Alberta and Ontario drivers see rate increases, Quebec sees decrease: Kanetix

Auto insurance rate quotes obtained on kanetix.ca increased in both Ontario and Alberta, but decreased in Quebec in 2010 Q3.
Ontario saw the sharpest increase, with quote rates increasing 19.3% between 2009 Q3 and 2010 Q3. Some consumers saw multiple rate increases throughout the year, reported Kanetix.
“On a positive note, the trend may be changing,” a Kanetix release says. “The year-over-year increase in rates quoted was not as great in September as it was in July and August, suggesting that rates could be stabilizing in response to the new auto reforms that took effect Sept. 1, 2010.”
In Alberta, rates rose 7.6% quarter-over-quarter, despite the Nov. 5 decrease on mandatory auto insurance premiums. This marks the first rate increase in a year.
“Several factors are at play, but based on Kanetix data, part of the increase can be attributed to more drivers selecting lower deductibles on the quotes they obtained,” leading to increased premiums, the release continues.
In Quebec, car insurance shoppers obtained quotes 2.8% lower in 2010 Q3 compared to the same period of 2009, Kanetix notes. “This decrease, in part, is due to the shopping behaviour of Quebec auto insurance consumers who, when shopping around, increasingly took advantage of discounts like the multi-line discount, roadside assistance and group discounts.”