American Family Ins. Auto Rates to Increase in Nev.

Nevada Insurance Commissioner Alice A. Molasky-Arman has approved the request of American Family Mutual Insurance Company (American Family) for an overall statewide increase of 4.4 percent for private passenger automobile insurance.

American Family made adjustments to its auto and home discounts, which lowered its original requested increase from 5.3 percent to 4.4 percent. The overall premium changes will vary by customer, depending on various factors such as type of coverage purchased, number of miles driven and type of car insured. Generally, rates for bodily injury and property damage liability coverage will increase 5.5 percent. Medical payments coverage rates will increase 16.2 percent. Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage rates will increase 15.8 percent. Collision rates will decrease 0.1 percent and comprehensive rates will increase 2.5 percent. Changes vary slightly by territory with the largest increases in the remainder of state and remainder of Clark County territories.

Since entering the Nevada marketplace in Jan. 2001, American Family has grown to be the fourth largest private passenger automobile insurer in Nevada, insuring 46,497 Nevada vehicles. The new rates become effective on Oct. 18, 2003, for both new and renewal business. The most previous rate change was for a 0.2 percent increase, effective on Dec. 15, 2002.