TORONTO (April 30, 1999) -- Ontario private passenger auto insurance rates decreased during the quarter ending March 31, 1999, according to the latest rate information published by the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO). This is the 11th successive quarterly decrease.

The decrease was 2.02 per cent for those companies with rate changes approved during the quarter when weighted by market share.

The average cost of auto insurance in Ontario at the end of the first quarter of 1999 was 11.79 per cent lower than at the end of the third quarter of 1996 (the last quarter prior to the implementation of Bill 59, the Automobile Insurance Rate Stability Act, 1996).

FSCO recently published the Shopping for Car Insurance booklet which includes insurance rate profiles that can help consumers make better choices among insurers. Consumers who are interested in getting the best value for their money should check with an agent, broker or insurance company and/or shop around to see how their premium compares in the marketplace. Consumers should also find out about the level of claims services offered by an insurance company before they buy. The publication features the results of the Commission's first claims satisfaction survey that revealed how satisfied the customers of 51 insurance companies were with the way their claims were handled.

Booklets are available by calling 1-800-263-7965 (English); 1-800-668-5821 (French) during normal business hours. The rate information is also available at FSCO's Website at www.fsco.gov.on.ca.

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Media contact: Kathleen Harford, FSCO (416) 590-7230

ONTARIO PRIVATE PASSENGER AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE RATE FILINGS APPROVED

January 1, 1999 to March 31, 1999

Company	Market Share (1997)	New Business Date	Renewal Business Date	Approved Rate Change
Allianz Insurance Company	0.84%	Apr. 1, 1999	Jun. 1, 1999	-0.40%1
Allstate Insurance Company of Canada	3.90%	Mar. 15, 1999	May.14, 1999	0.00%2
Canada Life Casualty Insurance Company	1.04%	Mar. 1, 1999	May.1, 1999	-0.25%
Co-operators General Insurance Company	7.64%	Mar. 8, 1999	Apr. 14, 1999	-0.47%
Co-operators General Insurance Company	7.64%	Apr. 5, 1999	May.11, 1999	-1.94%
Facility Association	2.71%	Jun. 1, 1999	Jun. 1, 1999	-2.00%
GAN Canada Insurance Company	0.45%	Mar. 15, 1999	May.1, 1999	0.00%2
Gore Mutual Insurance Company	0.66%	Feb. 15, 1999	Apr. 15, 1999	-4.87%
Kingsway General Insurance Company	0.63%	Feb. 15, 1999	Apr. 1, 1999	-11.80%
Lloyd's Non-Marine Underwriters	0.81%	Feb. 1, 1999	Apr. 1, 1999	-6.23%
Lombard Canada Ltd.	2.01%	Apr. 1, 1999	Jun. 1, 1999	-0.53%
Pilot Insurance Company	5.53%	Feb. 15, 1999	Apr. 15, 1999	-3.40%
Portage La Prairie Mutual Insurance Company	0.09%	Mar. 1, 1999	Mar. 1, 1999	0.00%2
Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance	4.03%	Mar. 1, 1999	May.1, 1999	-1.80%
Scottish & York Insurance Company Limited	0.77%	Mar. 1, 1999	Apr. 15, 1999	-0.15%
State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company	10.35%	Apr. 1, 1999	Apr. 1, 1999	-3.10%
Trafalgar Insurance Company	1.54%	Apr. 1, 1999	Jun. 1, 1999	-2.42%1
Western Assurance Company	0.57%	Mar. 1, 1999	May.1, 1999	-0.10%
Zenith Insurance Company	0.17%	Apr. 15, 1999	Jul. 1, 1999	0.15%
Zurich Insurance Company	4.85%	Feb. 16, 1999	Apr. 2, 1999	2.86%
Total Market Share	48.60%

1 These filings dealt with the introduction of CLEAR.
2 These filings dealt with rating changes with no overall impact.

Financial Services Commission of Ontario
April 1999