California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi's proposal to base rates on a driver's record rather than his or her location is meeting strong opposition by one insurance broker association in the state.

The regulations, which have been posted on the California Department of Insurance's website, do not specifically mention ZIP codes but instead mandate that no optional rating factor, which includes ZIP codes, marital status or persistency (the number of policies a customer has with a carrier), can outweigh the three main factors for determining rates. The three main factors are a consumer's driving record, annual number of miles driven and years of driving experience. A department spokesman, Norman Williams, acknowledged, however, that the "biggest thing they'll do is affect how ZIP codes are used in California."

In announcing his intent to introduce the new regulations late last week, Commissioner Garamendi said the new rules are intended to fulfill what he believes is the intent of California's Proposition 103, a massive reform proposal approved by voters in the state in 1988.