13Mar 2023 by Charles E. Price
Alberta government unveils an auto insurance freeze to mixed reviews

Alberta government unveils an auto insurance freeze to mixed reviews

INSURANCE
The Alberta government announced they are putting a freeze on auto insurance rates, and not everyone is happy about it. Minister of Finance Travis Toews and Minister of Affordability and Utilities Matt Jones made the announcement in a release this morning. In the release, the duo state that many people in Alberta are concerned with auto insurance affordability, which Toews says this freeze will help with. “We share Albertans' concerns about the rising cost of living during the current inflation crisis. We will continue to meet with members of the insurance industry to find additional longer-term solutions for automobile insurance,” Toews said. Along with pausing rates until the end of the year, the Alberta government says they will continue working on solutions to lower auto insurance rates. “Affordability is a…
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13Feb 2023 by Charles E. Price
Car insurance premiums are on the rise

Car insurance premiums are on the rise

INSURANCE
Some Ontario insurers have received approval for the rate hikes as high as 15 per cent THUNDER BAY — Many drivers can expect to experience sticker shock when their car insurance policies come up for renewal this year. In Ontario, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority has already approved insurance companies' applications for rate increases as high as 11 to 15 per cent, while others have been granted smaller hikes. "Insurance rates are going to go up in the near term, because we've already seen rate approvals at FSRA come in. An insurer operating in Ontario has to apply to FSRA if they want to raise rates. It will look at the application and say 'Yes, that makes sense based on your numbers. Your costs have gone up,' " explained John…
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04Jul 2022 by Charles E. Price
Ukrainian refugees in NL hit with car insurance rates 5 times provincial average

Ukrainian refugees in NL hit with car insurance rates 5 times provincial average

INSURANCE
Ukrainians who fled the Russian invasion of their country and arrived in Newfoundland are being asked to pay thousands of dollars more for car insurance than the provincial average. (Colleen Connors/CBC)Ukrainians who fled the Russian invasion of their country and arrived in Newfoundland are being asked to pay thousands of dollars for car insurance, and advocates say the high rates are complicating refugees' efforts to settle in the province.The Canadian Press viewed two auto insurance quotes provided to Ukrainian refugees in St. John's — one for $5,592 a year and another for $8,288 a year. Meanwhile, the average annual rate in Newfoundland and Labrador in 2020 was just over $1,200, according to the General Insurance Statistical Agency. Adilya Dragan, a liaison for many of the 166 Ukrainian refugees who recently…
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04Jul 2022 by Charles E. Price

Educating Car Buyers to Defuse Insurance Pricing Qualms

INSURANCE
F&I managers and sales staff aware of shoppers' misconceptions about rising auto insurance rates may overcome buying objections and save sales or lease opportunities. As we previously reported, the JD Power 2022 US Auto Insurance Study notes serious collisions, higher used-car prices and rising repair costs have led auto insurers to raise rates. Those increases, which Forbes reports average 4.9% across the US, have surprised some shoppers and potentially squelched some auto sales. “As we know, setting insurance rates is complicated,” insurance expert Michelle Megna, Forbes Advisor, tells Wards. “The cost of repairs and the cost of cars are now much higher than in the past. A fender-bender can result in thousands of dollars in repairs.” The type of car, the buyer's driving record and the mileage driven per year…
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04Jul 2022 by Charles E. Price
Ontario car insurance rates based on postal codes will ‘come to an end,’ Doug Ford suggests

Ontario car insurance rates based on postal codes will ‘come to an end,’ Doug Ford suggests

INSURANCE
Ontario Premier Doug Ford suggested Thursday that car insurance rates based on postal codes will “come to an end.” Ford made the remarks during a press conference highlighting his government's promised gas tax cut, which is set to take effect Friday.The premier was asked why the government wasn't focusing more on high insurance rates, since gas prices may still increase overall in the coming months despite the temporary tax cut. Read more: Who is paying the highest insurance premiums in Ontario, and why? “I'm going to respectfully disagree with whoever says cutting the gas tax by 10 cents overall doesn't affect and help the people of Ontario. It helps them in a massive, massive way,” Ford said.“I know we're working on a plan for insurance companies,” he continued. Story continues…
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