A.G. Gancarski
As Floridians continue to struggle with high insurance costs, Gov. Ron DeSantis says people people steering away from gasoline engines is partly to blame.
The Governor said electric vehicles contributed to an over 20% year over year hike in car policy costs, by way of commenting on the just released Consumer Price Index report.
“You look at things like auto insurance. Yes, we have had major supply problems over many years for autos that impacts the ability to repair. But then I think these EVs are a lot more expensive to repair and I think that impacts those rates as well,” DeSantis said.
The Governor made the comments as an aside while arguing that the My Safe Florida Home program would help to cut rates. The Senate approved $100 million more this month for the home improvement grant program, which is experiencing high demand and significant backlogs.
DeSantis, who infamously told Floridians to “knock on wood” last storm season during a radio hit in Boston, advanced theories about insurance rates being driven by left-wing orthodoxy during his now-suspended presidential campaign.
“I think you have a lot of movement to things like (environmental, social and governance) and climate change and stuff which is causing these policies to be more expensive, which I don’t think is a legitimate way to do it,” he said in Iowa in December.
“But I think I’m concerned about this ESG, I’m concerned about them trying to say climate change and everything because that’s going to make some of these things very, very expensive if they’re pricing in all these things that very well may not happen. And that’s new from where we were 20 or 30 years ago.”
35 comments
Dale A Arnold
February 13, 2024 at 12:46 pm
Translation… I have no solutions!
So I’ll blame the march of technology and climate change, and people being aware “woke” of our society… Did a mention I have no solutions?
Ron DiSaster
February 13, 2024 at 12:50 pm
And not to mention that the number of EV’s in Florida are a statistically insignificant percentage of cars registered in Florida. This doofus is blaming like 3% of the cars on the road for this insurance crisis. Gimme a break Ron.
Dennis
February 13, 2024 at 3:00 pm
Look it up for yourself. Repairs on electric vehicles run at least 20 % higher. If vehicle is hit in rear and batteries are damaged, it’s even higher. None of that involves the batteries life span of 7-10 years. That’s $3,000.00 -$5,000.00 to replace in a hybrid, even more in a total electric vehicle.
Ron DiSaster
February 13, 2024 at 3:57 pm
Look it up yourself. EV’s make up about 3% of all the cars registered in Florida. You really think 3% of car owners are causing this much of an issue. C’mon man.
Wrong
February 14, 2024 at 3:49 am
Pulled that “3%” number from where exactly? The fact is EV registrations have been increasing at a rate of nearly 65% year over year. In 2022, the last year with publicly available data, EVs were nearly 7% of all registered vehicles in Florida, or just under 96k vehicles. If the YOY rate of increase held steady, that means there are roughly 158k EVs registered in Florida now.
Florida, as of 2022, had the 3rd highest number of EVs registered compared to all other states. So in other words, your argument holds no water. And yes, when a car costs 20% more to repair than other cars, it increases the premium for all insured vehicles. It’s not the only reason prices have gone up, but it is indeed a reason, and the more EVs that get on the road, the more and more expensive insurance will become. Do you not understand how insurance works?
Ron DiSaster
February 14, 2024 at 12:22 pm
From the US Department of Energy statistics.
This site usually doesn’t allow links so just learn how to use Google and search for “percent of cars in florida that are EVs”
It’s not hard to fact check stuff. In fact, once you learn how to fact check you’ll probably stop being a conservative. 😊
JustBabs
February 14, 2024 at 9:07 am
Desantis is throwing out a total lie. The cost of repairing your car is built into the insurance policy. If your car is rated higher for repairs, you pay a higher rate. That’s an individual rate. The highest costs built into our rates is geographic location. Most Florida zip codes see the highest rates in the country. Get a quote for your vehicle in another state and compare. I guarantee it gets halved.
Ron DiSaster
February 13, 2024 at 12:46 pm
As per usual Ron DeSantis has absolutely no idea what’s he’s talking about. EV’s require very little to no maintenance at all. They’re a dream in that regard and extremely cheap to operate.
I’ve owned the same Nissan Leaf EV since 2010.
And guess what? It’s still kicking and i’ve literally never had to do a single thing to it other than new tires & brakes every few years. No oil changes, no breakdowns, nothing. They are EXTREMELY reliable cars.
rick whitaker
February 13, 2024 at 1:02 pm
why does desantis always lie on everything he thinks is a threat to his nonsense? because that’s what liars do.
Dennis
February 13, 2024 at 3:08 pm
Yes they are VERY reliable vehicles. Accident repairs are high. (Surprised you’ve gotten 14 years out of battery, thats much, much longer then industry standard.) Do you still get the same distance out of each charge?.
Ron DiSaster
February 13, 2024 at 3:58 pm
I’ve lost about half the range in 14 years, but it’s always been a commuting and just getting around town car and I still use it everyday.
Michael K
February 13, 2024 at 1:13 pm
What a moron. He will spew any ignorant misinformed lie to throw out to the rubes.
Dont Say FLA
February 13, 2024 at 2:27 pm
Maybe he heard about how electronics are pricey to replace. Like lane assist, forward crash avoidance, that stuff. Electronics, electric cars, same thing right? LOL
Impeach Biden
February 13, 2024 at 2:31 pm
Look up the acceptance rates at Yale and Harvard law. While you are at it post your academic credentials so we can see who the real moron is.
MH/Duuuval
February 13, 2024 at 3:00 pm
Dee was an affirmative action baby (baseball hick) getting into Yale. And, based upon the Harvard grads in Congress, the school needs to require their law school grads take an ethics course and pass a written test before getting a degree.
MH/Duuuval
February 13, 2024 at 3:02 pm
I wrote “jock.” Spell check wrote “hick.” But, maybe spell check is on to something re: Dee.
TJC
February 13, 2024 at 4:18 pm
Harvard, Yale man, true. But he is not the World’s Foremost authority on Everything, as he insists.
He could just as well say that the many gas-powered Mercedes, BMW’s, Lamborghinis, Ferraris, etc. that we see on Florida roads are extremely expensive to repair, but he doesn’t dare insult the wealthy — he needs their support.
Dont Say FLA
February 13, 2024 at 2:05 pm
Here’s a real replacement theory.
Absolutely anyone as a replacement of Rhonda as FLop Gov would be an improvement.
The actual Kermit the Frog puppet would be an improvement.
Impeach Biden
February 13, 2024 at 2:28 pm
You are aware that DeSantis won reelection in Florida by a big margin right? He is very popular here, but then we have people like you. Of course you didn’t vote for him and thank God you are in the minority.
JD
February 13, 2024 at 3:02 pm
Past voting performance doesn’t mean anything to present voting public. “What have you done for me lately” and “It’s the economy stupid.” are going to bury his future political aspirations. Welcome to Tampa aldermanship Ronnie.
While I think there’s a loophole for him being term limited, his grip on the legislative branch is starting to waffle. Good, I hope they lame cuck him.
Dont Say FLA
February 13, 2024 at 3:04 pm
Rhonda has no grip because of his big slip. Legislature offered to exempt him from Sunshine Laws. Like a Moe, he said “OKAY.” And now they pwn little Rhonda.
Dont Say FLA
February 13, 2024 at 3:03 pm
Ron DeSantis won reelection, but then Rhonda showed up.
How many more consecutive months of real estate slump will it take to convince you that Rhonda’s turned Florida into a pariah?
Some anti-vaxxers moved to Florida, Rhonda bragged about it, and now everybody else be like “Nope”
Everybody hates Rhonda
Peninsula Of Shame
February 13, 2024 at 5:04 pm
Even cockroaches mate you cun+
Kevin McBride
February 14, 2024 at 12:19 pm
” He is very popular here,”
His current approval ratings in Florida is below 50%.
Tom Palmer
February 13, 2024 at 2:51 pm
The only reason for DeSantis’ margin of victory was the lack of a viable Democratic candidate.
MH/Duuuval
February 13, 2024 at 3:06 pm
The first time Dee squeaked in on DJT’s coattails. (Imagine the stank from that angle.) And, the second time, Dee actively waged a campaign of voter suppression that led to the steep decline in turnout among minority voters. (White folks turned out at about the same rate in both elections.)
Tom
February 13, 2024 at 3:12 pm
Gee and just a few weeks ago it was the fault of cars going under water during hurricanes and floods that was causing the increase in motor vehicle insurance and now it’s EV’s – he literally just makes stuff up, like his buddy trump.
Dont Say FLA
February 13, 2024 at 4:06 pm
Let’s give Rhonda a break on this one. The NRA has him trained very well to never identify or state or even so much as hint at the actual reason for something that keeps happening.
Kermit T. F.
February 13, 2024 at 4:23 pm
It’s not easy being green. Not when you have “anti-woke” politicians who charge after anything that looks remotely like progress on the environment. I know this man. I’ve seen him in the swamp. He was up to his neck in it, and he looked quite content.
Rube voter
February 15, 2024 at 11:22 pm
That’s what the heels are for.
Peninsula Of Shame
February 13, 2024 at 5:05 pm
There isn’t a thing you can name that a white Christian won’t blame his shortcomings on; electric cars?
Unicorns are the problem! No more unicorns in the insurance pool! Now rates will be fine.
Lex
February 14, 2024 at 8:49 am
I have a solution… Do not government reinsure any property over $500,000.00. Just have the government reinsurance on regular-income property that is outside of flood zones. Make someone who chooses to buy a beachfront home get private non-state of Florida subsidized property insurance.
Rube voter
February 15, 2024 at 11:21 pm
That wouldn’t pander to his wealthy donors. Wrong base.
Salvadore Perez
February 14, 2024 at 10:12 am
Do they not have EV’s in other states too?
So why is the car insurance crisis worse in Florida? 🧐
Rube voter
February 15, 2024 at 11:19 pm
Man I heels blames voters for voting him into office…..more at 10.
Comments are closed.