J.D. Power and Associates Reports: Fewer Premium Increases, Paired with More Satisfying Policy Offerings, Boosts Satisfaction with Canadian Automotive Insurers

Canadian Direct Insurance, Grey Power and La Capitale Each Rank Highest in Customer Satisfaction in Their Respective Region

TORONTO, Sept. 25, 2012 /CNW/ - As fewer customers indicate premium rate increases and more enticing policy offerings become available to policyholders, satisfaction with Canadian auto insurance carriers improves across all regions, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Canadian Auto Insurance Satisfaction Study^SM released today.

The study, now in its fifth year, measures insurance customers' experiences with their primary insurer. Customer satisfaction is measured across five factors: interaction; price; policy offerings; billing and payment; and claims. Insurers are ranked in three regions: Western (British Columbia; Alberta; Saskatchewan; and Manitoba); Ontario/Atlantic; and Quebec.

The Western region has the smallest increase, five points. This is due primarily to a higher number of insurer-initiated premium increases. One-fourth of customers in this region reported an insurer-initiated increase in 2012, compared with only 18 per cent in 2011, the only region with a higher frequency of premium increases compared to 2011.

Customer satisfaction in the Ontario/Atlantic region has increased by 11 points from 2011, primarily due to an increase in satisfaction with insurer policy offerings (+17 points). Policy offering satisfaction is most often influenced by the quality of discounts offered. In fact, 60 per cent of customers in this region received multiple (three or more) discounts on their policy, a six-percentage-point increase from 2011. Nearly 30 per cent (29%) of customers reported an insurer-initiated rate increase in 2012, representing a four-percentage-point decrease from 2011.

Satisfaction in the Quebec region has increased by 17 points, which is the largest increase in score among regions from 2011. Satisfaction increases in billing and payment (+21 points), as well as price (+19 points), which significantly impacts overall satisfaction. Only 11 per cent of customers in the Quebec region reported an insurer-initiated rate increase, the fewest among the three regions and a three-percentage-point decrease from 2011.

"Although overall satisfaction has increased in the Western region, the uptick in insurer-related premium increases has been marginal," said Lubo Li, senior director and practice leader of Canadian financial services and insurance at J.D. Power and Associates. "Satisfaction has significantly improved in both the Ontario/Atlantic and Quebec regions, not only because of fewer insurer-initiated premium increases, but also due to increases in satisfaction in nearly every factor across the board."

Customer Satisfaction with Insurance Companies by Region, 2012 vs. 2011
(based on a 1,000-point scale)

Region	Overall Satisfaction in 2012	Overall Satisfaction in 2011	Difference
Western	714	709	+5
Ontario/Atlantic	755	744	+11
Quebec	827	810	+17

Generational Differences
The study finds that while satisfaction has improved across all regions, the gains are not as strong among Generation Y¹ customers as among Baby Boomer customers. Gen Y customers are significantly less satisfied (737) than are Baby Boomers (770) and are more critical of their insurer when service expectations are not met. There are notable differences in scores among Gen Y customers regarding interactions with their insurer—particularly through the call centre or local agent/brokers.  Satisfaction in both of these interaction channels is nearly 50 points lower among Gen Y customers, compared with Baby Boomers. For a more detailed description of the differences between Gen Y and Boomers and how insurers can better meet the needs of these customer groups click here to read the management discussion.

Regional Rankings
In the Western Region, Canadian Direct Insurance ranks highest in customer satisfaction among auto insurance companies for a second consecutive year with a score of 806. State Farm (778) and TD Insurance (773) follow in the rankings.

In the Ontario/Atlantic Region, Grey Power ranks highest with a score of 786, followed by The Co-Operators (774). Belairdirect and Zenith (768) rank third in a tie.

In the Quebec region, La Capitale ranks highest with a score of 850. Following in the rankings are The Personal (842) and Desjardins General Insurance (832).

The 2012 Canadian Auto Insurance Study is based on responses from 11,620 auto insurance policyholders. The study was fielded in June and July 2012.

            

Customer Satisfaction Index Ranking			J.D. Power.com Power Circle Ratings
Western Region			For Consumers
	Canadian Direct Insurance	806	5
	State Farm	778	4
	TD Insurance	773	4
	BCAA	763	4
	Co-operators	759	4
	Johnson Insurance	751	4
	Alberta Motor Association	750	4
	Wawanesa	741	4
	Intact Insurance	739	4
	Aviva Insurance	730	4
	Western Average	714	3
	SGI	699	3
	MPI	697	3
	ICBC	651	2

           

Customer Satisfaction Index Ranking			J.D. Power.com Power Circle Ratings
Atlantic/Ontario Region			For Consumers
	Grey Power	786	5
	Co-operators	774	4
	Belairdirect	768	4
	Zenith Insurance	768	4
	State Farm	766	4
	Portage Mutual Insurance	764	4
	RBC Insurance	760	3
	Allstate	759	3
	Personal	759	3
	Atlantic/Ontario Average	755	3
	Intact Insurance	754	3
	Johnson Insurance	754	3
	Economical Insurance	754	3
	CAA Insurance	750	3
	Gore Mutual	749	3
	Aviva Insurance	741	2
	Wawanesa	741	2
	RSA	739	2
	TD Insurance	739	2
	Dominion of Canada	731	2
	Desjardins General Insurance	729	2

            

Customer Satisfaction Index Ranking			J.D. Power.com Power Circle Ratings
Quebec Region			For Consumers
	La Capitale	850	5
	Personal	842	5
	Desjardins General Insurance	832	3
	SSQ General	831	3
	Belairdirect	828	3
	Promutual	828	3
	Quebec Average	827	3
	Industrial Alliance	823	3
	Intact Insurance	818	3
	L'Union Canadienne	817	3
	National Bank Insurance	817	3
	Aviva Insurance	805	2
	TD Insurance	764	2

About J.D. Power and Associates
Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services company providing performance improvement, social media and customer satisfaction insights and solutions.  The company's quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. For more information on car reviews and ratings, car insurance, health insurance, cell phone ratings, and more, please visit JDPower.com. J.D. Power and Associates is a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.

About The McGraw-Hill Companies
McGraw-Hill announced on September 12, 2011, its intention to separate into two public companies: McGraw-Hill Financial, a leading provider of content and analytics to global financial markets, and McGraw-Hill Education, a leading education company focused on digital learning and education services worldwide. McGraw-Hill Financial's leading brands include Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, S&P Capital IQ, S&P Indices, Platts energy information services and J.D. Power and Associates. With sales of $6.2 billion in 2011, the Corporation has approximately 23,000 employees across more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Additional information is available at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com/.

¹ J.D. Power and Associates defines generational groups as Pre-Boomers (born before 1946); Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964); Generation X (born 1965-1976); and Generation Y (born 1977-1994).

 

 

SOURCE: J.D. Power and Associates

Media Relations Contacts:

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Gal Wilder; Cohn & Wolfe; Toronto, Canada; [phone]; [email protected]
John Tews; J.D. Power and Associates; Troy, Mich.; [phone]; [email protected]

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