Guide to Auto Insurance in Oklahoma

• Bodily injury liability: ​​You need a minimum of $25,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per accident involving one person and $50,000 per accident involving two or more people. Bodily injury liability pays for the treatment of injuries the other party sustains in an accident. It does not pay for you or your passengers’ injuries.
• Property damage liability: You need at least $25,000 in property damage liability coverage, which covers the other party’s property damages (usually their car). It doesn’t cover your vehicle.

Oklahoma doesn’t require other types of coverage, like medical payments or uninsured/underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage.

In general, it’s a good idea to purchase coverage beyond the state minimum, and this is the case in Oklahoma. While it’s not mandated by state law, consider buying medical payments, UIM, collision, and comprehensive coverage. You’ll pay more in premiums, but you will save you money in the event of an accident, especially if you’re at fault.

In 2020, Oklahomans spent an average of $888 on auto insurance. The average annual rate of liability coverage is $488, collision is $330, and comprehensive is $268.¹

Factors like your ZIP code, age, vehicle, and coverages can significantly affect the cost of insurance. We’ve seen annual premiums dip as low as $249 and swing as high as $7,433. Purchasing only minimum coverage will lower your premiums, though you could end up paying more in the event of an accident.

Teen insurance tends to be priciest, with an especially high cost of insurance for 16-year-olds because of young drivers’ lack of driving history. To see your insurance options, all drivers in Oklahoma should get car insurance quotes from multiple providers.

• AAA
• Allstate
• American Farmers & Ranchers
• Auto-Owners
• Equity
• Farm Bureau
• Farmers
• GEICO
• Liberty Mutual
• MetLife
• Nationwide
• Progressive
• Safe Auto
• Safeco
• Shelter
• State Farm
• The Hartford
• Travelers
• USAA

1. Ask your provider about discounts. You can get discounts on your auto insurance for having a clean driving record, low mileage, and college enrollment. Check out your provider’s website, or ask your agent about discounts.
2. Bundle with other policies. Save money by combining your car insurance policy with other policies, like homeowners or renters insurance. You can also lower costs by combining multiple cars under one policy.
3. Raise your deductible. Increasing your deductible for collision and comprehensive coverage will lower your monthly premiums. Just make sure you can afford the higher deductible in the event of an accident.
4. Lower your limits. Lower your monthly costs by dropping any unnecessary coverages or lowering your liability limits. Keep in mind that your payout will be lower if you file a claim.

Oklahoma requires drivers to carry proof of auto insurance.

Oklahoma accepts both paper and electronic proof of insurance. Your insurer may provide digital proof of insurance on its mobile app, which you can also add to your smartphone wallet.

Fault System

Oklahoma is an at-fault state, meaning the driver who causes the accident must pay for the other party’s property damage and medical treatments. (In no-fault states, each party pays for their own medical treatments). That’s why it’s wise to purchase medical payments coverage, even though it’s not required. Otherwise, you’re on the hook for paying these costs out of pocket.

Oklahoma has modified comparative negligence laws, with a 50 percent rule. In a lawsuit, the court determines the percent of fault each party holds for the accident. If you hold more than 50 percent of the fault, you cannot recover any damages in court.

If you hold 50 percent or less, you can recover damages, but your recovery will be reduced by the degree of fault. For example, if you hold 20 percent of the fault for an accident, you can recover 80 percent of your damages.³

Uninsured Motorists

UIM coverage helps to pay for damages if a driver hits you and they hold inadequate or no insurance at all. In Oklahoma, UIM insurance includes hit-and-runs.

The state does not require UIM coverage, but it’s a good idea to purchase it anyway. In Oklahoma, 13 percent of drivers are insured — over 338,000 individuals. This is 7 percent above the national average.⁴

UIM insurance is stackable, meaning you can combine your UIM coverage across multiple vehicles. When you stack UIM coverage, your limits multiply by the number of cars you have. For example, if you choose limits of $50,000 for an accident involving one person and $100,000 for accidents involving two or more people, and you have two cars, your limits will increase to $100,000/$200,000.

How to Register Your Vehicle in Oklahoma

When you move to Oklahoma or purchase a car there, you have 30 days to register your vehicle with the Oklahoma Tax Commission (OTC). If you fail to register your car, you’ll accrue a fine of $1 per day until you reach the maximum fine of $100. Here’s how to avoid that fine:

1. Gather the necessary documents and payments.
   • Proof of ownership
     • Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin, for new vehicles
     • A current title that has been transferred to you, for used vehicles
     • Out-of-state title, if you just moved to Oklahoma
   • Proof of minimum liability insurance in Oklahoma
   • A completed Form 701-6 Application for Oklahoma Certificate of Title for a Vehicle (https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/tax/documents/forms/motor-vehicle/general-forms/701-6.pdf)
   • Lien documentation, if applicable
   • Odometer disclosure statement if the vehicle is 9 years old or newer (https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/tax/documents/forms/motor-vehicle/general-forms/729.pdf)
   • Payment for title and registration fees
     • Standard title fee: $11
     • Vehicle registration fee: $96 ($99 for a motorcycle)
     • Ownership transfer fee: $17
     • VIN and odometer reading: $4
     • Lien processing fee: $10 ($13 for out-of-state lienholder)
     • Sales or excise tax (which you can estimate at https://okcars.tax.ok.gov/_/)
2. Visit your local tag agency. If you’re moving from out of state, the tag agent will perform a vehicle identification number and odometer inspection.

For additional information, refer to the following websites:

Here’s how to reach Oklahoma’s Motor Vehicle Services (MVS), its version of the DMV:

How to Get a Copy of Your Vehicle Title in Oklahoma

1. Print and fill out Form 701-7 Application for Replacement Certificate of Title for Vehicle/Boat/Motor (https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/tax/documents/forms/motor-vehicle/general-forms/701-7.pdf).
2. Get the document notarized; your local tag agency may have a notary.
3. Enclose the fee, made payable to the OTC.
   • Title fee: $11
   • Mail fee (if applicable): $1.55
4. Submit your completed application and payment to your local tag agent.
5. Instead of submitting to your local agent, you may also mail your application and payment to the OTC. However, due to the volume of mail it receives, the office recommends using the tag agent. If you choose to mail your application, send it to this address:
   • Oklahoma Tax Commission
   • P.O. Box 26940
   • Oklahoma City, OK 73126-0940

The average cost of car repairs in Oklahoma is $378.89, which is 1 percent lower than the national average. The average cost of labor is $158.57, and the average cost of parts is $220.32.

Motor Vehicle Theft

In 2020, there were 378 motor vehicle thefts per 100,000 Oklahomans, a rate 35 percent higher than the national average and the eighth highest in the country. The following areas are hotspots for car theft, and residents may pay higher premiums as a result:

Fatalities

In 2019, Oklahoma had a rate of 640 fatalities per 100 million miles traveled, which is 11 percent lower than the national average.

You’re an expert on driving in Oklahoma. For your other destinations, check out our state driving guide to learn about DUIs, tickets, car accidents, and more.