Oklahoma Auto Insurance

Oklahoma insurance companies do not have to cover members of your household if they are not listed on the policy.  In fact, insurance companies may refuse to cover household members if they have a legitimate reason for doing so.  Any exclusion will be listed in the exclusion section of your policy along with other conditions which will release the insurance company from the responsibility of paying a claim.  If the insurance company requires you to list all household members on the policy, failure on your part to do so may result in that individual having no insurance coverage.  If you do not comply with the company’s request, they can deny the claims on any persons not included on the policy.  You will still be liable for any damages or injuries caused by an accident the individual is responsible for.

The state of Oklahoma is a Tort state.  Persons responsible for an accident will be required to pay all the damages which result from the accident they caused.  Oklahoma is a comparative negligence state. This means that the insurance companies distribute the financial responsibility of an accident between those involved according to how much of the accident was the individuals fault.  Individuals who do not own a vehicle are required to carry non-owners auto insurance if they still operate a vehicle for work etc.  This will include all medical bills and vehicle repairs.  Your insurance company may encourage you to purchase more than the minimum auto liability insurance required by the state of Oklahoma.  If a car is financed, you will most likely be required by the lending entity to carry comprehensive and collision coverage on the vehicle. 

Your personal credit history will play a part in determining your premium rates, and insurance services you are offered.  Your credit history may also be a factor in how you make your payments such as monthly or yearly.  Other things the insurance company will take into consideration is your driving record, age, marital status, the age and condition of your vehicle, and the area where you live.  Maintaining a good driving record and paying your bills on time may reduce your premiums.

The average insurance premium in Oklahoma was about $659.00 as of 2006.  Oklahoma was ranked as having the 38th highest premium average in the United States.  There are 19 state approved insurance companies doing business in the state of Oklahoma.  The following companies may sell auto insurance in Oklahoma:  Allstate Fire & Casualty Insurance Company, , Allstate Indemnity Company, Allstate Property & Casualty Company, American Farmers & Ranchers Mutual, American Mercury Insurance Company, Equity Insurance Company, Farmers Insurance Company, GEICO General Insurance Company, Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Mid-Century Insurance Company, Oklahoma Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company, Progressive Northern Insurance Company, Progressive Direct Insurance Company, Safeco Insurance Company, Shelter Mutual Insurance Company, State Farm Mutual Insurance Company, United Services Automobile Association (USAA), and USAA Casualty Insurance Company.

Oklahoma does not have laws in place against talking and texting while operating a vehicle on Oklahoma roads.  Several bills have come before the state lawmakers but as yet, they have not passed a bill prohibiting the use of cell phones or other electronic communications devices while driving.

Things that can help you reduce the cost of your insurance premiums include a clean driving record, the type of vehicle you choose to drive as well as the number of miles you drive per year.  The fewer miles you put on your vehicle each year, the lower your chances are of being involved in an accident.  The reduction in accident risk can translate into a reduction in premiums.  Furthermore, a clean driving record reduces your risk of an accident.  It will be more expensive to insure a luxury car or a sports car.  You should also keep in mind that insurance premiums will be higher on vehicles which are a high priority for thieves.  The cars that made the top 10 stolen vehicles in Oklahoma are:

1. 1994 Chevrolet C/K 1500 Pickup (full size)
2. 1994 Honda Accord
3. 1998 Ford F150
4. 2001 Dodge Ram
5. 1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass
6. 1991 GMC C/K 1500 Pickup (full size)
7. 2000 Chevrolet Silverado
8. 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
9. 2000 Honda Civic
10. 1999 Ford Taurus

Safety devices such as anti-lock brakes side air bags, automatic seat belts and daytime running lights may also reduce your premiums along with anti theft devices like an alarm system and global positioning systems.  The area where you live will affect your insurance rates.  Things such as weather extremes, crime rates, and traffic patterns will have an effect on your premiums.  Don’t forget to maintain a good credit record as the insurance company looks at this to determine how likely you are to pay your premiums on time.  Prior accident claims will also be a red flag to insurance companies especially if there are several claims on your past record.  The amount of your deductible is also a key factor when determining insurance rates.  The higher your deductible is, the lower your insurance rates will be.