Topic Insurers
Vehicle warranties: Auto insurers don’t owe premium tax on dealer’s fees
February 29, 2024 by David GambrillAn insurer doesn’t owe provincial premium tax on auto dealer’s fees charged for vehicle equipment warranties, the Supreme Court of B.C. has ruled. Vehicle equipment warranties are commonly sold at auto dealerships. Customers pay for vehicle warranty policies as part…
Why complex cars create costly problems
February 28, 2024 by Philip PoradoAn acute shortage of semiconductors is a big contributor to rising auto claims costs for auto insurers. “That’s had a significant impact in certain types of cars,” says Paul Gilbody, president of ClaimsPro Canada. “A huge amount of electronics now…
Meet your new underwriting assistant: GenAI
February 28, 2024 by Alyssa DiSabatinoGenerative AI (GenAI) won’t replace underwriters, but you can train it to be your underwriting assistant, one AI expert shared at an industry event Tuesday. “In North America, there are quite a few insurers that are going through proof of…
Pricing still affects brokers’ ability to sell cyber
February 27, 2024 by David GambrillTo the surprise of no one in the broker channel, the ongoing hard market in cyber still plays a significant role in why clients decline to buy coverage. About 40% of brokers responding to a recent CU survey selected ‘Price…
Why Co-operators posted an underwriting loss in 2023
February 26, 2024 by Alyssa DiSabatinoCo-operators General Insurance Company reported an annual underwriting loss of $184 million in 2023. This figure, which excludes discounting and risk adjustment, accounts for “a decline of $356.2 million from the underwriting gain of $171.3 million in the same period of 2022.” Discounted estimates…
Why this Uber driver was not injured in an auto accident
February 26, 2024 by David GambrillAn Uber driver who slipped on ice when helping a passenger load the trunk was not involved in an auto ‘accident,’ the Ontario Licence Appeal Tribunal has ruled. The ruling is consistent with a trend in Ontario case law over…
Intact CEO’s take on fear of auto rate cap contagion
February 23, 2024 by David GambrillIntact CEO Charles Brindamour does not anticipate Alberta’s auto rate cap will bleed over into Ontario’s private auto insurance sector. “There’s always a risk,” Brindamour told Mario Mendonca, managing director of equity research at TD Cowen, during a fireside chat…
Sports insurers urged to consider video review
February 22, 2024 by David GambrillA legal firm urges sports insurers to require their sports association clients to install cameras to record the action, following the B.C. Court of Appeal’s January 2024 decision in Cox v. Miller. In Cox v Miller, the court found Karl…
FSRA’s first non-auto P&C supervision plan to include review of MGAs
February 22, 2024 by Alyssa DiSabatinoOntario’s insurance regulator is launching a review of P&C insurers’ managing general agent (MGA) outsourcing practices as part of its first non-auto P&C supervisory plan. “Given the risks and oversight concerns involved, insurer outsourcing to P&C MGAs is a priority…
Federal government announces $15 million to combat car thefts across Canada
February 22, 2024 by The Canadian PressMONTREAL – The federal government is committing an additional $15 million over three years to fight the rise in vehicle thefts across the country. Minister of Public Safety Dominic LeBlanc made the announcement yesterday in Montreal. LeBlanc said $9 million…
Managing insurer concerns about knob-and-tube wiring
February 21, 2024 by Brian Cook, PowerCheckMost insurers see homes with knob-and-tube wiring, aluminum wiring, and 60-amp service as high-risk, which prevents clients with those systems from easily obtaining home insurance. But are wiring types and service levels really the culprits causing fires? I’ve examined electrical…
How Intact plans to approach auto pricing in 2024
February 21, 2024 by David GambrillIntact delivered a combined ratio of 94.7% in its auto insurance business in 2023, and the company expects to post a similar auto result in 2024 as well, Intact Financial Corporation CEO Charles Brindamour said today in a virtual fireside…