Several well-known auto insurers are leaving the California marketplace saying drivers are just too expensive to insure. The reality is Californians are driving about the same number of miles as before the pandemic, but apparently the quality of their driving has deteriorated. Auto accidents have increased and many insurance companies report they are paying more in claims than they are collecting in premiums.
The California insurance commissioner refutes those claims. From 2020 to 2021, auto insurance losses increased almost 25% while premiums increased by only 4.5%, according to the American Property Casualty Insurance Association. The rate and severity of auto accidents are up as well as the costs to cover them. “The cost to rent a car is up 33% and the cost for a new vehicle is up 11%,” said Denni Ritter, American Property Casualty Insurance Association.
Some California insurers haven’t seen requested rate increases approved by the insurance commissioner in over 3 years. “What we’ve seen is that you have insurers who are paying out more in claims than they’re taking in with premiums. That’s not a sustainable business model,” said Ritter. California is a very consumer friendly state and insurers must have any rate hike approved. State Farm, AllState and Farmers are asking the California Department of Insurance for a nearly 7% premium increase. Progressive is asking for more than 19%. A local agent says insurers are now making it harder for him to get drivers new auto policies.
“They might ask you to pay in full instead of having a payment plan. Right now, all of the carriers that I can even think of have restrictions. They literally say, don’t write please,” said Karl Susman from Susman Insurance. Geico has closed all of its California offices and Progressive stopped advertising in the state. “State farm, you can no longer get quotes by calling them. You have to go to an agent’s office,” said Susman
A spokesperson for the Insurance Commissioner says “while insurance companies are focused on increasing rates, the department of insurance is focused on protecting drivers and helping them get the most value from the premiums they pay.” His office points out that the commissioner saved Californians $2.4 billion in reduced premiums during the height of the covid stay at home order- when the industry still raked in a collective of $42 billion in excess premiums. Insurers cannot refuse to cover Californians as we are what’s called a “take all market,” but agents say they are having to go with smaller, lesser-known carriers if clients need insurance quickly.
We represent people who are injured because of the careless and reckless acts of others. At the end of the day your case can only be settled one time and you need to know all of the facts beforehand. The reason that insurance companies have paid our clients in excess of $130,000,000.00 is that we get the facts and are not intimidated at the prospect of going to trial when insurance companies fail to offer full compensation. We help with serious injuries that require serious representation. We are the Law Offices of Guenard & Bozarth, LLP. Our attorneys have more than 60 years of experience specializing in only representing injured people. Call GB Legal 24/7/365 at 888-809-1075 or visit www.gblegal.com We would be honored to represent you!
