or underinsured motorist hits you.

Penalties for Driving Without Car Insurance in Oklahoma

If you drive around Oklahoma without a car insurance policy, you may face various penalties. Worse still, you can get into debt should you get involved in an at-fault accident. Once you purchase car insurance in the state, you will need to keep a valid copy as proof and present it to the traffic officer if you are asked to.

If you violate the Oklahoma car insurance laws, the following are some of the penalties you might face.

A fine of up to $250
Up to 30 days imprisonment
Suspended license and registration up to a year or until proof of insurance is provided
Impoundment or suspension of the registration of your uninsured vehicle

While you may only receive a ticket for driving without insurance in Oklahoma, the above penalties may also apply. In addition, once the registration of your car gets suspended, you may incur various administrative charges and must show proof of purchased insurance to get it restored.

Frequently Asked Questions About Car Insurance in Oklahoma

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Oklahoma car insurance.

Learn More About Car Insurance

About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick is a senior content director at MoneyGeek with over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, conducting original research and creating content that can be personalized for every buyer. He has been quoted on insurance topics in several publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Mark earned a master’s degree in Economics and International Relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his economics and insurance knowledge to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.

sources

CollisionClaims.com. "Oklahoma Diminished Value." Accessed July 11, 2021.
DMV.org. "Car Insurance in Oklahoma." Accessed July 10, 2021.
DMV.org. "DUI & DWI in Oklahoma." Accessed July 11, 2021.
Insurance Information Institute. "2020 Insurance Fact Book." Accessed July 10, 2021.
Insurance Information Institute. "Background on: Compulsory Auto/Uninsured Motorists." Accessed July 10, 2021.
Insurance Information Institute. "Facts + Statistics: Uninsured motorists." Accessed July 11, 2021.
Insurance Information Institute. "No-fault Auto Insurance." Accessed July 11, 2021.
Kelley Blue Book. "Penalties for Driving without Car Insurance by State." Accessed July 10, 2021.

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