insurance in ontario

[bassmanjosh]

This happened to my with my last insurance company (Chieftain).

I called my broker just to ask her how Chieftain would feel about if I did little modifications to my car (I had already, but was just asking hypothetically). She said what kind of modifications, so I just said it has an OEM skirt package on it, I have to replace the suspension because it's broken so I was going to put that in and then rims. She said, she wasn't sure so she would find out and get back to me within the hour.

She then calls me 4 days later and says Chieftain is cancelling my insurance policy. Even though I called for general information, she apparently submitted it to the company and they said they were cancelling it. I freaked out on them!

Needless to say, before the cancellation took effect, I switched to another company right away and all is well now.

[nickdupe]

When I went to bel air they didn't ask what mods I have or not, only if it costed more than 5000$

[GTIDamien_407]

I think I'm going to be switching to the personal. They gave me a quote of 223 a month with one way and comprehensive with a $300 deductible I pay $254 with belair right now for the same thing.

[prometheus_]

Insurance company never asked, I never told. Book value of a mk3 isn't really anything major.
That aside, if the car IS in an accident, they'd have to prove that the modifications were the cause of it

[vee_dubb_ya]

a few things from experience:

1. the only way they'd drastically change/cancel your policy is if there was some major life event (ie. child born) that you disclose that makes them re-evaluate your situation, or if you've got a conviction (HTA, etc) that again makes them sit up and take notice

2. DO NOT drive with no insurance. It's a stupid idea. Even if you have no insurance on YOUR vehicle, DO NOT drive someone else's car. You'll f-up your dad/friend/etc...then you'll both have a great record down the road :/

good luck

[spirroncello]

I finally realized that whether my insurance is $5900 a year or $7300 a year, it's ridiculous to pay, especially since i am trying to pay for college and work at the same time. I am now selling my golf, and will continue to have no insurance for the time being.

What I plan on doing next is buying an old, scrap car and insuring it. It won't be drivable, but I will have insurance on it for "storing" it. This way my insurance history will continue, and it will be at a cost of hopefully $50 a month instead. Does anyone else here do this? or feel that what I am doing is pointless? Thanks

[actng 1.8T]

I finally realized that whether my insurance is $5900 a year or $7300 a year, it's ridiculous to pay, especially since i am trying to pay for college and work at the same time. I am now selling my golf, and will continue to have no insurance for the time being.

What I plan on doing next is buying an old, scrap car and insuring it. It won't be drivable, but I will have insurance on it for "storing" it. This way my insurance history will continue, and it will be at a cost of hopefully $50 a month instead. Does anyone else here do this? or feel that what I am doing is pointless? Thanks

i say it's pointless.

some people think as long as they're listed on a policy, they have insurance history. i.e. listed on their parents' insurance as an occasional driver. this is not true.

one must be insured as a primary driver on their own policy for insurance history to accrue. i don't think paying insurance of a vehicle merely to store it will establish the same sort of history (storage) for the insurance you wish to get in the future (collision).

[spirroncello]

i say it's pointless.

some people think as long as they're listed on a policy, they have insurance history. i.e. listed on their parents' insurance as an occasional driver. this is not true.

one must be insured as a primary driver on their own policy for insurance history to accrue. i don't think paying insurance of a vehicle merely to store it will establish the same sort of history (storage) for the insurance you wish to get in the future (collision).

i would insure my car as a primary driver on my own policy, and be quoted with the full premium. I tried to do this with my golf, and basically I got credit back for the months that I had my car in storage. So I would still be considered a primary driver.

[slide13]

i say it's pointless.

some people think as long as they're listed on a policy, they have insurance history. i.e. listed on their parents' insurance as an occasional driver. this is not true.

one must be insured as a primary driver on their own policy for insurance history to accrue. i don't think paying insurance of a vehicle merely to store it will establish the same sort of history (storage) for the insurance you wish to get in the future (collision).

+1 i thought about that. they told me that it wouldn't work.

[Polish_Legion]

I'm paying $217 a month as a primary driver on my Jetta right now.

[DumpInfo]

I'm currently with aviva and have been for a couple of years however after confirming with a friend this evening that also has a modded vehicle he did the switch from personel over to belair because they approved him being lowered. They did not make a big deal out of it however they are more focused on engine mods. He has the same premium and coverage however now drives a newer car, coming from a hatchback driver to a coupe and is saving $400 a year because of the switch. As all know age, record, type of vehicle and location are all factors but it's definitely something to think about if you're looking for a new insurance company.

[oakdub]

I think I'm going to be switching to the personal. They gave me a quote of 223 a month with one way and comprehensive with a $300 deductible I pay $254 with belair right now for the same thing.

thinking about the personals as well, my friends with them and he gets good rates.

dejardens really pissed me off last time i called them too.

[spirroncello]

I think I'm going to be switching to the personal. They gave me a quote of 223 a month with one way and comprehensive with a $300 deductible I pay $254 with belair right now for the same thing.

thank you for bringing up "the personal." I have never heard of it, and I just did got quoted only $332/month for the minimal coverage.. also for another car i was looking to buy, a 1997 vw golf 4dr tdi costs $337 a month. i wonder how they will deal with car modifications though. this will hopefully stop me from selling my car.

[actng 1.8T]

thank you for bringing up "the personal." I have never heard of it, and I just did got quoted only $332/month for the minimal coverage.. also for another car i was looking to buy, a 1997 vw golf 4dr tdi costs $337 a month. i wonder how they will deal with car modifications though. this will hopefully stop me from selling my car.

the personal does group insurance so you will need to be "qualified", to be insured by them by being a member of a group they insure.

[spirroncello]

the personal does group insurance so you will need to be "qualified", to be insured by them by being a member of a group they insure.

yup, i called them and i wasn't a part of the group and they redirected me to desjardins. time for me to find a group to belong to.

[tdot3570]

if you want a laugh get a rate if you lived in markham oakville or milton.I belive oakville is very cheap.For some rates here i think it might be cheaper to move then shop around.

[spirroncello]

moving isn't an option for me right now, so i sold my vw golf instead. what i am going to do next is buy a car that is old, and just have liability coverage on it. currently i am looking for a mk1 audi TT, but am in no rush to buy one.

[Mike!]

Never knew insurance companies gave such a hard time about modifications. I guess any form of modifications correlates to 'street racer' and 'high risk driver'? I'm sure there's some statistical reasons, but it seems werid for them to try to drop someone for something as simple as an aftermarket suspension and upsized wheels.

[marko.f]

moving isn't an option for me right now, so i sold my vw golf instead. what i am going to do next is buy a car that is old, and just have liability coverage on it. currently i am looking for a mk1 audi TT, but am in no rush to buy one.

good luck, its hard to find a clean one thats not abused, i tried looking for about a month with no luck

[futur]

dude sold his golf to buy tt for cheaper insurance. lmaoroflbbq

[marko.f]

dude sold his golf to buy tt for cheaper insurance. lmaoroflbbq

funny thing is, its cheaper to own a tt then mk4 vr (i asked with desjardins)

350$ a month for a 2000 vr6 vs. 300$ for a 2001 tt quattro

[JasonIsSwell]

Im paying $180 per month for full coverage and a couple extra benefits from Belair Direct and i own a 2000 gls vr6. This is by far the best rate ive received from anyone. However, ive learned from my experience with them, they are experienced extortionists!

They called me up a week ago, one month before my policy is to be renewed and said that i had to add my brother to my policy because he is a licensed, uninsured driver in my household. He is presently uninsured because he is considered too high risk by several insurance companies. This change instantly jacked my quote up to 255 per month upon reinstatement. And that is before they even assess his driving record...which is terrible. I refused, and in response belair refused to process my renewal in November. Basically leaving me with two choices, add him and pay the additional fee, or find a new insurance company.

A Co-worker told me there is a form that all insurance companies have but few openly tell customers about. It's called a driver exclusion form and it is a declaration signed, in my case by myself and my brother, stating he does not have access to my vehicle and is not permitted to drive it. Signing this form eliminates the possibility of him being named as a secondary driver on my policy. I immediately called belair and demanded the form be sent to me. The rep on the phone had to put me on hold to verify with her supervisor that the form even exists...which sure enough it does. I received it within 2 days of my phone call, signed it and mailed it back. Now my insurance is reinstated and my premium for next year has gone down to 114 per month.

A lot of insurance companies do not do this to their customers, but some consider themselves "household insurance providers" meaning everyone in the household who is licensed needs to be insured. Legally Belair has found a way to force this rule on drivers regardless of how likely it is the uninsured driver will actually use the primary driver's vehicle. They will go as far as to deny the primary driver insurance in order to enforce this policy. The documentation exists which makes me wonder what other loopholes there are to escape paying outrageous or unnecessary insurance rates??

I would suggest to those of you paying 3 or $400 a month to find out what you can do or sign to get around some of the policies in place by these companies.



Its bordering on extortion!

[kt883]

Dont mention wheels to them next time as they are oem and could have been sold with them (you just wont get those wheels when repaired - you will get oem wheel according to vin ie GLS wheels or avus'). Also the muffler is grounds for cancellation because under the policy, any item that enhances the performance or hp or top speed can be grounds for cancellation. This can mean, intake, muffler, chipping. Lowering or frame notch is also grounds.

[spirroncello]

Turns out my insurance rate was really high mainly because of my location, in Richmond Hill. I have been thinking of moving to other places, and have been considering insurance rates if I were to live in other places. I had done quotes in Barrie, Newmarket, Guelph, and all of those places have much lower rates to where I believe is fair for my driving statistics. The rates dropped, so instead of $ 350 a month for insuring a mk1 Audi TT, it was about $220 instead.

I guess that is why they ask you for your postal code first, I am still sort of glad i sold my golf, and can now insure something with a little more kick, rather than just a 2.0l (granted that it is reliable and great for commuting).

[Peterbuilt]

A couple things I learned about insurance..

1. Don't buy branded vehicles (They may cancel your policy and make you go with a high risk insurance)

2. Keep you foot out of the oil pan (Don't drive like a douche and get crazy tickets..


I pay $180/month for my 1998 CRV and my 2003 Jetta GLI VR6..

[prometheus_]

I'm 25 w/ a clean record.
I pay $130/month for basic insurance on my mk2 coupe

[MrCypherr]

A couple things I learned about insurance..

1. Don't buy branded vehicles (They may cancel your policy and make you go with a high risk insurance)

2. Keep you foot out of the oil pan (Don't drive like a douche and get crazy tickets..


I pay $180/month for my 1998 CRV and my 2003 Jetta GLI VR6..

Dude how do you manage to drive a lowered car in sudbury with the roads they have LOL. the roads are soo bad there its insane.

[Peterbuilt]

Dude how do you manage to drive a lowered car in sudbury with the roads they have LOL. the roads are soo bad there its insane.

My CRV is my dd, the VR6 isn't lowered and only comes out during the day when I can see/look for the potholes..

Let's just say my RC's have been to the wheel straightening shop a time or two..

[Big Chin]

$243 a month comprehensive+liability+collision... Primary on my 2008 Rabbit, secondary on my G35 Sedan, MK5 Jetta, E39 540, and 2012 F150...

Clean driving records ftw...

[James1990]

My rates with State Farm just dropped from $296/month to $226/month and I still have one ticket on record.

This is of course liability only on my 1991 4dr Golf Diesel (they make you disclose that) and I'm still in Pickering and turned 22 in Oct.

My 20 sister with her 2004 2.0 4dr Golf pays $130/month liability only with 2 or 3 speeding tickets. She's with TD but registered at her school in Brantford.

Cruel world hahaha

[Mike!]

This may piss you guys off. 2010 Mazda6, me primary with my wife secondary, full coverage (liability, collision, comprehensive), $1238/yr, $103.17/mo.

That's one benefit of living in Kingston.

[VeeRowKing]

Belair Direct is the way to go, i am 19 with a modified gti, only paying $224 a month, i got my car when i was 16 and had it under my name since day one with a G2, it was about $300 then but when i got my G and came to university it dropped down to $224, belair is the only way to go for younger drivers in ontario. also, i was quoted by statefarm and all-state at about $950 a month..

[Big Chin]

Belair Direct is the way to go, i am 19 with a modified gti, only paying $224 a month, i got my car when i was 16 and had it under my name since day one with a G2, it was about $300 then but when i got my G and came to university it dropped down to $224, belair is the only way to go for younger drivers in ontario. also, i was quoted by statefarm and all-state at about $950 a month..

Truth, unless you have a hook up... I was primary on my Town and Country (Mini Van) ... I was paying about $423 a month before switching... Clean record too... FFS what a rip off...

[mlochab]

Yea Belair seems like the best bet. Switching cars soon and got a quote from Belair

2009 wrx sti , 20 year old, 1 not at fault accident, University student and they want $214 a month with a 500$ deductible

currently on statefarm on my 07 gti i'm under my parents name as statefarm wanted $460 a month if it was under mine.

[samguan]

I'm 24 with G, paid $330 in Toronto, then moved to Markham, now paying $290 a month. With a traffic ticket. That is comprehensive with $200 deductible for my MKV GTI. It is my first insured car.