More Drivers on the Road
Thanks to low gasoline prices and rising employment rates, more Americans are driving. As a result, there are more accidents, which lead to higher payouts. Higher payouts lead to higher premiums.
The cause of more accidents isn’t entirely because more drivers are on the road—it is because of drivers’ unsafe driving practices. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, about 87 percent of drivers admitted to engaging in at least one risky behavior while behind the wheel in the first quarter of 2017, including using cellphones while driving and not wearing seat belts.
Claims Severity
Adding to the causes of the hardening market is the increasing size of insurance claims—also known as claim severity. Three large drivers of claim severity include the increase in the costs of medical care, auto repair and auto parts. According to a recent study by CarMD, the largest repair cost comes from replacing the expensive technology that is common in newer vehicles, as body shops struggle to afford the special equipment and training required to perform the repairs.
Uninsured Motorists/Underinsured Motorist
Although auto liability insurance is compulsory in most states, approximately 13 percent of drivers drive uninsured. Unfortunately, it is the drivers who abide by compulsory insurance laws who end up paying the price—in the form of uninsured motorist coverage. According to the Insurance Research Council, uninsured claim payments have increased by 75 percent over the past 10 years, resulting in a $14 premium increase for every insured individual.
Even when compulsory insurance is purchase, the minimum level in all states leaves a coverage gap when the at-fault driver’s liability limits are too low to coverage your damages or medical expenses. In these situation, which are becoming increasing the norm, your insurance steps in (assuming you purchased uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage). This situation impacts the auto insurance companies’s entire book of business, which resulting in increasing premium for all their insured.
The Threat of Autonomous Vehicles
Although autonomous vehicles (driverless vehicles) have the potential to save lives and reduce injuries, they could also decrease the personal automobile insurance sector to less than 40 percent of its current size. While the change should be gradual, many insurers have been increasing rates by 5-10 percent in anticipation of the threat.
With auto insurance premiums on the rise for both personal and commercial policies, it is important to be aware of your options at renewal time. Contact us to help you keep your premiums as low as possible in a hard market.
EMERGE INSURANCE AGENCY
Call 904-677-5884
