Automobile Insurance - Provincial Variations
British Columbia (BC):
3rd Party Liability = compulsory: $200k with a $20k cap on property
- Can sue for pain & suffering
- Can sue for excess loss on top of no-fault benefits
Accident Benefits = compulsory:
- Medical Payments: $150,000/person for stuff on top of health insurance plans.
- Funeral Expenses: $2500
- Disability Income Benefits:
o 75% gross wages, max = $300/wk
o 104 weeks for temporary disability, lifetime if total disability w/ 7-day wait
o Homemaker gets $145/wk for up to 104 weeks
- Death benefits: for death @ any time
o Head of household: $5k + $145/wk for 104 weeks to first survivor (i.e. spouse)
 $1000 + $35/wk to each child for 104 weeks
o Spouse = $2500
o Dependent child = $1500 according to age
Administrated by government; private insurance for optional coverages
Alberta (AB):
If accident in QC, get same coverage as QC residents from own insurer (same as in SK & MB).
3rd Party Liability = compulsory: $200k with a $10k cap on property
- Can sue for pain & suffering
o Maximum award for minor injury = $4504
- Can sue for excess loss on top of no-fault benefits
Accident Benefits = compulsory:
- Medical Payments: $50,000/person for stuff on top of health insurance plans.
o 2 yr limit
o Chiropractor limited to $750
o Massage Therapy limited to $250
o Acupuncture limited to $250
- Funeral Expenses: $5000
- Disability Income Benefits:
o 80% gross wages, maximum $400/wk
o 104 weeks max if total disability w/ 7-day wait
o Non-earner benefit = $135/wk for 26 weeks
 Non-earner = unemployed person > 18 y/o
- Death benefits: for death at any time
o Head of household: $10k + 20% for each dependant beyond the first
 Surviving spouse or dependant gets $15k for first survivor + $4k for reach
remaining
o Spouse = $10k
o Dependent relative = $3k
Administrated by private insurance
Saskatchewan (SK):
3rd Party Liability = compulsory: $200k with a $10k cap on property
o Can choose tort or no-fault coverage
- Tort:
o Can sue for pain & suffering w/ $5000 deductible
o Can sue for economic losses exceeding no-fault benefits
- No fault:
o Can’t sue unless at-fault driver was impaired
o Can sue for economic losses exceeding no-fault benefits
Accident Benefits = compulsory: amounts adjusted annually
o Visitors fall under no-fault, residents can choose.
o Accident benefits is optional for Tort choosers
- Medical Payments:
o Tort: $177,067 for catastrophic; $23,603 for non-catastrophic
o No fault: $6,037,979
- Funeral Expenses:
o Tort: $5903
o No fault: $9057
- Income Benefit: has a 7-day wait period
o Tort: ≤ $18,512/yr (2 yr limit; totally disabled = lifetime)
o No fault: ≤ $76,533/yr ≤ 65 y/o if necessary
- Death Benefit:
o Tort: 45% of deceased’s net income (max salary = $76,533/yr)
o No fault: same as tort + $41,527 Education Allowance for the spouse to train for a job
- Permanent/Catastrophic Impairment:
o Tort: $153,458 for catastrophic; $11,803 for non-catastrophic
o No fault: $211,330 for catastrophic; $173,026 for non-catastrophic
Physical Damage = compulsory: collision and comprehensive (all perils) is mandatory.
- Deductible varies by vehicle type
o $700 deductible for passenger vehicles
Administrated by gov for basic coverages; private insurance for optional
Manitoba (MB):
If accident in QC, get same benefit as QC residents through own insurer in Manitoba
3rd Party Liability = compulsory: $200k with a 10% cap on property
- Can’t sue for pain & suffering
- Can’t sue for excess loss on top of no-fault benefits
Accident Benefits = compulsory: amounts adjusted annually
- Medical Payments: no time or amount limit (includes rehab)
- Funeral Expenses: $7422
- Disability Income Benefits: 90% of net wages
o Max gross income = $76k/yr
o 7-day wait period
- Death benefits: payable for death @ any time
o Payment depends on age & wage
o Spouse = minimum $54,466 up to $380,000
o Disabled Dependent = $23,828
o Non-dependant child or parent = $12,128
- Impairment Benefits: between $680 to $136,160
Physical Damage (Compulsory): all perils insurance (collision & comprehensive) is compulsory.
- Deductible depends on type of vehicle
Administrated by government; private insurance for additional coverage.
Ontario (ON):
If accident in QC, get the same benefits as QC residents through own insurer.
Can buy coverage for additional accident benefits coverage
3rd Party Liability = compulsory: $200k with a 5% cap on property
- Can sue for pain & suffering if meets verbal threshold (if beyond some degree of seriousness)
o For “serious” injury w/ $30k deductible ($15k if Family Law Act claim)
o Can buy “Consumer Choice Option” to reduce deductible to $20k (& $10k respectively)
- Can sue for excess loss on top of no-fault benefits
o Get 80% of net wages before trial and 100% of gross after trial
o + Medical costs (i.e. rehab) if meets the verbal threshold for pain and suffering
Accident Benefits = compulsory:
- Medical Payments: $50,000/person for stuff on top of health insurance plans (including rehab).
o $1MM if “catastrophic injury”
o $36k for attendant care ($1MM if catastrophic)
o Consumer Choice Option: can double the per-person and attendant car limits to ($100k
& $72k)
- Funeral Expenses: $6000 (Consumer Choice = $8k)
- Disability Income Benefits:
o 70% of gross income up to $400/week (minimum $185/week)
 104 week limit (more if can’t find suitable job)
o Homemakers get $185/week for 104 weeks
 If unable to carry on normal life
 26 week wait period
o Students still disabled after 104 weeks get $320/week
o WAD = Whiplash Associated Disorder
 WAD 1 = 12 week limit
 WAD 2 = 16 week limit
o Consumer Choice = 70% of gross income ≤ $1000/week
- Death benefits: if die within 180 days of accident or 3 years if continuously disabled
o Spouse = $25k
o Dependent = $10k
o Consumer Choice = 2x
Administrated by private insurance
Quebec (QC):
Can’t sue for injuries, compensated by government.
If you are a non-QC resident & not liable, compensated by QC government & own insurer.
3rd Party Liability = compulsory: $50k for property damage & injury outside of QC
Bodily Injury paid by QC Government:
- Medical Payments: no time or amount limit (includes rehab)
- Funeral Expenses: $4,617
- Disability Income Benefits: income replacement indemnity
o 90% of wages < $62,500 until 65
- Death benefits: can die anytime
o Payment depends on wage & age but minimum $61,599
o Maximum $312,500 to spouse + $29,258-$53,901 to dependants according to age
o $25,409 if disabled dependant
o $49,371 to parents or estate if nobody survives
- Impairment benefits: scheduled up to $215,999
Administration:
- Bodily Injury from government insurer
- Property Damage from private insurers
Newfoundland (NL):
3rd Party Liability = compulsory: $200k with a $10k cap on property
- Can sue for pain & suffering w/ $2500 deductible
- Can sue for excess loss on top of no-fault benefits
Accident Benefits = optional:
- Medical Payments: $25,000/person for stuff on top of health insurance plans.
o 4 yr limit
- Funeral Expenses: $1000
- Disability Income Benefits:
o 104 weeks for partial disability ; lifetime if totally disabled
o Maximum $140/wk with a 7-day wait
o Unpaid housekeepers get $70/wk ; max = 12 wks
- Death benefits: if die within 180 days of accident or 2 years if continuously disabled
o Head of household: $10k + $1k for each dependant beyond the first
o Spouse = $10k
o Dependent child = $2k
Administrated by private insurance
New Brunswick (NB):
3rd Party Liability = compulsory: $200k limit w/ 10% for property damage
- Can sue for pain & suffering. Maximum $2500 for minor injuries (indexed annually)
- Can sue for additional loss on top of no-fault benefits
Accident Benefits = compulsory: optional increased limits can be purchased through SEF 48)
- Medical payments: $50k/person for stuff on top of health insurance plans (including rehab)
o 4 yr limit
- Funeral Expenses: $2500
- Disability Income Benefits:
o 104 weeks for partial disability ; lifetime if totally disabled
o Maximum $250/wk with a 7-day wait
o Unpaid housekeepers get $100/wk ; max = 52 wks
o Death benefits: if die within 180 days of accident or 2 years if continuously disabled
 Head of household: $50k + $1k for each dependant beyond the first
 Spouse = $25k
 Dependent child = $5k
Administrated by private insurance
Nova Scotia (NS):
3rd Party Liability = compulsory: $500k limit
- Can sue for pain & suffering. Maximum $7500 for minor injuries (indexed annually)
- Can sue for additional loss on top of no-fault benefits
Accident Benefits = compulsory: optional increased limits can be purchased through SEF 48)
- Medical payments: $25k/person for stuff on top of health insurance plans (including rehab)
o 4 yr limit
- Funeral Expenses: $1000
- Disability Income Benefits:
o 104 weeks for partial disability ; lifetime if totally disabled
o Maximum $140/wk with a 7-day wait
o Unpaid housekeepers get $70/wk ; max = 12 wks
- Death benefits: if die within 180 days of accident or 2 years if continuously disabled
o Head of household: $10k + $1k for each dependant beyond the first
o Spouse = $10k
o Dependent child = $2k
Administrated by private insurance
Prince Edward Island (PE):
3rd Party Liability = compulsory: $200k with a 5% cap on property
- Can sue for pain & suffering. $2500 for minor injury
- Can sue for excess loss on top of no-fault benefits
Accident Benefits = compulsory
- Medical Payments: $25,000/person for stuff on top of health insurance plans.
o 4 yr limit
- Funeral Expenses: $1000
- Disability Income Benefits:
o 104 weeks for partial disability ; lifetime if totally disabled
o Maximum $140/wk with a 7-day wait
o Unpaid housekeepers get $70/wk ; max = 12 wks
- Death benefits: if die within 180 days of accident or 2 years if continuously disabled
o Head of household: $10k + $1k for each dependant beyond the first
o Spouse = $10k
o Dependent child = $2k
Administrated by private insurance
Yukon (YK):
3rd Party Liability = compulsory: $200k with a $10k cap on property
- Can sue for pain & suffering
- Can sue for excess loss on top of no-fault benefits
Accident Benefits = compulsory:
- Medical Payments: $10,000/person for stuff on top of health insurance plans.
o 2 yr limit
- Funeral Expenses: $2000
- Disability Income Benefits:
o 104 weeks for partial disability ; lifetime if totally disabled w/ 7-day wait
o 80% gross wages < $300/wk
o Unpaid housekeepers get $100/wk ; max = 26 wks
- Death benefits: for death at any time
o Head of household: $10k + $2k for each dependant beyond the first + 1% of principle
sum for 104 wks (no limit)
o Spouse = $10k
o Dependent relative = $3k depending on age
Administrated by private insurance
Northwest Territories & Nunavut (NT):
3rd Party Liability = compulsory: $200k with a 5% cap on property
- Can sue for pain & suffering
- Can sue for excess loss on top of no-fault benefits
Accident Benefits = compulsory:
- Medical Payments: $25,000/person for stuff on top of health insurance plans.
o 4 yr limit
- Funeral Expenses: $1000
- Disability Income Benefits:
o 80% of gross wages < $140/wk
o 104 weeks if temporary disability, lifetime if total disability w/ a 7-day wait
o Unpaid housekeeper: $100/wk for 12 weeks
- Death benefits: if die within 180 days of accident or 2 years if continuously disabled
o Head of household: $10k
o Spouse = $10k
o $2000 for each dependant survivor after the first
o If 1 survivor, spouse or dependant: add $1500
Administrated by private insurance