Red Deer drivers saved a lot on car insurance claims in 2020.
According to Hellosafe.ca, a comparison platform for insurance, there was an estimated 31 per cent decrease in car claims in Red Deer last year.
The company estimates that savings on payouts by the car insurance industry in Red Deer alone were close to $18 million, just behind Calgary and Edmonton.
Lacombe also saw an estimated 25 per cent decrease, with insurers saving close to $1.9 million.
Alexandre Desoutter, a spokesperson for the company said they believe that with fewer cars on the road, there are simply fewer accidents.
“With the restriction measures taken in the province almost all year long, many cars stayed in the garage, and the probabilities for accidents to happen shrank,” he said in a statement.
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Insurance claims dropped by nearly 32 per cent province-wide and the insurance industry saved nearly $745 million in 2020. Overall, in Alberta, there was a 28 per cent decrease in car accidents.
Hellosafe.ca also noted that big-time car insurance companies typically put aside two-third of premiums to cover accidents. With less accidents, that portion has been cut significantly, with one insurer saying it will save as much as half the funds it expected to pay out for personal injury claims in 2020.
“Indeed, customers are inevitably questioning why they continued to pay such high insurance premiums while they weren’t able to drive,” said Antoine Fruchard, insurance expert and CEO at Hellosafe.ca.
“It will be interesting to see if all the insurance companies will make refunds, and which forms will take those refunds. Competition on the market should increase in the coming months, and that means customers should benefit from a slight drop in car insurance premiums.”
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