Texas consumers will welcome this news of rate reductions with caution to be sure. Rick Gentry, general manager of the Texas Insurance Organization, said he didn't know yet whether Bomer's decision would be appealed. The insurance commissioner also reduced the benchmark rate for commercial auto insurance an average of 9.3 percent statewide. The 5 percent reduction for private auto rates is a statewide average. Local and individual rate changes may vary considerably from the average.
All territories have reductions for liability coverage.
According to the insurance department, motorists in Nueces County will get the largest decrease in benchmark rates. A typical driver with basic liability, uninsured motorist and physical damage coverage will receive a 7.8 percent drop in the benchmark rate. The largest increase will be 1.6 percent in the Panhandle counties of Moore, Hutchinson and Gray. Drivers' actual premiums vary widely, depending on county, age, gender, auto usage, make and model of car, driving record, types of insurance coverage and the rating decisions of individual companies. Auto policies usually consist of several types of coverage.