Auto Insurance for Mississauga Drivers
Auto Insurance
At Meadowvale Insurance Brokers Ltd. we can quote your automobile insurance needs with a variety of markets, ensuring you receive the coverage you require at a reasonable price.
Please browse through the reference material we have put together for you or send us your information for a quote. Click on any of the following headings to jump directly to that section.
What to do in the event of an automobile accident
At the Accident Scene
- Offer assistance and give aid to the injured.
- Call 911 for emergency assistance.
- If no injury is involved and if the vehicles can be driven safely, move them to the side of the road. Or better still, move them out of the flow of traffic.
- Obtain the names, addresses, etc. of other involved persons and witnesses. (You may use an Accident Report Form to assist in gathering the required particulars.)
- DO NOT sign any blank authorization forms for your vehicle repairs. If using the services of a tow truck, have a clear understanding of the fees and services being offered by the tow truck operator BEFORE you allow your vehicle to be towed away.
After Calling 911
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Follow the directions you are given. In many cases, someone will be dispatched to the scene of the collision.
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If the accident is determined to be minor and vehicles can be safely driven, you may be asked to complete a report at the police station.
The Insurance Claim
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Obtain a copy of your accident report if available. If not, record the accident number and keep it with the information on your Accident Report Form.
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Do not drive your car if it is unsafe to do so.
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Call your Insurance Broker and report your claim.
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DO NOT authorize repairs at a body shop until you have spoken to your Insurance Company. (You are not obligated to have repairs done at a body shop simply because you have been towed there.)
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DO NOT rent a car without the aid of your Insurance Company.
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Insurance Companies will not pay excessive towing charges. Towing fee rates are filed with the City and violations are subject to fines.
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Check any medical symptoms with your family physician.
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Fault will be determined by your insurance company in accordance with the provincial legislation, not by the officer at the scene. It is not dependent on the laying of charges.
Note: This information is intended to be of general assistance only. When in doubt, consult with your Broker or Insurance Company who will advise you on matters concerning insurance claims.
Your Auto Insurance Benefits are Changing
Before you renew your policy, you need to make important coverage decisions
Effective June 1, 2016, the Ontario government has introduced changes to the automobile insurance system to help make insurance premiums more affordable. These changes only apply to auto insurance policies issued or renewed on or after June 1, 2016.
The changes will give you more choice over the coverages you select and the price you pay for auto insurance. Many of the changes affect the Statutory Accident Benefits you receive if you are injured in an auto accident, regardless of who is at fault. Some of these benefits have been reduced and some options for increased coverage have been eliminated or changed.
Your enclosed policy automatically has the new lower standard benefits that will take effect on your renewal date. The most significant changes to your policy are:
Other important changes to your policy
Minor Accident– insurer can no longer use a minor at-fault accident meeting certain criteria to increase your premiums. This applies to accidents occurring on or after June 1, 2016.
Interest rate for Monthly Payment Plans– Maximum that can be charged for monthly premium payments has been lowered from 3% to 1.3% for one year policies, with corresponding reductions for shorter terms.
Comprehensive Deductible – The standard deductible for Comprehensive coverage has been increased from $300 to $500.
Non-Earner benefit– The six-month waiting period for people who are not working has been reduced to four weeks. Benefits can only be received for up to two years after the accident.
Duration of Medical, Rehabilitation and Attendant Care benefits– For all claimants except the children, duration of this standard benefit is now five years for non-catastrophic injuries, and will be paid only as long as you remain medically eligible.
Other Options
The following chart lists some, but not all of the options available to purchase other additional or increased benefits and coverages. You can also choose not to increase any benefit or coverage.
To change your benefits or coverages call your insurance representative.
For general information about auto insurance in Ontario, more about these changes, definitions of different types of coverages and a glossary of insurance terms, visit www.fsco.gov.on.ca or www.ibc.ca.
To see this information in full, please take a look at our PDF, which you can download HERE.
What is “No-Fault” Insurance?
Ontario has a "no-fault" car insurance system, but this does not mean that no one is at fault in an accident.
The term "no-fault" insurance simply means that if you are injured or your car is damaged in an accident, then you deal with your own insurance company, regardless of who is at fault. You don't have to go after the at-fault driver for compensation.
Similarly, if any passengers in your car are injured, then each passenger who has a car insurance policy of their own will approach their own insurance company for benefits. If your passengers do not have a car insurance policy of their own, then your insurance company may pay benefits to them. The driver of the other car involved in the accident will claim benefits from his or her own insurance company.
Here's a brief description of each of the benefits:
Someone is always deemed to be "at-fault" in a car accident, whether partly or fully. The law requires insurance companies to assign the percentage of fault for each of the drivers involved in the accident. This is done by using the "Fault Determination Rules".
These rules, which are set out in a regulation under the Insurance Act, help insurance companies deal with accident claims quickly and economically.
You can get more information on the Fault Determination Rules from the Financial Services Commission of Ontario's website at www.fsco.gov.on.ca, or by calling the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) at 416-362-9528, or toll-free at 1-800-387-2880.
Keep in mind that the Fault Determination Rules differ from any charges laid by the police under the Highway Traffic Act. For example, if you were unable to stop your car on an icy road and rear-ended another car, the police officer may have told you that "no one was at-fault".
This usually means that no police charges will be laid. It does not mean that the insurance companies involved will not consider who was at fault. In this case, the insurance company would apply the Fault Determination Rules, which state that a car that rear-ends another car is at-fault, since drivers are required to take road conditions into consideration.
Keep in mind that your percentage of fault will determine the amount of deductible you have to pay. Generally, insurance companies will increase your premiums at your next renewal date if you have been deemed to be fully or partially at-fault in an accident.
If you don't agree with the way in which your insurance company has determined fault, you should contact the person your insurance company has appointed to deal with consumer complaints. This is usually the company's Ombudsman Liaison Officer. If your complaint is still not resolved, you may write to Ontario's Insurance Ombudsman. If you are still not satisfied with your insurance company's position, you may choose to go to court.
© Financial Services Commission of Ontario
Meadowvale Insurance Brokers Ltd. serves all of Ontario, particularly the following areas:
In the Hamilton Area:
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Hamilton
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Stoney Creek
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Ancaster
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Waterdown
In the Oakville Area:
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Oakville
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Burlington
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Milton
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Mississauga
Also:
- Georgetown and Surrounding Areas