
Auto insurance claims can be a hassle, but understanding the average statistics and trends can help you prepare and make informed decisions.
The average cost of an auto insurance claim is around $3,500, according to recent data.
Most claims are filed for damage to other people's vehicles, which accounted for 43% of all claims in 2020.
A whopping 75% of claims are settled within 10 days, showing that many insurance companies are efficient in processing claims.
However, some claims can take much longer to settle, with 12% taking over 30 days to resolve.
It's worth noting that the most common type of claim is for collision damage, which accounted for 35% of all claims in 2020.
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Factors Affecting Claims
The cost of car insurance claims can vary significantly depending on a few key factors. One major factor is the type of insurance you have, with comprehensive insurance covering more and often resulting in higher claims costs.
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Comprehensive insurance can cover theft and storm damage, making claims more expensive. Liability insurance, on the other hand, only covers damage you cause to others and their property, resulting in lower claims costs.
Your location can also impact the cost of claims, with cities having more traffic and people leading to more accidents and thefts, making claims more expensive.
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Driver's Record and Age
Your driving record can significantly impact the cost of claims. If you've had accidents or broken traffic rules before, your claims may cost more because you're considered a riskier driver.
A single accident can cost you hundreds annually in increased insurance rates. The national average increase in car insurance premiums after filing a single $2,000 claim was a staggering 41%.
Young drivers tend to have more accidents, so their claims may cost more. This is why young and novice drivers may face higher premiums.
Drivers in California are in an even more disadvantageous position, with a single $2,000 claim increasing premiums by an average of 86%. This is the highest average increase in the country.
Age also matters, with older, more experienced drivers tend to have cheaper claims because they are safer on the road.
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Location and Impact
Living in a big city can be expensive, and that includes your insurance premiums. If you reside in a city with a lot of traffic and people, there are more accidents and thefts, making claims more costly.
Cities with heavy traffic and a high population density tend to have higher claims costs. This can be attributed to the increased likelihood of accidents and thefts.
Bad weather can also drive up claims costs. If you live in an area prone to storms, your insurance premiums may be higher.
The five states with the lowest average premium increase are Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Oklahoma, and Mississippi. These states have seen average increases of 22%, 25%, 27%, 27%, and 28% respectively.
Claims
Claims can be a significant part of car insurance, and understanding how they work is crucial. The type of insurance you have plays a huge role in determining the cost of claims.
Comprehensive insurance, which covers a wide range of things like theft and storm damage, tends to have higher claim costs because it covers more. Liability insurance, on the other hand, which only covers damage you cause to others and their property, usually has lower claim costs because it covers less.
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In 2021, insurance customers filed the most collision claims, according to the latest data from the Insurance Services Office. Collision insurance pays for the insured's property damage, whether they caused it.
Here are the most common types of claims filed in 2021, along with their frequency and severity:
These numbers show that bodily injury claims were the most severe, with the highest number of incurred losses per claim.
Types of Claims and Expenses
Liability coverage, which includes bodily injury and property damage coverage, accounts for the bulk of most people's premiums, making up a significant portion of their car insurance costs.
The average annual cost of liability coverage in the US is around $613, which is more than the combined cost of collision and comprehensive coverage.
According to the Insurance Services Office, collision claims are the most common type of claim filed, making up 4.2% of all claims in 2021. This is followed closely by comprehensive claims, which made up 3.15% of all claims that year.
Here's a breakdown of the average annual cost of different types of car insurance coverage:
Bodily injury claims, on the other hand, are the most severe claims, with an average severity of $22,734 per claim in 2021. This is significantly higher than the average severity of property damage claims, which was around $5,314 per claim that year.
Out-of-Pocket Expenses
Out-of-pocket expenses can be a significant burden after dealing with a car insurance claim. You might have to pay your deductible, which is the amount you agreed to when you got your insurance.
The average annual cost of car insurance in the US is broken down into different coverage types, with liability coverage being the most expensive, costing around $613 per year. However, even after paying the deductible, there may be other expenses that your insurance does not cover.
These out-of-pocket expenses can add up quickly, especially if your policy doesn't cover a specific type of damage or if the repair costs are higher than what your policy covers. You might have to pay for a rental car, immediate medical or car repair costs from your own pocket.
Here are some examples of out-of-pocket expenses you might incur:
It's essential to understand these expenses to make smart choices when dealing with a car insurance claim.
Types of Claims
Liability coverage accounts for the bulk of most people's premiums, with an average annual cost of $613. This type of coverage is required in most states and includes bodily injury and property damage coverage.
Collision insurance pays for the insured's property damage, whether they caused it. In 2021, insurance customers filed collision claims the most, with a claim frequency of 4.2 times 100 earned exposures.
Bodily injury claims, on the other hand, had the highest number of incurred losses per claim, with a claim severity of $22,734 in 2021. Property damage claims had a lower claim severity of $5,314.
Here's a breakdown of the most common types of claims filed in 2021:
By Gender
Men generally have higher insurance rates because they are more likely to get into accidents and file claims than women.
Research shows that men are more prone to reckless behavior behind the wheel, which increases their risk of being involved in an accident.
This is not to say that all men are reckless drivers, but the statistics are clear: men are more likely to get into accidents than women.
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Claims Statistics
Auto insurance claims can be a significant expense for many drivers. In 2021, the most common type of claim filed was a collision claim.
According to the Insurance Services Office, a subsidiary of Verisk Analytics, collision insurance pays for property damage caused by the insured. In 2021, collision claims made up 4.2% of all claims filed.
The severity of claims can vary greatly, with bodily injury claims being the most severe. These claims had an average severity of $22,734 in 2021.
Here are the top types of claims filed in 2021, along with their frequency and severity:
Bodily injury claims had the highest number of incurred losses per claim, making them the most severe type of claim in 2021.
Losses and Ratios
Bodily injury claims had the highest loss ratio of 77 in 2019, meaning companies lost 77 percent of their bodily injury premium earnings.
Loss ratios are incurred losses times 100, divided by earned premiums. This means that for every dollar earned in premium, companies lost 77 cents on bodily injury claims in 2019.
The loss ratio for bodily injury liability remained steady at 77 from 2017 to 2019. This suggests that the frequency and cost of bodily injury claims did not change significantly over this period.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage had the best loss ratio of 5 for 2017-2019. This is likely because these types of claims are much less common than regular liability claims.
Here's a breakdown of the loss ratios for different types of car insurance coverage from 2017 to 2019:
This table shows that bodily injury liability had the highest loss ratio, while uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage had the lowest loss ratio for all three years.
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Claim Frequency
The average driver makes an accident claim once every 18 years. This is a reassuring statistic, especially considering the average loss per claim is a whopping $4,100.
Car insurance claims totaled over $170 million in the US each year, which is a staggering amount of money. Breaking it down, the average loss per claim is $4,100.
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To put this into perspective, the cost of a used 10-year-old sedan is roughly $4,100. This is a significant amount of money, but it's worth noting that the average driver doesn't make a claim that often.
Here's a breakdown of the claim frequency for different types of claims:
The most frequent claim type in 2021 was collision, with a frequency of 4.2. This is a higher frequency than property damage claims, which had a frequency of 2.28.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my car insurance go up if I file a claim?
Filing a car insurance claim may temporarily increase your rate for 3-5 years, but the impact varies depending on individual circumstances. Check your policy and consult with your insurer for more information on how a claim could affect your premium.
Sources
- https://content.naic.org/article/naic-releases-2020-2021-auto-insurance-database-report
- https://www.freeway.com/blog/auto-insurance/the-real-cumulative-cost-of-an-auto-insurance-claim/
- https://www.autoinsurance.com/research/auto-insurance-statistics-facts/
- https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/guides/the-top-10-most-expensive-states-for-car-insurance-486233.aspx
- https://www.finder.com/car-insurance/car-insurance-stats
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