Media Contact: Erin H. Klug Public Information Officer (602) 364-3471

For Immediate Release March 22, 2007

The Arizona Department of Insurance (ADOI) released the latest edition of its Automobile Insurance Premium Comparison to aid consumers with comparison shopping for auto insurance. The publication contains valuable information and price comparisons, including premium quotes from 75 insurance companies for a dozen different driver scenarios, including a driver who takes the bus to and from work every day.

In particular, this free booklet contains premium quotes for 12 hypothetical drivers ranging in age from 18 to 81, with varied driving records and vehicle use, residing in 10 different Arizona cities. The comparison highlights an advantage for those who significantly reduce the miles they drive:  on average, insurers offered a $94 discount for Phoenix residents who opted to take the bus to work—although carpooling or other alternate means of transportation could have the same benefit.

“At least 36 insurers offer discounts to their customers who significantly reduce their annual mileage by taking the bus to work every day,” said Christina Urias, Insurance Director. “There are more reasons than ever to give the bus a try— help reduce pollution, avoid the stress of traffic, and save money on your auto insurance!”

The vast differences in premium quotes in the table below illustrate how it “pays to shop around” for auto insurance. Consider this hypothetical applicant:

Married couple; age 42; each drives 15 miles each way to work, has a clean driving record for the last three years and a median (average) credit score; husband drives a 2004 Ford Explorer, 4X4, four-door, Sport Trac; wife drives a 2005 Ford Taurus SEL, four-door sedan, automatic. Coverages & Limits: Combined single limit liability of $40,000 or split limits of $15,000/$30,000 BI and $10,000 PD; medical payments of $5,000; UM and UIM Limits same as liability; $250 deductible comprehensive; $500 deductible collision.

Six month premium quotes for above applicant:

Phoenix (85053):        $585 to $4,216

Casa Grande (85222):  $621 to $3,563

Tucson (85719):        $576 to $3,660

Flagstaff (86001):           $485 to $3,841

Glendale (85301):       $692 to $3,798

Nogales (85621):           $500 to $4,733

Scottsdale (85257):  $611 to $3,280

Safford (85546):            $494 to $4,733

Mesa (85202):            $647 to $4,094

Yuma (85364):               $570 to $3,313

“One of the best ways to save money on your auto insurance is to shop around and take advantage of the competition between the 120+ auto insurance companies doing business in Arizona,” said Urias. “The Automobile Insurance Premium Comparison provides information that can help you make the best choice for your needs.”

The Automobile Insurance Premium Comparison offers other possible money saving tips:

• Raise your deductible
• Ask about all available discounts
• Keep your driving record clean
• Reduce the miles you drive
• Install certain anti-theft devices
• Improve your credit
• Drive “safe” vehicles
• Update coverages

How to Use the Automobile Insurance Premium Comparison

Find the hypothetical driver that most closely matches your circumstances and pick the city or zip code closest to your residence. While actual rates will depend on an applicant’s specific situation, the Automobile Insurance Premium Comparison will give you a good  idea  of  how different insurers price a policy for a similarly situated driver.

The publication also includes a summary and explanation of the different kinds of auto insurance coverage available.  Insurance policies are complex  legal  documents, often difficult to understand, and it is easier to compare insurance products when you are familiar with the various policy features. This publication can help.

The Automobile Insurance Premium  Comparison also provides ‘customer satisfaction’ information in the form of insurer complaint ratios,1 representing the total number of written complaints the  Department has  received for  each 1,000 policy exposures an insurer has in force in Arizona.

When switching insurers…

Call your insurance representative today to ask if you qualify for Arizona law limits an insurer’s ability to cancel or non-renew an auto insurance policy, however, consumers should be aware that purchasing a new auto insurance policy, or switching to a new insurance company, allows your new auto insurer to cancel the policy for any reason2 within the first 60 days after the new policy’s effective date.  Therefore, an accurate, comprehensive evaluation of coverage eligibility and premium rates is essential before making your decision.

To obtain free auto insurance publications, call or visit the Arizona Department of Insurance: (602) 364-2499, or (800) 325-2548 outside Phoenix, or www.id.state.az.us.

Call your insurance representative
today to ask if you qualify for
discounts!
If you ride the bus, check out the
condensed list of insurers that offer
reduced-mileage discounts at
http://phoenix.gov/PUBLICTRANSIT/index.html.

For more information about bus trip
planning, please visit
www.valleymetro.org.

1 Complaint data contained in this publication does not reflect the Department’s determination of the merits of each
complaint.
2 Regardless, insurers may not cancel because of the location of residence, age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin or
ancestry of an insured.