Stay up to date on developments that impact Alberta’s auto insurance market, and how drivers are affected.

Check out more updates below:

• Fact Check: Alberta Drivers Offered More Choice with Usage-Based Insurance (May 6, 2021)
• Fact Check: Putting the Brakes on Auto Theft (April 8, 2021)
• Fact Check: Vigilance is key to fighting insurance fraud (March 16, 2021)
• Fact Check: Auto insurance changes that benefit all Alberta Drivers (October 29, 2020)

At the end of October 2020, the Alberta government introduced Bill 41.  This legislation made changes designed to improve the auto insurance system for Alberta’s 3 million drivers.

On December 9, 2020, Bill 41 received royal assent to update the Insurance Act and all changes to the Act will come into effect by early 2022.

The goal of changes made by the Alberta government to the auto insurance system is to help stabilize out of control claims costs, and ultimately help make insurance more affordable for drivers.  These changes also give Albertans more and better options for care when they’ve been injured in an accident.

The insurance industry is committed to continue working with the provincial government as they work to further improve the insurance system beyond the changes made to insurance regulations and to the Insurance Act.  We’ll be there, speaking on behalf of consumers to ensure insurance is affordable, and provides even more choice and care for consumers when they need it.

Alberta’s government recently made changes to Alberta’s auto insurance system. These changes were made to address issues that were negatively impacting auto insurance for Alberta’s 3 million drivers.

We’ve assembled some common questions and answers Albertans may have about how these changes are beneficial for drivers.

There are many factors that have contributed to increases to auto insurance premiums for Alberta drivers – from more expensive repairs due to new technology in vehicles, to auto theft, to distracted driving.

Even with all these factors, the largest contributor to increased claims costs has been the cost to settle injury claims after a collision. This means there are more lawsuits that have settled for higher amounts.

*Sources:  2020 Oliver Wyman Annual Review Report (2015-2019 Data, page 16), 2019 Oliver Wyman Annual Review Report (2014 Data, page 14), 2018 Annual Review Report (2012-2013 Data, page 15), and 2017 Annual Review Report (2011 Data, page 24)

Learn more about what the insurance industry has recommended to the Government of Alberta to improve auto insurance for drivers across the province. Driving Change provides a blueprint to give drivers affordable, sustainable auto insurance that provides them with more choice and more care when they need it. This includes:

1) Giving Albertans access to more pre-approved medical care and greater choice in controlling their coverage and premiums through the More Care, Less Court product

2) Following best-in-class rules to increase competition and catch up with today’s digital age