First, congratulations and welcome! There are several things to be aware of when you move to our state and prepare to join us on the road:

•     It is illegal to drive in Oregon without insurance.
•     Minimum insurance limits may be higher in Oregon than in the state you lived in before - that means your insurance will probably cost more.
•     Motorcyclists are required to wear helmets.
•     You have 30 days to transfer your license to an Oregon license.
•     Oregon wants you to register your vehicle within 30 days.

    Your car must pass our clean air standards in the Portland Metro area.

If you are moving to Oregon, you may find that this state has higher minimum insurance laws. You must have $25,000 per person ($50,000 per accident) for Bodily Injury, $20,000 for Property Damage, $15,000 Personal Injury Protection, and $25,000 per person ($50,000 per accident) Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Protection. Many states have lower limits, and this can cause a bit of sticker shock. It is possible that the rates also reflect that there are more crashes, higher litigation costs, and differences in the cost of repairs.

The law in Oregon requires you to transfer your license to this state within 30 days. You will need to locate the nearest Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and make an appointment to take a computerized test for Oregon. Yes, a test. If you have a valid license from another state and that state has a reciprocal agreement with Oregon, you will not need to take a physical driving test. If there is no agreement, you will have to prove your driving skills too. You will need to bring documentation proving your Oregon address and pay your fees.

The Oregon DMV also states that you have 30 days to license and register your car. To do that, you will need to be able to prove your address (bring a piece of mail that has been sent to you), provide proof of insurance for the state of Oregon, Certificate of Compliance from the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) stating that your car has passed specific tests for clean air, and pay your fees. You may be able to skip the DEQ requirement if you live outside the Portland area.

Oregon law states that all road-approved motorcycles require everyone on the bike to wear helmets. This applies as soon as you hit our freeways or back roads. You must wear a helmet and have valid insurance.

In this state, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is centralized and run by the State, not through a contracted third party. You will handle all of your licensing and registration of your car in one place.

We hope that this helps answer some of your concerns about moving to Oregon. If you have more questions, feel free to give us a call. Welcome!