MPI told to lower rates by PUB

Manitoba Public Insurance, the province’s government-run auto insurance plan, has been told to lower basic auto insurance rates by 1% for 2005 by the provincial Public Utilities Board (PUB), which regulates auto rates.As a result of the PUB decision, the average premium for a family passenger vehicle will fall about $8 to $768 when the ruling takes effect on March 1, 2005. MPI had asked for rates to be held steady.While owners of trailers and off-road vehicles will see a 20% reduction (MPI had filed for reductions of 22% and 41%, respectively for these groups), motorcycle owners will see rates shoot up 15% on average.Customers who finance their basic insurance premiums on a monthly basis will see their administrative fees cut in half, and light commercial vehicles owned by individuals will be able to partake of MPI’s merit discount.