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Frequently Asked Questions on Auto Insurance
Can I Let My Friend Drive My Car? Will He or She Be Covered?
If you lend your car, you also lend your insurance. If anything happens, your friend will be covered under your auto insurance policy, as long as he or she has a valid driver’s license and meets the other conditions of your policy.
If your friend is involved in an at-fault accident while driving your car, it could affect your premium.
If you lend your car to someone, remember that your auto insurance coverage may not apply if he or she does not have a valid driver’s license.
By Law, What Coverages Must I Have?
To drive a vehicle in Québec, you must have the following minimum insurance coverage:
Civil liability
This coverage protects you if you’re involved in an accident and you damage someone’s property, or if you injure or kill someone. According to provincial law, you must have at least $50,000 in civil liabilitycoverage, but most people choose a limit of $1,000,000 or $2,000,000.
Other coverage is optional, but is often required by insurers when you purchase or lease a vehicle. To find out more, read Choosing the Right Kind of Auto Insurance.
Why do insurance companies check my credit score?
We check your credit score only to offer you the best premium possible.
It has been shown that credit scores are effective in predicting future insurance claims. That is why we use this, along with other information about your property or automobile, in order to determine the best insurance premium for you.
When you take out an insurance policy with us, we also use your credit score to determine your payment terms. Afterwards, when it’s time to renew or change your insurance policy, we update information collected so we can continue to offer you a customized price.
Credit agencies distinguish between consulting for insurance purposes and consulting for a loan. This means that when we verify your credit score, it isn’t affected.
What happens if I don’t want my credit score to be checked?
We respect your decision and will offer you an insurance premium, although you might not receive the best premium.
For more information, refer to the brochure All about credit information and insurance published by the Insurance Bureau of Canada.
The Last Premium I Got Was Really High. How Can I Reduce It?
Believe it or not, reducing your auto insurance premium is up to you.
Here are some tips:
- Drive carefully.
- Get your auto insurance and home insurance with us. You could qualify for a multi-line discount.
- Choose a vehicle with low insurance rates. Generally speaking, the older the car, the cheaper the premium. Get an auto insurance quote and compare the rates for different vehicles.
- Choose a vehicle with low repair costs. It costs less to repair an economy-class vehicle than a luxury vehicle.
- Install a certified anti-theft system. We will reduce your auto insurance premium, no matter how old your vehicle is.
- Increase your Collision and Comprehensive deductibles. The higher your deductible, the lower your premium.
- If your vehicle is old, consider not including Collision and Comprehensive coverage in your auto insurance policy.
To make the right choices when purchasing auto insurance, read Choosing the Right Kind of Auto Insurance.
Is a copy of my insurance certificate as valid as the original certificate?
In Quebec, yes. The copy of your certificate that you can download and print from our Online Client Services is just as valid as the original certificate.
The copy contains exactly the same information as the original certificate. You can print it in either colour or black and white and not be afraid to show it to a police officer should the need arise. However, you should make sure that all of the information is visible after you print it.
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