Increasing dissatisfaction with auto insurance among Alberta consumers: AIRB

Alberta consumers are increasingly disgruntled about their auto insurance, even though premiums are not increasing significantly year-over-year, a consumer survey by the Alberta Insurance Rate Board (AIRB) has found.
The AIRB contracted an independent marketing research company to conduct a telephone survey with 800 insurance consumers across the province and a Web survey with 214 insurance consumers regarding their perception of auto insurance.
Of the consumers surveyed by telephone, 54% agreed with the statement that ‘Insurance premiums are fair and reasonable.’ This marks a drop from the 70% who agreed with the statement when the survey was conducted in 2010.
Between 2004 and 2010, the government and the AIRB ordered premium reductions on mandatory auto insurance coverage totalling 23%, the report says. This includes a 5% premium reduction ordered by the AIRB in 2010.
“The survey results indicate increased dissatisfaction with premium levels even though premiums have not increased significantly over the past six years,” wrote Merle Taylor, AIRB’s consumer representative.
“The consumers that I spoke to, many of whom were drivers who had no ‘at-fault claims,’ felt that rates were high, and also that the difference in premiums between good drivers and drivers with a poor accident record is not that great.”