The price of almost everything seems to be going up, and that includes car and homeowner's insurance, the AAA Ohio Auto Club warned.
“With more than 7% overall inflation in the U.S., the average homeowners and auto insurance claim costs have jumped as much as 30%,” Brad Oltmans, vice president of Insurance and financial services for AAA Ohio Auto Club, said in a statement. “As insurance carriers take on more costly claims, they spread that cost out across their customer base, and consumers see this in the form of higher premiums."
Auto insurance premiums in Ohio are already up about 5%, and homeowners insurance has jumped 10-15%, AAA Ohio, an independent insurance agency, said in a news release.
Part of the increase has been driven by a jump in raw material prices, the company said.
"This means the value of a vehicle and replacement costs for the home have also risen," the news release said. "Insurance carriers pass these higher costs on to their customers."
Discounts are available for vehicles with features such as a rear view camera or anti-theft system, the company said. Also, having auto and home coverage with the same carrier can reduce premiums, as can paying your yearly premium in full or through automatic withdrawal.
“Insurance companies have different rates for different customers,” said Oltmans. “They base an individual’s rate on that person’s risk. The best way to reduce your rate is to reduce your risk.”
