On January 1, 2022, Alberta will adopt a Direct Compensation for Property Damage (DCPD) system – which will improve the way Alberta’s insurers support their customers following collisions. You can learn more about DCDP at www.ibc.ca/ab/auto/dcpd.

Road safety is a shared responsibility. Here are a few helpful reminders on how to stay safe behind the wheel and what to do in the event of an incident:

• Don’t Drive Distracted (October 18, 2021) 
• What Happens If Your Vehicle Is Damaged By Severe Weather? (October 4, 2021)
• Been In an Auto Collision? Here Is What You Need to Do. (August 31, 2021)

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.

In 2020, Alberta’s government made changes to the 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: 2021 Oliver Wyman Report (2020-2016, p. 12), 2020 Oliver Wyman Report (2015, p. 12), 2019 Oliver Wyman Report (2014, p. 11), 2018 Oliver Wyman Report (2012-2013, p. 13), 2017 Oliver Wyman Report (2011, p.24).