Ottawa, October 20, 2005 - The Consumers’ Association of Canada today released additional results of its national study on auto insurance rates.
This release provides a detailed comparison of rates between New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia and other provinces. The release includes reference to 3,985,162 rate quotes across 300 diverse rating groups representing the key variables that affect auto insurance rates such as age, gender, location, claims, vehicle and driving record.

“This is the largest independent study ever to have been conducted on auto insurance rates in Canada”, said Mr. Bruce Cran, President of the Consumers’ Association. “The study found that consumers in Halifax pay 100% more for their auto insurance than if they lived in Victoria, BC”, said Mr. Cran. “This is not only ridiculous but unacceptable to Nova Scotia consumers”.
The average auto insurance rate in Nova Scotia was $1,551 while it was $1,096 in Saskatchewan.

“Consumers in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Newfoundland are still paying too much for auto insurance in the face of massive profits by auto insurers”, said Mr. Cran. “Profits for auto insurers have skyrocketed with the direct assistance of provincial governments. These Governments have legislated reduced benefits by putting caps on payments to victims of crashes in the hope rates would come down. Rates haven’t come down while innocent victims of crashes are paying the price of industry putting billions of dollars of profits in its pockets”, said Mr. Cran.

Atlantic Canada now has the dubious distinction of having the worst auto insurance system in Canada. “Consumers pay high rates with poor benefits”, said Mr. Cran.

Contact: Mr. Bruce Cran, President, Consumers’ Association of Canada
Tel. (613) 291-7999