Car insurance premiums can be costly, and having someone with a spotty driving record on your insurance policy might make car insurance more expensive. OPCF 28 and 28A can help reduce premiums by limiting or excluding that person’s coverage while driving your car.
OPCF 28/28A at a Glance
- OPCF 28 reduces car insurance coverage for the person named in the document.
- OPCF 28A excludes most coverage when the person named in the document drives the listed vehicle.
- Both OPCFs may help lower your car insurance rates by limiting or removing coverage for a high-risk driver.
How OPCF 28/28A Works
Ontario Policy Change Forms are changes made to your existing car insurance policy. OPCF 28 and 28A are two separate endorsements with similar purposes. Let’s break each of them down to see how they work.
OPCF 28: Reducing Coverage for Named Persons
As the name implies, OPCF 28 limits insurance coverage for the person named in the document.
The form shows the liability and physical-damage coverage available while that person is driving the listed vehicle. It may reduce liability limits or remove Collision, All Perils or other loss-or-damage coverage.
Reducing coverage for that person may result in savings on your insurance premiums. The limits remain in effect until the endorsement is changed or removed.
OPCF 28A: Excluded Driver
OPCF 28A excludes most coverage when the named person drives the vehicles listed on the form.
It may sound like an extreme solution, but it can help reduce your premiums if someone in your household has an especially poor driving record. The owner promises not to allow that person to drive the listed vehicles, and the excluded driver also signs the form.
Certain accident benefits may still be available, but the policy will not provide most of the coverage normally required while the excluded driver is behind the wheel.
The Difference Between OPCF 28 and OPCF 28A
The main difference between OPCF 28 and OPCF 28A is the scope of the restriction.
OPCF 28 reduces coverage for the named driver, meaning they may still drive your car with the limited coverage shown on the form.
OPCF 28A excludes most coverage when the named driver operates the listed vehicle. That person promises not to drive the vehicle and may be charged with driving without insurance if they do.
Reasons to Exclude a Driver From Your Policy
There are several reasons you might consider excluding a driver:
- Someone in your household has accidents or convictions on their record, and adding them may increase your premium.
- A young family member is not yet ready to drive your vehicle.
- A member of your household has a poor driving record, and you don’t want them using your car.
- You want to control which household members are allowed to drive your vehicle.
Speak with your insurer before choosing either endorsement. OPCF 28 and OPCF 28A apply to the people and vehicles identified on the documents.
What Happens if an Excluded Driver Uses the Car Anyway?
If an excluded driver uses the car, the policy will not provide coverage for property damage, bodily injury, damage to the vehicle and most accident benefits.
The owner and excluded driver may become personally responsible for injuries or damage caused by the accident. The owner may also be charged with allowing the vehicle to be driven without insurance, and the driver may be charged with driving without insurance.
The insurer may cancel the policy, which can make getting insurance more difficult and expensive in the future.
Alternatives to OPCF 28/28A
If you don’t want to use either endorsement, there may be other options:
- Have the driver obtain their own vehicle and insurance policy. A high-risk auto insurance policy may be an option if they have a poor driving record.
- Compare quotes from insurers that cover higher-risk drivers.
- Ask your insurer what would need to change before the driver could be added without the endorsement.