Auto Insurance Rates Show Signs of Stabilizing
Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says it appears the state's auto insurance market is stabilizing as there's only been a two-percent average increase in rates this year. In 2017, auto insurance rates rose on average nearly nine-percent.
"Distracted driving has been driving rates up for the last several years and that effect is probably now embedded into our rate base and accounted for," said Donelon.
Donelon says State Farm, the state's largest auto insurance provider, has already announced a five-percent decrease in rates. He says companies are also offering discounts for good drivers.
The commissioner advises policy holders to ask their provider about a Usage Based Insurance Rate Discount.
"Up to 20% can be saved by demonstrating you are not a bad driver that you are a cautious driver," said Donelon.
Louisiana has some of the highest auto insurance rates in the country. Donelon says passage of the federal tax reform bill has also kept premium costs from jumping up even higher than they already are.
"And the recovering economy also allows companies to be more aggressive in competition with each other, which benefits their policyholders," said Donelon.
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