Californians Got Overcharged $5 Billion in Car Insurance During the Pandemic
Andrew Koole
· 3 min read
Because of stay-at-home policies and restrictions on indoor activities, people drove far less than usual during the COVID-19 lockdown. Less driving meant fewer
car accidents and insurance
claims, but that didn’t stop providers from collecting pre-pandemic premiums.According to
Consumer Watchdog
, insurance companies doing business in California held onto about $5.5 billion more in 2020 than they did the previous year, thanks to the significant drop in claims. This would be shrugged off as just another consequence of the pandemic except for a
California law
that caps the profitability of insurance companies in the state. The average net worth of insurance companies was twice the amount allowed.
How does the California insurance law work?
Proposition 103, a law dating back to 1988, requires insurance companies to get prior approval before setting their rates. If their rates exceed the approved amount, they must refund the overcharges.
California State Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara began issuing bulletins already in April 2020, requiring insurance companies to refund consumers.
But Consumer Watchdog’s study shows that because the insurers were allowed to calculate what they owe themselves, the top 15 providers have only paid back $1.9 billion, less than half of what they owe.
State Farm, for example, reported a loss ratio that was 22.1% lower in 2020 compared to 2019, causing an overcharged of about $1.2 billion in 2020. But Consumer Watchdog says the company has only returned $613.4 million to consumers.
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Were other states also overcharged?
California isn’t the only state regulating insurance companies. Other states are running into similar problems with getting providers to comply with the rules.
Forbes
says the Massachusetts
Division of Insurance took action in March 2021, telling insurance companies that the regulatory agency expects them to submit rate data about claims and expenses during the pandemic by June 30.And in
Nevada
, 10 of the country’s largest insurance companies were named in a class-action lawsuit claiming they overcharged consumers living in the state during the pandemic. Like California, Nevada law prohibits insurers from charging excessive rates.How to save money on car insurance
MORE: 7 Secret Ways to Save Money on Car Insurance
You might not be able to do much to get your car insurance overcharges refunded, but there are plenty of other ways to lower the cost of your coverage.
Improving your credit score and the amount you drive can affect your rates, but changing these things might require significant adjustments to your lifestyle. The best thing to focus on for quick savings is how you buy your insurance.
Paying upfront, raising your deductible, and bundling your coverages will save you money, but the best way to find
cheap car insurance
is to shop around for the best quote with Jerry
.Jerry is your ultra-talented car insurance broker for life. No need to sit across from him at a desk—Jerry is an app! It takes less than a minute to sign up and you’ll be presented with competitive rates from up to 50 top providers. Don’t lose coverage, find savings with Jerry.
