Question 1

Will my insurance cover another driver who gets into an accident with my car?

Accepted Answer

When you lend your car, you lend your insurance, too. Your insurance policy is responsible for any property damage or bodily injury if your vehicle is involved in a loss ─ even if you are not driving it.

Question 2

How much should I pay for car insurance per month?

Accepted Answer

You're going to hear this answer a lot when it comes to insurance: it depends! There are many factors that determine how much you will pay each month. Things like where you live, your insurance history, your driving record, and age all have an impact on your monthly rate.

Question 3

Am I covered under my parent’s car insurance?

Accepted Answer

You just graduated high school and your parents bought you a car? Lucky you! Before you hit the road let’s make sure you’re properly insured. The ownership of the vehicle has to match the policy holder. This means that if your parents buy you your own car, you need your own policy. You are not covered under theirs.

Maybe you’re not so lucky and you still have to borrow your parent’s car. If that’s the case, don’t worry! You’ll have your own car one day! Call a broker before you hit the road to make sure you're covered.

Question 4

Is insurance higher on newer cars?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Sorry, we know that’s the worst answer, but there are so many factors that determine how much you pay for insurance. Safety features on newer cars can potentially lower your rate. But your insurance history, age, location and so many other things influence your rate as well.

Question 5

Is it cheaper to insure an older car?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. The age of the car is one factor insurance companies consider, but they also consider many other things, like your age, location, and insurance history, just to name a few.

Question 6

Can you file a car insurance claim without a police report?

Accepted Answer

Yes, however certain claims may require a report. In the event of a claim, a broker can help you determine what you will need to file a claim.

Question 7

Do I need business insurance to drive to work?

Accepted Answer

If you're driving to your nine to five and don't have a pickup truck full of power tools, you most likely only require personal insurance. Talk to a broker to make sure!

Question 8

Do I need business insurance to drive for Uber or Lyft?

Accepted Answer

Many personal insurance carriers allow you to drive with Uber or Lyft without requiring commercial auto insurance. You should check with your broker to see if your company allows you to drive for Uber or Lyft.

Question 9

How do you prepare for a home and auto insurance quote?

Accepted Answer

To find coverage that's right for your unique situation, our brokers will need to understand more about you. Here are some of the details to have handy.

Information needed for Auto Insurance

In all Canadian provinces, drivers require third-party liability coverage and accident benefits coverage with legal minimum amounts depending on your province’s regulations. In general, if you are preparing to get an auto insurance quote you will need the following information:

Current policy number and renewal date
Years of prior insurance
Vehicle details including the year, make and model of your vehicle
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
Driver’s license number and dates licensed (all drivers in household)
Current coverages and deductibles (all vehicles in household)
Distance driven in kilometres (one-way) to work and driven annually for each vehicle (it is also important to note if your vehicle is used for business)
Out of province experience letters and driver’s abstracts
Details regarding any tickets (moving violations and/or suspensions) in the last three years or accidents in the last ten years (including date, type of accident or ticket)

Information needed for Home Insurance

For a home insurance quote, you will need to ensure you have the following information:

Current policy number and renewal date
Years of prior insurance
Property details (address, postal code, square footage and number of bathrooms)
Any home updates that have been completed (such as roof, heating, plumbing or wiring improvements)
Any water or sewer back up preventative measure details
Current deductibles and liability coverages
If applicable, any alarm system certificates
Any unique details of your home (such as pool, hot tub, solarium, gazebo or finished attic)
Out of province experience letters
Details of any property claims in the past five years (date of the claim and cause of claim)
Mortgage details (name of the financial institution and its address)

Questions to ask a broker

Having all of the information and appropriate documents available will help save you time and ensure you are provided with an accurate quote. However, it’s also important to ask the right questions so a broker can find customized insurance coverage to meet your needs and serve you better.

Consider asking some of the following questions:

What coverages options are available?
- Accident forgiveness
- Replacement vehicle coverage (OPCF 20)
- Sewer back up
What does one-way cover include? One-way coverage is usually a basic plan that means you only have civil liability coverage to protect you from damages you cause to others.
What does full coverage include? Full coverage or two-way insurance usually means damages your person or vehicle is covered as well as the damage to others.
What is the difference between standard and increased accident benefits?

Now that you have all of the information you need, are you ready to get a quote? Contact your BrokerLink broker and find out what the best coverage is for you.

Question 10

Does my location affect my auto insurance rates?

Accepted Answer

Yes, where you live is a factor that will affect your insurance rate. Insurance premiums vary by province, city, and even postal code.

Let’s start with the province. Different provinces have different insurance rates. Insurance is something that’s regulated provincially, so the level of regulation affects how flexible insurance companies can be on pricing.

Cities and neighbourhoods can also vary greatly when it comes to insurance rates. If you live in a location where there are a lot of accidents, you might pay a higher rate. If theft and crime are common in your area, that might also result in a higher rate.

Before you pack up and move to save on insurance, talk to a broker! We can explain all the factors that affect your rate. We will help you find an insurance plan that fits your life, whether you live downtown, in the country, or anywhere in between.

Question 11

Does my age affect auto insurance rates?

Accepted Answer

Yes, your age is a factor insurance companies take into consideration. If you are younger, you will likely pay more for insurance. We know it’s not fair, but young people are statistically more likely to get into an accident due to lack of driving experience. As you keep driving and build up a record of clean driving, your rates can go down. So keep your eyes on the road, and your hands on the wheel!

Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule. In some cases, someone who is older will pay more for insurance. This is because insurance companies take driving experience into consideration. For example, someone who is forty, but just got their license will likely pay more than someone who is thirty and has been driving for ten years.

Question 12

Does my marital status affect my car insurance rate?

Accepted Answer

Some insurance companies take your marital status into consideration. And we hate to break it to all the lonely hearts out there, but common-law and married couples sometimes get a cheaper rate. It seems pretty unfair, but if the insurance company has determined that couples get in fewer accidents, they’ll consider single people a bigger risk, and their premiums will cost more. However, not all insurance companies take marital status into consideration. A broker can shop around different insurance companies to find the plan that fits your life, whether you’re single, married, or it’s complicated.

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