By Lewis Nibbelin, Analysis Author, Triple-I
New Yorkers pay the fourth-highest private auto expenditures in america, costing households a mean of $1,935 in 2024, or 2.23 p.c of the state’s median family revenue, in accordance with Triple-I’s newest Affordability Outlook.
Up from New York’s common of $1,753 in 2023, Triple-I’s estimates mirror the burgeoning toll of a number of expenditure value drivers within the Empire State, lots of that are structural components past the insurance coverage trade. Citing information from the Insurance coverage Analysis Council (IRC) – like Triple-I, an affiliate of The Institutes – the report highlights 4 value drivers that rank among the many highest within the nation, together with:
- Restore prices: New York has the third-highest auto repairs prices in america, at $864 greater than the nationwide common;
- Provider expense index: New York has the third-highest service expense index for private auto insurance coverage, at 14.9 p.c of losses;
- Damage declare prices: New York has the third-highest common harm declare severity within the nation, at greater than twice the nationwide common; and
- Accident frequency: New York has the eighth-highest common frequency of non-public auto accidents within the nation, at 3.09 accidents.
Whereas visitors density, street circumstances, and driver schooling can contribute to accident frequency and severity, extreme and fraudulent claims litigation additionally gasoline rising auto insurance coverage premiums and general prices within the state. Wiping out billions of {dollars} in U.S. financial exercise yearly, authorized system abuse prices New York residents 427,794 jobs and $7,027 for every family per 12 months, incomes the state a recurring spot on the American Tort Reform Basis’s listing of “judicial hellholes.”
A surge in staged crashes underpins these figures, leaving drivers more and more weak to fraudulent injury or harm claims. Such incidents – totaling 1,729 in New York in 2023 – preserve upward stress on auto charges for all policyholders, inflating common auto premium by as a lot as $300 per 12 months, Triple-I estimates.
To alleviate these value burdens, a bundle of state funds proposals was lately unveiled to safe $2 million in funding for investigations into alleged auto fraud and introduce new rules that reach the timeframe for carriers to report suspicious claims. One other regulation would cap ache and struggling damages awarded to drivers who engaged in prison habits, equivalent to those that have been uninsured on the time of the incident.
New York policymakers additionally handed laws final month geared toward third-party litigation funding (TPLF), or funding from typically nameless buyers who can delay immediate settlements in trade for a share of bigger injury awards, thereby propelling claims prices. Although falling in need of mandating TPLF disclosure throughout litigation, the brand new regulation parallels efficient tort reforms in different states, providing hope towards insurance coverage market stability.
Owners insurance coverage holds regular
Conversely, New York’s owners insurance coverage premiums “are comparatively common and affordable as a share of family revenue,” contradicting “the narrative of an affordability disaster in New York’s owners insurance coverage market,” mentioned Patrick Schmid, Triple-I’s chief insurance coverage officer, in written testimony to state lawmakers.
With a 2.11 p.c ratio of house owners insurance coverage expenditure to median family revenue, New York ranks 29th in an affordability examine by the IRC, suggesting property and alternative prices contribute to the state’s housing affordability points.
Coverage interventions in insurance coverage markets “would deal with a symptom reasonably than the trigger” of such points, Schmid pressured, urging lawmakers to focus as an alternative on bettering constructing materials and labor prices; litigation developments; and different inflationary pressures.
Whereas the precise coverage levers could differ, Florida’s authorized reforms in 2022 and 2023 led to 17 new insurance coverage firms coming into the state and price reductions for dozens of house owners and auto insurers, together with a 6.5 p.c common price lower for the state’s prime 5 private auto insurers in 2025.
As soon as a “poster youngster” for authorized system abuse, Florida’s success demonstrates the necessity for continued reform in 2026 to advertise a extra aggressive insurance coverage market and better affordability for customers.
Be taught Extra:
Triple-I Testifies on New York Insurance coverage Affordability
Florida Governor Touts Auto Insurance coverage Rebates, Tort Reform Success
Litigation Reform Works: Florida Auto Insurance coverage Premium Charges Declining
Insurance coverage Affordability, Availability Demand Collaboration, Innovation
Disasters, Litigation Reshape Owners’ Insurance coverage Affordability