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Jim Long made headlines and drew applause earlier this month when he turned a requested 13 percent increase in auto insurance rates into a 16 percent cut. But it's always a good idea to read the fine print.

The N.C. insurance commissioner's order might not survive an appeal to the courts. Even if it is implemented, not every driver will benefit equally. Some could see their premiums go up, according to Ray Evans, general manager of the N.C. Rate Bureau.

Nothing is simple about auto insurance rates in North Carolina.

The Rate Bureau, which represents insurance companies, requested a 12.9 percent rate hike, after asking for no increase last year. Long said no, declaring there were no business changes in the past year to justify such a jump. He ought to be right about that.

Then he apparently decided there were sufficient changes to require a 16.1 percent decrease. The 29 percentage-point difference represents more than $1 billion, the largest gap ever between a Rate Bureau request and a commissioner's order, Department of Insurance spokeswoman Kristin Milam said Thursday.

It's an amazing gulf, given that Long and the Rate Bureau should be looking at the same data with similar objectives: to make sure rates are fair for consumers and insurers. If they're too low, companies might quit the North Carolina market rather than risk losing money. If they're too high, motorists suffer and more might drop their insurance but continue to drive, raising costs for everyone.

The hidden story is that not everyone pays the same for auto insurance, anyway, and not everyone would see rates decrease under Long's order. His directive applies to the highest rates charged. Many drivers considered good risks are offered discounts by their insurance companies. Evans of the Rate Bureau contends these discounts could be reduced or eliminated by companies trying to recover what they'd lose under Long's rate cut.

Then there's the state's Reinsurance Facility, which covers a whopping 25 percent of North Carolina drivers in a high-risk pool subsidized by a tax on everyone's premiums. That tax, currently 2.5 percent of liability coverage, could bump up, Evans said.

Wayne Goodwin, assistant insurance commissioner who's running to succeed the retiring Long, proposes a reorganization to reduce the number of drivers covered in the Reinsurance Facility. He said his plan would result in the riskiest drivers paying the highest premiums and the safest drivers paying less, a commendable aspiration. So is the hope that the public might get a better idea of how rate decisions will affect their own insurance costs.

Next, the Court of Appeals will review Long's order. Maybe the judges can settle the billion-dollar dispute.

Meanwhile, Milam of the Insurance Department offers good advice to drivers, especially those who might see their rates increase: shop around. And call the department's consumer line with complaints: 1-800-546-5664.