Description: Are your tires ticking time bombs? How important is the condition of your tires to the safety and overall operation of your car? Watch this video to find out.
Canadian Auto Insurance
The Ontario Ministry of Transportation has approved the use of many new and alternative vehicles on public roads, all in an effort to expand mobility options for Ontarians and to provide an environmentally-friendly way to travel.
You should be aware of some significant changes that are coming to all
A Covered Caregiver under Ontario’s New Auto Insurance
By Liane Wood
Changes are coming into effect for your auto policy in
Watch this video to find out if your after market stereo or other after market components in your car are covered under your auto policy.
Watch this quick video to learn what to look for when choosing a driving school. Important information for parents as well as new drivers.
Watch this short video (2 mins 30 secs) for an overview of the new accident benefits coverage for all Ontario Auto Insurance Policies starting this fall, September 1, 2010.
This is a short video (2 mins 29 secs) that gives an overview of the auto insurance changes coming this fall.
Changes to Ontario Auto Insurance Give You More Choice
By Liane Wood
Click here to read about how changes to Ontario Automobile Insurance give you more choice.
Providing More Choice to Consumers: What you need to know about changes to Auto Insurance in Ontario
By Liane Wood
Click here to view information about the changes to Auto Insurance in Ontario.
Click Here to view the changes to Auto Insurance in Ontario effective on September 1st, 2010.
It is a common misconception that everything that is inside your vehicle is covered under your auto insurance policy in case
of theft. The truth is that only the vehicle itself and attached equipment is covered under an auto insurance policy in
Ontario Canada. While auto theft claims are an on-going event, there are certain things you should know before you load up
your car with valuable merchandise and leave the car parked on the street overnight.
With thousands of
Road safety and showing respect for others on the road can keep everyone safe throughout the year. Whether it’s other vehicles, cyclists, or pedestrians, there are bike rules which are mandated in
What type of driver are you? Do you become easily flustered when someone drives too slowly? Do you blow your horn incessantly when a driver doesn’t move fast enough when the light turns green? Do you exhibit road rage when a driver is hot on your tail, or cuts you off on purpose? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are not alone.
Among the list of annoying driver habits, road rage is number one. We’ve all seen it, and perhaps experienced it first hand. Here is some interesting data taken in a recent survey of approximately 1600 licensed drivers in Canada, which identifies each type of driver and their habits.
It’s a Friday afternoon, you’re trying to meet a deadline at work, and you want to arrive home to have dinner with the family for a change. You’ve been working on this project for a week, and have had little sleep. After giving the completed project to your boss, you suddenly realize how tired you are. After all, a great weight has been lifted from your shoulders and all you want to do is go home and relax.
With a two-hour drive ahead of you, you decide to have a cup of coffee before you leave the office. As you head out on the road, the traffic is looking pretty good. About an hour from home you suddenly feel the car shift and realize you dozed off for a moment. Startled, you gently pull over to the right and stop at a place where you can park off the road. You find yourself shaking and breathing heavily. This is the first time this has happened, and the anxiety you feel is overwhelming.
What you have just experienced is drowsy driving. Studies have shown that drowsy driving can be just as lethal as drunk driving. Research has determined that driving, after being awake for more than 24 hours, is similar to a drunk driver with an alcohol level of .10, which is approximately 25% higher than the .08 minimum under Canadian law.
Drowsy driving impairs your reaction time, you begin to lose awareness of traffic around you, and your judgment is severely impaired. While it is illegal to drive drunk or become drowsy due to drugs or alcohol, there is no law on the Canadian books to deal with drowsy driving. However, accidents which have occurred due to being overly tired and dozing off at the wheel have occurred. For this reason, it would be appropriate for you to check out auto insurance rates at: http://www.insurance-rates.ca/autoquote.html to ensure you are properly covered in case you are involved in an accident caused by driver fatigue.
While researchers are exploring a new method to prevent drowsy driving, it is important for all drivers not to get behind the wheel if there is even a hint of fatigue. While we all look forward to weekends and days off with the family, driving while drowsy will not only cause a serious accident but, more importantly, may prevent you from arriving home at all.
How many times have you looked ahead while driving and became annoyed because of the red light was flashing at the railway crossing? Too many to count? Yes, you want to get home to your family, or perhaps you’re late for an appointment and you think, “I can run that light before the train arrives.”
The Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) which regulates insurance companies in Ontario has just released the rate changes which have been approved for the first quarter of 2007.
It should be noted that ”rate changes approved during the first quarter of 2007, which is January 1, 2007 through March 31, 2007, indicate an average of +0.11% based on the entire market,” according to FSCO. In addition, “the combined change in approved rates for 2004, 2005, 2006 and the first quarter of 2007 is -14.19%.” �
While only a small percentage of insurance companies apply for rate changes in any quarter, listed below are two companies which have filed, and have been approved, for rate decreases.
Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company, Inc., had a 2005 Market Share of 4.80%, and their approved rate change is -1.06%. This is a decrease in insurance premiums.
It is important to note that the rate change for Dominion of Canada also applies to Chieftain Insurance Company as it operates as a division of Dominion.
Kingsway General Insurance Company had a 2005 Market Share of 2.01%, and their rate change is -0.23%. This is another decrease in insurance premiums.
When you take all of the insurance companies combined and apply their rate change for the first quarter of 2007 it is obvious that the companies mentioned herein have taken further rate decreases.�
FSCO also notes that, “they will continue to ensure that insurance companies’ rate changes are reasonable and justified, and that the rates insurers charge are balanced with their ability to meet their future claim costs.”
While insurance premiums run in cycles, that is, increases and decreases; consumers should not presume that this in any way suggests that everyone’s premiums are going to rise. The release of the new rates listed above merely show that while some companies are increasing their rates, there are still others whose rates are going down.
Now more than ever, it is a good idea to compare rates on auto insurance with different insurance companies to determine the best rates offered. For instant quotes, go to www.Insurance-Rates.ca to complete an online rate comparison.
Tougher Penalties For Drunk Driving And Street Racing
By Liane Wood
According to the Canadian Driver Magazine issued April 13, 2007, “the Ontario provincial government has introduced legislation that will toughen penalties for drunk drivers or those caught street racing.”
The legislation will impose stiffer penalties which will allow “courts to take away vehicles from repeat drinking and driving offenders; establish an early ignition interlock program for Criminal Code offenders; increase roadside drivers’ license suspension for drunk drivers; and take drivers’ licenses away from street racers and increase fines.”
In addition, a program called E.R.A.S.E., which stands for Eliminate Racing Activity on Streets Everywhere, was established due to a pandemic of street racing which occurred in the great Toronto area in the 1990’s. This program was born out of the creation of Operation Dragnet, formed by three officers who got together and decided enough was enough. E.R.A.S.E. evolved out of Operation Dragnet and has been in operation for nine years. In fact, officers from a dozen police agencies and the Ministries of Transportation and Environment have worked in a collaborative effort to stop, target, and prosecute those individuals who have committed their heinous offences.
The mission statement of the E.R.A.S.E. program is “to change poor driver behavior through education and strategic enforcement.” This aptly named organization is dedicated to a woman named Andrea Pike, a mother of two, who was killed by a street racer on May 30, 2000. She was only 29. The driver of the vehicle was given a sentence of two years.
It has become quite clear of late that drunk driving and street racing has become a serious crime in Canada. While law enforcement has caught the criminals and the courts have used their powers to execute judgment upon them, there are those who are still getting away with a slap on the wrist.
While the sentence invoked against the killer of Andrea Pike is heartbreaking, additional steps are being taken to increase jail time, revoke licenses and, yes, take away one’s vehicle. Is this enough? Certainly not.
It is up to organizations such as E.R.A.S.E, Operation Dragnet, M.A.D.D., and others to continue to educate the public of the dangers of drinking and driving and street racing. Further, it is up to our courts to hand down mandatory sentences for these offenses to ensure that others will not take dare to assume they will be given light sentences.
The results are in. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the top performers in crash tests are the 2007 Acura MDX luxury SUV and the 2008 Ford Taurus and twin Mercury Sable large family cars.
Have you ever wondered what criteria are used to determine how cars are chosen as top safety pick? Go to http://www.iihs.org/ratings/default.aspx, where you will not only find the top safety pick for large cars, midsize minivans, midsize SUVs, and small vehicles, but you will also find detailed information on how the Institute rates a vehicle as well.
In order to qualify for top safety pick according to the Institute, “vehicles must earn the highest rating of good in all three Institute tests – front, side, and rear.” Interestingly enough, only 13 cars, minivans, and SUVs qualified for these awards. However, if you are looking for a car worthy of its metal, you have 18 cars, SUVs, and minivans to choose from and which offer “top-rated crash Protection and ESC,” according to the institute. ESC is designated as electronic stability control.
Another interesting fact is that the Taurus replaced the 500, originally introduced in 2005 and which also earned the top safety award. However, it lost this honor in 2007 when the Institute decided that all future models needed to incorporate the electronic stability control.�
While we all want to purchase cars that are safe, the car manufacturers are gearing up towards meeting the goals of crash safety tests to ensure that all passengers are protected from front, side, and rear-end collisions. However, it must be pointed out that the speed which is used to determine front, side, and rear-end collisions are not realistic for all types of driving. For example: for a front-end collision test, the vehicle is traveling at 40 miles per hour. For the side crash test, the vehicle is struck by a barrier moving at 31 miles per hour, and for the rear-end crash protection rating, a stationary vehicle is struck in the rear at 20 miles per hour.
With newer controls being placed on vehicles these days, earning the top safety award gives you an effective guideline when choosing a new vehicle. Additional airbags available in most new models and emphasis on front, rear, and side crash protection is a component most car manufacturers are concerned with, as are the insurance companies as well.
In the February 12, 2007, edition of Canadian Driver magazine, an article by Jordan W. Charness discusses funeral processionals and right of way. Undoubtedly, you have crossed paths with funeral processionals at one time or another. How do you handle it? Do you wait while the entire procession passes, or do you try to sneak in behind one of the cars.�
Many people believe in a myth that is analogous to crossing paths with a black cat, and that is whenever there is a funeral processional, you never jump in line with the cars but wait until they have all passed (these include funeral guests as well). How can you tell who is part of the funeral procession? Apparently, they are supposed to keep their headlights on so you know who they are. Do most people respect the line? No.
According to the article, Mr. Charness talks about the fact that funerals usually begin and end on time. Therefore, when the cars leave the funeral home to proceed afterward to the burial site, you pretty well know which of the cars belong to the funeral processional. He goes on to state that the lead car, the hearse, clearly indicates there is a procession ongoing and that family members and friends stick close behind. So too, they drive quite slowly, so it would be almost impossible to miss.
Mr. Charness then states that while “there is a persistent rumour that cars in a funeral procession have the right of way and may go through traffic lights and stop signs in order to keep up with the hearse, there was a time when people indicated that their cars were part of the funeral procession by turning their headlights on. Other cars would avoid cutting into the procession so as to keep it whole.”
According to Mr. Charness, “every car in Canada is now required by law to have daytime running lights which usually take the form of the front headlights being on at all times. It is, therefore, no longer possible to show that you are part of a funeral procession by leaving your headlights on. This is probably just as well since there actually is no law that gives right-of-way or priority to members of the funeral procession. In fact hearses, limousines, and those following are required to obey all the usual traffic rules and regulations. Unless the procession is accompanied by a police escort blocking off the side streets as it passes along, each member of the procession must stop at all red lights and stop signs.” His point is well taken.
With most insurance companies, one minor ticket will not affect your rates. However, if you have two or more tickets on your record in the past three years, you increase your chances of a rate increase due to tickets. In Ontario, seat belt violations are minor tickets. Recently, the laws regarding seat belt use have changed in Ontario.
According to a recent survey, out of 1,215 Canadians who were asked if they were distracted while driving, 58% said they were. Cell phone use while driving is an accident waiting to happen, and this statistic is just the tip of the iceberg. The Canadian insurance companies are launching a 4-million-dollar campaign to educate the public on safety measures while driving.
Government Auto Insurance vs. Private Auto Insurance
By Liane Wood
According to a study on auto insurance conducted by The Fraser Institute, it was revealed that, “Drivers in British Columbia, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba pay more for auto insurance on average than drivers in other provinces.” In addition, the “study also found that the only provinces where the cost of auto insurance increased between 2004 and 2005 were BC, Saskatchewan, and Quebec, all of which have government-run auto insurance.”
According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, the highest theft rates occur among 2000 Honda Civic SiR two door and 1999 Honda Civic SiR vehicles, respectively. Moreover, the least stolen vehicle is the Saab 9-5 four-door.�
What is it about the Honda Civic that is so appealing to thieves? The answer is the parts. While it may cost more to repair one type of car than another, the theft of Honda Civics for parts has become a major concern among insurance companies and owners alike.
The Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) has reported the approved rate changes during the third quarter of 2006. To view the full report go to: http://www.ontarioinsurance.com/english/insurance/auto/rates/q3-2006.asp
Recently, I received a joke email from a friend and thought I would share it here:
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Is Your College or University Kid Insured?
By Liane Wood
Parents who have children heading off to college are often blindsided with hectic planning and shopping. It’s all too easy to overlook small details. As your child prepares to leave home college-bound, don’t forget to review your insurance plan. Here are a few tips to help keep you on track:
If you’ve never been involved in a car accident, you’re among the luckiest (or safest) of drivers. However, you should think about the possibilities and what you would do if you are ever in an accident. The best protection (next to being insured) is being prepared.
Have you ever wondered what type of back-up plan you should create in conjunction with your property insurance? Purchasing a policy is just the first step in insuring your home. Another important measure you can take is to create a household inventory list.
The Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) has issued a warning about two unlicensed companies advertising the sale of auto insurance in the province.
Graduated licensing was introduced in Ontario in April of 1994 and it’s credited with a 30% reduction in the number of accidents involving new drivers. Both the Ontario government and the insurance industry have worked together to ensure there are incentives for people to complete the graduated licensing process. However, there is a trend being set with young drivers getting to the G2 level of license and staying there indefinitely. Many of them are taking more than the maximum 5 years before applying for a G license.
With most insurance companies, one factor in calculating your premium is based on how much you drive. Usually it’s how far you drive to work and how many kilometers you drive in a year.
Less driving means less exposure to situations that could result in an accident. And, less driving can mean lower insurance premiums.
By Rolf Rasmusson
You can go online to easily find and quote auto insurance comprehensive coverage.
Deciphering the Serial Number (VIN) of Your Vehicle
By Liane Wood
Ever wonder if those 17 numbers and letters that make up your vehicle’s serial number are random or if they actually mean something? Well they do mean something. Here’s a breakdown for you.
If it sounds too good to be true…..it probably is. Make sure you purchase your insurance from a licensed insurance company and make sure that the agent/broker is licensed as well. To check out the licensing status of insurance companies and agents go to www.ontarioinsurance.com. To check out the license of an insurance broker go to www.ribo.com
NRC (Natural Resources Canada) has a great tool for comparing the fuel efficiency of vehicles. Whether you’re looking for a new car, or want to see how yours measures up you can check it out here:
During the winter, driving can be risky and difficult at times. Before you can even think straight, you are slamming on the brakes and plowing into a head-on collision. Unfortunately this scenario plays out several times during the winter travel season. As a seasoned driver you may think you can handle the winter roads, but one factor that you may be overlooking is the inexperienced, unaware drivers.
No matter what anybody says, car insurance is complicated. Adding to consumer’s confusion on this subject is the myriad of myths surrounding it.
It’s important for consumers to have accurate information so they can make educated, informed decisions regarding their car insurance.
So what’s fiction and what’s fact?
The Ministry of Transportation in Ontario has passed a new law which comes into effect September 1, 2005 (Thursday of this week). This law is aiming to protect children and youth and reduce the number of children injured in vehicle accidents.
On Tuesday, July 19, 2005, the Canadian Consumers Association released a report stating that, on average, Ontario drivers pay 45% more for auto insurance than drivers in British Columbia.
Most people understand that they need auto insurance. In fact, it’s the law, if you drive a car, it has to be insured and the penalty for driving without insurance is pretty severe. However, insurance policy wordings are not easy for everyone to understand. And what you don’t know about auto insurance can hurt you. Here’s some clarification of a few things that are commonly misunderstood about auto insurance.
News Released: December 01, 2005
(PRLEAP.COM) Insurance-Rates.ca announced today the launch of their online comparative quoting service in Ontario. This is for consumers who see insurance shopping as cumbersome and a waste of time.
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