It is illegal to drive a motor vehicle without insurance in Ontario, according to the Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act. Every motor vehicle insurance coverage must include the following:
There are other optional types of coverage available in addition to the mandatory coverage requirements. For additional information, see 517 Automobile Insurance. It is the obligation of the driver to guarantee that he or she is adequately insured.
If the police stop you, you must show them your insurance card if they ask for it. If you do not have your insurance card with you, the police may give you 48 hours to go to the police station and show them your card as a kindness, but this is not a legal requirement.
What happens if you don’t have car insurance in Ontario?
In Ontario, driving without insurance is illegal. The fines begin at $5,000, but they don’t end there. Your driver’s license is suspended for a minimum of 30 days, but it might be suspended for up to a year. Finally, your vehicle may be impounded for a period of three months. It’s not a crime, and you won’t get any demerit points for it.
Can I drive a car which is not insured?
It makes no difference if the car is insured; if you are not insured to drive it, you are breaking the law. As a result, the fixed penalty may be imposed and you may be brought to court. Not only that, but the owner of the vehicle can be held liable if they knowingly allow an uninsured driver to operate it.
If you want or need to drive someone else’s car, ensure sure you are properly insured. Fully comprehensive insurance frequently includes DOC (driving other people’s cars), but double-check your coverage. Likewise, if you’re allowing someone else to drive your car, be sure they’re insured to do so!
Remember that even if your policy covers you to drive other cars, it is likely only third-party insurance, so if the vehicle is going to be expensive to fix or replace, it may be worth getting better temporary insurance on it.
Can you drive someone else’s car without insurance?
It’s critical to remember that you can only drive a car if you’re covered by insurance. You will not be legally protected to drive if you do not have your own insurance policy (either on your own car with DOC coverage, as a named driver on the car owner’s policy, or standalone temporary protection).
It’s important to remember that the driver is the one who is insured, not the car. While the car’s owner may have insurance, each driver must either have their own insurance (either by driving other cars coverage or a temporary policy) or be specifically identified on the policyholder’s insurance policy.
To summarize, you must have insurance in order to drive an automobile, whether your own or someone else’s. The sole exception is when you hire a car or take driving lessons in a professional instructor’s automobile, in which case the insurance is included in the rental fee.
In the end, even with their approval, it’s best not to leap into a friend’s automobile and think you can legally drive it.
Can the police tell if you have no insurance in Ontario?
Many of our customers charged with Driving Without Insurance Section (2)(1)(a) of the Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act wonder if the police checked their insurance before handing them the $5,000 fine at the roadside.
I’m writing to inform you that yes, police can verify your vehicle’s insurance “status” by looking up your license plate on MTO. If you don’t have insurance, the computer will display “UNCONFIRMED” in large red characters. In our experience, the system is typically correct. We rarely come across a scenario where the customer was truly covered by insurance.
Each insured car’s vehicle identifying number (VIN) and mandated coverage status are stored in Ontario’s IVP database. This database is maintained by IBC on behalf of the insurance sector.
MTO granted access to the IVP database in the spring of 2011 so that Ontario law enforcement agencies could verify insurance. Officers can now check their mandated insurance coverage immediately from their patrol cars.
Our consumers frequently believe they had a genuine insurance policy.
When they are pulled over on the side of the road, however, they are not only charged with a $5,000 No Insurance fee, but they are also charged with a traffic violation “A charge of “false information” can result in a fine of $5,000 or more.
This occurs because you did not have valid insurance yet submitted an insurance slip to the cops.
Always utilize a licensed insurance firm, agent, or broker to avoid this. Insurance in Ontario is regulated by the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO), which is part of the Ministry of Finance. To see if an insurance firm or agent is licensed, go to the FSCO website. The Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario (RIBO) is Ontario’s self-regulatory organization for insurance brokers. To see if an insurance broker is licensed, go to the RIBO website.
It is your responsibility to ensure that your insurance payments are made on a monthly basis.
It is your obligation to ensure that all payments are completed if a payment was not processed.
The fact that you were not notified of your appointment “Nonpayment” is not an acceptable defense.
Even if you’re frustrated, don’t try to defend yourself without first seeking free legal assistance.
You might feel outraged, or you might believe you have a good cause for not obtaining insurance.
This, on the other hand, will not benefit you in court.
There are certain methods and defenses you should be aware of if you want to reduce your No Insurance fine.
Use the No Insurance penalty calculator below to obtain a better sense of the fines you’ll face in court.
What happens if you’re caught without insurance?
If you don’t have car insurance, you’ll get six to eight penalty points on your license. These points will appear on your driving record for a period of four years. If you accumulate 12 or more penalty points in three years, you may lose your driving privileges. If you are unable to drive for more than 56 days, you must apply for a new license and may be asked to repeat your driving test. Because you must inform your insurance provider that you have penalty points for the next five years, it may affect the cost of auto insurance in the future (after receiving them).
Can I drive my girlfriends car?
As long as you have given them permission to drive your car, some drivers will be insured under your policy. This is referred to as “permissive use.” Immediate or extended family, friends, or even a boyfriend or girlfriend who doesn’t live with you could be among these drivers.
How many points do you get for no insurance?
The courts take a harsh position against drivers who are accused with driving without insurance, and it is considered a strict liability offense in which you either had proper insurance at the time of driving or didn’t. This offense has a penalty of 68 penalty points in addition to a fine.
Do you have to own a car to insure it?
As previously stated, it is nearly hard to insure an automobile that you do not own since insurance companies require proof of insurable interest in the vehicle. It’s unlikely that you’ll be able to locate an auto insurance provider ready to cover you if you can’t prove you have a financial stake in the vehicle. Â
How to prove insurable interest
When you apply for auto insurance, you may be required to present your car’s registration or title, often known as a title, in order to verify your insurable interest.
Can my son drive my car?
Anyone can drive your automobile at any time if you have an any driver insurance coverage. There is no restriction to the number of people who can drive the car, so any friends or family members who have your permission can do so legally.
Because most people only have one or a few listed drivers on their existing policy, this sort of vehicle insurance is significantly less frequent. Because anyone can drive your automobile, this form of policy is among the most expensive, as your insurance provider has no way of knowing who is driving at any one moment or how experienced they are.
Can my friend drive my car?
- Your friend falls into one of the age groups covered by the insurance coverage.
- You have given permission for your friend or relative to drive your automobile. If you haven’t given somebody permission to drive your car, he or she will be held responsible for the losses. It is, nevertheless, vital to demonstrate that you did not permit them.
- The individual is on the list of drivers that have been featured. Your car cannot be driven by anyone who is not on the included driver’s list. If he does and has an accident, you will not be covered by insurance.
- The individual holds a valid driver’s license. If you don’t, your insurance coverage may be revoked.
- Your family member or friend should not be driving while inebriated. For example, if your friend is driving while under the influence of any narcotic, you will not be covered.