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Question 1 of 17 in How Rates Are Determined |
In general, What affects insurance company premiums? |
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The key factor in setting car insurance rates is the expense of paying for accidents and the costs associated with settling them. Other expenses relate to marketing the insurance (agent and broker salaries, commissions, expenses, and advertising), and general overhead (management and staff salaries and offices expenses). Expenses are partially offset by investment earnings on the premium dollars that have been received from customers but not yet spent.
Car insurance underwriting results usually follow a cycle that lasts several years. They tend to have a number of good years followed by a few bad years and then back to some good years. If investment earnings are good, they may offset expenses and losses in underwriting. Companies prefer to have surpluses beyond underwriting and expenses so that investment earnings can build profits. Many states also require insurance companies to have minimum cash reserves, which can effect premiums. |
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