1999 US Auto Insurance Premiums By State
In 2001, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC)
released the study, “State Average Expenditures and Premiums
for Personal Automobile Insurance in 1999.” The study revealed
that Ohio’s average annual combined auto insurance premium
in 1999 was $646.34, making it $136.80 lower than the national average
of $783.14. According to the study, Ohio’s rate ranked 41st
in comparison to those of other states and the District of Columbia.
New Jersey drivers paid the most for auto insurance, while motorists
in Iowa paid the least (Click
here for "1999 Average Auto Insurance Premium Comparison by
State.")
The combined average premium is an approximate measure of the relative
cost of auto insurance for a combined package of liability and physical
damage coverages. It should be noted that a state’s average
auto premium is affected by such factors as the coverages, deductibles
and limits purchased; the types of vehicles insured; the distribution
of driver characteristics and the underlying rate structure. The
rate structure could include auto repair costs, medical costs, premium
taxes, cost of living, traffic conditions, the legal system, law
enforcement and other factors.
As emphasized in the study, caution should be used when interpreting
the numbers. The combined average insurance premiums are imperfect
measures of the relative “price” of insurance across states
because they are affected by outside factors, as indicated above.
For instance, a state’s average premium will be relatively
higher if its policyholders tend to purchase higher limits or insure
more expensive cars.
It’s important to understand why auto insurance premiums can
go up, even in the absence of a claim. For every $100 collected
in auto insurance premiums in Ohio in 2000, $77 was paid out in
claims (the national figure was $83). Click
here for “Where the Auto Insurance Premium Dollar Goes in Ohio
and US,” for 2000 national and Ohio figures.
A number of cost-saving suggestions can be found in the section,
“How to Save Money on Auto Insurance.”
* Indicates Ohio’s ranking compared to other
states and District of Columbia
** Combined Average Premium—the total of liability, collision
and comprehensive average premiums
Click here for
"1999 Average Auto Insurance Premium Comparison by State."
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Registering Americans to vote when they
apply for a driver’s license or buy license plates has
been as popular as “motor voter” supporters predicted.
A government survey shows that nearly 40% of voter registrations
in 1999 and 2000 were done at license bureaus.
(Canton Repository, 6/26/01) |
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