So you want to know the definition of a high risk driver, eh?
Well, giving an answer is not that simple.
Why?
Because there is no set definition of a high risk driver in Ontario.
Definitions vary
You see, every insurance company defines a high risk driver differently.
Basically, for any individual insurance company, you’re considered high risk if you meet their decline rule.
Decline Rules
Every insurance company in Ontario submits a list of declination rules to the Financial Services commission of Ontario. They will quote any driver on a new car insurance policy, as long as that driver doesn’t fit into any of their decline rules.
For example, an insurance company might say that if you have had two prior policies cancelled for non-payment, they would decline to insure you. Since they declined to insure you, you’re considered high risk to them.
What do most insurance companies decline?
With that said, the majority of insurance companies in Ontario are quite similar as to what drivers they would decline to insure. The following would put you into the high risk definition of most companies:
1. Three minor tickets in the previous 3 years.
2. One major ticket in the previous 3 years.
3. One serious conviction, like impaired or careless, in the previous 3 years.
4. Two at-fault accidents in the previous 6 years.
5. Two non-payment cancellations in the previous three years.
Further, every insurance company will list combinations of infractions that they would decline you for, like for example a combination of accidents and tickets in a three-year period.
So what do you do if an insurance company declines you? Well, then you call a high risk insurance broker, like myself, to quote you.
Feel free to call me for a quote. Even if you’re high risk, the rate might not be as bad as you think.
