Premiums for Young and Old Drivers at Record Levels While Clock Ticks on Discount Rate Bombshell

LONDON, July 8 -- The Association of British Insurers issued the following news release:

Drivers in nearly all age groups are paying record amounts for their car insurance and could face further increases unless the Government takes action to reduce claims costs, the ABI warned today.

New figures show that between 2015 and 2016, all age groups except those under 21 - where the increasing use of telematics is keeping premiums under control - faced increases in their average premium. Those in their late 50's and late 80's faced the highest rises - nearly Pounds35 in the year.

Those aged 18-20 paid the highest average premiums last year at Pounds973, with those aged 66-70 paying the least at Pounds260.

These figures pre date the Government's decision to cut the personal injury Discount Rate which massively increases claims costs and will inevitably lead to higher premiums. Recent increases in Insurance Premium Tax will also have an impact on the cost of insurance.

Over 100 days since the Government dramatically cut the personal injury Discount Rate to -0.75percent from 2.5percent there has been no decisive action to address the issue. This is despite the Discount Rate costing the NHS Pounds1 billion a year and increasing insurance claims costs, making rises in premiums inevitable. At the time of the cut analysts PWC estimated this could see premiums rise by up by Pounds50 - Pounds75 on average, with young people facing the biggest increases.

ABI Director General, Huw Evans, said:

"With inflation on the rise, motor premiums at a record high and the public purse under pressure, it's concerning that the Government have yet to commit to delivering a fairer system for setting the personal injury Discount Rate. We're pleased the Government are going to bring forward a Civil Liability Bill to reform whiplash style personal injury compensation, but the benefits could be wiped out if they don't defuse the Discount Rate bombshell.

"At a time when politicians from all parties are calling for additional investment in public services, setting a Discount Rate that is fair for claimants, customers and taxpayers could contribute up to Pounds1bn a year to help fund this."

The most recent ABI motor premium tracker for Q1 this year shows the average premium paid at Pounds462, up by 8percent since Q1 2016 and adding an extra Pounds33 a year to the cost of insurance.

A number of insurers have already publicly confirmed that premiums have gone up as a result of the decision in February to cut the Discount Rate from 2.5percent to -0.75percent. The ABI has also warned that, with such huge cost increases, these initial premium rises are likely to be followed by further waves of increases that will take place between now and the beginning of next year.

This is because reinsurance renewals are due around now or at the beginning of 2018. Many insurers choose to reinsure against large risks, such as catastrophic personal injury claims, which means some of the impact of the recent change will so far have been absorbed by existing reinsurance contracts. But given the size of the Discount Rate cost impact, reinsurance premiums are likely to increase on renewal. This will add to insurer costs which will inevitably feed through to the premiums insurers have to charge customers.

Most reinsurance renewals will take place in January 2018; meaning the third wave of increases could well be the largest if a new rate has not been set by then.

Average motor insurance premiums by age band:

To view the table click here:(https://www.abi.org.uk/news/news-articles/2017/07/premiums-for-young-and-old-drivers-at-record-levels/)