Auto & Vehicle Insurance

Many factors affect the rating of your vehicle and the amount you pay. A large component of premium increases can be attributed to the cost of technology being installed into vehicles and market values associated with replacing said items.

In addition to rating characteristics noted in “how is my auto insurance premium calculated”, the following items are also considered: inflation, busier roads, high car prices, company rate changes, car thefts, and insurance fraud.

Insurers consider multiple factors when calculating premiums, including your age; driving record in North America; garage location/postal code; use of vehicle; type of vehicle; how far you drive on a regular basis; claims history; coverage selection; and annual mileage. Each insurer uses their own formula, so rates can vary between providers.

Yes, as indicated above with the garage location/postal code rate factor. Drivers who live in a city generally pay higher premiums than those who live in the suburbs or country - the reason being more traffic on the roads increases the risk of accidents.

The Canadian Loss Experience Automobile Rating system (known as CLEAR). This system bases rates on each vehicle model's claims experience; including cost of repairs, frequency and severity of injury claims, and frequency of theft.

At Ontario West/Bill Blaney Insurance Brokers (OWBBIB), our team will guide you to find the most impactful way to save money on your auto insurance. The following are some key examples of how to reduce your premiums:

Higher Deductible: One of the best ways to save money on car insurance is to select a higher deductible. The deductible is the portion of the claim that you agree to pay. In most cases, the higher the deductible the lower the premium.

Minimize Claims: Another way to save is not to make a lot of small claims. The more claims you put through, the more you will be seen as a risk to insure.

Discounts: Some insurance companies will offer discounts for placing more than one line of business with their organization. Others will give discounts if you have installed protection devices into your auto. There are also group discounts or rates available from some companies to members of an eligible organized group.

Your car insurance deductible is the amount you agreed to pay in the event of a loss when you make a claim. The amount you pay is calculated based on many other factors, e.g., value of the vehicle, rate groups, and the number of claims associated with the coverage purchased.

Pleasure or commute use is a rating indicator of how you use your vehicle and how often. The simple way to determine whether you use your car for pleasure or commute is to ask yourself where you drive and how regularly.

If you go to work or school every morning and come back using your car, that is classified as commute use.

If you are only using the vehicle to run errands, go shopping, etc. on a sporadic basis, this would be classified as pleasure use.

If you've given someone permission to use your vehicle, and they get into an accident, it will be your insurance rates that are affected.

“If you lend your car, you lend your insurance”

No. Your automobile policy covers you for incidents occurring in Canada, the United States, and on a vessel travelling between ports of those countries.

A newly acquired automobile is automatically covered for up to 14 days; however, the newly acquired vehicle is only covered for what your existing vehicle is currently covered for.

If you recently purchased a vehicle that is either being financed or leased, then you may be required to carry full coverage. This would need to consist of Liability, Collision and Comprehensive (or All Perils), with a minimum deductible of $500, in most cases.

Yes, only when they have successfully completed the graduate licensing program from G1 to G2. Please contact your broker once they have been awarded with a G2 license to have them added as a listed driver on your insurance plan.

If they have completed a certified Driver’s Education Course, please make sure to indicate that as well, as it may assist the insurance rating.

If the driver of the vehicle who hit your car cannot be identified: your claim will be paid out under the Collision portion of your automobile insurance policy and subject to your deductible depending on your provider.) However, if your auto policy does not have Collision coverage, you may have to pay for the damages out of pocket.

If the driver who hit your car can be identified: report the incident to the police or a collision reporting centre (if damage is greater than $2,000) as well as to us, as soon as possible. If the driver has insurance, the loss will be paid out of Direct Compensation section of your insurance policy.

"No-fault" insurance means that each driver’s insurance company will cover their policyholder's claim, regardless of who is at fault in an accident. This speeds up the claims process and ensures everyone receives the necessary support from their own insurer.

DCPD coverage applies if you’re not at fault for an accident. Your insurance will cover the repair costs for your vehicle to the extent you were not responsible, even if the other driver is at fault. It only applies if an accident occurs in Ontario with an insured vehicle.

If you are in an accident, follow these steps:

1) Stop your vehicle immediately.

2) Ensure safety and check for injuries. If there are injuries, do not move the victim(s) and call 911. Follow directives accordingly.

3) Exchange information with the other driver(s), such as name, address, phone number, insurance company and policy number.

4) Take pictures and video of the scene and damage. Make note of the damage to both vehicles and names of passengers, their position in the vehicle(s), as well as licence plates of vehicles at the scene.

5) Report the accident to the police if: the damage exceeds $2,000; someone is injured; or a crime is involved.

6) Notify your insurance broker or company promptly and provide any required details. Discuss the claims process and next steps.

Contact your insurance broker or company promptly to file a claim. Provide necessary details and documents, such as accident reports and photos. Settlement time varies depending on the claim's complexity but can take a few days to several weeks.

No. Your auto policy covers only items usual to and attached to your car, not the possessions you keep in it. To have coverage for theft of items inside your car, you need to have adequate coverage through your home or tenant insurance policy. If you aren’t sure that you have the right coverage in place, contact us, and we will review your policy with you to ensure you are adequately insured.

If you have the OPCF-20 (Loss of Use) endorsement added to your policy; in the event of an insured loss (such as a collision, hail, fire, theft or additional upset) you will be provided a rental vehicle for use while your vehicle is not drivable and while repairs are being completed. The endorsement has a maximum amount payable or allotment of days. A rental car is available without collision in a not at fault loss once a third party is identified, found responsible, and insured.

The OPCF-20 does not provide coverage if you are renting a vehicle for your own personal use.

Your premium may increase if you’re found at fault in an accident. However, some insurers offer accident forgiveness protection for additional premium, which may prevent a rate increase if it’s your first at-fault accident. Always check your policy details to understand how accidents might affect your premium.

This is an optional, but strongly encouraged and beneficial, endorsement that protects an eligible driver’s driving record rating and claim-free discount with their current insurer after an at fault accident. There are individual carrier rules and eligibility requirements in order to add this endorsement.

Yes, it can also impact your driver rating and eligibility to obtain insurance as well. This is why we strongly encourage all eligible drivers to add the Minor Conviction Protector endorsement. This optional coverage protects your driver rating with your current insurer from being affected due to your first minor conviction. There are carrier specific rules and eligible requirements in order to add this endorsement.

The Ontario Insurance Act states that accidents cannot be blamed on weather or road conditions. Drivers are expected to take precautions like using headlights, slowing down, using snow tires etc. Unfortunately, any single vehicle accident will be deemed 100% at fault.

No, a Standard Personal Auto insurance policy doesn’t cover commercial activities like ridesharing. If you drive for a rideshare company, you’ll need additional coverage or a specific ridesharing policy, which is offered by some insurers in Ontario.

Insurers offer various discounts according to eligibility. This includes having a clean driving record, electric or hybrid vehicle, bundling home and auto insurance, out of town student, retiree, theft recovery device, completing a driver training course for newly licenced drivers, being a loyal customer, and/or installing winter tires. Ask your Customer Service Representative about any available discounts that could apply to you in order to reduce your premium.

Accident Benefits provide financial support if you’re injured in an accident, covering medical expenses, rehabilitation, income replacement, and attendant care. Optional upgrades are available if you want increased coverage.

Collision and comprehensive coverage are optional but highly recommended. Collision covers repairs to your vehicle if you’re at fault in an accident, while Comprehensive covers non-collision-related damage, like theft or vandalism. These coverages are typically required if you’re financing or leasing a vehicle.

It is okay, but unless you are rated for using your vehicle for business or commercial use, your personal use vehicle is not rated correctly. Call our team members for review and to ensure you are covered properly.

If you have OPCF-27 (Legal Liability for Damage to Non-Owned Automobiles), then most likely, yes! This endorsement extends Section C: Loss of Damage to insured Automobile cover to Named persons, against the liability imposed by law upon said person or assumed under any contract or agreement for loss or damage to an automobile not owned.

The insured vehicle must carry Physical Damage Coverage (All Perils or Comprehensive and Collision or Specified perils). The rented/borrowed vehicle can only be used for pleasure purposes and no single period of more than 30 consecutive days. There are other carrier specific rules, so if you are unsure if you have this coverage, or what other stipulations are in place in order to utilize this coverage, please get in touch with your Customer Service Representative.

The OPCF-28a endorsement deletes all coverage while the Named Person is operating the insured or specified automobile(s). This includes any temporary and newly acquired automobile(s). A signed form must be completed and submitted for this endorsement to apply. As all licensed drivers in your household must be noted on your Automobile Insurance Policy; essentially, use of this form would exclude a driver from your
policy and remove all insurance, should they operate said vehicle.

The OPCF-28a differs from the OPCF28 endorsement as the OPCF-28 will reduce coverage for a selected driver, whereas the OPCF-28a will completely exclude the driver from your insurance while driving. The key difference is that the OPCF-28 will allow for some liability protection, loss or damage; compared to the OPCF-28a, which removes all insurance that is legally required to drive in Ontario.

Yes, insurers can cancel policies if premiums are unpaid, if there’s fraud or misrepresentation, or if you’re deemed too high-risk. If your insurer cancels your policy, they must provide written notice within a specified timeframe.