Lower Your Auto Insurance Rates and Increase Your Safety On The Road With Winter Tires!
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Summer in Ontario has quickly transitioned into fall. And with the changing fall colours comes a multitude of weather-related risks.
Soon we’ll have falling ice, slippery walkways and dangerous driving conditions!
The beauty of the upcoming season definitely comes with its fair share of driving liabilities. But thankfully, with the right preparation, you can help reduce these risks and experience a safer winter season on the road.
At Mackay Insurance, we’re all about,
a) Reducing your risk,
b) Lowering your auto insurance rates, and
c) Increasing your safety.
And installing winter tires on your passenger vehicle can obtain all three of these goals!
Winter tires increase your safety, the safety of those within your vehicle and of those around you.
Plus, they can even lower your auto insurance premium by up to 5%!
The Importance of Winter Tires
Ontario drivers quickly become apprehensive during the winter months.
And for good reason!
After all, winter driving in Ontario is highly unpredictable.
With severe weather changes and challenging road conditions, knowing what’s ahead is pretty much impossible. And winter driving can become extremely dangerous - even life-threatening - in seconds!
Mackay Insurance in Belleville and Napanee is here to help keep our local drivers safe on the roads during these unpredictable winter months.
That’s why we recommend installing durable winter tires!
Did you know that 81% of winter tire owners believe their tires saved them from hazardous driving (i.e. loss of control)?
And while they are not mandatory, the benefits of installing winter tires hugely outweigh the cost!
Benefits Of Installing Winter Tires:
- Up to 30% more traction.
- Hydroplane resistance.
- Improved braking.
- Collision prevention.
- Increased control.
- Improved road safety (for you and the other drivers around you).
- Improved driving performance.
- Lower insurance premiums.
PLUS, winter tires are specifically built to grip - even in temperatures as low as -30 degrees!
Can Winter Tires Lower Your Auto Insurance Premium?
In 2017, the government of Canada required all insurance companies to offer a discount on auto insurance premiums for vehicles with all four winter tires installed.
And today, Canadian drivers save between 1-5% on their auto insurance premiums!
Does your vehicle qualify for these auto insurance discounts? Find out below!
Eligibility Criteria:
- Eligible vehicles include private passenger vehicles - excluding antiques and classics.
- You must install winter tires on your vehicle from at least December 1st to March 31st.
- Winter tires must be certified as winter tires by Transport Canada and have the Alpine symbol to qualify.
- Your vehicle must at least have existing coverage for Liability, Direct Compensation – Property Damage, and Accident Benefits or Collision coverage to qualify.
*The insured may, at any time, be required to confirm the presence of the winter tires or provide supporting documentation (such as a bill of sale for the winter tires and/or the receipt for installation of the tires) to validate that the discount should remain on the policy.
Your 2022 Winter Tire Guide
If you’ve never owned winter tires before, this guide can help!
Our Mackay Insurance brokers ensure all Ontario drivers know everything they need to about winter tires and auto insurance.
1. Order your winter tires as early as possible.
At Mackay Insurance, we recommend ordering your winter tires as early as possible.
This ensures you get your order in ahead of the rush. With current supply chain issues, getting your winter tires in on time may prove challenging - so the sooner, the better!
Install winter tires on your vehicle from December to March.
Once you get your tires, schedule their installation right away. This ensures you're prepared for Canada’s unpredictable weather!
You’ll want to install your winter tires from December 1st to March 31st to receive your auto insurance discounts.
2. Ensure your new winter tires have the alpine logo.
The alpine logo is a symbol used strictly on winter tires. It guarantees the tire meets specific snow traction performance requirements.
The symbol, showing a mountain and snowflake, also states that the tire can grip better on ice in sub-zero weather conditions.
In other words, it guarantees they can take on even the worst snowy and slippery roads!
Many drivers ask us whether their all-season tires qualify for the discount. But the answer is no, they do not.
All-season tires do not display the alpine symbol and therefore do not meet the requirements.
In fact, snow tires perform 30% better than all-season tires!
3. Ensure that you install all four winter tires at once.
What if I install two winter tires? Will I get the same discount?
Although installing two of the four necessary winter tires may appear to be a money-saving hack, this could actually cost you more in the long run.
To lower your auto insurance premiums, you must install all four tires. This ensures proper all-around traction and will improve your driving performance!
4. Ensure winter tires stay in good condition.
Tires wear out and lose their traction over time. So it is important to keep your winter tires in good condition throughout their entire usage.
5. Ensure proper air pressure in your winter tires.
Ensuring proper air pressure in your tires is vital regardless of the season.
But during the fluctuating weather conditions of winter, tire pressure can deplete unexpectedly.
You must monitor your winter tire pressure to improve vehicle performance and road safety.
Before You Hit The Road!
While winter tires reduce your risk on the road, they aren’t the only variable in keeping you safe.
Safe winter driving also relies on your driving skills and how prepared you are before starting the vehicle in the first place.
Heading Out?
Don’t: Leave the house without taking the necessary precautions.
Do: Make sure you,
- Charge your phone battery (and bring a charger along with you).
- Pack an emergency kit (i.e. blanket, flashlight, water bottle).
- Double-check your vehicle for a set of booster cables.
- Fill your tank up with gas.
- Refill your windshield wiper fluid and bring an extra jug, just in case.
Skidding?
Don’t: Keep your foot on the gas, fight the steering wheel or pump the brakes. This could cause you to lose control of your vehicle entirely - resulting in a flip!
Do: Take your foot off the gas and gradually steer in the direction your car is skidding while gently applying the brakes.
Stuck in the snow?
Don’t: Spin your tires. This only buries them deeper into the snow.
Do: Clear out the snow and ice under the tire and pour sand beneath them to improve their traction.
Contact Your Mackay Auto Insurance Brokers
For more information about our auto insurance packages at Mackay, give our office a call!
You can reach our Belleville office at 613-966-5740 or our Napanee office at 613-354-2555.