Auto Insurance Portland, OR
If you are looking for auto insurance in Portland, OR, look no further than Schmidt Insurance Group in Lake Oswego. Our knowledgeable agents know their Schmidt and will make sure you leave us feeling 100% protected!
Schmidt Insurance Group opened its doors in 2019 with a goal of making insurance easy while providing exceptional customer service. We proudly serve the local Portland area and all of Oregon and Washington. Our office is full of born-and-raised Oregonians!
We will customize an auto insurance solution for you with flexible options that fit your lifestyle and provide the right amount of protection. With our competitive rates and outstanding coverage, you’ll be free to drive with confidence!
Need to Insure Your Teen Driver? Avoid These Mistakes!
When your child is old enough to drive, and you’re freaked out by them getting behind the wheel, it’s important to ensure their safety on the road with the right car insurance coverage.
At Schmidt Insurance Group, our goal is to provide you with the best coverage possible at a reasonable price, no matter your age. Here are a few potentially costly mistakes we recommend that you try to avoid.
- Getting Them a Separate Policy
When considering car insurance for your teen driver, you usually have two options – getting them their own policy or adding them to your existing auto policy. While adding your teen to your policy will definitely cause your premium to increase, it may save you money in the long run. The cost of the premium increase will typically be less than the cost of getting a totally separate policy for your teen. You’ll also be able to take advantage of any available multi-vehicle discounts
- Failing to Use Available Discounts
As you evaluate car insurance coverage for your teen, ask our team at Schmidt Insurance Group about discounts you may qualify for and take advantage of them. The most popular discounts for teen drivers often include getting good grades as full-time students, attending school more than 100 miles away from home and the car (making them an “occasional” driver), and taking approved driver education or driver safety courses.
Some insurers also allow you to assign specific cars to specific drivers. For example, let’s say you have three cars in the family – a 2019 Nissan GT-R (one of the most expensive cars in the country to insure), a 2019 Ford Edge SUV, and a 2012 Honda Accord. Your premiums could skyrocket if your insurer assumes that your teen is driving your Nissan GT-R instead of the Honda!
- Getting Low Liability Limits
Teen drivers are expensive to insure for a reason. They are more likely to cause accidents than any other group of drivers. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to opt for low liability limits. The state of Oregon requires drivers to have a minimum of $25,000 in liability coverage per person and $50,000 per incident. In many cases, this is not enough protection.
Lawsuits are more prevalent than ever these days, and the payouts are only getting higher. If your young driver causes a bad accident and is sued, his or her liability insurance would pay first, but only up to the limits stated in the policy. This means that if your teen is covered for $25,000 worth of liability and causes $300,000 worth of damage, you or your teen would be on the hook for $275,000. In many cases, you can double or triple the liability coverage without it costing an arm and a leg.
When you need auto insurance in Portland, OR, get in touch with Schmidt Insurance Group. We will help you find the right amount of coverage to fit your needs and your budget. Call us today at (503) 206-0881 to explore your options.
