The Essential Oklahoma Car Insurance Guide [Quotes + Coverage]

How much time do you spend on researching car insurance before buying a policy? Does your research involve knowing about the laws related to car insurance, the financial strength of car insurance companies, or the discounts that you can get from your insurer?

Most often, auto owners either call up agents or seek online quotes to find the best rates. Once they have a quote within budget, they usually close the deal. But is that the right way to buy car insurance?

Each state has unique car insurance laws that govern how much insurance you should carry and who’s liable for damages in an accident. Without knowing these basic details, you shouldn’t buy a policy.

We understand that collecting all the information about the best car insurance companies and coverage isn’t as simple as the land rush of Oklahoma in 1893, back when you could just run to claim a piece of land.

We are writing this complete guide on Oklahoma car insurance so that you’re empowered with the knowledge to make the right buying decision.

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Oklahoma Car Insurance Coverage & Rates

The minimum coverage requirement for auto insurance is determined depending on what type of fault law a state follows. Minimum coverage is something all motorists must buy to drive legally in most states. Knowing about the basic coverage requirement helps you in choosing how much insurance you might need for your protection.

In this section, we will include details about coverage requirements and average auto insurance rates in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma’s Car Culture

Oklahoma is mainly an agricultural state which is the reason you are likely to spot trucks on its roads & highways — and Ford F150 is the most popular car of Oklahomans. Owing to the state’s diverse terrain, 4x4s and off-roading vehicles have a huge fan following within the state, with younger people often found swinging around the mountains in their trucks.

Also, when a state has 400 miles of the mother road, Route 66, offering varied attractions on the way, it’s got to have some influence on the car culture. Resultingly, Oklahoma has a Route 66 cruiser club.

Minimum Coverage Requirement in Oklahoma

Simply put, it’s illegal to drive without car insurance in Oklahoma. If you own a car, you must at least buy the minimum car insurance coverage.

To some auto owners, this cost might seem unnecessary, but if you’re ever involved in a major car accident, the cost of property damage, personal medical expenses, and sometimes legal fees can completely drain you financially.

That’s why it’s important to buy car insurance coverage which offers protection to you and your family.

In Oklahoma, the minimum coverage limits are $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury liability, meaning that if the third party is injured in an accident that is your fault, your insurer will cover damages to the extent of those policy limits. For property damage liability, the minimum limit is $25,000 per accident which would pay for the property damages sustained by the third party in the accident.

Do note that liability coverage doesn’t cover the medical injuries and damages sustained by you in an accident.

If the expenses for injuries and damages are more than the policy limits, you’re personally liable to meet the excess cost. That brings us to another point, would the minimum car insurance coverage be enough for you?

If you’re involved in a minor fender-bender, it will not cost much to get the damages fixed for the third-party’s property. But expenses from a major accident can sometimes run into millions of dollars if the other party decides to bring a lawsuit. In that case, minimum liability coverage will not be enough.

As per experts, auto owners should at least buy liability coverage worth $500,000 that includes both bodily injury and property damage.

If you have sufficient liability coverage, your insurance policy will pay for the medical cost, property damages, as well as any lost wages due to the third party’s inability to work as a result of injuries from the accident.

But what about your personal injuries and property damage in an accident?

You might also get injured in an accident while driving or your car can get damaged from a storm. Insurance companies also offer optional coverages that protect you and your car from the cost of injuries and damages in an accident.

Let’s look at these coverage options:

• Collision Coverage: This helps to repair or replace your car if you hit another object while driving, such as a tree, fence, or another car.
• Comprehensive Coverage: Comprehensive insurance covers damages that are out of your control, such as theft, vandalism, flood, fire, falling objects, storms, etc.
• Medical Pay: Medical payments coverage helps to cover the expenses of your medical injuries in an accident irrespective of who was at fault.
• Personal Injury Protection (PIP): Popularly known as PIP, this coverage helps to pay for all your medical expenses in an accident irrespective of fault. PIP also covers your lost wages if you’re unable to work because of your injuries.

What should you choose between MedPay and PIP?

As both these coverage options pay for medical expenses, it doesn’t make sense to buy both. MedPay only takes care of your medical expenses while PIP also covers a part of your lost wages.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nhjaiz6wzCQ

If you think that loss of wages after an accident can make your life difficult, you should buy PIP coverage, but, if you aren’t dependent on wages or are retired, then MedPay would make more sense for you.

While buying additional medical coverage with an auto policy, check your health insurance policy first to see if you’re covered for auto accidents.

Forms of Financial Responsibility in Oklahoma

Financial responsibility laws in every state require motorists to be responsible for paying the cost of injuries and damages of an accident caused by them. The most effective way to meet this requirement is to buy insurance coverage that will cover bodily injury and property damage expenses.

But the law also offers other options to meet the financial responsibility requirements.

• You can provide a security verification form as defined in the law
• You can provide a certificate of deposit with securities or money as required by the law
• You can choose self-insurance along with an agreement that you are going to cover the damages in an accident to the extent an insurance policy would cover damages after an accident

Premiums as a Percentage of Income in Oklahoma

You will never have an idea about whether your insurance premiums are high or low if you don’t compare it with your income or the premiums in neighboring states.

That’s why we want you to look at what percentage of income motorists are spending on auto premiums on average as per data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).

In Oklahoma, the percentage of premiums to income was 2.41 percent in 2014. From 2012 – 2014, this rate is almost stable as premiums and incomes have both risen.

Oklahomans enjoy a lower premium-to-income ratio than the residents of neighboring states, Texas and Arkansas. However, motorists in Kansas and Colorado shell out a lower percentage of income on auto premiums among all these states.

You can also use our free calculator to check how much of your income you are spending on car insurance

CalculatorPro

Average Monthly Car Insurance Rates in OK (Liability, Collision, Comprehensive)

Since we promised our auto insurance guide will cover everything you must know before buying a policy, we couldn’t miss the most important factor for motorists — the cost of auto insurance.

The core coverage insurance premium data from NAIC shows the average rate for liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage. If you choose to buy just liability coverage, your annual premiums would be around $461, which is lower than the national average of $538.

However, it’s recommended to always buy collision and comprehensive insurance as the cost of car repairs or replacement can run to thousands of dollars, especially for new luxury cars.

Remember that the average cost mentioned in the table is just an indicator of what you can expect to pay and it may vary significantly depending on your personal factors.

Additional Liability Coverage in Oklahoma

Apart from the core coverage that we discussed in the previous section, motorists should also consider buying other optional coverage to cover their medical injuries in an accident such as MedPay and PIP.

We would look at the loss ratio of these coverage options to see the percentage of payouts.

For MedPay, the loss ratio hovers around 65 percent during the three years from 2013 – 2015. The loss ratio is the rate of claims settled to premiums earned by the insurance companies. If the loss ratio if 65 percent, it means that insurers paid $65 in claims from each $100 earned in premiums.

When the loss ratio is very high, the insurance company might be bearing losses to pay off all the claims, however, a low loss ratio means that the insurer isn’t meeting its insurance obligations.

By now, you are aware of all the options you have to protect yourself, your car, and pay off the damages to the third party in an accident. But what if you’re hit by a motorist who’s uninsured/underinsured?

No matter how much the state tried to enforce the minimum coverage requirement on motorists, there are some auto owners who let their coverage lapse intentionally.

In Oklahoma, around 10.5 percent of the motorists are uninsured and the state is ranked 31st among all the states for the estimated percentage of uninsured motorists.

This means you might have to bear the cost of medical injuries or property damage if you’re hit by a motorist who doesn’t have sufficient coverage. To protect yourself, you can buy uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) that will pay for your damages when hit by an uninsured motorist.

https://youtu.be/LH-6wizPE-g

Add-Ons, Endorsements, & Riders in Oklahoma

Along with the core coverage options that you must buy, there are a few add-ons and riders which offer protection for specific needs. You can browse through these options to see if there’s something that might help you.

For instance, if you have modified your car to enhance its performance, you will need to buy modified insurance coverage, which will include information about all the deviations you have made in your car.

• Guaranteed Auto Protection (GAP)
• Personal Umbrella Policy (PUP)
• Rental Reimbursement
• Emergency Roadside Assistance
• Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
• Non-Owner Car Insurance
• Modified Car Insurance Coverage
• Classic Car Insurance
• Pay-As-You-Drive or Usage-Based Insurance

Since we are discussing all options that can protect you on the road, we should also highlight safe-driving programs that can save you some dollars on auto premiums.

Usage-based insurance or pay-as-you-drive programs help auto owners save money on auto premiums by rewarding them for good driving behavior.

Using telematics technology, insurers can record individual driver’s acceleration style, braking habits, regular speed of driving, and many other metrics that allow actuaries to assess how safe you’re on the roads while driving.

If you’re a safe driver, you should try enrolling in the usage-based program of your insurance company to get discounts. Once you enroll, your driving behavior is assessed for at least six months before you receive the benefits of the program.

Average Monthly Car Insurance Rates by Age & Gender in OK

Gender is among the many factors that impact car insurance rates.

You don’t need to worry about your gender if you’re above 25, though, as insurance companies mainly use this factor to calculate rates for younger drivers. For teenage drivers who are just starting to drive, rates can vary significantly between males and females.

Younger males are considered riskier drivers than their female counterparts, which is the main reason for a spike in their rates.

The above table shows the auto insurance rates for males and females in different age groups, and you can notice that 17-year-old male drivers are paying the highest premiums.

As you grow older, the disparity in rates between males and females start to disappear and other factors are taken into consideration for calculations.

You can see the rankings table to assess which companies you can consider based on the premium cost in different age brackets. For instance, State Farm, Geico, and USAA offer the lowest rates for 17-year-old drivers in Oklahoma.

Auto Insurance Rates by Zip Code in Oklahoma

Where you live also impacts your auto insurance rates since the risk of accidents or car theft is dependent on factors that vary by the area you live in. In the table below, you can search for your zip code to see how much residents are paying for auto insurance on average.

Auto Insurance Rates by City in Oklahoma

If you want to know how much auto insurance costs in your city, you can search the rates in the table below and compare it with the statewide average annual premium of $4,142.

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Best Car Insurance Companies in Oklahoma

You have seen the average rates and you know which coverage options are the best for you. But how would you find an insurance company that offers you the best value?

The decision to buy from a specific insurance provider should be well thought out and researched, as you don’t want a company that fails to offer any immediate assistance on the first notice of loss or doesn’t provide online account access in this digital age.

That’s why we will talk about all the elements you must look at in your insurance company before signing the policy document.

Financial Ratings of the Leading Insurance Providers in Oklahoma

Without being sure about the financial strength of an auto insurer, you shouldn’t buy coverage, because if the company goes bankrupt, you wouldn’t get reimbursed for your expenses in an accident.

Since it’s not possible for every person to assess a company’s financial strength, independent rating agencies assign ratings to insurers after a careful assessment of their financial position.

A.M. Best assigns ratings in the range of A+ to D that indicate the ability of insurance companies to meet their long-term contractual obligations. The ratings signify the deteriorating financial strength of insurers as you move down from A+ to D.

For the purpose of your car insurance research, you can check the A.M. Best Ratings, of the leading car insurers in Oklahoma in the table below. A.M. Best is a valuable asset to insurance buyers because of its unique focus on the insurance sector.

Customer Reviews of Car Insurance Companies in Oklahoma

Financial strength ratings are important, but what about customer service? If your insurance company isn’t responsive at the first notice of loss or doesn’t help you through the claims process, you will likely switch to another insurance company.

That’s why it’s equally important to see how insurance companies treat their customers. We will look at the customer ratings from J.D. Power, a leading marketing information company, to see how customers rate insurers.

In the Central Region, Shelter Insurance Group, which is one of the leading insurance providers in Oklahoma, has received the highest customer rating of 858 on a 1,000-point scale, followed by Auto-Owners Insurance. Allstate and Geico have also bagged “better than most” ratings from consumers.

The J.D.Power 2019 U.S. Auto Insurance Study is conducted every year to assess the level of customer satisfaction in interactions, policy offerings, price, billing process and policy information, and claims.

Insurance Companies with Most Complaints in Oklahoma

Another way to know about how satisfied customers are with an insurer is to look at the complaint numbers.

Not everyone files a complaint with the regulatory board for minor inconveniences; however, you can get an idea about customer satisfaction levels when you compare complaint numbers of all the insurers you’re considering.

You can visit the NAIC’s website to check the complaint numbers for any insurance company. Or search for your insurance company in the table below.

In the above list of complaint data for the leading insurers, you can see that the State Farm Group has the highest number of complaints. However, you shouldn’t just look at the absolute numbers. The company complaint ratio is a better indicator of how dissatisfied the customers are, as it’s a ratio of the complaint numbers to the number of policies written.

And though the Shelter Insurance Group has a much lower number of complaints than the State Farm Group, the complaint ratio of the latter is better.

Auto Insurance Premiums by Providers in Oklahoma

Oklahoma’s average annual premium is $4,142. Let’s see what the leading insurance providers offer in the state and how much their rates vary from the state average.

Safeco Insurance charges significantly higher premiums than the state average, while State Farm is quite economical for motorists. Just make sure that you clearly assess the benefits and coverage level of a policy before buying one.

Auto Insurance Premiums by Commute Rates in Oklahoma

Your insurance rates can also vary depending on your daily mileage. If you work from home or use public transport, you will clock lower miles on average, which can get you low mileage discounts.

From the table, you can see that Geico, State Farm, and USAA offer a lower rate for auto owners with a shorter commute. Though the difference in price isn’t significant, there’s no harm in asking your insurance company about low mileage discounts.

Auto Insurance Premiums by Coverage Level in Oklahoma

When you buy auto insurance, you can choose policy limits and coverage options as per your needs. If you buy the minimum state-mandated liability coverage, your premiums would be lower than most auto owners.

But that does involve a huge amount of risk, especially if you get involved in a major accident.

On the other hand, if you choose a higher level of coverage, you will have to spend a lot on auto premiums, though you and your family members are protected from the consequences of accidents.

You can look at the table below to see how much your insurance rates would vary when you choose low, medium, and high coverage.

Auto Insurance Premiums by Credit History in Oklahoma

Whether you like it or not, the truth is that auto insurance companies use your credit history to determine your rates. And, if you have a poor or fair credit record, you will bear the brunt of high insurance premiums.

Do you notice how significantly higher premiums are for motorists with a poor credit record? Amongst all the insurers, Liberty Mutual is the most expensive option for those with a poor credit history.

As per Consumer Reports, auto owners in Oklahoma with a poor credit record pay $2,514 more annually than those with an excellent record.

We also looked at Experian’s State of Credit survey to assess the average credit score in Oklahoma, which was 656 in 2017, while the average national score was 675. Oklahoma is among the top 10 states with the lowest vantage scores.

Auto Insurance Premiums by Driving Record in Oklahoma

Since auto insurance protects you from risky drivers on the road, it matters how safely you drive. If you have multiple records of accidents or traffic violations, you will pay high premiums.

Remember that if you’re caught while driving under the influence of alcohol, it may raise your premiums more than any accident record.

Leading Car Insurance Providers in Oklahoma

Number of Insurance Providers in Oklahoma

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State Laws in Oklahoma

Car insurance research should also involve a brief overview of all the state laws that determine your rates and coverage levels. Knowing about state laws for car insurance will help you to understand why you need to buy coverage.

It also helps you to know about specific laws that might help you in certain situations, for instance, high-risk drivers can get coverage from the state-established Automobile Insurance Plan.

We promise to cover only the important laws in this section and not bore you with legal language.

Car Insurance Laws in Oklahoma

Since we are on the topic of car insurance, we will talk about some car insurance laws you must know about. These may come in handy when you’re negotiating about rates with your agent or trying to file a claim.

Windshield Coverage Laws in Oklahoma

Oklahoma doesn’t have any specific windshield coverage laws, and insurers can offer coverage with comprehensive insurance. When it comes to chips and cracks, here’s what auto owners need to follow.

• Windshields with chips or cracks bigger than three inches in diameter aren’t allowed
• Driving a vehicle with two or more hairline cracks that are more than 12 inches or more in length on the windshield is illegal
• Severe damages or cracks on windshields through which air can pass or that can be felt with fingertips aren’t permitted

Read more: Free Windshield Replacement With Insurance

High-Risk Car Insurance in Oklahoma

There are many auto owners who are denied coverage in the voluntary insurance market because they’re high-risk drivers.

Anyone who has multiple records of accidents, traffic violations, or DUI is considered high-risk by insurance companies as they pose a continuous threat to the safety of others. How can high-risk motorists drive legally if they’re denied coverage?

Keeping in mind the huge number of high-risk drivers on roads, Oklahoma Automobile Insurance Plan (OK AIP) was implemented in 1950 to provide coverage to drivers unable to buy insurance from the voluntary market.

How does the OK AIP work?

All high-risk drivers are placed in a pool from which they are assigned coverage under the program. Insurance companies that are licensed to operate in the market of Oklahoma are required to offer coverage to a specific percentage of high-risk drivers in the pool directly proportional to their market share.

For instance, State Farm covers 25 percent of the market in Oklahoma so it must absorb 25 percent of the high-risk drivers from the pool.

Drivers who have a valid driver’s license and a state-registered vehicle must indicate their inability to obtain coverage through the voluntary market in their insurance application to be eligible for the high-risk pool.

Watch this video to learn about how to get cheap high-risk car insurance.

Automobile Insurance Fraud in Oklahoma

Auto insurance fraud is a menace that not only leads to a lot of inconveniences for insurance companies but also raises the premiums for all auto owners. As per estimates, between 2013 – 2017, property and casualty insurance fraud led to losses of around $30 billion per year.

Common auto insurance frauds can include:

• Inflating the actual amount of claims
• Misrepresentation on the insurance application form
• Submitting claims for events that never occurred
• Staging accidents

Oklahoma makes it mandatory for insurance companies to report any fraud they come across and encourages individuals to report any suspicious activity to the fraud bureau. If you notice something that might be fraudulent, report the incidence through the website of the anti-fraud unit or by calling on (800) 522-0071.

Statute of Limitations in Oklahoma

Law enforcement sets a time limit for victims of car accidents to bring a lawsuit in the civil court. This is known as the statute of limitations. As an auto owner, it’s important for you to know how much time you have to sue someone after an accident.

In Oklahoma, you have two years from the date of the accident to sue the at-fault party for any claims related to your personal injuries or property damage.

Vehicle Licensing Laws in Oklahoma

When you forget to renew your license or abide by any new licensing regulation, you can get a ticket from law enforcement which would lead to an increase in your premiums.

That’s why it’s important to know about the vehicle licensing laws in your state.

Read more: Is driving without a license a felony?

REAL ID in Oklahoma

The REAL ID Act establishes minimum security standards for issuance of driver’s licenses under the federal law. You must have a REAL ID–compliant driver’s license to access certain federal facilities and to flying by commercial airlines within the US.

REAL ID was implemented by the federal government to enhance security measures at certain federal facilities and airports — locations susceptible to terrorist attacks. By adding a second layer of security on state-issued identification documents, law enforcement would be able to control unauthorized access.

Since Oklahoma has received an extension, residents can use their current driver’s license and identification cards to access certain federal facilities and take commercial flights until September 18, 2020. After this day, you will only be allowed with a REAL ID–compliant identification documents.

If you think you wouldn’t need access to those facilities or won’t fly within the country, you don’t need to apply for a REAL ID–compliant license. In addition, you can use your federal identification documents, such as passport, for access to those facilities and flying commercially.

Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in Oklahoma

We have already established that driving without auto insurance is illegal. You will be penalized through fines and jail time if you fail to comply. The penalty for not carrying insurance coverage is a fine of $250 and/or prison time of 30 days. Your driver’s license could also be suspended.

Last year, a new initiative was implemented by the state legislature to track motorists driving without insurance. Oklahoma has started using cameras to capture registration tags of vehicles, which they match with their insurance coverage database.

Under this new system, motorists caught driving without coverage would be sent notice and will have to pay a fine of $174 as well as show proof of insurance. In addition, they will be required to sign a two-year agreement to comply with the law.

Teen Driver Laws in Oklahoma

Getting to drive for the first time is exciting. But before you get a full permit to drive anywhere by yourself, you have to go through a few stages to prove you’re a safe driver.

Oklahoma follows a Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) system where teens are required to take driver’s education programs and practice driving with a licensed adult to get an unrestricted license.

Let’s look at the stages of GDL.

You have to be at least 15-and-a-half years old to be eligible for a learner permit. If you have taken a driver’s education course and are able to pass the written and vision test, you will get your learner’s permit. Those who do not take a driver’s education program can apply for a permit at the age of 16.

During the learner’s permit phase, you have to meet certain conditions:

• You must drive with an adult driver who has been licensed for at least two years and is above the age of 21.
• You must practice 50 hours of driving including 10 hours at night

When you turn 16 years old, you can apply for an intermediate license. Those who have not taken a driver’s education course can become eligible for an intermediate license at the age of 16-and-a-half.

Apart from meeting the above requirements, you have to pass a road test to get an intermediate license.

Once teens progress from these two stages, there aren’t any restrictions on driving at night or carrying passengers. But, if teens are found using a handheld electronic device while driving (unless in an emergency situation), their learner’s permit or intermediate license can be suspended or canceled.

At the age of 16-and-a-half and after holding the intermediate license for at least six months, you can apply for a full license provided you haven’t been convicted of a traffic offense. If you meet all the requirements, you can obtain an unrestricted Class D Oklahoma Driver’s License. For those who haven’t taken the driver’s education program, a full license can be obtained at the age of 17.

At the age of 18, you are no longer subject to the laws or restrictions of the GDL law in Oklahoma.

As a parent, it’s your responsibility to inculcate the habit of safe driving in your kids, and you can do so by signing a parent-teen driving agreement to set the rules they must follow while driving.

Driver License Renewal Procedure in Oklahoma

Your driver’s license is valid for four years and you must renew it in person at the DMV every four years. At the time of renewal, all motorists have to take a vision test.

Ideally, you should get your license renewed before it’s about to expire; however, you have a 60 day grace period to renew the license after the expiration date. If your license has been expired for more than two years, you will have to take the written test, vision test, and road test to get a license.

New Residents in Oklahoma

When you move to a new state, you have to manage a lot of things – getting a new house, setting up all utilities, finding a new job, enrolling your kids in school, etc. The list is never-ending.

In between all the work, do not forget to think about your car’s registration in Oklahoma.

• New residents are required to register their car with the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety (DPS) before they can get a driver’s license in the state. You should register your car within 30 days of relocating to Oklahoma. Any failure to comply with this time limit can result in penalties.
• To register your car, you must show proof of insurance to the DPS. This would be a good time to reassess your insurance needs and ensure you’re paying the best rates. You should also check if your coverage meets the minimum insurance requirements of Oklahoma.
• Once you have registered your car, you can take your out-of-state license and identification proof to get an Oklahoma license.

Read more: Can you register a car with a permit?

Rules of the Road in Oklahoma

Abiding by the rules of the road can ensure everyone’s safety and also help you to avoid any traffic violations. If you don’t have any violation record, you will get the best rates from your insurance company.

We will not go over every rule in the driver’s manual, just the ones that should be on the back of your head all the time.

Fault vs. No-Fault Law in Oklahoma

Oklahoma follows the traditional fault system where the state determines the liability of motorists after an accident. If you’re involved in an accident for which you’re at fault, you would be required by law to cover the expenses of personal injury and property damage sustained by the third party.

That’s why your state mandates the minimum liability coverage for all auto owners — so that you’re able to cover third-party damages for accidents caused by you.

In no-fault states, motorists turn to their own insurance provider for damages in an accident irrespective of fault.

Seat Belt & Car Seat Laws in Oklahoma

As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 53 percent of passengers and drivers killed in accidents in 2009 were unrestrained. Seat belts significantly reduce the risk of serious injuries and death.

As per the Oklahoma Mandatory Seat Belt Use Act, all front-seat passengers must wear a seat belt, and you can get pulled over by a law enforcement officer if you’re caught driving unrestrained.

While all parents ensure their children are properly restrained in seat belts and car seats, it’s also important to get the right seats as per the age and weight of your child. By following the car seat laws of your state, you can drive without any concerns regarding your child’s safety.

The law in Oklahoma requires children under the age of eight to be secured in a child passenger restraint system while the vehicle is in motion. You can see the car seat requirements for children in the table below.

Keep Right & Move Over Laws in Oklahoma

Admit it or not, we all hate slow-moving cars hogging the left lane only meant for passing vehicles. To solve this problem, Oklahoma passed the keep right law in 2017 to prevent vehicles from using the left lane for driving unless to pass or overtake.

The fines for non-compliance can run up to $249. This law is applicable to any street that has more than two lanes.

Another law that motorists must abide by is the state’s move over law which requires motorists to move to another lane when they approach a parked emergency, maintenance, or law enforcement vehicle. If you’re unable to move to another lane, you should slow down to a reasonable speed.

Speed Limits in Oklahoma

Speed limits are the first thing you learn about when you start driving. But, as we get comfortable with driving, we tend to follow the traffic speed rather than the posted limits. You can see the acceptable speed limits in Oklahoma below.

In April 2019, Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a bill to increase the speed limits on turnpikes from 75 mph to 80 mph and, on certain state highways, from 70 mph to 75 mph.

Ridesharing Laws in Oklahoma

Ridesharing apps — like Uber and Lyft — have changed our lives. We can now get anywhere by just using a mobile app. Though Uber and Lyft have now become a part of our lives, state legislators have had to work to regulate the operations of these new-age cabs.

One of the major focuses for legislators was ensuring the safety of passengers using these services. To enhance passenger safety, ridesharing companies were asked to improve the screening process of drivers and provide insurance coverage over and above personal vehicle insurance.

In 2016, House Bill 1614 established new rules for Transportation Network Companies. Apart from meeting several safety guidelines, the new law requires drivers to carry at least $1 million in insurance coverage while on a ride.

Automation on the Road

Last year a new committee was established in Oklahoma to discuss the future of autonomous vehicles, and it was concluded that the state’s strategic location and highways are ideal for autonomous vehicle testing.

This year, Oklahoma is planning to establish rules that would regulate how autonomous vehicles can be operated safely on the highways.

Safety Laws in Oklahoma

Oklahoma, like other states, has strict laws and penalties when it comes to driving under the influence of alcohol or marijuana. When you’re under the influence of drugs or alcohol, your reflexes are slow, which increases the chance of an accident.

Insurance companies also penalize motorists with a DUI record by charging them high premiums.

DUI Laws in Oklahoma

In Oklahoma, it’s illegal for any motorist to drive a vehicle under the influence of alcohol with a Blood Alcohol Level (BAC) of more than 0.08 percent. Though there’s a BAC limit in law, you can be arrested for showing any signs of impairment while driving.

Apart from risking your life by driving under the influence, you also subject yourself to prison time and fines if caught by law enforcement officers. Let’s look at the penalties for DUI.

Read more: What is an Ignition Interlock Device?

Marijuana-Impaired Driving Laws in Oklahoma

Oklahoma is one of the states that have a zero-tolerance policy for THC and metabolites.

Distracted Driving Laws in Oklahoma

Although the law only covers handheld mobile device usage, other activities such as looking out the window or eating can distract you while driving, so you should try to focus on the road as much as possible.

Driving in Oklahoma

There are many factors that shape your driving experience in a city or state. These factors also act as cues for insurance providers to calculate the risks involved with driving in a particular area. Insurers use data like theft rate, fatality numbers, and traffic congestions for determining your rates.

In this section, we will educate you about the traffic conditions and state of driving in different cities and zip codes across Oklahoma.

Vehicle Theft in Oklahoma

Read more: Cheap GMC Car Insurance

From the theft numbers, it appears that pickup vehicles and Chevrolet cars are quite popular for thefts in Oklahoma.

You can also see the car theft numbers in your city through this data sourced from the FBI.

Road Fatalities in Oklahoma

We will show data about road accidents and fatalities in this section through data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Most Fatal Highways in Oklahoma

The most dangerous highway in Oklahoma is U.S. route 69, which witnesses an average of 13 fatal accidents every year. To determine the most dangerous highways in states, Geotab uses fatal crashes data and daily traffic counts to calculate a fatal crash rate.

Fatal Crashes by Weather Condition & Light Condition in Oklahoma

Fatalities (All Crashes) by County in Oklahoma

Traffic Fatalities in Oklahoma

Fatalities by Person Type in Oklahoma

Fatalities by Crash Type in Oklahoma

Fatalities Trend For the Top 10 Counties in Oklahoma

Fatalities Involving Speeding by County in Oklahoma

Fatalities in Crashes Involving an Alcohol-Impaired Driver (BAC = .08+) by County in Oklahoma

Teen Drinking & Driving in Oklahoma

The state of Oklahoma doesn’t allow teenage drinking and driving, and there’s a zero-tolerance policy for any trace of alcohol found in the blood of underage drivers. If you’re caught driving under the influence of alcohol, your license will be revoked.

In Oklahoma, the under-21 alcohol-impaired fatality rate per 100,000 people is 1.3, which is higher than the national average of 1.2. Driving after drinking can lead to lethal consequences, especially for underage drivers.

Read more: Teens Drinking & Driving [15 Worst States]

EMS Response Time in Oklahoma

Transportation in Oklahoma

Insurance companies also look at the traffic and congestion data in a city to assess your coverage needs and rates.

Factors like how many cars are owned by households, what mode of transport is used by people to commute, or how long it takes to reach the office can impact your insurance rates.

Car Ownership in Oklahoma

According to research from Data USA, the majority of the households in Oklahoma own two cars, as do the rest of the country. Households with three vehicles are the next largest group followed by single-vehicle households.

Commute Time in Oklahoma

The good thing is employees in Oklahoma have a shorter commute of 20.9 minutes compared to the national average of 25.5 minutes. And the number of workers in Oklahoma that have a “super commute” (greater than 90 minutes) is lower than the national average.

Commuter Transportation in Oklahoma

Data USA reports that around 82.3 percent of the commuters drive alone to work, followed by 9.83 percent who carpooled to work.

Read more:

• Tips for Commuter Cars and Car Insurance
• Can you drive alone with a permit?

Traffic Congestion in Oklahoma

Oklahoma City and Tulsa are the most-populated cities in Oklahoma and traffic congestion is a common sight in these cities during peak hours.

As per traffic analytics firm Inrix, commuters in Oklahoma city wasted 51 hours stuck in traffic congestions, while in Tulsa, people spent 33 hours in traffic.

We hope you’re enlightened by all the information provided in this guide and can make the right decision before buying an auto policy. You can also start comparison shopping now using our FREE online tool. Enter your zip code below to get started!

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