Tow referral fee rules ‘hard to monitor and enforce,’ insurer warns
August 23, 2018 by Greg MeckbachAuto insurance providers should remind motorists that in the event of an accident, it is usually the driver – not the tow truck operator – who decides where the car gets towed. Motorists often don’t know what rights they have…
Auto fraud getting worse, insurer says
August 21, 2018 by Greg MeckbachManitoba Public Insurance Corporation (MPI) is reporting an increase in auto insurance fraud, including false claims for income replacement benefits. “Disturbingly, the corporation’s special investigation unit is seeing an increase in fraudulent activity,” the province’s public auto insurer reported Friday.…
Tories pledge to work with industry to lower Ontario auto rates
August 15, 2018 by Greg MeckbachOntario’s new finance minister is promising to work with industry to reduce auto insurance rates, but does not want the as-yet-unspecified plan to be a mere “photo opportunity.” Rates have increased for three consecutive quarters, despite several measures over the…
How individual insurers have responded to challenges in Ontario auto
August 14, 2018 by Greg MeckbachDespite a consensus in the industry that auto insurance rates are inadequate in Ontario, not all insurers are trying to diversify their business to reduce their exposure to this particular line. The Co-operators Group Ltd. “does not intend to reduce…
Ontario PCs historically ‘very receptive’ to auto rate reform: Intact CEO
August 9, 2018 by Greg MeckbachOntario’s newly-elected government has been silent on auto insurance reform, but the head of Canada’s largest property and casualty insurance carrier is encouraged by the Progressive Conservative Party’s historical leaning towards loosening rate regulation. The Progressive Conservative Party was returned…
Will telematics make territory-based rating a thing of the past?
July 24, 2018 by Greg MeckbachThe use of telematics in pricing auto insurance is going to become more “prevalent,” and a major property and casualty insurer is trying to use the technology to get a better idea of driver risk, speakers said during a recent…
Winter tire claims statistics took biggest insurer by surprise
July 22, 2018 by Greg MeckbachWhen Intact started giving discounts on auto insurance to people with winter tires, the result appeared to be counter-intuitive. Motorists insured by Intact who reported having winter tires installed “were having worse loss ratios” than those driving in the winter…
The Canadian insurer that will seek a rate decrease later this year
July 18, 2018 by Jason ContantOne Canadian public insurer is bucking the trend – seen across the country – of carriers asking to raise auto rates. Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) told Canadian Underwriter Tuesday that it plans to apply for a rate decrease later this…
Priority dispute in mechanic test-drive case could reach top court
June 27, 2018 by Greg MeckbachA priority dispute between Ontario auto insurers over who should pay accident benefits to a mechanic injured while test-driving a customer’s car could be headed to Canada’s highest court. Auto repair shop owner Jing Hua Fan was hurt in 2011…
Insurance lawyer questions whether LAT has ‘appearance’ of fairness
June 26, 2018 by Greg MeckbachAn anonymous letter about how an auto injury claim was handled by the Ontario License Appeal Tribunal raises “concerns” about the LAT decision-making process, an insurance lawyer warns. Anonymous evidence should generally not be given any weight in court proceedings,…
Intact reports ‘world of difference’ with telematics
June 20, 2018 by Greg MeckbachHard numbers showing the impact of telematics remain elusive, but Canada’s largest property and casualty insurer says the technology does separate the good risks from the bad. Telematics is a vehicle diagnosis technology that collects data such as distance travelled,…
The untapped potential of telematics in auto claims
June 12, 2018 by Greg MeckbachTelematics, which records data on vehicle behaviour, is used now mainly for underwriting, but the technology can also provide a treasure trove of information for claims adjusters, one vendor suggests. Auto insurance claims adjusters could potentially use telematics to determine…