(June 24, 2022) The Automobile Insurance Rate Board (AIRB) is starting the 2023 Annual Review process for private passenger and commercial vehicles. This review analyzes industry loss experience as of December 31, 2022 for private passenger and commercial vehicles to establish industry benchmarks. These benchmarks are used to review insurance companies’ rate filings for basic and additional coverage, effective October 1, 2023.

Annually, the AIRB requests its consulting actuary, Oliver, Wyman Limited, to complete a preliminary Review of Industry Experience, as of December 31, for private passenger and commercial vehicles once the data is available.

The AIRB reviews the preliminary report and consults with interested stakeholders, providing them with a timeline of important dates should they wish to provide input by written submission to the AIRB. The AIRB’s consulting actuary will review all comments received, update their report based on any new information provided by stakeholders, and submit a final report to the AIRB. The AIRB will review and approve the final report, and inform all stakeholders providing industry benchmarks used in its review of insurance companies’ rate filings, effective October 1.

Stakeholders are invited to participate in the annual review of private passenger and commercial vehicles. Refer to the Notices below for information and dates on participation in this process.

(January 4, 2023) The Automobile Insurance Rate Board (AIRB) launched the the Rating Profile Submissions Module in the Collection and Reporting System (CARS), increasing insurer accountability and enabling the direct entry of premiums for each rating profile, as required based on filing type. The security of the filing process is enhanced with CARS replacing email as the method of submitting premiums for rating profiles.

Rating profiles are used in the AIRB’s Rate Comparison Tool, a valued resource for Alberta drivers seeking to shop the market for auto insurance. Albertans can see premiums for ten profiles for private passenger vehicle, and profiles for commercial and miscellaneous vehicles all profiles are shown on a number of different postal codes across the province.
Refer to Notice 01-2023 for more information.

(September 30, 2022) The AIRB is announcing the following:

  1. Updates to the industry benchmarks for private passenger and commercial vehicles, taking effect October 1, 2022;
  2. Updates to the Grid Rating Program (Grid) rate change decision, taking effect January 1, 2023;
  3. Publishing the 2022 Annual Review Report; and
  4. Publishing the 2022 Market and Trends Report.

 

The 2022 Annual Review Report establishes auto insurance industry benchmarks used for reviewing insurance rates for private passenger and commercial vehicles. The AIRB bases its industry benchmarks on aggregated insurance industry data. We use the benchmarks when insurance companies do not have sufficient data to support the reasonableness of their rate filings.

 

The AIRB may adjust the Grid base premium on or before October 1 each year, following Schedule 3, section 3(1) of the Automobile Insurance Premiums Regulation, based on our analysis and considering the information received during the Annual Review.

 

For more information on updates to the industry benchmarks, refer to the Bulletin 05-2022, Bulletin 06-2022, the Industry Benchmarks webpage, and the 2022 Annual Review webpage.

 

For more information on the updates to the Grid rate change decision, refer to Bulletin 07-2022, Order 01-2022, and the Grid Guidance webpage.

 

For information about the 2022 Annual Review Report, refer to the 2022 Annual Review webpage.

 

For information about the 2022 Market and Trends Report, refer to the Market and Trends webpage.

(July 11, 2022) The Automobile Insurance Rate Board (AIRB) launched the new web-based Collection and Reporting System (CARS), intending to improve efficiency, transparency, accountability, and security by having all aspects of filings on one platform for auto insurance companies.

CARS will enhance efficiency because:

  • AIRB staff and insurance companies will not duplicate efforts when submitting and processing automobile insurance rate filings or paying cost recoveries.
  • All aspects of filings will now be on one online platform.
  • The process for collecting and reporting automobile rating program filing information will be more automated.
  • Insurance companies will be able to pay for cost recovery invoices online, should they choose, reducing paperwork.

With the new CARS website, insurance companies will see better transparency and accountability of their filings as they can track and see the present status of their submission.

The security of the filing process will be enhanced as all users of the CARS website will be required to register and sign in using the MyAlberta Digital ID for Business, replacing email as the method of submitting filing materials.

To ensure a smooth transition to this new platform, all insurance companies must submit the CARS Contact Submission Form to ensure all required staff can obtain access to CARS. Once the AIRB has received your contact submission, users can request a MyAlberta Digital ID, and access the CARS website.

Find CARS resources below, such as Notice 05-2022,  the CARS Contact Submission Form, and a link to the CARS website.

(June 24, 2022) The Automobile Insurance Rate Board (AIRB) is starting the 2022 Annual Review process for private passenger and commercial vehicles. This review analyzes industry loss experience as of December 31, 2021 for private passenger and commercial vehicles to establish industry benchmarks. These benchmarks are used to review insurance companies’ rate filings for basic and additional coverage, effective October 1, 2022.

Annually, the AIRB requests its consulting actuary, Oliver, Wyman Limited, to complete a preliminary draft Review of Industry Experience (report), as of December 31, for private passenger and commercial vehicles once the data is available.

The AIRB reviews the draft report and consults with interested stakeholders, providing them with a timeline of important dates should they wish to provide input by written submission to the AIRB.

The AIRB’s consulting actuary will review all comments received, update their report based on any new information provided by stakeholders, and submit a final report to the AIRB. The AIRB will review and approve the final report, and inform all stakeholders providing industry benchmarks used in its review of insurance companies’ rate filings, effective October 1.

Stakeholders are invited to participate in the annual review of private passenger and commercial vehicles. Interested parties can make a written submission to the AIRB on issues related to the Annual Review.

Written submissions must be received by Friday, August 5, 2022. These submissions will then be posted to the AIRB website on Thursday, August 18, 2022.

Stakeholders are invited to review the AIRB consulting actuary’s Preliminary Review of Industry Experience for private passenger and commercial vehicles posted on the AIRB’s website. Those wishing to comment on the consulting actuary’s report may send written submissions by Email to [email protected] no later than the dates outlined below.

The AIRB is interested in hearing any information related to the AIRB’s consulting actuary’s Preliminary Review of Industry Experience for private passenger and commercial vehicles, other AIRB benchmarks, and comments related to early indications on the impact of the reforms and inflation on loss trends.

Important Dates
  1. June 24, 2022 – The AIRB Preliminary Review of Industry Experience for private passenger and commercial vehicles is posted on the AIRB website.
  2. August 5, 2022 – Deadline for written submissions from stakeholders.
  3. August 18, 2022 – Stakeholder written submissions posted on the AIRB website.
  4. September 30, 2022 – The AIRB’s final Review of Industry Experience and Industry Benchmarks for private passenger and commercial vehicles is posted on the AIRB website.