Study: Widows face higher auto rates - Bankrate.com
How about if your auto insurance rates went up as a result. As awful as that might seem, a new study by the Consumer Federation of America finds that's exactly what happens to widows in this country. Widows charged 20% more, on average Among 10 cities studied by the Washington, D. C. -based consumer group, 4 of 6 major insurers -- Farmers, Geico, Liberty Mutual and Progressive -- increased rates for state-mandated liability coverage for widows... Only State Farm did not vary rates based on this saddest of changes in marital status. The consumer federation discovered the kick to widows using quotes from the auto insurers' websites for the minimum state-required liability coverage for a 30-year-old woman who has driven since age 16 with no accidents or moving violations, has a... The group did not look for a similar rate disparity for widowers. Group 'surprised' by findings Cities studied include Baltimore. "It surprised us especially that when a husband dies, most major auto insurers would increase the premiums for the surviving widow," consumer federation executive director Stephen Brobeck told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "Most of the major insurers charge all single people -- whether they've never been married, separated, divorced or widowed -- higher rates than those who are married. Source: www.bankrate.com
