Chicago, IL (Aug. 14, 2023) – Most U.S. personal auto insurers continue to report underwriting losses despite sharper improvement in premium rates, with the first half of 2023 marked by continued unfavorable claims severity and higher catastrophe related losses, Fitch Ratings says. Future profit improvement will continue to be hindered by unusually high loss severity.
A review of mid-year personal auto segment results from public company GAAP filings reveals that for a group of nine insurers that report quarterly personal auto segment results, aggregate written premiums were up 10% from the prior year. The segment’s combined ratio (CR) moved down slightly to 100.4% from 101.3% in 1H22, attributable to a return to strong underwriting profit at GEICO.
GAAP Written Premium and GAAP Combined Ratios
1H23 Aggregate GAAP Written Premiums Rose 10.2% YoY
All other reviewed carriers reported weaker year-over-year CRs and Progressive Corporation (PGR) was the only other carrier to report a sub 100% CR. Carriers reporting an auto CR above 110% for the first half of 2023 include: Kemper Corporation, Horace Mann Educators Corporation and The Hartford Financial Services Group.
An inordinate number of convective storm events across the U.S. created substantial losses in the homeowners’ market, but also added incurred claims to auto writers. For this subject group, catastrophe losses were 2.0% of 1H23 earned premiums, compared to 0.9% in the year earlier period.
GEICO’s performance recovery efforts over the last 12 months included a 16% increase in average premium per policy, reductions in advertising expense, and a 14% reduction in policies in force, which contributed to conceding the second largest personal auto market position behind perennial leader State Farm to PGR.
All auto carriers are taking more aggressive pricing and underwriting actions in response to recent results. CPI data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that Motor Vehicle Insurance costs have increased by over 10% annualized for each month since September 2022, including a 17% jump in June 2023.
U.S. Motor Vehicle Insurance Cost Changes
Insurance Costs Were Up 16.9% YoY in June, the 10th Consecutive Month > 10% Growth
Personal auto loss severity patterns spiked beginning in 2H21 tied to higher general inflation, with higher costs in particular for auto parts and components, repairs, medical costs, and used vehicles. Higher litigation and settlement costs also contribute to rising claims severity. Major auto writers continued to report sharp severity increases in their latest earnings releases. PGR and Allstate Corporation each reported an 11% YTD increase in claims severity across all coverages. These more volatile, negative claims trends increase the likelihood of insurers reporting adverse development on personal auto loss reserves in the near term.
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