A report published by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners found Massachusetts personal auto insurance premiums decreased by 12.7 percent between 2007 and 2009, the time period when the Patrick-Murray Administration's Division of Insurance was implementing managed competition in the marketplace.

The report found the average premium from the end of 2007 to the end of 2009 fell from $1,056.91 to $923.11, a $133.80 decrease. Over the same time period, the national average premium decreased by 1.4 percent. Massachusetts' 12.7 percent decrease is the largest drop in the nation over the time period.

Managed competition started in April 2008, and opened up the marketplace to allow insurance companies to set their own rates and compete for a customer's business. Since its inception, managed competition has attracted 13 new companies into Massachusetts, in addition to the 19 that were in place under the old system. Three of the four largest carriers in the country, GEICO, Progressive and Allstate, have all entered Massachusetts since 2008.

"Managed competition helped Massachusetts drivers see premiums drop at a higher rate than the rest of a country, a benefit we expected to be part of this reform," said Joseph G. Murphy, the Commissioner of Insurance. "Consumers have a larger choice of company, coverage and cost under this system, and shopping around for auto insurance can maximize those benefits."

The report on private passenger automobile insurance was created by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, reflecting the increase attention to auto insurance rates across the country.

We have noticed at our agency that in the past year or so a number of our companies have issued slight auto insurance rate increases. This was probably bound to happen after rates dropped for a number of consecutive years.