Oregon (OR) Teen Auto Insurance Laws, Rates & Requirements

In the state of Oregon, teen driving is serious business. So serious, that in 2000, the state of Oregon passed Graduated Licensing laws to keep teens and other drivers on the road safe. Oregon Graduated Licensing laws are strictly enforced and the state makes it a point to outline the rules and consequences if you break the laws. Oregon’s approach to teen driving seems to be working. Since 200, the state has seen a 30% decrease in the number of fatalities and crashes involving teens.

Continue reading to learn more about Oregon teen driving laws and the consequences for violating them.

Oregon Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) and Driver License Requirements

Under Oregon’s Graduated Licensing laws, the teen’s license will be provisional until the age of 18. The path to full licensing begins with the instruction permit. To receive an instruction permit, you must be at least 15 years of age and pass a written test. You must hold the instruction permit for at least 6 months before graduating to the next stage of licensing – the provisional license. Once you have successfully completed the requirements of the learner permit, and you have reached 16 years of age, you may move forward to provisional licensing.

Under the conditions of the provisional license, you must:

•    Pass a safe driving practices knowledge test
•    Pass a driving test
•    Complete at least 50 hours of supervised driving at an approved traffic safety education course

If you have not completed 50 hours of supervised driving at an approved traffic safety education course, you must complete at least 100 hours of parent-supervised driving. It is important to note that the state of Oregon completed its own study in 2005. Using teen driving records of 16, 17, and 19-year old driver's, the study compared teens that took a formal driver education course to those who chose 100 ours of driving practice with their parents. For teens that took a formal driver education course:

•    The crash rate was 11-21% lower
•    The traffic conviction rate was 39-57% lower
•    The driver license suspension rate was 51-53% lower 

To obtain an instruction permit, you must take the following documents to any Oregon Department of Transportation driver exam station:

•    Proof of identity and residence address
•    Proof of age
•    Social security number (SSN)
•    Poof of school enrollment, completion or exemption
•    Payment for testing and issuance fees
•    Signature of parent or guardian on the application

To apply for your intermediate license, you will have to pass another vision, knowledge and written test as well as a road test. Please bring ID to the testing facility (proof of age, must be 16) as well as your instruction permit, driver education completion certificate or practice-driving log to be completed by the parent.

Oregon Teen Driving Laws and Enforcement

Under the terms of the instruction permit, the teen must drive with a licensed adult, age 21 or over at all times. The supervised driver must have had their license for at least 3 years for the practice to count towards the 50-100 hour requirement. Under the terms of the provisional license, for the first 6 months:

•    No passengers under 20 years of age unless they are a member of the
•    Driver’s immediate family
•    No driving between 12 a.m. and 5 a.m. unless you are driving between home and work or between home and a school event for which there is no employment purposes. Outside of these exceptions, you may drive between the hours of 12 a.m. and 5 a.m. when accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 25 years of age

Passenger and night driving restrictions end after 1 year or at age 18, whichever comes first.

The Oregon Department of Transportation makes it clear -- if you violate its Graduated Licensing law, you will pay a hefty price.

If you get two driver improvement traffic violations, are in two preventable crashes or a combination of either totaling two, your driving privileges will be restricted for 90 days. During the restriction, you are allowed to drive to and from work ONLY. Driver improvement violations include speeding, running a red light, not wearing a seat belt, and violating any of the Graduated Licensing restrictions such as driving with friends or late at night when you’re not supposed to. If you get three driver improvement violations or are in three preventable crashes or a combination of either totaling three, your driving privileges will be suspended for six months. The suspension will continue even if you turn 18 during the suspension period. One conviction for a serious offense, such as reckless driving or attempting to elude a police officer, will result in a one-year suspension. –Oregon Department of Transportation, “The Oregon Parent Guide to Teen Driving”


Oregon Cell Phone Use/Texting While Driving Laws

Under Oregon’s Graduated Licensing laws, instruction permit holders and provisional license holders are prohibited from using a mobile communication device while driving until 18 years of age. This includes texting or talking on a cell phone while driving. If you violate the cell phone law, under certain conditions, your license may be restricted for at least 90 days or you may lose it for up to 1 year. 

Oregon Teen DUI Laws

The state of Oregon has a zero tolerance policy for teen drinking and teen drinking and driving. Consuming any amount of alcohol and climbing behind the wheel is a crime. If you think you can pass a chemical test after drinking only one beer, think again. A BAC of 0.02% (all it takes to be charged with DUI) is as little as one beer, one glass of wine or one mixed drink for most people. It can be even less for some. Proof of a BAC of 0.02% (even lower) is all that is needed to convict a Oregon teen of DUI. If you are under the age of 21 and you get caught drinking and driving in the state Oregon, your license will be suspended for 90 days. If you refuse to take a test, your license will be suspended for one year.

Oregon Teen Auto Insurance Requirements

Whether you are an adult or a teen, in the state of Oregon you must carry auto  insurance. The state of Oregon sets its minimum auto liability limits at $25,000 per person bodily injury and property damage liability, $50,000 per crash for bodily injury to others, and $10,000 for property damage (25/50/10). Oregon also requires that each auto insurance liability policy include personal injury protection (PIP) in the amount of $15,000 per person and Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM ) of $25,000/$50,000 for bodily injury.

Because the risk of an auto collision is significantly higher during a teen’s first year behind the wheel, Oregon auto insurance companies recommend purchasing higher amounts of coverage than the legal limits. If you plan to add a teen driver to your policy, keep in mind that your annual rate will increase anywhere from $1,200 to $4,900 a year. The average increase is around $2,171 a year.