Gov. Patrick said in a statement Monday that the recommendations are "a meaningful first step in achieving a balance which maintains affordability throughout the commonwealth while introducing a level of competition which will prove beneficial to all Massachusetts drivers."

Michael Moran, public affairs director for the American Insurance Association, said he was encouraged by the commission's embrace of market-oriented elements to the state's rating system.

But he was disappointed that the commission called for putting off assigned risk plan implementation even as Insurance Commissioner Nonnie Burns is still entertaining comments on the issue after holding a public hearing on it late last month.

The group also advised Gov. Patrick to delay implementing key changes to the state system pushed by former Republican Gov. Mitt Romney. The former governor wanted to add several demographic factors, such as marital status and credit scores, to the formula for calculating individual rates.

It also urged Gov. Patrick to delay a decision on whether to keep or scrap Romney's new rules for assigning high-risk drivers to automobile insurers until the issue can be studied more.