The increasing importation of used vehicles, the increase in the number of motorcycles and the perception that the risk to which drivers are exposed is low, are some of the reasons that explain why the penetration of vehicle insurance in the Guatemalan market is still only 10%.
According to data from the Superintendence of Tax Administration (SAT) at the end of 2020 there were 4.11 million vehicles registered nationwide, this figure exceeded by 8% the 3.79 million reported at the end of 2019.
Between July and October 2020, the number of people in Guatemala exploring options for life insurance online increased by 3%, and the number of Panamanian consumers seeking auto insurance increased by 39%.
CentralAmericaData's interactive platform, Consumer Insights, monitors in real time changes in consumer habits in all markets in the region and in other Latin American countries, with fundamental information to understand their behavior, new trends and anticipate eventual changes in their purchase patterns.
Following the reform of government agreement 17-2020, the entry into force of the regulation requiring passenger and cargo transport units to take out civil liability insurance was delayed for one year in Guatemala.
Last year in El Salvador, net premium income totaled $702 million, 6.8% higher than in 2018.
Directors of the Salvadoran Association of Insurance Companies (ASES) explained that between 2018 and 2019 net premium income increased by $44 million, from $658 million to $702 million.
As of March 20, the government agreement that requires passenger and cargo transport units to take out civil liability insurance will become effective in the country.
On February 12, 2020, government agreement 17-2020 was published in the Diario de Centroamerica, requiring owners of trucks, panels and pickups, as well as micro and urban buses, taxis, motorcycle taxis and "tuc tucs", to have an insurance policy.
The Universidad Nacional Autonoma tenders the supply of an insurance policy for several motor vehicles owned by the institution.
Honduras Government Purchase LPN No.31-2019-SEAF-UNAH:
"In case of theft, a co-insurance of 20% is requested and the insurance company will pay 80% of the insured amount, without deducting any amount for introduction taxes and others, in the case of those vehicles that have GPS installed the co-insurance will be reduced to 2%.
The premiums paid for Compulsory Automobile Insurance and Occupational Hazard Insurance grew only 3% in the first half of the year compared to the same period in 2018, well below the 9% reported from January to June last year.
The National Insurance Institute (INS) reports that between January and June 2018 and the same period in 2019, premium income from the mandatory insurance in question rose from $240 million to $246 million.
From January to July 2019, premiums of $910 million were subscribed, 5% higher than the $864 million reported in the same period of 2018.
According to the most recent report of the General Comptroller of the Republic, between the first seven months of 2018 and the same period of 2019 the premiums of the branch of fire and multi-risk insurance registered a 17% increase.
During the first five months of the year, premiums of $643 million were written, 4% higher than the $619 million reported for the same period in 2018.
Statistics from the Superintendence of Insurance show that from January to May 2019, the three insurance companies subscribing the highest proportion of market premiums were Assa Compañía de Seguros, Compañía Internacional de Seguros and Mapfre Panamá, with 26%, 16% and 15% respectively.
In Honduras, the National Electrical Energy Company tenders the multi-risk insurance service for 537 vehicles of different types.
Honduras Government Purchase LPN-100-029-2018:
"Details of the risks covered by the service:
A. Collision and accidental tipping
B. Total vehicle theft, fire, self-ignition and fire, strikes, popular riots.
C. Civil liability for damage to third parties' property
In the first ten months of this year, premiums of $1.245 million were subscribed in the country, exceeding in 5% the value reported in the same period of 2017.
The most recent data from the Superintendence of Insurance and Reinsurance detail that between the first ten months of 2017 and the same period of 2018, the value of premiums subscribed went from $1,188 million to $1,245 million.
In the first five months of the year, total income from insurance premiums in Costa Rica added up to $682 million, registering an increase of 6% compared to the same period in 2017.
Between January and May of this year, growth of mandatory insurance was mainly due to the 14% increase registered in occupational risk premiums, according to a report by the General Superintendence of Insurance.
In Panama during the first three months of the year $367 million was written in premiums, which is 2% more than the $360 million reported in the same period in 2017.
During the first quarter of 2018, the three insurance companies that wrote the largest proportion of these premiums were Assa Compañía de Seguros, Compañía Internacional de Seguros and Mapfre Panamá, with $70 million, $62 million and $56 million, respectively.
The Ministry of Communications in Guatemala is putting out to tender insurance policy for vehicles, fixed constructions, electronic equipment, machinery and civil liability of the institution.
Guatemala Government Purchase 7715919:
"The validity of the policies begins from January 2, 2019 at 0:00 hours and will end on December 31 of the year 2019 at 0:00 hours.
In 2017, net premiums collected totaled $1 billion, 22% more than the $829 million reported in 2016.
According to figures from the Superintendency of Insurance of the Dominican Republic, last year Seguros Universal was the company that registered the highest number of net premiums collected, adding up to $216 million, equivalent to 21% of the total market.