New Coalition Seeks Reforms to Prevent Auto Insurance Crisis

Seeking to prevent an unprecedented statewide auto insurance capacity crisis precipitated by the deterioration of the auto insurance industry’s financial health in New Jersey, a new statewide organization today urged Trenton lawmakers to significantly reform New Jersey’s auto insurance laws and regulations to create a stable and competitive market.

The Coalition for Auto Insurance Competition, a New Jersey-based group open to businesses, associations and consumers, cited the state’s regulation of auto insurance as the culprit behind limited competition by discouraging insurance companies from doing business in New Jersey, setting the stage for a capital reserve shortage.

“We need a regulatory system that promotes competition, encourages companies to sell auto insurance in New Jersey, and creates a stable market that offers more choices for consumers,” said John Friedman, chairman of the Coalition for Auto Insurance Competition. “Four out of the six largest insurers in America already do not do business in New Jersey and when the state’s largest auto insurer completes withdrawal, that number will increase to five out of six.”

The latest figures show New Jersey has 47 percent fewer companies selling auto insurance than Illinois and more than a third fewer than neighboring New York and Pennsylvania. More than twenty auto insurance companies have left New Jersey in the past ten years.

“With comparatively few auto insurers remaining in New Jersey, the loss of the state’s largest will create significant pressure on companies’ capital reserves, straining their capacity to take on more policyholders,” said Friedman.

Capacity describes the volume of business an insurer can accept based on the size of its capital base surplus. Insurers must hold surpluses equal to at least one-third the premiums it collects from policyholders. If surpluses fall below the one-third standard, it signals that the company may be financially unstable. Companies with high financial ratings maintain their surplus at much higher levels.

“Having to operate under the state’s restrictive and difficult regulatory regime where insurers are told what products to sell, to whom they must sell to and how much to charge, companies will lack an incentive to remain and invest in New Jersey,” continued Friedman.

The group is calling for reforms that will attract more auto insurers to New Jersey, spurring competition and increasing consumer choice. These reforms include permitting companies to use industry-accepted standard underwriting methods already used in nearly every state and adjusting the low ceiling on company profits to permit a reasonable rate of return.

“It’s only natural to expect that consumers will shop around for the best deal if they have more choices. Competition and choice benefit consumers and when companies compete, consumers win,” said Friedman.

The Coalition for Auto Insurance Competition was formed by the auto insurance industry’s trade associations (American Insurance Association, Insurance Council of New Jersey, National Association of Independent Insurers) and member companies. The Coalition welcomes the participation of businesses, associations and consumers who seek to work together to bring about meaningful and responsible auto insurance reform in New Jersey. Other participants include the New Jersey Retail Merchants Association, New Jersey Food Council, Citizens for a Sound Economy, Independent Insurance Agents of New Jersey and the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies.

CONTACT: Winning Strategies, Newark

Ernie Landante, 973/242-5855

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