Auto Insurance Requirements in Oklahoma
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To ensure all parties in an auto accident are provided for, the Oklahoma Compulsory Insurance Law requires every motorist in Oklahoma to carry liability auto insurance in the amount of $25K/$50K/$25K.
Contents
Oklahoma required car insurance coverage
Required minimums | |
|---|---|
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Bodily injury (BI) | $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident |
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Property damage (PD) | $25,000 per accident |
Whenever you register a car with the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety (DPS), you will need to prove you have car insurance in the state. Valid proof provided by your insurer that contains the policy number, coverage amount, policy effective dates and insured vehicle's information will suffice.
Examples of valid proof include a copy of your insurance ID card or the declaration page of your policy. The online Oklahoma Compulsory Insurance Verification System (OCIVS) is also used to keep track of every registered motorist's insurance status, so make sure your insurer files your information accurately.
Oklahoma car insurance minimum requirements
Your policy must at least include bodily injury and property damage liability coverage, each payable to other drivers or pedestrians in a covered accident. Liability is basically monetary compensation that you owe the other party whenever you cause an incident. The Oklahoma Compulsory Insurance Law specifies that your minimum coverage amounts (limits) should be:
Bodily injury (BI): Up to $25,000 per person injured, and as much as $50,000 per accident in the event that more than one person in the other party is harmed. The total liability you may be responsible for includes medical expenses for both immediate and postaccident medical treatments. If you ever need a lawyer because the other driver decides to sue you, BI also pays for your lawyer's fees. You have the option to purchase higher BI limits than what is required by law, subject to what each insurer offers.
Property damage (PD): Up to $25,000 per accident when your crash damages the other party's property — or even municipal property. Your liability for property damage may include the other driver's car and items in the car that broke during the accident. You also have the option to purchase higher PD limits in OK, but limits vary by insurer.
Cheapest companies in Oklahoma for minimum liability
Optional coverage in Oklahoma
You only need liability insurance to drive legally in the state. However, there are many other losses incurred during an accident that will not be covered — or only covered under specific circumstances — under a minimum policy. For example, your own medical bills are not covered when you're negligent. Here are several optional coverages that most licensed insurers offer and agents and government officials in OK recommend:
Uninsured motorist bodily injury (UMBI): You may see this coverage automatically included in your coverage, with the same limits as your BI (for example, 25/50 in a minimum policy), as your insurers are obligated to offer it. But it is not required, so you can reject it in writing. UMBI covers your medical expenses and subsequent rehabilitative services if an uninsured driver causes an accident that injures you.
Medical payments (MedPay): As its name suggests, MedPay reimburses you or pays for your medical expenses if you're injured in an accident, and it does so regardless of fault. While some motorists may find this redundant to their Oklahoma health insurance plan, MedPay also covers benefits not paid for by health insurance, such as your plan's deductible.
Physical damage: Comprising two coverages, collision and comprehensive, physical damage covers the costs to repair your car, regardless of fault. The coverage includes damage from car accidents, as well as random events, such as heavy hail. The most your insurer will pay you for a given accident is the actual cash value of your car at the time of the accident. Note that there will always be a deductible attached to your physical damage insurance, which is the portion of costs you'll need to bear before the insurance kicks in.
Alternative proof of financial responsibility
Apart from a liability policy, there are several alternative methods to satisfy the Oklahoma Compulsory Insurance Law. The DPS will accept your vehicle registration, in the event you do not have proof of a car insurance policy, if you can provide a certificate (issued by the DPS) of insurance for one of these:
Certificate of cash/security deposit: When you either deposit $75,000 in cash directly with the DPS or show a valid certificate of deposit for the same amount issued by an Oklahoma financial institution (for example, a bank), the DPS should give you a certificate of deposit as your proof of insurance. The department's commissioner will use this deposit to pay down any future judgments or claims against you for an accident you cause, at least up to the same amount as an insurer would pay under a minimum liability policy in Oklahoma.
Certificate of self-insurance: If you have more than 25 cars registered in your name in Oklahoma, you may be qualified to become a self-insurer under the circumstances. You'll need to prove to the DPS that you have the financial ability to satisfy all payments that arise from any accident caused by one of your fleet of cars and provide any documents the commissioner requests. When the commissioner is satisfied, you will receive a certificate to prove your financial responsibility.
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