Auto Insurance
Auto Insurance
Without an experienced broker, choosing the right auto insurance for your driving and vehicle needs can be overwhelming. Knowing what coverage options are available and will best fit your individual, family, or business needs is something we do best.
Our sales team will work with you to build a policy that provides the most appropriate coverage for your driving needs, all while ensuring you get the best pricing and discounts along the way.
New Driver Insurance
Are you a new or young driver? As a newly qualified or younger driver, you’ll likely face higher premiums. This is where we can help.
Jones Insurance provides the latest information, tips, and coverage options to help you keep the cost of insurance down. Let us help you find the best policy for you and your family.
Here’s some quick tips to get started:
- If you’re the parent of a young driver, adding them to your current policy as an occasional driver can save on costs.
- There are price differences between male and female premiums for drivers under age 25; men should be prepared to pay more.
- G1 drivers are not expected to have their own insurance; they only need coverage under the policy of whoever accompanies them in the vehicle.
How can a new driver lower the price of insurance?
- Be a good driver! Avoid tickets and accidents – they can make your premium skyrocket as a young driver.
- If you can, remain as an occasional driver under a parent’s policy.
- Attend an approved driver training course.
- Choose a vehicle that costs less to insure.
- Shop around – some insurance companies favour new drivers more than others.
Not sure where to begin? We’re with you.
Classic Car Insurance
You love your classic car – even if you don’t drive it every day. Let us help you find the right vintage car insurance policy to protect your collector car year-round, especially during our cold northern winters. Our brokers operate with the knowledge that your classic car will maintain its value over time, while other vehicles will likely depreciate.
We insure all kinds of antique, classic, and collector vehicles, including:
- Classic cars, trucks, and modern collectible vehicles
- Collector trailers and campers
- Antique tractors
- Hot rods, replicas and mods
- Classic military vehicles
- Retired commercial vehicles
- Classic bikes
Boat Insurance
In northwestern Ontario, many of us look forward to our summers on the lake. It’s important to protect yourself, your passengers as well as your boat, or other water vehicles with the right boat coverage. We insure a variety of water vehicles, such as:
- Small boats
- Cruisers
- Fishing boats
- Yachts
- Pontoon boats
- Sailboats
- Catamarans
- Jet-skis and Sea-Doos
Did you know?
Your paddleboat, canoe, kayak, or any other non-motorized boat can likely be covered under your home insurance policy. Talk to us about what’s covered and enjoy peace of mind that your policy won’t leave you anchored.
Travel Trailer Insurance
What’s the difference between an RV and a travel trailer? An RV can drive itself, whereas a travel trailer must be towed.
There are a few options to consider when choosing a policy for your travel trailer, tent trailer, or fifth-wheel trailer. You can:
- Add it to your auto insurance policy
- Add it to your home insurance policy
- Choose a stand-alone vacation trailer policy
It’s also important to keep in mind that while your auto insurance may also offer liability protection when your trailer is being towed, unless you’ve added camping trailer insurance, it’s no longer covered when unhitched. Any damages will likely not be covered if there’s an accident.
What’s covered?
- Third party liability
- Direct compensation
- Accident benefits
- Uninsured auto
Other options to consider:
- Collision coverage
- Comprehensive coverage
- Replacement cost
Our Jones Insurance brokers can help you protect your home away from home with the right policy. Get in touch with us for honest, down-to-earth advice.
Snowmobile Insurance
Hitting the trails? Make sure you’re covered for all situations before you start exploring in the snow. Legally, your snowmobile must be insured to ride on common trails. You also need:
- A vehicle permit registered with the Ministry of Transportation (MTO).
- A valid trail permit
- A valid Ontario driver’s license OR a valid motorized snow vehicle operator’s license (MSVOL)
Did you know?
Your driving record affects your snowmobile insurance, and your sledding record affects your auto insurance. However, unlike with auto insurance, your gender and marital status are not taken into account for snowmobile insurance pricing.
Bundle Up on auto and snowmobile insurance! Talk to our brokers to learn how you can save money when you combine insurance policies.
ATV Insurance
Just like a car, boat, or snowmobile, you also need insurance for your all-terrain vehicle.
What’s an ATV?
An all-terrain vehicle (ATV), sometimes colloquially referred to as a “quad”, is defined as a small motorized vehicle on four wheels, designed for off-road use. This includes:
- Sport ATVs
- Side-by-side ATVs
- Utility ATVs
Make sure you’re protecting yourself and your ATV with the right quad insurance coverage. Liability coverage is mandatory for an ATV. Additional coverage options include:
- Property damage
- Accident benefits
- Uninsured motorist
- Physical damage coverage; including specified perils, collision or upset, comprehensive, and all perils
Get your ATV ready to go with the right coverage.
Motorcycle Insurance
Hit the open road safely with motorcycle insurance! Whether you’re riding a classic motorcycle, scooter, or sports bike, we’ll help you build a policy for your bike and gear. Gear may include bike trailers, sidecars, and helmets.
To operate a motorcycle in Ontario, you must have, at minimum:
- Third-party liability
- Direct compensation
- Accident benefits
- Uninsured auto
Other options to consider include collision and comprehensive coverage.
To operate a motorcycle in Ontario, you must also be of legal driving age and possess an M2 or M license. Contributing factors to insurance premiums for motorcycles include:
- Your gender and age
- Where you live (premiums in northern Ontario are lower than the GTA)
- The make, model, year, and value of your motorcycle
- How long you’ve had your M2
- How many people are on your policy
Insurance premiums for motorcycles can be expensive because of the frequency of serious injuries, incurring higher medical and legal costs. Let us help you find the right coverage.
FAQs
Whether you’re transferring your insurance from another province, seeking to change insurers, or owning a car for the first time, the process of getting an insurance quote can be daunting. In general, the more the insurer knows about you and your driving record, the better off you will be, even if your record is less than perfect. Full disclosure at the beginning will save any risk of misrepresentation if you do need to make a claim in the future.
This is an area where your broker can be of particular assistance in helping you navigate the terrain. There are three main categories of information required:
- Information about you
- Names of the drivers of the vehicle to be insured. This usually includes all licensed members of your household since it is assumed they will use the car. Provide their names as shown on their license, the number of years licensed and the percentage of time they will use the vehicle.
- Driving records of all applicants will be screened to identify applicants with undesirable driving records. This will include driving convictions in the last three years and accident claims in the last six years.
- Insurance history for the preceding three to six years must be provided, including any cancelled, declined or refused insurance.
- License history of all listed drivers must be provided for the preceding six years, including suspensions, cancellations or lapses.
- In provinces that have public insurance, all required information is already captured by the government.
- Information about the vehicle
Full information about the make, model and year are required as well as the Vehicle Identification Number or VIN. Also, include the details of a lease if you have one, the purchase value, whether new or used, and the value of any modifications to the vehicle. Include vehicle ownership. If any other party has a financial interest in the vehicle, this should be recorded so they are protected in the event of a loss. - Information about your coverage requirements
Finally, you will need to provide information of how the vehicle will be used. Is it for pleasure or business? If it is for commuting, what is the daily estimated distance? What will the annual distance be? If for business use, will you be carrying paying passengers, renting the car out to others or transporting any goods? You will also need to indicate your choices regarding your coverage, for example, your preferred deductible, liability limit and coverage for any special situations, including storing the car or driving in the U.S.
What is liability insurance?
Liability insurance covers the cost of damages (for accident benefits, medical costs, lawsuits and awards) in the event of personal injury or death from an accident involving the insured party. In other words, you are financially protected if you are held liable for an injury or loss by others arising from the operation of your vehicle.
What is no-fault insurance?
Many provinces in Canada now have some level of no-fault insurance in which each person’s own insurance company pays for injury or damage up to a certain limit. This applies regardless of whether or not the insured person was at fault. In Quebec and Manitoba, for example, there is a pure no-fault. In Ontario, however, there is a threshold system in which the no-fault clause only applies up to a certain threshold of liability. So, if you are involved in an accident and injured, your own insurance covers the associated costs of treatment, living expenses, loss of work and pain and suffering. This means injuries that are not “serious and permanent” are covered by your own insurance. Your insurance also covers the associated costs of treatment, living expenses, loss of work and dependent care.
When to consider extra coverage
The recommended level of liability insurance coverage is usually about $1 million. There are some situations in which you might want to increase your liability limit depending on the use of your vehicle. For example, if you drive into the U.S. on a regular basis, where liability settlements are generally higher than in Canada, you might want to consider higher coverage. If you carpool to work or drive groups of children in your car to school or after-school events, you might want to increase your coverage to reflect the higher risks to which you are exposed.
Umbrella Liability Policy
You can purchase an Umbrella Liability Policy that provides additional liability coverage to your home and car insurance. For example, if you have $1 million on your home and $1 million on your car, but don’t feel it is sufficient, instead of adding $1 million to each, you can buy an Umbrella Liability Policy for an additional million that covers both.Ask us for more information about liability insurance and how to obtain the right level of coverage.
Every policy is different, but there are some common situations to be aware of.
Your vehicle insurance policy likely has some flexibility built in to ensure you are covered in different situations. You should check your policy or ask your broker to be sure.
Renting a car
If you drive a rented car or any vehicle that is not owned by you, your existing policy automatically extends accident benefits and third party liability coverage to your rented car. These limits are the same as those on your own car. You can purchase additional coverage by way of an annual endorsement to your own policy that provides physical damage insurance for any rented vehicle during the policy term. It is important to note that this endorsement usually has a limit of $50,000. So, if you rent a luxury car, you should be aware that the cost of repairs are limited. This endorsement is simple to arrange and far more economical than the costly damage waivers offered by the rental companies.
Traveling outside the province or country
Your insurance will apply if you take your car on short trips to other provinces or into the continental U.S., as long as you engage in normal use of the vehicle.
Moving to another province
If you are relocating long-term or permanently, you must inform your insurer and arrange for new coverage that reflects the risks in your new location.
When the car is “in the shop”
Under most insurance policies, you are not entitled to a replacement vehicle while your car is in the shop for normal maintenance or repair. If you lose the use of your car because of an accident, then you might be entitled to a loaned vehicle depending on the situation.
When someone else drives your car
Remember that when someone else is driving your car, you are still responsible for it. Any at-fault accidents or claims will go onto your driving record and affect your future premiums.
Don’t guess …
If you are not sure about your coverage, it’s better to give your broker a quick call than to guess. Remember, if you’re not covered and an accident occurs, the insurer is not obliged to pay.Ask us for more information about liability and how to obtain the right level of coverage.
