Issue #27
Our survey shows how much "good" drivers and "higher risk" drivers will pay for a six month auto insurance policy, in five different areas of the state.
We invited 20 auto insurance companies to take part in our survey. The companies listed in our survey sell more than 85 percent of the auto insurance purchased in North Dakota.
THE AUTO INSURANCE COMPANIES INCLUDED IN THIS SURVEY WERE CHOSEN BASED ON THEIR VOLUME OF BUSINESS IN NORTH DAKOTA. BEING ON THIS LIST IS NOT A "RECOMMENDATION" BY THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE. YOU SHOULD NOT LIMIT YOUR SHOPPING TO THE COMPANIES ON OUR LIST.
Examples 1, 2, 3 and 4 are "good" drivers, who will be accepted by most low cost companies. They have excellent driving records, drive an average number of miles per year, and have "family type" cars. We list only the low cost companies that will insure these drivers.
Examples 5 and 6 also have "good" drivers, but have an additional youthful driver. For these examples, we list both the low and high cost companies that will accept these drivers.
Example 7 shows how much an elderly driver with a clean driving record will pay for insurance.
Examples 8, 9 and 10 have less than perfect driving records, drive a sports car or are younger, and they pay more for auto insurance. Only higher risk companies agreed to insure these drivers.
Insurance companies have different methods of rating each driver, so one company may have the lowest price for one of our examples, and yet be comparatively higher in another. Many factors, such as where you live, your age, gender, marital status, driving record, use of vehicle, discounts and surcharges, make and model of car can affect how much you pay for auto insurance. That's why it pays to shop around for auto insurance.
Understanding this survey
The prices shown in our survey are the amounts paid every six months as of Jan. 1, 2009. We describe important company differences that affect the quoted prices, at the bottom of this page. We would also like to caution that this survey represents the rates that were in effect as of a certain point in time. Since the publication of this survey, rates may have changed.
What the coverages mean
LIABILITY covers someone else's losses if you are legally responsible. BODILY INJURY covers sickness, injury or death of another person. PROPERTY DAMAGE covers damage, destruction or loss of use of another person's property. Our survey uses a "split limit" coverage, which provides separate limits for bodily injury and property damage.
PERSONAL INJURY PROTECTION (PIP) is a form of "no fault" insurance. PIP covers medical expenses, wage loss and other costs, no matter who caused the accident.
UNINSURED MOTORIST (UM) coverage will pay for a bodily injury claim that you sustain caused by a driver without insurance.
UNDERINSURED MOTORIST (UIM) coverage will pay for a bodily injury claim caused by a driver whose liability coverage is less than the amount of underinsured motorist coverage you carry.
COLLISION covers damage to your car caused by hitting something.
COMPREHENSIVE covers damage to your car if the loss isn't caused by a collision, but by other unforeseeable causes such as hail, wind, fire, etc.
Coverage limits examples 1 through 8
LIABILITY BODILY INJURY: $100,000 limit for injury to another person/$300,000 limit for injuries to all persons.
LIABILITY PROPERTY DAMAGE: $50,000 limit.
UNINSURED MOTORIST (UM) BODILY INJURY: $100,000 limit for injury to one person/ $300,000 limit for injuries to all persons.
UNDERINSURED MOTORIST (UIM) BODILY INJURY: Limits equal to the Uninsured Motorist limit.
PERSONAL INJURY PROTECTION (PIP): $30,000 limit.
COLLISION: $500 deductible.
COMPREHENSIVE: $250 deductible.
Coverage limits-examples 9 and 10
LIABILITY BODILY INJURY: $25,000 limit for injury to another person/$50,000 limit for injuries to all persons.
LIABILITY PROPERTY DAMAGE: $25,000 limit.
UNINSURED MOTORIST (UM) BODILY INJURY: $25,000 limit for injury to one person/ $50,000 limit for injuries to all persons.
UNDERINSURED MOTORIST (UIM) BODILY INJURY: Limits equal to the Uninsured Motorist limit.
PERSONAL INJURY PROTECTION (PIP): $30,000 limit.
COLLISION: $500 deductible.
COMPREHENSIVE: $250 deductible.
The following examples show each company's six month premium and include discounts for multi car and safe driver when appropriate.
Example #1:
Single male, age 25. Drives 2003 Ford F150 4X4 four miles each way to work, five days per week. Annual mileage=15,000. Clean driving record for three years and no other drivers in household.
Auto rates - Example 1
Example #2:
Single female, age 30. Drives 2004 Acura TL four miles each way to work, five days per week. Annual mileage=10,000. Clean driving record for three years and no other drivers in household.
Auto rates - Example 2
Example #3:
Married couple, both age 35. Husband drives 2004 Dodge Ram 4X4 Quad Cab to work 5 miles each way, five days per week. Annual mileage=12,000. Wife drives 2004 Ford Taurus Sedan to work two miles each way, five days per week. Annual mileage=7,000. Both have a clean record for last three years, and no other drivers in household.
Auto rates - Example 3
Example #4:
Married couple, both aged 65 and retired. Husband drives 2005 Ford F-150 Super Duty Extended Cab pickup. Annual mileage=10,000. Wife drives 2004 Buick LeSabre. Annual mileage=4,000. Both have clean records and there are no other drivers in household.
Auto rates - Example 4
Example #5:
Married couple ages 46 & 44 with youthful driver. Husband, age 46, drives 2003 Chevrolet Silverado pickup to work eight miles each way, five days per week. Annual mileage=15,000. Wife, age 44, drive 2003 Oldsmobile Silhoutte Minivan to work five miles each way, five days per week. Annual mileage=10,000. Youthful driver, male, age 16, is a junior in high school, is an A average student and drives the pickup on an occasional basis. All drivers have clean records.
Auto rates - Example 5
Example #6:
Single female, age 48 with youthful driver drives 2005 Buick Century to work three miles each way, five days per week. Annual mileage 18,000. Youthful driver, male, age 16, is a junior in high school, is an A average student and drives the car on an occasional basis. All drivers have clean records.
Auto rates - Example 6
Example #7:
Single female, age 72 drives 2004 Lincoln Town Car. Annual mileage=5,000. Clean driving record for three years.
Auto rates - Example 7
Example #8:
Married couple, both age 25, with two young children at home. Husband drives 2002 Toyota Camry 4 door sedan eight miles to work each way, five days per week. Annual mileage=12,000. Wife drives 2004 Ford Focus six miles to daycare and work each day, five days per week. Annual mileage=10,000. The husband had an accident one year ago, causing $2,000 damage to another party. The wife has a speeding ticket (45mph in a 35mph zone).
Auto rates - Example 8
Example #9:
Single male, age 21. Drives 2001 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am five miles each way to work, five days per week. Annual mileage=12,000. He has a speeding violation two years old (75mph in a 55 mph zone), a speeding violation one year old (45mph in a 25mph zone) and an "at fault" accident causing $4,500 damage to a third party six months ago. There are no other drivers in the household.
Auto rates - Example 9
Example #10:
Single male, age 40. Drives 2002 Cavalier 10 miles each way to work, five days per week. Annual mileage=15,000. Last month he was convicted of Driving Under the Influence (DUI). He needs to make an SR-22 filing to get his license back. There are no other drivers in the household.
Auto rates - Example 10
The automobile insurance "assigned risk" plan
Some drivers cannot buy insurance from the companies listed in our survey. If you cannot buy insurance in the open market from either a low cost or a high risk company, you may be eligible for the "assigned risk" plan. This plan was designed to make insurance available for any driver who wants to buy it, regardless of their driving record.
You are eligible for coverage through the assigned risk plan, if:
- You are a resident of North Dakota
- Your vehicle is registered in North Dakota
- You have a current valid North Dakota drivers license
- You have no unpaid automobile insurance premiums in the last 12 months
The cost of the auto insurance through the assigned risk plan is usually higher, but coverage is available for all drivers who meet the eligibility requirements. If you cannot get insurance on the open market, ask your agent or broker for assistance in contacting the North Dakota Auto Insurance Plan Office at:
North Dakota Automobile Insurance Plan
6900 Wedgewood Road, Suite 470
Maple Grove, MN 55311-3552
Phone: (877) 251 - 3200
Fax: (866) 339 - 9100
ndaip@aipso.com
www.aipso.com/nd
Important company differences
Amco Insurance Company
Applied multipolicy and financial stability discounts in examples 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 10. Financial stability discount is also used in examples 6 and 9.
American Family/American Standard
All examples assume the risk has excellent credit history. Rates for examples 1-8,10 reflect the Auto & Home Premium Advantage Discount.
Auto Club Insurance Association
All rating examples assume the insured has excellent credit history.
Center Mutual Insurance Company
Applied a Farm discount to territory 2 rates in examples 1- 8.
Farmers Insurance Exchange
Examples used the 30/60 package policy with a $240 deductible for Comprehensive coverage.
In example 5,6 and 8, the drivers are split between Farmers Insurance and Mid-Century.
Grinnell Mutual Reins Co.
Examples 1-8 assume excellent credit history.
Milbank Insurance Company
All rating examples assume neutral credit history.
National Farmers Union Insurance
All examples assume excellent credit history. Pro-active discount applied in all examples.
Nodak Mutual Insurance Company
Nodak files annual rates; the six month premiums quoted in the examples are arrived at by dividing the rates in half. Risks in examples 1-7 were assumed to have excellent credit history. Risk in examples 8, 9 and 10 were assumed to have neutral credit history. All risks rated on EFT payment plan.
North Star Mutual
All rating examples assume excellent credit history.
Progressive Direct
All rating examples assume excellent credit history.
Progressive Northwestern
All rating examples assume excellent credit history.
State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance
All rating examples assume excellent credit history. A multi-line discount is applied in examples 1 through 7. A multi-car discount is used in examples 3, 4 and 5.
State Farm Fire and Casualty Company
All rating examples assume excellent credit history. A multi-line discount is applied in examples 1 through 9. A multi-car discount is used in examples 3, 4, 5, 8 and 9.
USAA/USAA Casualty/USAA General Ind/Garrison Prop & Cas
For all rating examples, the city of Mandan is included in "Remainder of State."
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