Average auto insurance rates in Colorado have increased 15% over 2015 according to Carole Walker of the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association in an interview on CBS Denver 4 last month, adding that Insurance Companies are having a hard time keeping up with payouts in the state. There are numerous reasons for this. Colorado metro areas have been hit with major hail storms three years in a row. Colorado is second in the nation for hail claims and also second for increase in accident repair costs because of severity. 2015 was the deadliest year on Colorado highways since 2008.
Colorado’s population has grown by 100,000 people in the last year, a 1.9% increase that is double the national average. In addition, there is migration from Colorado’s rural counties to urban areas. Denver’s population increased by 18,582 people, a 2.8% increase. Add to this legalized marijuana and it may begin to explain why every city in Colorado surveyed in Allstate’s Best Drivers Report performed worse than they did last year.
Out of 200 cities, with number 1 being the best, Denver was rated 84th, this year Denver is rated 117th. This means when driving in Denver the likelihood of getting in an accident is 12.8% greater than the national average. Aurora went from 118th to 129th and a 16.5% increase in the likelihood of an accident. We may not be able to build a wall around our state but can we limit immigrants to only those with good driving records?
