If you’re unsure whether you’re insured, do not operate a vehicle until you have confirmed whether or not you’re insured. Arrange alternate transportation to get to work or to complete your other responsibilities in the interim. Call your insurance company or broker to confirm whether or not your auto insurance is in effect and ask them to provide you with acceptable proof of insurance.
Our team looked through Ontario’s Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act, British Columbia’s current ticket-fine regulation, Nova Scotia’s government driver handbook and Ontario’s Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Fund guidance to write this article.
Read More: See What Counts as Proof of Insurance in Ontario
What Happens If You Drive Without Insurance In Canada?
Penalties for driving without insurance vary by province/territory and include fines, licence suspensions, and/or vehicle seizures. It’s important to make sure you’re driving with valid auto insurance before operating a vehicle.
Request updated proof of insurance if necessary. Make sure you carry acceptable proof of insurance with you. Some provinces/territories accept electronic proof of insurance while others require drivers to carry the original or a photocopy of their insurance card. Check with your insurer for acceptable proof of insurance in your jurisdiction.
If you’ve been without insurance, remember to disclose any lapse in coverage when applying for insurance. A knowing material misrepresentation may affect coverage.
In Ontario, under the Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act:
- first offence – fine of $5,000 to $25,000;
- subsequent offence – fine of $10,000 to $50,000;
- suspension of licence of up to 1 year; and,
- seizure of your car for up to 3 months.
Read More: Other Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in Ontario
Keep in mind there’s a difference between driving without insurance, which means not having a valid insurance policy, versus failing to produce proof of insurance. It’s illegal to drive a vehicle without valid insurance and failing to produce acceptable proof of insurance if asked by police is also an offence.
Uninsured Driving Penalties By Province
| Jurisdiction | Verified example | What else may happen |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario | An owner or lessee convicted for a first offence faces a $5,000 to $25,000 fine; a subsequent conviction is $10,000 to $50,000. | A court may suspend the driver’s licence for up to one year and order the vehicle impounded for up to three months. Surcharges and storage costs can add to the amount. |
| British Columbia | The current violation-ticket schedule lists $598 for no insurance, or $573 when the reduced amount applies. | No insurance and failure to produce insurance are separate entries in the schedule. |
| Nova Scotia | The government driver handbook lists a $1,250 total for a first offence at the time the manual was published. | The handbook says the amount is subject to change and repeat penalties can be higher. Confirm the current amount on the notice or with the province. |
If you drive without valid auto insurance but buy insurance after the fact, you’ve still been operating your car without valid insurance and could be charged.
A no-insurance conviction or policy cancellation may affect eligibility. In Ontario, a lapse can be used only in circumstances permitted by Regulation 664. Insurers view these as risk factors when considering whether to insure you and how much to charge. In some cases, your premiums could increase.
What Happens If I’m In An Accident And The Other Driver Is Uninsured?
In Ontario, all auto policies include Uninsured Automobile Coverage which provides protection to an insured for eligible expenses arising out of eligible bodily injury or death caused by:
- an accident caused by an uninsured driver;
- a hit-and-run accident in which the driver responsible for the accident cannot be identified.
Uninsured Automobile Coverage also provides protection in Ontario for eligible expenses arising out of eligible damage to vehicles caused by an accident with an uninsured driver. In order to have protection for eligible damage to vehicles, the uninsured driver responsible for the accident must be identified.
You would also need to be able to establish that the owner or driver of the other vehicle was uninsured. If a hit-and-run driver cannot be identified, Uninsured Automobile Coverage will not pay for damage to a vehicle. Optional Collision coverage could be used for these types of claims. Check with your broker or insurance provider to confirm your coverage.
In other provinces/territories, check with your insurance provider or broker to learn more about your uninsured/underinsured automobile coverage.
Read More: Understand Uninsured Automobile Coverage in Ontario
What If My Car Gets Stolen And The Thief Is Uninsured?
Uninsured/Underinsured Automobile Coverage does not apply. All Perils coverage could be used for eligible claims. Check with your insurer to confirm your coverage.
What If There Is No Auto Insurance Involved In An Accident?
In Ontario, the Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Fund provides protection in respect of eligible claims for bodily injury or death or damage to property, other than a vehicle, arising out of the use or operation of an automobile when there is no insurance. The Fund is a payer of last resort.