Mackay Insurance Blog
Get The Best Belleville Auto Insurance Coverage For Your Needs
Get The Best Belleville Auto Insurance Coverage For Your Needs
The right auto insurance policy protects you, your family, your community and your investments. Do you know what coverages are included in your Belleville auto insurance policy?
Having the right insurance coverage is crucial for a vehicle owner. After all, you never know what might happen on the road. And without the proper coverage, you could experience:
a) Costly fines,
b) A license suspension or
c) An impounded vehicle!
Not something you want to risk on your morning commute or long-awaited summer road trip,
That’s why our Mackay Insurance brokers always ensure you have the right coverage for your unique needs. So you’re always prepared - no matter what lies ahead!
Keep reading to explore your auto insurance options!
How Does Auto Insurance Work in Ontario?
Auto insurance is compulsory in all Canadian provinces and territories. So you must have auto insurance on your registered vehicle to legally drive it on the road.
Without it, your insurance company could see you as a high-risk driver and raise your insurance premiums. They could even outright refuse to insure you at all!
Other consequences of not having valid auto insurance include a fine - ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 - or vehicle impoundment.
Thankfully, with a valid policy and the right coverage, you don’t have to worry about these complications.
A valid auto insurance policy can cover the driver, all passengers and any other people involved in the event of a car crash.
Factors That Affect Your Auto Insurance Policy
During the initial calculation, your insurance company will ask basic questions, including:
- Your age.
- Your gender.
- Where you live.
- The car you drive.
- Your driving record.
- Your claim history.
- The type of coverage you choose.
- The amount of your deductible.
But your insurance company also requires updated information about your car to keep your policy valid.
This re-evaluation ensures your policy stays up-to-date with the correct coverages.
Below are some of the questions your insurance company may ask when calculating or re-evaluating your insurance premiums:
How often do you drive your car annually?
The more kilometres you travel, the higher your risk for an accident.
What do you use your car for regularly?
Your insurance company needs to know whether you use your vehicle regularly. Do you use your vehicle as a commuter car daily? Or do you use it as a “pleasure vehicle”?
Have your driving habits changed? Are you commuting less or working from home?
In light of the recent COVID-19 pandemic, insurance companies know that many offices have allowed their employees to continue working from home. If this is the case, they may be able to reduce your insurance premiums.
Who is the primary driver of the vehicle? And who would you like listed as additional drivers?
The primary driver is the main driver - the one using the car most often. Your insurance company must know who this primary driver is and any additional drivers in your household that may get behind the wheel. Their driving records could affect your insurance premium as well.
What Coverages Does Your Auto Insurance Policy Include?
The right coverage is crucial for Canadian drivers. But not all are legally mandated. Lots of them are optional!
Let’s explore which auto insurance coverages are necessary, which are additional and which are optional below:
Mandatory Insurance Coverages:
Liability
Liability insurance covers any losses your vehicle causes, such as injury, death or damage to another vehicle.
It does not, however, cover repair costs for your car.
Accident Benefits
Accident benefits cover your medical expenses and loss of income after a car accident.
You must review options to increase accident benefits coverage. Don’t be underinsured!
Direct Compensation - Property Damage (DC-PD)
DC-PD insurance covers vehicle repair expenses after an accident - whether you are at fault or not.
Additional Coverages:
Collision
Collision insurance covers your vehicle repair or replacement costs if involved in an accident. It is not usually mandatory in most provinces, but we recommend it in most cases.
Many people choose to add collision onto their existing policy to safeguard their vehicle investment. But once the value of their vehicle starts to decline, it’s common to remove collision insurance from your policy.
Today, the value of vehicles is not currently decreasing. So many vehicle owners are actually choosing to keep collision coverage on much longer.
Comprehensive
Comprehensive insurance also covers repair or replacement costs. However, not those relating to an accident. This coverage protects you from other types of damages or loss, including theft, vandalism, or windshield damage.
Optional Coverages:
Loss of Use
Loss of use insurance covers the cost of a rental vehicle while your damaged vehicle is being repaired/replaced. Most insurance providers offer loss of use coverage with a limit of $1500.
This coverage can be very beneficial, as it gives you a rental vehicle to use while you wait for your own to get fixed. Today, however, many repair shops are experiencing long delays for parts and repairs due to supply chain issues. For this reason, $1500 limit will likely not be enough coverage to pay for rental car coverage. Consider increasing this limit!
Accident Forgiveness
Accident forgiveness protects your premium after your first at-fault accident. After your first accident, your insurance company usually raises your auto insurance premium and considers you a high-risk driver. But with accident forgiveness coverage, your insurance company will essentially “forgive and forget” so your premium doesn’t increase.
This insurance is only relevant for drivers without at-fault accidents on their record. And specific limits and regulations surrounding it that you will need to discuss with your provider.
Emergency Road-Side Assistance
Emergency roadside assistance insurance ensures you have the help you need on the road, no matter where you are in Canada. Our CAA Insurance at Mackay is even valid in the U.S! So whether you’re commuting to work or road-tripping across Canada, you’ll always have the help you need.
Depreciation
Depreciation insurance protects your brand new vehicle from losing value over a certain amount of time. This coverage takes effect during the reimbursement of your lost or damaged car.
It will cover you for either the listed vehicle purchase price, the manufacturer’s suggested retail price or the cost of the vehicle today.
What does your Auto Insurance Policy NOT Include?
It’s important to note that most auto insurance companies do not protect against loss or damage of an accident involving any of the following:
- Ride sharing
- UBER
- Skip The Dishes
- Pizza Delivery
Most insurance companies also do not offer coverage for the loss of personal possessions. So in the event that someone steals something from your trunk, you’ll have to check your home insurance policy for reimbursement options.
Get a Free Quote On Belleville Auto Insurance at Mackay
Are you shopping for the best Belleville auto insurance?
Are you trying to lower your premiums?
Are you purchasing your first vehicle?
At Mackay, our brokers ensure your Belleville auto insurance has all the coverage you need! We even offer policies for:
Give your Mackay Insurance broker a call! We offer affordable insurance plans that cover all your unique needs. You can reach our Belleville office at 613-966-5740 or our Napanee office at 613-354-2555.
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