Are you covered by Insurance in case of a Vehicle Crash?

Do you know if you are covered by your insurance company in case of a crash? Do you know the reasons that you might not end up getting coverage? We’re here to help you navigate all the fine print of your policy; however, if a company feels that you’ve been dishonest or broken a clause it may result in the claim not being covered. We don’t want that to happen to you (or any of our clients), so let’s dive into why this might happen. Here are the top reasons why you may not actually be covered by insurance:

1. Undisclosed Information: Have you failed to tell your insurance company if you are an Uber driver? Or, if you are using it for commercial use and you’ve told them it was a personal vehicle. For example, even delivering food qualifies as a business transaction.
2. Being Charged with Impaired Driving: You don’t even have to be convicted of the charge, just the charge itself can be enough for a company to back out of providing coverage.
3. Other Drivers: Does someone drive your vehicle that you haven’t disclosed to your insurance company? Even if it’s another family member you need to add their name to the insurance policy. Or, even something as simple as allowing a friend to borrow your vehicle can cause problems with your insurance company. It’s always a best practice to fully disclose and let your insurance provider know who is driving your vehicle(s).
4. Having Your Policy Listed for Another Location: Have you moved provinces? You need to not only update your vehicle plates and driver’s license, but you also need to let your insurance company know. Also, being careful that you aren’t claiming that your vehicle is stored / driven in a smaller town but it is actually used in a larger city like Ottawa or Toronto every day. Your insurance policy is based on a wide number of factors and it’s important to let you provider know of any changes you have made (even if you move within a city).
5. Having the Vehicle Not Registered under the Right Name: It’s extremely important to be honest about whose vehicle it is and who is driving it. If the vehicle is under your spouse’s name, make sure you are added to the insurance policy. It’s a big insurance no-no to have the vehicle registered and the insurance policy in your name, and allow someone else to drive the vehicle without going through the proper steps.
6. Winter Tires: Again, it comes back to honesty is the best policy. Literally. Just be upfront and truthful with your insurance provider about even small things like whether or not you have winter tires on your vehicle. This will just help you avoid any future headaches over claims.