Regulator defends use of territories for rating auto insurance
March 4, 2024 by David GambrillOntario’s auto insurance regulator is allowing insurers to explore different ways to rate for territories other than the standard — and rigid — postal code method, but the regulator won’t be banning territorial rates, the regulator’s top exec confirmed Monday.…
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…
Safety tech in cars isn’t reducing insurers’ claims costs
February 27, 2024 by David GambrillMuch 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…
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…
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…
Canada’s P&C professionals sound off on auto reform
February 14, 2024 by David GambrillAlmost 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…
Home, auto rate increases in 2023 “highest…seen in years.”
January 26, 2024 by David GambrillCanadian auto insurance rates increased 10% in 2023 compared to 2022, and similarly home insurance rates saw an increase as well — up 6.6% last year, according to the latest release of the Applied Rating Index. “The close of 2023…
Feds heed auto insurers’ call for auto theft summit
January 24, 2024 by David GambrillCanada’s federal government has answered the call by the nation’s auto insurers to promote a whole-of-society solution to a mounting auto theft crisis. A National Summit on Combatting Auto Theft will take place in Ottawa on Feb. 8, 2024, Public…
Ontario to take over licensing and oversight of tow truck industry
December 12, 2023 by David GambrillOntario is taking tow truck services out of the hands of municipalities and requiring tow truck operators to be certified and adhere to a Code of Conduct. “This marks the end of municipal regulation of towing and storage operators, with…
How new vehicle tech is changing the auto theft equation
December 11, 2023 Philip PoradoThere’s a small upside to Canada’s current auto theft wave, industry sources have told Canadian Underwriter. Thieves’ adoption of technologies that can capture vehicle key fob signals means criminals no longer need to resort to violent methods like carjacking to…
How auto insurers responded to Ontario’s auto fraud announcement
November 24, 2023 by David GambrillOntario auto insurers are commending the provincial government for committing $18 million over three years to help police services combat and prevent auto theft. “Last year marked the first time in history when Canada’s insurers paid over $1 billion in claims…