General

The dawn of electric vehicles: Transforming the landscape of auto insurance – Part 2

The growing popularity of EVs will have a significant effect on several sectors of the automobile industry. What implications does this sharp rise in EV sales have for vehicle insurance then? Let’s look at the rise of EVs and what its implications for customers and auto insurance in Part Two.

Comparing insurance expenses: Electric vehicles vs. Gas-powered vehicles

Annual premium estimates from Quadrant Information Services were gathered in order to obtain additional understanding of EV insurance rates and how they differ from gas-powered car costs. The calculations were made using a driver who was 35 years old, had a spotless driving record, and good credit. The figures show expected premiums for comprehensive, collision, and comprehensive coverage as well as minimum-liability insurance for full coverage auto insurance policies.

For instance, the 2022 Nissan Altima and 2022 Honda CR-V are gas-powered vehicles whose typical yearly insurance rates are $2,263 and $1,808, respectively. In contrast, the 2023 Tesla Model S and 2023 Nissan Leaf S are both electric cars that will cost a driver $4,762 and $2,374, respectively.

The average cost of insurance for electric automobiles is also typically higher, though this depends on the make, model, and year of the car. In 2023, the average annual cost of full-coverage auto insurance nationwide will be $2,024. The coverage costs of the electric cars on this list range from 10% to 135% more than the national average.

Strategies for electric vehicle owners to reduce car insurance expenses

EV drivers will save money on standard automobile ownership expenses by not having to pay for gas or oil changes, but they can also reduce the cost of insurance by utilizing local, state, and federal rebate programs.

For example, at the state level, low-income Californians may be eligible for more than $30,000 in incentives toward the purchase of a new EV, and Colorado offers up to $8,000 in rebates for people who buy or lease an electric car. Many states have utility providers that provide discounts and other incentives to customers who install specific EV charging stations in their homes.

Federal tax benefits are also offered to owners of specific EV brands and models. A tax credit of up to $7,500 is available under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act to individuals who buy an eligible electric vehicle (EV) with a battery capacity of at least seven kilowatt hours. The expiration date of this credit is December 2032.

Using the discounts on auto insurance that are offered by an insurer is a terrific method to save money in addition to credits and rebates. Many large insurance providers provide discounts to responsible drivers, multi-vehicle policyholders, and customers who combine auto and other policies. Lower premiums can also result from choosing a greater deductible, but doing so increases the amount of money drivers must pay out of pocket for repairs.

It will be more crucial than ever to compare auto insurance quotes from several companies because we anticipate some volatility in the price of electric vehicle insurance in the years to come. This is among the greatest ways for drivers of electric vehicles to locate coverage that meets their needs and is both inexpensive and of high quality.

The implications of electric vehicle (EV) growth on the insurance industry

With the rapid growth of the electric vehicle market, car insurance firms are already changing and there will definitely be more changes in the future. Insurance firms would likely need to change their underwriting methods and risk assessments to take into consideration the unique characteristics of EVs. Charge infrastructure, battery range, and the availability of authorized repair facilities are just a few of the variables that may affect premiums.

Elevated expenses associated with collision insurance

The costlier collision coverage will likely be the most noticeable impact EVs have on insurance. This kind of insurance covers the cost of repairs to your car in the event that you cause an accident.

Compared to traditional gas-powered cars, electric vehicles (EVs) require more expensive replacement parts and repairs. As was already established, this problem is even worse if an accident damages an electric vehicle’s battery. Insurance companies will have to control this risk by charging more for EV crash coverage.

Do you need extra insurance for home charging?

Another consideration for insurance providers is using a home charger for an electric car. For EVs, home charging involves two primary stages:

Level 1: Charge your electric car using the provided charger. Any standard 120V outlet can be used with it. Despite its convenience and ease of setup, level 1 charging requires more time than other charging techniques.

Level 2: You need to purchase individual chargers for your electric vehicle in order to employ this technique. Large equipment like laundry dryers require 240V outlets, which are also needed for level 2 charging. When compared to Level 1 charging, this method charges batteries three to seven times faster.

There are no further home modifications needed for Level 1 charging, which is a straightforward charging technique. Although adding a new 240V outlet is usually required for a Level 2 home-charging system, insurers do not require EV owners to get extra homeowners’ insurance. However, some insurance companies could require proof of the proper installation of the home charging equipment.

Enhanced training and fresh policies

As EVs become more and more common, auto insurance companies will need to adjust the way they operate. This is particularly valid in the case of assertions.

Additionally, there’s a strong likelihood that new categories of auto insurance plans will emerge to meet the needs of developing EVs. Insurance firms may develop new plans or increase coverage options tailored exclusively for EV owners as the market for electric vehicles grows, keeping a watch on the always changing trends in the electric car sector.

The EV revolution: Final thoughts

It is too early to tell how EVs will impact the auto insurance market. We do know, however, that as EV market share increases in the United States, insurers will need to modify coverage options and provide agents with the necessary training to manage EV-related claims with ease. Average premiums will probably level out as the market adjusts to the growing number of electric vehicles on the road, even if consumers are presently paying higher-than-average premiums to safeguard their electric cars and should continue to expect high expenses soon.

The dawn of electric vehicles: Transforming the landscape of auto insurance – Part 1

The era of electric vehicles is now formally upon us (EV). By 2022, there will be more than 10 million electric vehicles sold worldwide. By 2030, the International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that this number will almost triple. There are currently 3 million electric vehicles (EVs) on the road in the United States alone, and there are more than 130,000 public charging stations. These numbers are only expected to rise.

The growing popularity of EVs will have a significant effect on several sectors of the automobile industry. What implications does this sharp rise in EV sales have for vehicle insurance then? Let’s look at the rise of EVs and what its implications for customers and auto insurance in Part One.

The implications of electric vehicles’ ascendance for consumers

Beyond having reduced fuel expenses, electric vehicles (EVs) provide several other advantages to users, such as fewer moving components that can break down, no need for oil changes, and typically less wear and tear on brake systems than their gas-powered competitors. But EVs are also more expensive to insure than conventional combustion-engine cars because of their higher sticker prices.

What causes higher insurance costs for electric vehicles?

In addition to being more expensive than the majority of conventional cars, EVs also require more expensive maintenance and replacement parts. These are the two main causes of consumers’ increased EV auto insurance rates, according to Kelley Blue Book.

The average cost of a new electric vehicle was $58,940 in March 2023. This is over $10,000 more expensive than the $48,008 industry average for a new car at that time. Car insurance premiums are directly impacted by a vehicle’s MSRP; therefore, EV owners can expect to pay more for coverage.

Premiums for EV insurance are also significantly influenced by high repair expenses. An electric vehicle’s components are less likely to break down, but the ones that do cost a lot more to replace or repair. This is particularly true if the battery pack on an EV is harmed. According to Consumer Affairs, replacing an EV battery can cost anywhere from $4,500 to almost $18,000 on average.

Another issue facing EV owners is a lack of skilled repair facilities and experts. When it comes to repair alternatives, buyers will have fewer options and pay more because electric vehicle technicians need specific training. For EV drivers, the cost of insurance is increased by each of these considerations.

What should consumers anticipate regarding electric vehicle insurance expenses?

Repair prices and MSRPs will undoubtedly decline as electric vehicles proliferate and account for a growing portion of the automotive fleet; insurance costs will likewise inevitably decline in tandem. But EV insurance premiums will likely be more expensive in the near future than those for regular cars.

With over 14 years of experience dealing in personal lines insurance, registered insurance agent Nick Vitali discussed his thoughts on how a rise in EVs would impact consumers. While Vitali conceded that future insurance premiums will probably rise due to significant repair costs, he also highlighted several advantages for electric vehicle owners. He discussed how some insurance companies actually provide discounts or incentives for EV owners because electric vehicles (EVs) are more environmentally friendly and have less fire-related accidents.

Comparing repair expenses: Electric vehicles vs. conventional gas & hybrid cars

Here are some yearly repair cost estimates from RepairPal for more background. For instance, a gas-powered Toyota Corolla typically costs $362 to repair, whereas a hybrid Toyota Prius and a gas-powered Nissan Altima often cost $408 and $483, respectively.

In contrast, the average repair expenses of two electric vehicles, the Tesla Model S and the Nissan Leaf, are $1,047 and $748, respectively.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of the article, coming soon.

How a small group of firms is changing disaster insurance

As natural disasters like wildfires and storms become more severe, many insurance companies are limiting their coverage in certain areas or reducing what they’ll pay for repairs.

A lesser-known part of the financial industry, called reinsurance, is playing a crucial role in these changes. Reinsurance companies step in with large sums of money when disasters, like hurricanes or wildfires, cause widespread and expensive damage that regular insurance companies can’t handle on their own.

At the beginning of this year, almost all reinsurance companies raised their prices. This meant higher costs for insurance companies, including major national carriers like State Farm and Farmers, as well as smaller specialized firms. Negotiations between insurers and reinsurers, including companies like Swiss Re and Odyssey Re, have been tense.

Reinsurers have been losing money in recent years as they competed to offer the best deals to customers. However, last year, they decided that this kind of competition wasn’t worth the cost. The price increases in reinsurance have accelerated changes in an industry grappling with rising uncertainty due to global warming, more intense storms, increased costs of rebuilding after disasters, and higher global interest rates.

Insurance companies have paid out around $40 billion to U.S. customers this year, setting a record for yearly losses. This rising cost affects everyone, from the leaders of large companies to homeowners and small businesses.

Reinsurance prices increased by as much as 40% on January 1, leading insurers to make changes in their offerings. Some insurers stopped accepting new applications for certain policies, and reinsurers specialized in agriculture insurance pulled out of Iowa, where a severe windstorm caused significant damage three years ago.

As a result of higher reinsurance costs, insurers also increased prices where regulations allowed, especially for insuring new developments in places like Denver and Calgary, Alberta, where stick-frame housing is booming.

Severe thunderstorms in the United States have caused nearly 70% of the global losses from natural disasters this year. Experts predict that reinsurance prices will stay high for a significant period, and insurers might need to raise prices even where regulators resist such increases.

With reinsurers pulling back, some insurance companies are exploring alternatives to secure backup funds, such as catastrophe bonds, which let investors provide money for major-disaster losses in exchange for regular payments.

However, not all reinsurers are taking a step back. Recently, Berkshire Hathaway and Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, the state-run insurer in Florida, reached a $1 billion agreement. This is Citizens’ biggest coverage arrangement for traditional reinsurance with a single company to date.

Reinsurers may reenter the market in quest of profits, despite the opinion of some analysts that reinsurance rates could drop earlier than anticipated. This dynamic market means that insurance premiums and disaster coverage are continually changing.

Is reduced demand for upgrades in insurance inhibiting innovation?

The insurance industry has struggled to keep pace with innovation in other sectors

In comparison to other industries, the insurance sector has struggled to keep up due to low levels of innovation.

This is partially because consumers are less interested in insurance goods until an urgent need arises, and partly because providers must adhere to stringent risk and compliance regulations and use rigid legacy systems.

To make their product more relevant to clients, insurers have therefore had less need—and less ability—to innovate. As a result, many existing players have concentrated on solidifying their positions, making business expansion more challenging, expensive, and complex.

As a result, insurers are increasingly looking to collaborations with insurtech companies as the “magic solution” to quicken the insurance industry’s digital transition.

Customers may manage their insurance portfolio and submit a claim with the assistance of chatbots powered by AI, for instance.

When combined with behavioral data from smart watches or cars, the use of AI and machine learning technology can aid insurance carriers in the detection of fraud, support the development of new business models, and help customize plans and lower premiums.

The idea of “embedded insurance” is, nevertheless, possibly, the most significant trend and the strongest growth lever for insurance providers. This is not a brand-new business model; rather, it expands the reach of what we have come to refer to as “bancassurance” to new prospective retailers that sell goods or services to customers online.

When a consumer is making a transaction, embedded insurance allows suppliers to sell micro-insurance goods or services. A prime illustration of that is when you get travel insurance along with a ticket or vacation.

Because of this, integrated insurance must be digitalized, whether through online sales channels, e-commerce platforms, apps, standalone websites, or even at non-points of sale. And to accomplish this, most insurers must collaborate with insurtechs.

Legacy insurers can modernize by expediting innovation in the sector

There are many other ways for businesses to update their outdated platforms, and not all of them entail integrating with an insurtech’s platform.

There is no one technique that works for everyone, and the best course of action greatly depends on the current status of the organization’s strategic goals and the design of its systems.

Many businesses should start by prioritizing modernization and innovation and spending the necessary time and money to outline their strategies.

Implementing innovative working practices like Agile or DevOps, which will hasten innovation and the development and deployment of systems, is one such strategy.

Additionally, businesses may try to re-architect their systems using techniques like microservices, modularization, or containerization to increase agility while reducing complexity and interdependencies.

Companies may need to adopt an API-first strategy or migrate (or partially migrate) their old systems into the cloud if they wish to benefit from insurtech innovation. They might even decide to replace their legacy systems completely, which would be a huge move.

Companies may think about collaborating with an expert partner to assist them sort through the plan and determine the best course of action given the variety of possibilities, the potential cost, risk, and complexity involved.

Key factors to prioritize when modernizing legacy systems

When modernizing systems, there are several factors to consider. Among the crucial ones are:

Business impact: How does the current system affect the company’s present and long-term strategic goals? How well does the system satisfy customer needs, and what maintenance risks exist, such as downtime and security issues?

Cost-benefit evaluation: What are the costs associated with operating the current system, taking into account the cost of construction, upkeep, licenses, and the financial impact of unavailability? What are the expenses incurred by modernizing, as well as the financial gains in terms of spending, productivity, and client retention?

Technical debt and complexity: How much complexity has built up over the years, considering obsolete technologies, unsupported software, and intricate interdependencies? What effect do these have on technology integration, maintenance, and stability?

Interoperability and integration: How effectively does the current technology suit the needs for interoperability and integration with internal and external systems now and in the future? Can the system support contemporary APIs, data formats, and protocols? How well does it integrate with other technologies, such as cloud, mobile, and third-party systems?

Future scalability and innovation: To what extent is the system capable of supporting foreseeable expansion and innovation? Can it support cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, and can new features and functions be added quickly and easily thanks to the architecture’s support for modular upgrades and agile development?

Rising Momentum: Industries Heighten Emphasis on Digital Transformation in the Post-Pandemic Era

The Covid epidemic has had a huge impact on the insurance industry’s technological strategy, according to a new special report by AM Best.

However, the pandemic sharpened the industry’s focus on innovation, according to the rating agency. Property and casualty (P&C) insurers have traditionally concentrated on data.

Businesses can become even more data-driven through digitization, and predictive modeling gives insurers a competitive advantage as they work to set premiums that are in line with the actual underlying risk.

According to the AM Best research, “ultimately, Covid led to a sense of urgency for digital transformation.”

The industry’s perspective of what is feasible has changed in the wake of Covid, particularly for product categories like home and motor that are becoming more integrated with Internet of Things gadgets that monitor driving behavior and water leakage in houses.

According to AM Best, the requirement to adopt remote processes has given energy to boost insurers’ digital literacy and launch initiatives to update procedures and systems. These processes range from consumer engagement to claims assessment to remote personnel.

All insurance segments and lines of business are experiencing a transformation in their underwriting capabilities due to the explosion of data and increasingly sophisticated telematics. Particularly regarding small business and personal motor lines, this is the case.

According to AM Best, the more creative players are utilizing machine learning and data sources to improve underwriting capabilities by looking beyond normal automation.

In an effort to actualize a future in which the majority of policies go through straight-through processing, the most forward-thinking carriers are continually experimenting, according to AM Best.

Innovative insurers have also used data analytics to create more specialized goods and services for new risks, like the developing cyber insurance sector.

The reinsurance industry, according to the research, tops the industry in terms of innovation. Because they are one or more steps removed from the final policyholder, it is highlighted that they have had to grow in disciplines including enterprise management, portfolio development, and risk accumulation.

“This has become evident recently with the series of losses due to significant natural catastrophic storm activity, which has been exacerbated by secondary perils and heightened inflation,” AM Best says. 

To remain sustainable, significant, and prosperous, insurers have been forced to develop an inventive culture in response to the ongoing challenges posed by these high severity events and competitive pressures.

Shaping the Insurance Industry in 2024: Part Two – Evolving Technology Trends for Companies

In the property and liability insurance market, digital transformation has enhanced processes from quotation through coverage administration. As we move ahead to 2024, this digital transformation is accelerating with an omnichannel approach to customer service and other business-related issues.

In fact, insurers of all sizes are utilizing flexible, long-lasting solutions in order to preserve their competitiveness. For insurers looking to get the upper hand, here are five more cutting-edge technological trends here in Part Two.

6. Data from Social Media Platforms

The use of social media in the insurance sector is expanding beyond clever marketing campaigns. For P&C insurers, social media data mining is enhancing risk assessment, enhancing fraud detection capabilities, and enabling completely new customer experiences.

Consider the Dutch insurance provider Kroodle as an illustration. They conduct all their consumer interactions through social media. Customers log in using their Facebook credentials and then use a Facebook app to submit claims, seek estimates, and do other tasks.

Social media can be used by insurance technologies to investigate fraud. To spot such anomalies, insurers can examine insureds’ social lives and compare them to their claims histories. Insurtech Insights reports that between 2014 and 2021, the use of social media data for fraud detection more than doubled.

7. Connected Vehicle Technology

Telematics capabilities will continue to have an impact on auto policies. Consider telematics in the context of insurance technology as wearable technology for your vehicle. Nowadays, monitoring systems for cars are available. One example is Progressive’s Snapshot, which uses analytics software to monitor and process data on speed, location, accidents, and other factors to assist calculate your policy rate.

Telematics has many advantages for both insurers and insureds. In P&C insurance, telematics will:

1. Promote safe driving practices

2. Reduce insurance companies’ claim expenses 

3. Transform carrier customer interactions from reactive to proactive

8. Conversational AI Agents

Some predictions state that chatbots will fuel 95% of all client interactions by 2025.

Chatbots may smoothly communicate with clients using AI and machine learning, saving time for all parties involved in an organization and, eventually, money for insurance firms. To save human assistance for more complicated situations, a bot can guide a consumer through the application or claims procedure for a policy.

“Kate” is a virtual assistant from Geico that interacts with consumers by text or voice, providing 24/7 assistance with policy and coverage questions. Chatbot capabilities are anticipated to grow in 2023 and beyond as more insurance businesses invest in technologies like this.

9. Simplified Development with Low-Code

Today’s insurers must be able to effectively manage software platforms, roll out changes, and launch new products onto the market. Previously, this process needed an experienced developer or IT team, but recent developments in platforms for software-specific coding have made this process simpler than ever.

Business stakeholders, not only IT specialists, can update and manage apps and software with the use of low-code configuration tools that use a simple drag-and-drop interface. Insurers will be able to swiftly deploy new and innovative user interface (UI) features that clients need, in a fraction of the time typically needed, with only basic or even modest app and software knowledge.

The following are the main gains from low-code development:

1. Significantly faster time to market

2. Organization-wide app development on a large scale

3. The capacity to develop fundamental traits that can be enhanced; 4. Enabling staff to accept responsibility for their work/offerings

According to Statista, 29% of respondents believed that low-code development moves 40–60% more quickly than its conventional version. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that low-code solutions are quickly taking over as the preferred method for application development. This transition is so significant that according to Gartner research, by 2024, more than 65% of all app development efforts will be carried out using low-code approaches. That was a big jump, wouldn’t you say?

10. Drones

Insurance companies are taking to the skies, or at least their drones are. Carriers will employ unmanned drones as a technology tool in the insurance sector more frequently in 2023. They can be used at several stages of the insurance lifecycle, including gathering data to calculate risk before a policy is issued, helping with preventative maintenance, and assessing damage following a loss.

Farmers Insurance is a wonderful example of a company that employs Kespry drones to analyze risk and property damage. In addition to doing evaluations like roof inspections, these drones also upload their data to the cloud for analysis. Another instance of how the insurance industry combines IoT and other technologies is this one.

P&C insurers are always searching for the most cutting-edge developments in insurance technology. They are able to provide the experiences that customers desire in the modern market, which keeps them one step ahead of their competitors. Due to all the recent market advances, such as smart home technology, insurtechs, and microservices, 2023 and 2024 will be years to watch for advancements in insurance technology.

If you missed Part One, here are even more trends to get caught up on here.