Apr 3, 2008

Why Auto Insurance Is So Expensive?

Why Auto Insurance Is So Expensive?
by Aiden Matthew Wilson

When people complain about auto insurance, they usually are convinced that their insurance company is charging huge premiums and then not covering any claims. You may be surprised that the real problem isn't the insurance companies, but people who try to scam the companies.

It does seem, sometimes, that insurance companies charge very high premiums, and their decision to pay and how much can be a little confusing. The truth is, their prices and procedures are set up to catch swindlers and prevent even more losses than they already sustain. Your insurance is expensive because people cheat. Want to know how? Keep reading.

Car parts are only intended to last so long. Wouldn't it be nice if you could get a new engine or drive train just when the old one was wearing out? Some people do by conveniently having an accident at just the right time.

People are willing to do even more outrageous things, though. For example, a driver will get into a low-speed accident on purpose, just so they can file for thousands of dollars in medical costs. Sometimes they can even get a civil court judgment, too. In reality, the accident was entirely planned and they're not hurt at all.

They may even convince accomplices to ride in the car with them for the collision, so that these people can file claims and suits as well. The accomplices get a certain percentage, and give the remaining money to the "mastermind" of the scam.

Probably the most common example of fraud, though, is the person who gets into a minor accident and doesn't want parts just repaired, but actually replaced. They'll do some extra damage to the car to make sure repair isn't possible.

The last form of fraud we'll cover isn't perpetrated by the car owner at all, but the body shop that works on the car. They will quote a price much higher than what it would take to repair the car, assuming that no one will care enough to check into it.

With all of this going on, insurance companies have to protect their interests. They do so in several ways. First, policies have deductibles. The rationale is that if the driver knows they will have to pay some of the costs, they will be less inclined to make a claim. The second way they combat fraud is to raise rates after an accident. Again, if a person knows they're going to have to pay more for their insurance after an accident, they may be less likely to try a scheme like the ones above. Finally, if all else fails, fraud is a crime, and they can prosecute.

That there are so many different kind of fraud, and so many people willing to commit fraud is amazing to me. It is so sad that people don't care about the consequences to other people, just to make some easy money for themselves. It's not fair that we have to pay for this abuse, but we do. Your high premiums and deductibles are a way to make back the money lost to fraud.