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Ice cream uncle gives 1,000 freebies on his birthdayHigh Risk Car Insurance: Everything That Canadians Need to Know!
HIGH RISK AUTO INSURANCE: WHEN DO YOU NEED IT?
Not all drivers are the same: some drive within speed limits and others consider the highway to be a racetrack. Some drive carefully, others rarely make use of blinkers and disregard any use of winter tires. This type of activity poses a greater risk to all drivers on a road.
Insurance companies consider high-risk drivers those who are more likely to get into an accident according to statistics. There are several aspects that can indicate a driver is such a case e.g. age, driving/ticket history, etc. Very often insurers will consider somebody to be a high-risk driver who fits to the following profile:
• 2 at fault-accidents in the last 10 years or,
• 2 or 3 tickets in the last years
Auto insurance itself is not cheap in Canada, with Ontario having the highest price, an average of $153/month. Being a risky driver can result in far more expensive insurance premiums.
HIGH RISK CAR INSURANCE PREMIUMS: WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT?
Auto insurance costs vary significantly across Canada, depending on the province. On average drivers with 2 or less violations in the last 3 years will pay ~25% more than someone without any violations. For example Auto insurance drivers in Ontario with extensive auto insurance coverage (including liability, collision, comprehensive damage, and increased accident benefits) pay on average $150/month whereas those who have a maximum of 2 violations in the last 3 years need to consider an average of $184/month meaning an increase of 23% for the same coverage.
In many cases the premiums of "dangerous" auto insurance drivers can be doubled or even tripled depending on your driving history and other factors. Premiums also vary depending on if a driver already has insurance with a particular company or applies for a new policy with another company. Your existing company is more likely to simply push you to the higher level of premiums if you become a high-risk case. The requirements for a new policy are higher - insurers normally do not like high-risk drivers leaving a limited choice of companies for those who have bad driving records.
WHAT INSURANCE COMPANIES OFFER AUTO INSURANCE PROTECTION FOR SUCH DRIVERS
As soon as you fall into the category of high-risk driver, many companies will refuse to insure you, especially if you decide to apply for a new policy at a different company. The companies that will insure you will do so at a higher premium. There are also some insurance companies specializing in this type of car insurance, called specialty insurance companies. Here are some insurance companies that provide insurance for high-risk drivers:
• Pafco
• Jevco (Kingsway)
• Coachman Insurance
There is also an organization called Facility Association which is "funded by the private property and casualty insurance industry that makes insurance available to "higher risk" drivers who wouldn't otherwise be able to get insurance". This association does not issue insurance policies but works with specific insurance companies that issue policies and handle claims on its behalf.
REDUCING YOUR PREMIUMS AS A RISKY CAR DRIVER
You can become a safe driver again, if you change your driving behaviour and your risk profile improves. It takes 3 years for any tickets to come off your record. It takes longer to get rid of demerit points - here accidents will affect your driving record for up to 6 years. Also if you have a history of not paying your auto insurance premiums, it can impact your ability to get a policy and possibly the price you have to pay.
We hope you will avoid becoming a high-risk driver: it is safer for everybody on the road and helps out your wallet too. Drive safely!
Alex Saltykov is a Co-Founder of InsurEye Inc, a Canadian company that provides online tools for consumers to educate them about insurance and create transparency in insurance market place in Canada.
InsurEye Consumer Experience Tool is an independent platform for independent consumer insurance reviews. It covers most home, auto, and life insurers and their products across the country and is free for Canadians to use.
Insurance Price Comparison Tool is based on aggregated consumer data and helps to compare insurance premiums to the premiums paid by your peers.
