Auto Insurers Agree to Hawaii Fines
Seven of Hawaii’s largest auto insurance companies who have been under investigation for allegedly using prohibited criteria to determine premiums, have agreed to pay fines totaling $115,500.
The seven companiesAIG Hawaii, Allstate Group, RLI, Maryland Casualty Company (Zurich), Hartford, State Farm Group, and USAA Group, account for approximately 60 percent of the state’s auto insurance market. Four other companeisTIG, HIG, DTRIC, and Progressivehave also been under investigation, and are pending resolution.
Companies found to be in compliance with Hawaiian law include Island Insurance, GEICO, First Insurance, and Liberty Mutual.
“Hawaii has a clear law that prohibits auto insurers from using discriminatory criteria when determining the premiums motorists are charged,” Hawaiian Insurance Commissioner Wayne Metcalf commented. “Insurers cannot base any part of a person’s premium on account of their race, creed, ethnic extraction, age, sex, length of driving experience, credit bureau rating, marital status, or physical handicap. The court has affirmed the applicability of the anti-discrimination law in a case where Allstate Insurance Company was using a person’s length of driving experience when charging premiums.”
Hawaii’s Insurance Division began its investigation last August, when it was reported that State Farm owned companies were using credit bureau information as a factor in determining policyholders’ premiums.
Of the companies fined, State Farm Group paid the largest amount at $40,000, with RLI being fined the lowest total at $5,500.