This article was written by Josh West on Aug 25, 2022.  The original blog post can be found here.

At ERIE, we don’t take the price you pay for car insurance lightly. Like most companies today, we’re facing increased costs of doing business. And we know that you are facing rising costs too, on everything from gasoline to breakfast cereal to housing.

And while a lot of factors go into what you pay – from vehicle safety ratings to your personal driving history – striking the balance between insurance premiums and the cost of doing business is key to any insurer’s ability to meet customer expectations and pay for claims.

For questions about your specific auto policy and rate, reach out to your ERIE agent. Generally speaking, though: Here are some of the biggest factors that may cause auto insurance premiums to increase in 2022:

  • Inflation: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose more than 7 percent compared to 2020 – the biggest increase in nearly 40 years. This means that on average, all of us are spending 7% more than we were a year ago for the same goods and services.
  • Vehicle parts: The inflation we were just talking about is even higher when it comes to vehicle parts, with those prices up by closer to 10%. (Historically, an increase of 2 to 3% year over year is more typical.)
  • Repair costs: Recent supply chain issues such as the car chip shortage and labor market pressures have driven up repair costs even more, by as much as 20% since 2020. Limited supplies and labor can also cause repairs to take longer, meaning customers are in rental vehicles longer—further driving up the cost of claims.
  • Vehicle prices: Prices for used vehicles jumped more than 27% in 2021, according to the auto industry analysts at Edmunds. New vehicle prices are up more than 14%.
  • Driving again (and faster): As driving returns to pre-pandemic levels, Americans are going faster than ever before. In a national survey commissioned by ERIE, 1 in 10 drivers admitted to driving at extreme speeds of 20 MPH or more over the speed limit.
  • Accidents: It should be no surprise based on all that fast driving, but auto accidents are getting more severe, too. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has reported a 12% surge in fatalities, the largest increase since reporting began in 1975.

With inflation on the rise, we understand if you’re feeling financial pressure in your household budget right now. That’s why we keep our founding purpose front and center when we make decisions affecting our customers:

“To provide our Policyholders with as near perfect protection, as near perfect service as is humanly possible and to do so at the lowest possible cost.”

This purpose has served us well for nearly 100 years and we hope our customers agree that it has worked out pretty well for them, too. ERIE is committed to rates that cover costs properly and that will maintain the financial strength needed to keep being there for customers, year after year.

HOW TO SAVE ON YOUR AUTO INSURANCE

While we want to do our best to explain what’s behind the increased costs you might see in your insurance bill these days, we also understand that doing that doesn’t put any more money in your pocket. So here are a few ideas that might.

  • Ask about pay plan discounts. Depending on which plan you choose, you can save up to 7% on your auto insurance.
  • Get a quote with the ERIE Rate Lock® feature1. With ERIE Rate Lock®, you will pay the same premium year after year – even if you have a claim. Your rates won’t change until you make certain changes to your auto insurance policy, such as adding or removing a vehicle or a driver from your policy, changing your address or where you usually park your car. (In New York, ask about ERIE Rate ProtectSM.)
  • Take a look at your deductibles. Consider a higher deductible to lower your auto insurance premium. Read our guide on how to choose a deductible.
  • Revisit your mileage. Are you working from home and driving less than before the pandemic? You may be eligible for a lower rate based on annual miles driven.
  • Bundle your coverage with ERIE. You can earn a multi-policy discount2 when you combine your ERIE auto, home (including renters) or qualifying life insurance policy. Learn more about how to bundle with ERIE.

Oh, and discounts? We’ve got ‘em. Get the details in our full list of auto insurance discounts.

REMEMBER: YOU AREN’T ALONE.

When you’re with ERIE, every car insurance policy comes with a knowledgeable agent in your area.Your agent is there to help you understand and navigate all the variables that impact your rates. Find a local insurance agent near you to understand what coverage you’re buying, why it matters and how it works.

1 Rates subject to change if you add or remove a vehicle, add or remove a driver, or change your address or the place you usually park your car.
ERIE Rate Lock® does not guarantee continued insurance coverage. Not available in all states. Insured must meet applicable underwriting guidelines.
Premium may change if you make a policy change. Refer to our disclaimer for more information.

2 All discounts are subject to eligibility criteria and applicable rates and rules at the time of purchase. Actual savings vary.
Life multi-policy discount is not available in conjunction with auto policies already taking advantage of ERIE Rate Lock®.
Erie Family Life insurance products are not available in New York. For additional information, contact your local ERIE agent.