Car insurance rates could go up in Kern County 

Car insurance rates could go up in Kern County

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BAKERSFIELD - Car insurance rates will likely increase in Kern County if the State's Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi gets his way.


A couple of months ago, the idea was first proposed to increase rates in the valley while rates in the big cities would be lowered.


Now there's a TV ad campaign opposing the rate hike idea in California's Central Valley and it's picking up momentum.


The ad began airing this week in Bakersfield and 19 counties around the state. It's trying to alert drivers in the Central Valley areas that their insurance rates are going to rise while those in the big cities will decrease.


The commercial is sponsored by a diverse group of elected officials, taxpayer groups, Farm Bureaus and Chambers of Commerce.


But, insurance experts say that statistically bigger cities have more accidents overall than rural areas.


'There's no question that accident rates are higher in metropolitan rural areas,' said David Doig with Kern Insurance Associates. 'You have only to drive on the Los Angeles freeways to scare yourself to death.'


'And there is also no question that there is a higher rate of un-insured or under-insured drivers in big metropolitan areas,' he add.


'So commissioner Garamendi's aim is to reduce the cost to those drivers,' Doig said. 'But, as the Farm Bureau points out, it's at the expense of the people in the rural areas, where accident rates are lower."


But Commissioner Garamendi is taking this opposition to his ability to change insurance rates personally calling those opposing his measure as blackmailers.


Meanwhile, many who oppose Garamendi's rate hike plan say he's doing it for political gain, appeasing the voters in the big urban areas of the state to help his run for governor.


Garamendi says he doesn't have to push for this.


Hanford Assemblywoman Nicole Parra has sponsored a measure to put the whole issue on hold.


AB2040 will require that before any rate hikes take place, a statewide study must be done to ensure the changes will result in rates that are fair and are based on the actual costs.