Scott Huneycutt: Insurance opt-out

As an insurance agent and North Carolina driver, I’d like to respond to the Oct. 7 Point of View “Who is it protecting?” by Tricia Pierce.

North Carolina is the only state in the country that requires companies to automatically raise insurance rates when a driver has an accident or gets a ticket. As Pierce learned, even a minor incident in which damages exceed a certain dollar amount can result in a mandatory and significant premium increase. This isn’t fair for North Carolina consumers.

Recognizing this, Reps. Jeff Collins, Justin Burr, Dana Bumgardner and James Boles and Sen. Wesley Meredith introduced legislation in this past session, HB 497/SB 457, allowing insurance companies to opt out of the current Safe Driver Incentive Program and determine their own rating system for driving offenses and minor incidents like Pierce’s.

The legislation did not move this year, but North Carolina drivers should request that it be considered again in the future to give companies more flexibility for insurance consumers.

This story was originally published October 16, 2015 at 3:37 PM with the headline "Scott Huneycutt: Insurance opt-out."