Dissatisfaction with Auto Insurance

Transcription

1 Dissatisfaction with Auto Insurance Results Of A Public Opinion Poll On Auto Insurance November 5, 2003

2 Methodology Nationally representative survey of 1,017 Canadian adults, aged 1 and over. Conducted by telephone between October 20 and 27, 2003 Poll results accurate to within 3.2 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. All numbers rounded. More information on the methodology is available upon request.

3 Rising Premiums have Politicians and the Public Searching for Answers Auto insurance premiums hitting Canadians where it hurts; their wallets Dissatisfaction evident (particularly in provinces with private systems) Dissatisfaction/rising costs high enough to encourage support for changing system Private system increasing costs, low satisfaction 26% are satisfied (somewhat or very) with provincial system compared with 52% of those in a public system Public system not immune to dissatisfaction Quebec s mixed system receives highest satisfaction levels

4 Public Understanding of Auto Insurance Public expectations high 7% say premiums should not increase more than inflation for good drivers 75% say government should limit rate increases 72% say insurance companies are raising rates to increase profit though majority accept that various costs (e.g. of settling claims) are increasing Only 2% say that car accident victims with minor injuries should not be entitled to compensation However, 63% say higher premiums are caused by cost of settling personal injury lawsuits and 57% say there are more personal injury claims Body shops seen as charging insurance companies more for repairs 71% think that driving experience should be most important determinant of the cost of car insurance

5 Satisfaction with Provincial Car Insurance System Very satisfied Somewhat satisfied Somewhat dissatisfied Very dissatisfied Question Text: How satisfied are you with the car insurance system in your province? Are you?

6 Satisfaction by Type of Provincial System Dissatisfied Satisfied Private (n=564) Public (n=200)

7 Cost of Car Insurance Province Personally* Increased 69 Increased 63 Stayed the same 17 Stayed the same 25 Decreased 4 Decreased 9 Don't Know/Refused 10 Don't Know/Refused Question Text: Would you say that the cost of car insurance IN YOUR PROVINCE has increased, decreased or stayed the same over the past year? Now thinking about YOUR OWN car insurance, would you say that the cost of YOUR premiums has increased, decreased or stayed the same over the past year? *for those with car insurance

8 Switching Systems in Your Province To Private where Public Exists (n=200) To Public where Private Exists (n=563) 27 Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree 14 7 Don t know/refused Question Text: I would be in favour of switching to a PRIVATE/PUBLIC car insurance system in my province. Note: The Public systems include Manitoba, Sask, and B.C. Private systems are in place in the rest of Canada, except Quebec which has a mixed, public-private system of auto insurance (Quebec residents were not asked this question).

9 Compensation for Minor Injuries disagree, disagree somewhat, or disagree strongly Car accident victims who have minor injuries should not be entitled to compensation.

10 Premium Should Not Increase More than Inflation disagree, disagree somewhat, or disagree strongly If you have a clean driving record during the year, any increases to your insurance premiums should be limited to the rate of inflation.

11 Government Should Limit Rate Increases disagree, disagree somewhat, or disagree strongly The government should limit the amount of any increase to car insurance premiums.

12 Body Shops Charge More disagree, disagree somewhat, or disagree strongly Body shops charge more for repairs when they know that the cost will be claimed on an insurance policy.

13 Cause of Higher Premiums: Summary % Somewhat & Strongly Agree insurance companies want to increase their profits 72 the cost of settling personal injury lawsuits is rising there are more frivolous and fraudulent claims the cost of repairing vehicles is higher there are more personal injury claims there is a rising number of accidents the events of September 11 th cost the industry billions in payouts medical treatment is more expensive insurance companies have lost money in the stock market disagree, disagree somewhat, or disagree strongly Insurance companies have increased premiums because

14 Cause of Higher Premiums: More Accidents disagree, disagree somewhat, or disagree strongly Insurance companies have increased premiums because There is a rising number of accidents.

15 Cause of Higher Premiums: More Personal Injury Claims disagree, disagree somewhat, or disagree strongly Insurance companies have increased premiums because there are more personal injury claims.

16 Cause of Higher Premiums: Losses in the Stock Market disagree, disagree somewhat, or disagree strongly Insurance companies have increased premiums because insurance companies have lost money in the stock market.

17 Cause of Higher Premiums: Medical Treatment More Expensive disagree, disagree somewhat, or disagree strongly Insurance companies have increased premiums because medical treatment is more expensive.

18 Cause of Higher Premiums: Cost of Repairing Vehicles Rising disagree, disagree somewhat, or disagree strongly Insurance companies have increased premiums because the cost of repairing vehicles is higher.

19 Cause of Higher Premiums: More Profit disagree, disagree somewhat, or disagree strongly Insurance companies have increased premiums because insurance companies want to increase their profits.

20 Cause of Higher Premiums: More Fraudulent Claims disagree, disagree somewhat, or disagree strongly Insurance companies have increased premiums because there are more frivolous and fraudulent claims.

21 Cause of Higher Premiums: Cost of Settling Lawsuits is Rising disagree, disagree somewhat, or disagree strongly Insurance companies have increased premiums because the cost of settling personal injury lawsuits is rising.

22 Cause of Higher Premiums: 9/11 Cost to the Industry disagree, disagree somewhat, or disagree strongly Insurance companies have increased premiums because the events of September 11 th cost the industry billions in payouts.

23 Most Important Consideration in Cost Your driving experience 71 Your age Kind of car you drive How often you drive 7 Your gender 1 Don't know/refused Question Text: Which of the following should be the most important determinant of your car insurance rate?

24 is one of the largest and most experienced marketing and social research organizations in Canada. For more information : Richard Jenkins Corporate Director of Public Opinion Research rjenkins@nfocfgroup.com David Stark Public Affairs Director dstark@nfocfgroup.com