Auto insurance

No-fault insurance means that when two or more drivers are involved in an accident, each person’s respective insurance company handles their claims, regardless of who is at fault. Despite the name “no-fault insurance,” your insurance company will still investigate the accident. To determine who was responsible, insurance companies use the Fault Determination Rules set out in the Ontario Insurance Act.

While your premium is the fee which you regularly pay to maintain insurance coverage, your deductible is the amount you are responsible for paying in the scenario of a settlement of a claim. Your deductible amount is removed (or deducted) from your total claim settlement amount.   

Your insurance rate or premiums are determined by a multitude of risk factors including but not limited to: year, make and model of the insured vehicle, driving record, where you live, age, gender and the amount you drive and how you use your vehicle.    

An auto insurance policy covers the insured car, not the driver. This means that your car is insured, regardless of who is driving your vehicle. If you have a friend or family member with a valid license who is driving your car regularly, you may want to consider adding them as an occasional driver to your policy. 

Rental car coverage does not come standard with most auto insurance policies. However, you have the option to add liability coverage for damage to vehicles you don’t own. This is known as Legal Liability for Damage to Non-Owned Automobiles coverage and is an additional endorsement to an auto insurance policy. Speak to a licensed CAA Insurance Agent or your broker to discuss adding this coverage to your policy.

Step 1. Stop your car and make sure that everyone inside is safe. Failing to stop when you’ve been involved in a car accident is a criminal offence in Ontario.  

Step 2. Call the police if anyone is injured or if it appears that the total damage to all the vehicles involved is more than $2,000. If no one is injured, or if it appears that the total damage to all the vehicles is less than $2,000, call your local Collision Reporting Centre within 24 hours. Call (416) 745-3301 or visit accsupport.com to locate the Collision Reporting Centre nearest you.  

Step 3. If it’s safe to do so, and you have access to a digital camera or cellphone, get out of your car and take pictures of the accident.   

Step 4. If it can be done safely, move your car to the side of the road and away from traffic. If your car cannot be driven, make sure to turn on the hazard lights or, if it’s appropriate, use cones, warning triangles or flares.  

Step 5. Exchange information with all the other parties involved and record as much information about the collision as possible.  

Step 6. Call your auto insurance company as soon as possible to report the accident.