You’re driving less, so your {insurer|insurance provider|insurance company} is {giving|providing|offering} you {money back|cash back|refund}. Here’s {how much|just how much}. – St. Louis Post-Dispatch

In the states of Washington and {New York|New York City}, the {number of|variety of} traffic crashes reported to state {police|authorities|cops} fell about 30% in March {compared with|compared to} a year {ago|back|earlier}, as the states were on lockdown for part of the month to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Other states are reporting {similar|comparable} {declines|decreases} in traffic and crashes, and {consumer|customer} {advocates|supporters} are {calling on|contacting|getting in touch with} {insurance companies|insurance provider|insurer} to cut premiums or {give|provide|offer} refunds by a like {amount|quantity}.

Some {companies|business} {have|have actually} {responded|reacted}, {but|however} the {Consumer|Customer} Federation of America reports that {discounts|discount rates} {may|might} be too {small|little} and aren’t being {applied|used} {evenly|uniformly|equally}.

{Many|Numerous|Lots of} {insurance|insurance coverage} premiums are {based on|based upon} driving 1,000 miles {per month|monthly|each month}, {but|however} {customers|clients|consumers} {may|might} be driving {only|just} one-tenth of that, the federation {said|stated}.

“The {risk|danger|threat} {exposure|direct exposure} is not {nearly|almost} the {same|exact same|very same} now as when the policy was {first|very first} priced,” Doug Heller, {an insurance|an insurance coverage} {expert|professional|specialist} with the federation, {said|stated} Monday.

{Companies|Business} that {sell|offer} 82% of the {auto|car|automobile|vehicle} policies in the U.S. {have|have actually} {announced|revealed} {refunds or credits|credits or refunds} to {drivers|chauffeurs|motorists} worth more than $6.5 billion {during|throughout} the next {two|2} months, the federation {said|stated}.

Some, like State Farm, the {country|nation}’s {largest|biggest} {auto|car|automobile|vehicle} {insurer|insurance provider|insurance company}, are {giving|providing|offering} credits {starting|beginning} in June that {amount to|total up to} a 25% {reduction|decrease} in {bills|expenses|costs} from March 20 through {May|Might} 31. That{‘s about| has to do with} $20 {per month|monthly|each month} per {vehicle|car|automobile|lorry}, the {company|business} {says|states}.

That’s the {kind of|type of|sort of} {immediate|instant} relief that all {companies|business} {should|ought to|must|need to} {offer|provide|use} {because|since|due to the fact that} {so many|a lot of|many|numerous} {people|individuals} {have|have actually} lost their {jobs|tasks} due to stay-at-home orders from state {governments|federal governments}, according to the federation. {Yet {many|numerous|lots of} are {offering|providing|using} {only|just} 15% {discounts|discount rates} and one, Geico, {won’t|will not} get {the money|the cash} to {customers|clients|consumers} {until|up until|till} their policies are {renewed|restored}.

| {Many|Numerous|Lots of} are {offering|providing|using} {only|just} 15% {discounts|discount rates} and one, Geico, {won’t|will not} get the {money|cash} to {customers|clients|consumers} {until|up until|till} their policies are {renewed|restored}.

} {Along with|Together With|In Addition To} American {Family|Household} {Insurance|Insurance coverage}, the federation {gave|provided|offered} State Farm an “A” for its credit program.

{{But|However} Geico got a “D-minus.”|Geico got a “D-minus.”} Messages were left Monday {seeking|looking for} {comment|remark} from Geico.

The only {company|business} ranked {worse|even worse} was Erie {Insurance|Insurance coverage}, according to the federation. Erie {only|just} {promised|guaranteed|assured} to {reduce|decrease|minimize|lower} rates in the future, the federation {said|stated}.

{Erie {Insurance|Insurance coverage} {said|stated} its rate {reductions|decreases} {equate|correspond|relate} to a 5% {discount|discount rate} on premiums for {at least|a minimum of} 12 months when policies are {renewed|restored}.|When policies are {renewed|restored}, Erie {Insurance|Insurance coverage} {said|stated} its rate {reductions|decreases} {equate|correspond|relate} to a 5% {discount|discount rate} on premiums for at least 12 months.} The federation’s report, the {company|business} {said|stated}, is {based on|based upon} {an immediate|an instant} {impact|effect} for {consumers|customers}. The lower rates are “{designed|developed|created} to {offer|provide|use} more impactful relief to {customers|clients|consumers}– now and in the future,” the {company|business} {said|stated} in {a statement|a declaration}.

{{But|However} that {doesn’t|does not} {help|assist} {drivers|chauffeurs|motorists} “who are paying premiums and {need|require} the relief now,” {said|stated} Heller.

| That {doesn’t|does not} {help|assist} {drivers|chauffeurs|motorists} “who are paying premiums and {need|require} the relief now,” {said|stated} Heller.

} {Many|Numerous|Lots of} {smaller|smaller sized} {insurers|insurance providers|insurance companies} aren’t {offering|providing|using} any {{discounts|discount rates} or credits|credits or {discounts|discount rates}}, {especially|particularly|specifically} those that target lower-income or minority {drivers|chauffeurs|motorists}, Heller {said|stated}. The federation {called on|contacted|gotten in touch with} state {insurance|insurance coverage} regulators to {force|require} {insurers|insurance providers|insurance companies} to cut rates or {give|provide|offer} refunds.

The federation {suggests|recommends} calling your {insurer|insurance provider|insurance company} and {asking for|requesting|requesting for} {a reduced|a decreased|a minimized|a lowered} rate {because|since|due to the fact that} you are driving less, and raising {questions|concerns} about {discounts|discount rates} on {social media|social networks}.

In both {New York|New York City} and Washington, the {governors|guvs} {issued|provided|released} orders for {people|individuals} to {stay at|remain at} {home|house} {relatively|fairly|reasonably} late in March, so it’s {likely|most likely} that crashes and traffic will drop even further {during|throughout} April when the orders are in {effect|impact|result} for {a full|a complete} month.

That’s why the federation {said|stated} {discounts|discount rates} {should|ought to|must|need to} be even {higher|greater} than the 25% {offered|provided|used} by State Farm in future months as lockdowns continue. The federation {suggests|recommends} 40% or {higher|greater} and {says|states} {consumers|customers} have {leverage|take advantage of|utilize} by threatening to {switch|change} to other {companies|business} with {better|much better} {discounts|discount rates}.

{{Insurers|Insurance providers|Insurance companies} and the federation {don’t|do not} {recommend|suggest|advise} canceling your {insurance|insurance coverage} if your {company|business} {won’t|will not} {offer|provide|use} {credits or {discounts|discount rates}|{discounts|discount rates} or credits}.|If your {company|business} {won’t|will not} {offer|provide|use} {credits or {discounts|discount rates}|{discounts|discount rates} or credits}, {insurers|insurance providers|insurance companies} and the federation {don’t|do not} {recommend|suggest|advise} canceling your {insurance|insurance coverage}.} In {many|numerous|lots of} states, {companies|business} can raise rates if there’s {a gap|a space} in insurance {coverage|protection}.

Liberty Mutual {Insurance|Insurance coverage} {says|states} that it’s {unwise|risky|ill-advised|reckless} to cancel {because|since|due to the fact that} {most|many|a lot of|the majority of} states {require|need} minimum liability {insurance|insurance coverage}, and even if you {use|utilize} the {vehicle|car|automobile|lorry} {only|just} to go to the {store|shop} or other {essential|important|vital|necessary} errands, you’ll still {need|require} {coverage|protection}.

“Comprehensive {coverage|protection} {provides|offers|supplies} {insurance|insurance coverage} for things like theft and {weather|weather condition}, so you will {want to|wish to} {retain|keep|maintain} that {coverage|protection} {as well|also|too} even if the {car|vehicle|automobile|cars and truck} is garaged {at home|in your home|in the house},” {a company|a business} {statement|declaration} {said|stated}.

Following is a list of {companies|business} that {have|have actually} {offered|provided|used} to return premiums.

ALLSTATE CORP.

. Allstate, {one of|among} the {largest|biggest} U.S. {auto|car|automobile|vehicle} {insurers|insurance providers|insurance companies}, {said|stated} on Monday it would return more than $600 million in premiums to {customers|clients|consumers}. {Most|Many|A lot of|The majority of} {customers|clients|consumers} will {receive|get} a “{payback|repayment}” of 15% of their {monthly|regular monthly|month-to-month} premium in April and May, the {company|business} {said|stated}.

AMERICAN {FAMILY|HOUSEHOLD} {INSURANCE|INSURANCE COVERAGE}

The {auto|car|automobile|vehicle} {insurer|insurance provider|insurance company} {said|stated} it would return {a total|an overall} of $200 million to {auto|car|automobile|vehicle} {insurance|insurance coverage} {customers|clients|consumers} {beginning|starting} in mid-April. {Customers|Clients|Consumers} will {receive|get} $50 per {vehicle|car|automobile|lorry} covered by their policies, the {company|business} {said|stated}.

AVIVA CANADA

Aviva Canada {said|stated} it was {offering|providing|using} $100 million in {additional|extra} {immediate|instant} relief {measures|steps|procedures} to {drivers|chauffeurs|motorists}, {including|consisting of} {options|choices|alternatives} that would {reduce|decrease|minimize|lower} {insurance|insurance coverage} premiums. {Customers|Clients|Consumers} who {have|have actually} stopped driving {entirely|completely|totally} {could|might} {reduce|decrease|minimize|lower} their {auto|car|automobile|vehicle} {insurance|insurance coverage} premiums by {up to|as much as|approximately} 75%.

The world’s largest-listed {property|residential or commercial property|home} and casualty {insurance company|insurance provider|insurer} {said|stated} it will {give|provide|offer} {personal|individual} {auto|car|automobile|vehicle} {insurance|insurance coverage} {clients|customers} in the United States credit on {annual|yearly} renewal premiums, {reflecting|showing} a 35% cut for the months of April and May.

ERIE {INSURANCE|INSURANCE COVERAGE}

The {insurer|insurance provider|insurance company} {said|stated} it would {reduce|decrease|minimize|lower} rates for {{personal|individual} and {commercial|industrial|business}|{commercial|industrial|business} and {personal|individual}} {auto|car|automobile|vehicle} {insurance|insurance coverage} {customers|clients|consumers} in 12 states and the District of Columbia. It {estimated|approximated} the {amount|quantity} of {financial|monetary} relief for Erie {Insurance|Insurance coverage} {customers|clients|consumers} to be about $200 million.

FARMERS INSURANCE

Farmers and 21st Century-branded {auto|car|automobile|vehicle} {customers|clients|consumers} will {receive|get} a 25% {reduction|decrease} in their April premium. The {insurer|insurance provider|insurance company} {said|stated} it {has|has actually} {also|likewise} {implemented|executed|carried out} {flexible|versatile} payment {plans|strategies} and {a temporary|a short-term|a momentary|a short-lived} {pause|time out} on cancellations.

Geico Corp., part of billionaire Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc., {said|stated} it will {offer|provide|use} about $2.5 billion of credits to its 19 million {auto|car|automobile|vehicle} and {motorcycle|motorbike|bike} {policyholders|insurance policy holders}. The {insurer|insurance provider|insurance company} {said|stated} it will {offer|provide|use} a 15% credit on policies up for renewal {between|in between} April 8 and Oct. 7, {averaging|balancing} about $150 per {auto|car|automobile|vehicle} policy and $30 per {motorcycle|motorbike|bike} policy.

HANOVER {INSURANCE|INSURANCE COVERAGE} GROUP

The {company|business} {said|stated} it will return 15% of April and May {auto|car|automobile|vehicle} premiums to its {eligible|qualified} {personal|individual} lines {customers|clients|consumers}. Hanover will {also|likewise} {offer|provide|use} {flexible|versatile} {bill|expense|costs} payment {options|choices|alternatives}.

LIBERTY {MUTUAL|SHARED} {INSURANCE|INSURANCE COVERAGE}

Liberty Mutual {Insurance|Insurance coverage} will {give|provide|offer} {personal|individual} {auto|car|automobile|vehicle} {insurance|insurance coverage} {customers|clients|consumers} a 15% refund on {two|2} months of their {annual|yearly} premium, returning about $250 million to Liberty Mutual and Safeco {personal|individual} {auto|car|automobile|vehicle} {insurance|insurance coverage} {customers|clients|consumers}.

The {company|business} {said|stated} it is {providing|offering|supplying} {financial|monetary} relief and {preserving|protecting|maintaining} {coverage|protection} {in the event|in case} of {missed|missed out on} payments. Active MetLife {auto|car|automobile|vehicle} {customers|clients|consumers}, who {have|have actually} paid to date, will {receive|get} a 15% credit for April and May {based on|based upon} their {monthly|regular monthly|month-to-month} premiums.

PROGRESSIVE {INSURANCE|INSURANCE COVERAGE} CORP.

. {Among|Amongst} the {largest|biggest} U.S. {auto|car|automobile|vehicle} {insurers|insurance providers|insurance companies}, Progressive {said|stated} it would {provide|offer|supply} about $1 billion to {personal|individual} {auto|car|automobile|vehicle} {customers|clients|consumers}. The {company|business} will credit {eligible|qualified} {customers|clients|consumers} 20% of their April and May premiums.

{STATE|SPECIFY|MENTION} FARM

The {largest|biggest} U.S. {auto|car|automobile|vehicle} {insurer|insurance provider|insurance company} {said|stated} it would pay $2 billion in dividend to its {customers|clients|consumers}, with premium credit of about 25% for the {period|duration} {between|in between} March 20 and May 31.

{TRAVELERS|TOURISTS} {COMPANIES|BUSINESS} INC.

. The {insurer|insurance provider|insurance company} {said|stated} it was {giving|providing|offering} U.S. {personal|individual} {auto|car|automobile|vehicle} {insurance|insurance coverage} {customers|clients|consumers} a 15%credit on their April and May premiums through its {new|brand-new} stay-at-home {auto|car|automobile|vehicle} premium credit program. It {said|stated} it will continue to {provide|offer|supply} {auto|car|automobile|vehicle} {coverage|protection} to {customers|clients|consumers} whose {jobs|tasks} {include|consist of} {using|utilizing} their {personal|individual} {vehicles|cars|automobiles|lorries} to make food, grocery, {pharmacy|drug store} and medical supply {deliveries|shipments}. USAA, America’s {fifth|5th} {largest|biggest} property-casualty {insurer|insurance provider|insurance company}, {said|stated} it will return$520 million to its members. Every member with {an auto|a car|an automobile|a vehicle} {insurance policy|insurance coverage|insurance plan} in {effect|impact|result} {as of|since} March 31 will {receive|get} a 20%credit on {two|2}

months of premiums in the coming weeks. {Combines|Integrates} stories by the Associated Press and Reuters. {Updated|Upgraded} at 5 p.m. 0 {comments|remarks}