Thanks to an unusual convergence of market trends, ushered in by the pandemic and followed
by other disruptive events, you may see a bigger change to the cost of your home and auto
insurance than usual when it comes time to renew your policies this year.
Insurance rates are based on what an insurer thinks it will cost to make you whole in the event
of a loss – whether it’s roof damage during a windstorm or a vehicle totaled during a traffic
accident. As you’ve likely noticed, pretty much everything costs more than it did even a few
years ago.
What’s driving higher home insurance costs
If you’ve shopped at Home Depot or Lowe’s lately, you’ve certainly seen that the price tags on
building materials have gotten pretty expensive. Last year, the cost of building materials rose
4.7%, reflecting a particularly strong uptick in prices on things like asphalt shingles (16.2%),
concrete blocks (18.5%) and drywall (20.4%).
To make matters worse, the home-building industry is facing a shortfall of more than 300,000
skilled laborers, which is driving up construction-related labor costs. Combined with the high
cost of construction materials and historically low housing inventory, this has been making
home claims much more expensive for insurance companies.
What’s driving higher auto insurance costs
Ongoing supply chain issues are driving a shortage of car parts and equipment, which were
22.3% more expensive at the end of 2022 than they were two years earlier. The overall cost of
maintaining and repairing vehicles increased 18.4 % over the same timeframe – exacerbated by
a growing shortage of car repair technicians.
The same issues depleted the supply of new and used cars during the COVID-19 pandemic, and
inventories have not yet recovered. As a result, the average price of new cars has risen 20%
since 2020, while used car prices have skyrocketed 37%.
Rising medical costs are another key factor. While the number of injuries and fatalities from car
accidents has somewhat declined from its peak in 2021, the rising cost of medical care
continues to drive higher claims costs. Between 2020 and 2022, the overall cost of medical care
in the U.S. increased 6.8%
Keep in mind that savings come in many forms. The value of the coverage you choose today
may save you more in the long run than the lowest possible premium.
Contact us to review your current coverage. We’ll help you explore opportunities for discounts
that could offset higher rates when it comes time to renew.
Sources: National Association of Realtors, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Home Builders
Institute, CoreLogic, Consumer Price Index, TechForce Foundation