It is mandatory to have automobile insurance in order to operate a vehicle on public roads in all parts of Canada.  Automobile insurance in Ontario is regulated by the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) and is distributed by private insurance companies competing for your business.  As an independent broker, working on behalf of our clients, Robichaud has contracts to access the insurance products of major insurance providers, and we solicit these companies to obtain the best coverages, pricing, terms and conditions for the Insured.

Our Personal Lines brokers use  state-of-the-art computerized information systems, combined with their many years of product knowledge and familiarity with each insurance company's underwriting guidelines, to quote automobile coverage at very competitive rates.

An Automobile policy has different sections and coverages, some mandatory and some optional.

THE MANDATORY COVERAGES ARE:

Third Party Liability: Covers the Insured person if someone is killed or injured or their property damaged in an auto accident, up to the limit of coverage bought, and the cost of settling claims. Provincial minimum is $200,000 but typical limits sold are $1,000,000 or $2,000,000.

Uninsured Automobile: Provides coverage if the Insured is injured or killed by an uninsured motorist or by a hit-and-run driver.  Also covers damage to Insured's auto and its contents caused by an identified, uninsured motorist, subject to $300 deductible.

Accident Benefits: Provides benefits that Insured persons are entitled to receive if injured or killed in an auto accident.  Benefits include: income replacement, payments to non-earners to carry on a normal life, care expenses, payment of medical, rehabilitation and attendant car expenses, funeral expenses, certain other expenses and payments to survivors of a person who was killed.  Optional increased benefits are available for purchase.

Direct Compensation-Property Damage: Provides coverage for damage to Insured's auto and property it is carrying when another motorist is responsible.  You collect from your Insurer, even though you are not at fault.  Most policies are sold with $0 deductible but you may opt to take a deductible to reduce premium.

THE NON-MANDATORY COVERAGES ARE:

i) Physical Damage to the Insured Automobile, with the following options:

Collision or Upset: Covers damage when Insured Auto collides with another vehicle, object or tips over.

Comprehensive: Covers Insured Auto against loss or damage other than those covered by Collision or Upset.  This covers all perils listed under Specified Perils, plus falling or flying objects, missiles and vandalism.

Specified Perils: Covers the Insured Auto against certain specific perils only.  They are fire; theft or attempted theft; lightning; windstorm; hail or rising water; earthquake; explosion; riot or civil disturbance; falling or forced landing of aircraft or parts of aircraft; or stranding, sinking, burning, derailment or collision of transport upon which the Insured Auto is being transported.

All Risks: Combines Collision and Comprehensive coverages.

ii) Ontario Policy Change Forms (O.P.C.F.) that change the policy by adding, restricting or deleting coverage.  Some common endorsements include:

O.P.C.F. #5 Permission to Rent or Lease Automobiles and Extending Coverage to the Specified Lessee
This gives permission to the Lessor for the automobile to be rented or leased to the Lessee.

O.P.C.F. #6A Permission to Carry Paying Passengers
This gives permission to the insured to use the automobile to carry passengers for compensation.

O.P.C.F. #16 & 17 Suspension of Coverage and Reinstatement of Coverage
These provide for the suspension and later reinstatement of coverage in the event the described automobile is laid up for a period of not less than 45 days. Not all coverage is deleted.  The policy continues to provide certain third party liability, accident benefits and uninsured automobile coverage while the described automobile is in storage.

O.P.C.F. #19 Limiting the Amount Paid for Loss or Damage Coverage
This form limits the amount payable to the actual cash value or the amount stated on the form, whichever is less.

O.P.C.F. #19A Agreed Value of Automobiles
This form provides coverage for an automobile on a stated value basis. Professional appraisals are required to substantiate the value.

O.P.C.F. #20 Coverage for Transportation Replacement
Reimburses the Insured up to the limit shown on the form for expenses incurred in the procuring alternate transportation while the insured automobile is laid up as a result of an All Perils, Collision, Comprehensive, or Specified Perils claim.

O.P.C.F. #27 Liability for Damage to Non-Owned Automobiles
Pprovides coverage when insured Persons Drive Other Automobiles which they may be responsible for under contract, e.g. a rental for personal use.

O.P.C.F. #28A Excluded Driver
Excluded Driver acknowledges that an insurer is not liable to anyone for loss or damage that occurs while the excluded driver is using or operating the automobile, except as provided under the Accident Benefits Schedule.

O.P.C.F. #43 & 43A Removing Depreciation Deduction for Owners and Lessee (respectively)
Depreciation is waived with exception to tires, batteries, and betterment resulting from the necessary repair or replacement of parts having prior unrepaired damage, if the Insured/Lessee is the original
Owner/Lessee of the automobile and if the loss or damage occurs within 24 months of the original purchase date.

O.P.C.F. #44R Family Protection Coverage
Compensates eligible claimants who have a claim against another motorist for injuries to or the death of the insured, his or her spouse and any dependent relative of either, as described in the form, if the other motorist has no insurance or has insufficient insurance to satisfy the claim. This is a form of self insurance because the more coverage you buy the better you are protected.

Get your Automobile Insurance Quote here.