Shifting renewal period trends to watch in auto insurance
A LexisNexis Risk Solutions report also found a big jump in the rate of DUIs among Gen Z during the past year.
The past year was a wild ride and that was reflected in the auto insurance market, which saw big swings in shopping volumes, disrupted renewal patterns and a rise in DUIs among younger generations, according to LexisNexis Risk Solutions.
Auto insurance volume fluctuated throughout 2020 and new business policies written fell 10.4%, but overall volumes ended the year 5.3% higher than the year prior. Additionally, new driver endorsements ended 2020 down some 18%. Depressing the yearly average were some dramatic drops, including a decline of 45% in May 2020.
Adam Pichon, vice president and general manager, auto insurance for LexisNexis Risk Solutions, explained the decline could be attributed to DMV closures in many states during 2020, hampering the ability of new drivers to obtain licenses.
According to LexisNexis, there was also movement in policy renewals away from March and April and toward May and June. This trend was more pronounced in the non-standard market, particularly for new policies. Concerning policies that were in force February 1, 2021, fewer had terms starting in October and November, with more starting in December and January.
There could potentially be more upcoming shifts in renewals, as a large percentage of policies are renewed during July, August and September as a result of cars purchased with year-end bonuses and tax returns in January, February and March. However, that buying behavior was radically disrupted during the pandemic, LexisNexis reported.
“When we look at all of the 2020 auto insurance trends, we can see a pattern that comes from a series of disassociated events,” Pichon said in a press release. “While the evolving impact of the pandemic is still unknown, understanding these trends and evaluating their projections can help insurers make better business decisions and more confidently prepare for the future regardless of unexpected market turbulence.”
Gen Z sees increasing DUI volume
LexisNexis also found that Gen Z motorists were increasingly tossing alcoholic beverages back and caution to the wind during the past year. While DUIs continued the multi-year trend of dropping overall, falling further during lockdown periods, the volume of DUIs among Gen Z drivers returned to, and at times exceeded, pre-pandemic levels. The cohort saw a leap of 50% in DUIs between March and April of 2020.
One of the contributing factors, according to the researcher, could be Gen Z’s past dependency on riding-sharing. During the pandemic, many in the demographic ditched Uber and Lyft and decided to drive themselves. This lifted the frequency of drunk driving occasions. Further, young adults have been particularly susceptible to alcohol abuse during the pandemic, according to a study from the University of Arizona.
“This is an area to keep an eye on, especially given that these statistics point to an underlying change in the demographics when it comes to DUI violations — a factor carriers may want to consider during the underwriting process,” Pichon wrote in a report.
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