Auto insurance companies aim to lower rates

By: North County Times wire services | Friday, September 22, 2006 7:35 PM PDT ∞

SAN DIEGO ---- Eight auto insurance companies filed applications to lower rates to comply with a state reform program, a move that could save San Diego motorists more than $28.5 million annually, it was announced Friday.

The eight companies are State Farm, Auto Club of Southern California, AAA of Northern California, Infinity Insurance, Wawanesa, Progressive, GEICO and USAA, according to the California Department of Insurance.

State Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi was in San Diego on Friday to tout the compliance with his "good driver reforms," which would make auto insurance companies base their rates primarily on a driver's safety record, rather than where they live.

"I commend these insurers for beginning the process of lowering rates, and I urge others to move quickly to ensure that consumers only pay the appropriate amount for their insurance," he said.

A Sacramento Superior Court judge in August rejected the insurance industry's request for an injunction against the reforms.

The applications are subject to review by the California Department of Insurance. If accepted, 577,291 motorists in California would save about $50 million annually on their auto insurance.

The reforms are part of Garamendi's attempt to implement 1988's voter-approved Proposition 103, which required insurance companies to base rates on driving record, mileage and experience, above other factors.

According to Garamendi, former Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quackenbush, however, permitted insurance companies to give other factors more weight in the setting of auto insurance rates, primarily ZIP codes.

Garamendi called the practice unfair because a driver who moved across the street, but into another ZIP code, could have to pay more for insurance.

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