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What exactly
is "no-fault" insurance? |
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"No-fault" means
that your insurance company will pay benefits to you, the driver,
and to anyone else injured in your vehicle who doesn't have his
or her own Ontario automobile policy, no matter who caused the accident.
Their insurance company pays for injuries sustained by persons in
the other vehicle.
(click
here for a more details about no-fault insurance)
 
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I've sold
my vehicle and don't plan on getting a new one right away. Will I
be penalized for lapsing my insurance coverage? |
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A person cannot
be penalized for a lapse in insurance coverage unless:
- the driver's
licence was suspended because of a conviction related to the use
or operation of the automobile such as impaired driving;
- an accident
or conviction happened that would result in higher premiums and
the individual did not notify the insurance company;
- the insurance
policy was cancelled for non-payment of an insurance premium.
 
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How much liability
should I purchase? |
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As much as the
insurer is willing to sell you. Most companies will sell up to $2,000,000
on an auto policy. The difference in premium is usually only around
$25.00 or less to go from $1,000,000 to $2,000,000. At, Believer
Plus we strongly recommend that all of our clients purchase $2,000,000
liability.
 
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What basic
coverage must I have legally? |
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You can choose
how much insurance coverage you want to have. But, at the very least,
you must have the following to operate a vehicle on Ontario roads:
Statutory
Accident Benefits
This covers your medical expenses and provides you with income replacement
benefits if you are injured in a car accident, no matter who is
at fault in the accident.
Third-Party
Liability of at least $200,000
This protects you if you are sued because you or anyone else driving
your car injures someone else or damages someone else's property.
Direct
Compensation-Property Damage
This protects you if someone else causes damage to your car and
its contents. It is called direct compensation because you collect
directly from your insurer.
Uninsured
Automobile Coverage
This covers
you if you are injured or killed by an uninsured motorist or by
a hit-and-run driver. It also protects you if an identified uninsured
motorist causes damage to your car or its contents.
While the
above coverages are what you must buy at the very least, you can
choose to buy extra coverage to get extra protection. (click here
for information about optional coverages and for additional coverages
you can purchase).
 
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I'm considering
buying a new car and would like to keep my insurance costs down. Do
certain models of cars cost less to insure than others? |
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The Canadian
Loss Experience Automobile Rating system (known as CLEAR) is the
system that most insurers now use in calculating automobile insurance
rates. 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. But the kind of vehicle you drive is only
one factor insurers take into account when calculating your premium.
Others factors include your driving record, your location, and how
far you drive on a regular basis.
 
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How can I
save money on car insurance without sacrificing thorough coverage? |
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Of course, as
a client of Believer Plus, our staff will help you find the best
way to save money on your auto insurance. The following explanations
are some key examples of how to reduce your premiums.
Higher Deductibles:
One of the best ways to save money on car insurance is to choose
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.
(click
here for more details on saving money on your insurance)
 
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Does my car
insurance policy cover me anywhere in the world? |
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No. Your car
policy covers you for incidents occurring in Canada, the US and
on a vessel travelling between ports of those countries.
 
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What happens
if I get a new car over the weekend, and my insurance company is
closed until Monday morning…can I drive it / is it covered?
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A newly acquired
automobile is automatically covered for up to 14 days, but be careful
because the new car is only covered for what your existing car/cars
are presently covered for.
 
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How do traffic
tickets affect my insurance rates? |
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Most insurance
companies will excuse one minor conviction such as being charged
for running a red light, but they may not overlook more than one
in a three year period. A driver with a flawed record is considered
a higher risk on the road and is charged accordingly.
 
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If I lend
my car to a friend and they get in an accident, do my rates go up? |
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If you've given
another person permission to use your vehicle, and they get into
an accident that deems it necessary to make a claim, it will be
your insurance rates that are affected.
 
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