Ontario auto rates increase in 2008 Q1

Ontario auto rates are on the rise, according to data posted by the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO), the regulator of the province’s insurers.Rate applications approved for 2008 Q1 averaged +1.05%, based on the entire market, FSCO noted in an online bulletin.Rate changes approved in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 were -10.60%, -2.43%, -1.27% and +0.55%, respectively, for the entire market.In 2008 Q1, for the 43.37% of the market that had rate changes approved, the average rate change was +2.42%, when weighted by market share.Among the companies in Ontario with a market share of 1% or greater, here are the approved rate changes shown for each insurance company:

ING Insurance Company of Canada Rate Change: +2.02%Market share 7.73%

Pilot Insurance CompanyRate Change: +3.02%Market share: 6.14%

Economical Mutual Insurance CompanyRate Change: +3.10%Market share 5.76%

Co-operators General Insurance CompanyRate Change: -0.73%Market share 4.65%

Personal Insurance CompanyRate Change: +6.04%Market share 3.32%

Traders General Insurance Company of CanadaRate Change: +4.10%Market share 3.31%

Nordic Insurance Company of Canada, TheRate Change: +3.36%Market share 1.80%

Farm Mutual Reinsurance Plan Inc.Rate Change: No changeMarket share 1.63%

Scottish & York Insurance Company LimitedRate Change: +3.02%Market share 1.62%

COSECO Insurance CompanyRate Change: +2.90%Market share 1.31%

York Fire & Casualty Insurance CompanyRate Change: No changeMarket share 1.29%

The rate changes listed above represent the average rate change for each particular company. They do not necessarily reflect the impact of the rate change on individual consumers. The impact of a rate change on an individual consumer will vary depending on where the consumer lives, the type of car he or she is driving and other risk characteristics.