Letter: My auto insurance premiums are too high; I support the plan to fix it

While it is welcome news to see lawmakers in Albany talking about affordability and high costs in New York, Governor Hochul is taking action by reducing punishing auto insurance premiums in the state.

The plain fact is New Yorkers have the highest auto insurance rates in the country, paying $1,500 more a year than the national average. These rates continue to climb to unsustainable levels, with a 21% increase in the last three years. I have felt the impact of these costs firsthand in my own small business. As the owner of a local pizzeria, I depend on cars to deliver my products to customers, and on trucks to get the ingredients and supplies I need. Cars are not a luxury in our line of work, and this mandatory expense squeezes our bottom line, limits job growth and hours, and ultimately forces higher prices on our customers.

I salute Governor Hochul for trying to lower premiums for small businesses like mine and consumers. She has proposed comprehensive reforms to prevent fraud, and to curb New York's excessive and expensive lawsuit environment – no political fight for the faint of heart. These proposals seek to provide safer roads, fairer rules, and lower premiums for families and businesses like mine across the state. These reforms deserve the legislature's support.

Lawmakers need to approve these reforms soon because we need relief from auto insurance rates now. Similar proposals adopted in other states translated to premium reductions for policy holders. This out-of-control cost won't fix itself, and legislators should not settle for the status quo. Vested interests are fighting to kill these reforms, and Albany needs to know that small businesses like mine demand action. We all want and need lower auto insurance bills — and there's a robust plan to do that, so let's get it done.

Scott Hanlon

LaPorta's Pizzeria

Williamsville