THE incidence of fleet and commercial vehicle insurance claims has dropped massively over the last decade, but the cost of claims continues to soar. Statistics released by the Association of British Insurers reveal that the number of claims fell from 1,402,000 to 1,118,000 between 1985 and 1995.

The cost of claims has, however, more than doubled, from £623 million to £1,413 million over the same period, with the average cost per claim rising to £1,263 from £444. Inflation accounts for only part of these changes. Repairs have become more expensive as vehicles become more technologically advanced, while stolen vehicles of high value are less likely to be recovered.