Canadian Underwriter

Topic Personal Auto

Autonomous car sensor system concept for safety of driverless mode car control
News ClaimsPersonal AutoTechnology

Safety tech in cars isn’t reducing insurers’ claims costs

February 27, 2024 by David Gambrill

Much has been made of the new electronic safety tech in cars, but it doesn’t seem to be making a dent in auto insurers’ claims costs, according to a new report by Rates.ca. “You might expect that with more safety

Taxi car with Uber logo on the snowy street.
News ClaimsInsurersLegalPersonal Auto

Why this Uber driver was not injured in an auto accident

February 26, 2024 by David Gambrill

An 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

Alberta and Canada flags
News AlbertaInsurersPersonal Auto

Intact CEO’s take on fear of auto rate cap contagion

February 23, 2024 by David Gambrill

Intact 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

Are SUVs getting too big to avoid serious accidents?
News ClaimsLegalLiabilityLoss ControlLoss TrendsPersonal Auto

Will bigger vehicles lead to bigger claims?

February 23, 2024 by Philip Porado

With accident rates climbing, one growing area of concern is that vehicles are becoming much larger. For example, rapid changes in vehicle specs mean full-size SUVs from 1999 would today meet the gearhead moniker of ‘Cute Ute.’ With sport utility

Car thief attempting to break into a vehicle
News ClaimsClaims Canada ArchiveInsurersLoss ControlLoss TrendsPersonal Auto

Federal government announces $15 million to combat car thefts across Canada

February 22, 2024 by The Canadian Press

MONTREAL – 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

Toy auto mobile on top of a stack of note books and beside a spilled jar of coins
News Commercial AutoInsurersLoss TrendsPersonal Auto

How Intact plans to approach auto pricing in 2024

February 21, 2024 by David Gambrill

Intact 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

Portrait of an agent consulting a mature couple at office
News B.C.BrokersInsurersLegalPersonal Auto

Brokers needn’t advise new Canadians to obtain a provincial driver’s licence

February 20, 2024 by David Gambrill

Insurance brokers in B.C. aren’t required to advise clients new to Canada that they must apply for a provincial driver’s licence within 90 days of residency in the province, B.C.’s Civil Rules Tribunal has ruled. “I find that the duty

Arrows are not targeted, Failure to attack the target. unsuccessful.
News BrokersClaimsCommercial AutoOntarioPersonal Auto

CU Poll: Ontario’s DCPD auto reform widely viewed as a flop

February 16, 2024 by David Gambrill

Ontario’s property and casualty insurance professionals have widely panned the provincial government’s latest move to make mandatory Direct Collision Physical Damage (DCPD) coverage optional to reduce premiums. Canadian Underwriter conducted an online poll with more than 400 P&C professionals nationwide

Creating long-term value within your client base
News BrokersCommercialCommercial AutoInsurersManagementOperationsPersonal AutoPersonal Home

Making clients valuable to your brokerage for the long term

February 15, 2024 by Adam Mitchell

When it comes to ensuring clients have the right products and coverage levels, life insurance brokers are doing things much better than personal lines brokers. But there’s no reason the P&C industry can’t operate at that level. You can’t sell

Cyber graphic of an arrow pointing upward
News BrokersCatastrophesClaimsCommercialInsurersPersonal AutoPersonal Home

Cats scratch Intact’s bottom line in 2023

February 14, 2024 by Alyssa DiSabatino

Intact Financial Corporation (IFC) has reported elevated catastrophe losses in 2023, raising its combined operating ratio (COR) by 4.3 points since 2022. “The past year has been challenging for society, particularly in the face of numerous natural disasters,” said Charles

Drone Point View of Busy Traffic at Night
News B.C.InsurersLegalPersonal Auto

Canada’s P&C professionals sound off on auto reform

February 14, 2024 by David Gambrill

Almost 70% of Canadian property and casualty insurance professionals describe the need for auto reforms across the country as either “very urgent” or “urgent,” but they don’t believe provincial governments share their sense of urgency. Canadian Underwriter polled more than

Electric vehicle charging in the street
News ClaimsClaims ProfessionalsLoss TrendsPersonal Auto

Expect more total losses with electric vehicles: report

February 13, 2024 by David Gambrill

Canadian auto insurers can expect to write off electric vehicles (EVs) rather than try to repair their expensive, damaged batteries, says a report by Morningstar DBRS. “The most expensive component of an EV is the battery, often embedded in the