What Ontario drivers might save by dropping DCPD coverage
November 23, 2023 by David GambrillOntario brokers are questioning the value of the Ontario government’s forthcoming new law allowing drivers to drop out of direct compensation property damage (DCPD) coverage for their cars. DCPD coverage is currently mandatory and protects policyholders in the event of…
Auto insurance: How you can live with someone but not be in a “household”
November 22, 2023 by David GambrillA passenger seriously injured in an auto collision caused by an uninsured driver is not considered an “insured” under her father’s or boyfriend’s auto policies, even though she was living with them at the time of the crash, B.C.’s Court…
Risks of EV battery repair
August 23, 2023 by David GambrillCanadian Collision repair shops and their insurance partners should be investing in training and education to safely repair defective or damaged electrical vehicle (EV) batteries over the next three to five years, attendees heard at Collision Repair magazine’s EV Repair…
What FSRA found when it examined take-all-comers compliance
August 4, 2023 Philip PoradoOntario’s auto insurance regulator has used the phrase “systemic non-compliance” to describe how the province’s 12 largest auto insurance companies are approaching Ontario’s take-all-comers requirement. According to a Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) report, released Friday, market behaviour…
Why auto regulator fined Aviva and S&Y $300K each
August 4, 2023 by David GambrillOntario’s insurance regulator has fined Aviva Insurance Company of Canada (AIC) and its subsidiary S&Y Insurance Company (S&Y) $300,000 each for breaching the province’s “take all comers” rule for auto insurance. In a settlement with the Financial Services Regulatory Authority…
Insurer introduces new auto rating variable for oft-stolen cars
July 20, 2023 by David GambrillWith Canada’s property and casualty industry facing a record number of auto theft claims, insurers have introduced a variety of incentives and disincentives to encourage drivers to take theft-prevention measures — and now it’s showing up in a new ‘High…
New government commits to auto insurance reform
July 17, 2023 by David GambrillAlberta’s new UCP government has tasked its minister of finance, Nate Horner, to come up with options for auto insurance reform. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith sent a mandate letter to Horner dated July 13 instructing Horner to lead a review…
What’s to blame for distracted driving trends?
July 14, 2023 Philip PoradoBrokers hear lots of stories about minor fender-benders that don’t lead to injuries. And some could even be seen as amusing – if they weren’t linked to financial losses for insurers. “We had an incident where someone was trying to…
When will self-driving tech consistently prevent crashes?
February 17, 2023 Harrison Griffiths and Hannah Van StaverenOne aim of autonomous driving technology is to take the human element out of the driving ecosystem with an eye toward preventing collisions. But right now, autonomous driving technology can’t guarantee it will detect and react to road hazards earlier…
Failure to tell an insurer about a new vehicle can mean trouble
February 16, 2023 Philip PoradoA multiple-vehicle owner who failed to add a motorcycle to his insurance within a set time period is precluded from receiving benefits following an accident, said a Feb. 6 decision by Ontario’s Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT) adjudicator Stephanie Kepman. On…
Borrowing cars and implied consent: When ‘No’ doesn’t mean ‘No.’
January 27, 2023 by David GambrillIf a friend asks you to borrow your rental car, sometimes saying ‘No’ doesn’t actually mean ‘No.’ An auto repair shop owner in Ontario was held vicariously liable last Wednesday for an auto accident injury caused after his friend, who…
Canada’s top-10 stolen cars
November 15, 2022 by David GambrillIf there’s one supply chain Canada’s insurers would like to see disrupted, it’s the national, $1 billion business of auto theft rings supplying clients, unscrupulous dealers and chop shops with cars and auto parts. Of the $1 billion auto theft…