There are exciting things on the horizon for Oregon auto insurance purchasers, things like Pay-As-You-Drive (PAYD) Auto Insurance which charges insurance premiums by the mile, potentially saving low-mileage drivers a fortune in insurance costs, but until such time as a PAYD plan is fully implemented, Oregon drivers will have to compare auto insurance rates just like everyone else in order to find the best deal.

In Oregon there are three classifications into which a driver can be placed by an insurance company. Preferred drivers have not had an accident or made a claim in the past three years; they get the best rates. Standard drivers generally drive “family” cars and have a fairly clean – but not perfect – driving record; they receive the next best insurance rate. The lowest category is called Nonstandard. These are drivers with poor driving records or drivers under 25 years of age, or drivers who have been convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs; these drivers pay the highest auto insurance premiums.

Obviously if you want to save money and get discount auto insurance in Oregon you need to be in one of the top two categories.

A driver convicted of drunk driving or driving under the influence of drugs has little chance of improving his or her insurance classification for several years – however, a driver under the age of 25 can get a break on auto insurance premiums by staying in school and getting excellent grades. Such students are eligible for a Good Student Discount.

Other factors which have a direct impact on the rate you pay for auto insurance include the type of car you drive (sports car and high-performance car drivers pay the highest rate), your geographic location (city dwellers pay higher rates than those who live outside of congested cities), the number of miles you drive each day, and your past driving record. Even your credit score can influence your auto insurance rates, although Oregon law limits the impact that your credit score can have.

Today Oregon auto insurance shoppers can get online and relatively easily make comparisons between auto insurance rates offered by almost every auto insurance provider in the state. Spending an hour or two at one of the many sites offering such rate comparisons can help the average Oregon driver find the discount auto insurance that's just right.