The United Kingdom’s car insurance premiums rose by an average of 8% in 2017. The amount owners are paying to keep their vehicles property insured has risen by £60 over the last 12 months, with expectations of premiums continuing to rise in 2018.
Average policies have risen to £827 for comprehensive coverage. Experts suggest this number will rise to over £900 by the end of 2018.
The rise in premiums occurred during the first three quarters of 2017. Rates fell by 1.3% in the final quarter of the year. Prices rose by 0.4% in December, with industry experts suggesting that the Ogden rate drop will further impact insurance rates. Reinsurance rate increases are also expected.
The figure does not mention commercial auto insurance, which is routinely higher than normal insurance rates.
London’s auto insurance premiums skyrocketed last year, up 33% with average premiums swelling to £1,599. East London saw a slight reprieve in their insurance rates, which fell a modest 0.8% during the same 12-month period. Costs East of England rose by £56 on average last year.
Cambridge News reports that insurance prices rose £3 in December. UK motorists are also paying more for petrol, which rose 0.5p in the last week alone. Diesel prices grew 0.7p in the past week. Industry experts expect insurance premiums to break records of £858. Record high insurance rates haven’t been seen since 2011 and will be surpassed in 2018.
Consistent price increases over the past two years have amounted to a 23% rise in insurance premiums.
Ogden rate changes, announced last year, have been delayed, causing a greater level of uncertainty in the industry. Price volatility is expected to continue into the first quarter of the year as the changes to the discount rate are delayed.
Insurance premiums are under pressure from a variety of factors in 2018 aside from the Ogden rate. Brexit negotiations are a key focus in the industry. Negotiations are expected to push a new liability bill to the wayside, which may further delay any changes to the discount rate.
Insurance premium taxes may also be adjusted upward, putting further strain on motorists this year.
The United Kingdom isn’t the only country where insurance rates are rising. The Chicago Tribune reports that car insurance rates in the United States are also expected to rise. The report suggests that the rise has nothing to do with driver records, as even drivers with spotless records are experiencing rate increases.
The consumer price index suggests that auto insurance rates rose 21.5% between 2012 and 2017, marking the sharpest increase in rates since the 90s.
Insurance providers suggest that the rise in premiums has to do with injury claim payouts on the rise. Comprehensive claims rose 25% last year and collision claims also rose by 11%. Hurricane Harvey also resulted in more than 250,000 insured vehicles being damaged in flood waters.
The result of the flooding is expected to contribute to further hikes in insurance policies in 2018. Advanced safety features have also led to higher repair costs, with even the cost of bumper repairs rising from $1,225 in 2014 to $2,818 in 2017.