My insurer has increased my insurance premium
Has your insurer significantly increased your insurance premium? Are you wondering about the rules regarding insurers increasing their rates and whether they have the right to increase premiums as they please? Let’s take a look at the question.
The insurer sets the rates
In Quebec, insurers set their own underwriting standards and rates. This is one of the main reasons why damage insurance agents and brokers ask you so many questions when writing or renewing your contract. It enables them to offer you the products that meet your needs, and also determine the level of risk you represent according to the insurer’s standards. This information is required to calculate your annual premium, which is based on the coverage you chose when initially purchasing or renewing your contract.
The insurer also makes the final decision on whether to insure you or not. If you do not meet its criteria, the insurer can simply refuse to insure you. The insurer can also decide to cancel or not renew your contract.
The insurer uses the total premiums paid by all of its clients to compensate those who make claims. Thus, even if you have not made a claim in quite some time and your situation has not really changed over the past year, your premium could still increase.
What to do in the event of an increase
Even though the insurer determines the annual premium it will charge you, here are a few tips to ensure that you pay a fair price for the coverage that you have chosen to meet your needs.
Reassess your deductible
Would you consider increasing your deductible, in other words, the amount you would have to pay in the event of a loss? Sometimes, increasing your deductible from $500 to $1,000 for certain types of coverage can positively impact your total premium. However, before making this decision, ensure that you will be able to absorb the cost of the deductible should a loss occur.
Analyse your coverage
Sit down with your damage insurance agent or broker to reassess your needs and review the coverage in your contract. For example, if your children have left home or if you no longer use your vehicle to go to work, you might be able to save on your insurance premiums.
Take a look at our automobile, home, condominium, business lines and business-lines automobile insurance renewal tools to help you better understand the issues.
Shop around!
Take some time to get quotes from other insurers or from your insurance broker. Compare prices on the various options, but be careful to make sure that the coverage, limits, exclusions and deductibles offered are equivalent.