Posts Tagged ‘Manitoba car insurance’

Manitoba Car Insurance Fraud

Wednesday, March 16th, 2011

According to the Canadian Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, between 10-15 percent of car insurance claims are fraudulent. Car insurance companies in Canada pay out approximately $1.3 billion annually. This organization defines fraudulent as “any act or omission with a view to illegally obtaining an insurance benefit.”

Insurance fraud can include a number of scenarios:

  • Fabricated claims
  • Padding genuine claims
  • Making a false statement to an insurance company

Car insurance fraud in Manitoba and the rest of the country effects all policyholders. In cases of suspected car insurance fraud, the Special Investigations Unit works with local law enforcement to find the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

In 2009, this agency investigated 2,900 claims. In some cases, criminal charges were laid against insurance claimants. In others, the suspicious claim was withdrawn. As a result, insurance providers saved $9 million in claim payouts that year.

A person who may be tempted to either make up a claim or exaggerate the extent of the damage caused in an accident needs to be aware that there is no statute of limitations on fraud charges.

A person who has been convicted of fraud may be required to pay a fine or may also be sentenced to serve time. An individual who has received income replacement benefits to which he or she is not entitled will be required to pay restitution, as well as these other penalties.

 

 

 

 

 

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Canada |

Moving to Manitoba? How to Arrange for Car Insurance

Sunday, March 13th, 2011

Relocating to a new province is a very exciting prospect, and there are a number of details that must be looked after before and after moving day. For car insurance purposes, a customer should prepare for a move to Manitoba by contacting his or her current provider to request a letter of experience that sets out how long the policyholder has been insured and whether any claims have been made against the policy.

A person who has recently moved to Manitoba will be covered by his or her current policy for a time after moving. To find out how long this temporary coverage will last, the policyholder should contact his or her insurance provider. A new arrival will likely have approximately 30 days before the out of province coverage expires.

After arriving in Manitoba, a driver should contact the provincial car insurance provider to arrange for mandatory liability coverage. Consumers in the province can choose to buy optional coverage (collision and comprehensive) from one of the companies licensed to sell coverage or from the government agency.

A newly-arrived resident of Manitoba must also arrange for a new provincial driver’s license and register his or her vehicle in the province. To qualify for a discount on the cost of liability insurance coverage, a driver must get his or her license first. The local Ministry of Transportation office will be able to advise about the procedure to get a new license in the province.

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Canada |

How to Save on the Cost of Your Manitoba Car Insurance Coverage

Thursday, March 10th, 2011

Manitoba car insurance customers can use a number of strategies to help keep the cost of their coverage down. One strategy that is very effective is to increase the policy deductible. When a customer agrees to take on a higher level of financial responsibility toward the cost of claims made against the policy, the insurance company rewards him or her with lower premium rates.

Customers who are looking for insurance coverage for an older model car that is fully paid for may want to consider dropping the collision coverage entirely. This part of the policy pays out based on the vehicle’s cash value and in the case of an older model, there may be little left due to depreciation.

Combining policies is a good way to save money on the cost of coverage. Customers who buy their car and homeowners’ or tenants’ policy from the same company means that a customer can save on the cost of both policies.

A number of companies offer discounts to customers who drive a vehicle that has been outfitted with an approved anti-theft device. Contacting the insurance company will reveal which ones the company recognizes and the amount of the possible price break.

Customers who are looking for a new car can contact their insurance provider to find out which models are most economical to cover before making a final decision about which one to buy.

 

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Canada, Car Insurance Rates |

Manitoba Car Insurance and Accidents

Monday, March 7th, 2011

If you are involved in an accident and you need to make a claim against your Manitoba car insurance policy, you will need to provide the following information:

  • Driver’s license and registration
  • Details of the accident (time, place and location)
  • Make, model and license plate number for the other vehicle
  • Names and contact information for any witnesses

In a case where the accident occurs out of province, a customer should call the toll-free Out-of-Province claims number (1-800-661-6051) for assistance.

Manitoba’s public insurance plan does not cover the cost of a rental vehicle while the owner’s car is being repaired unless the car was stolen or the accident was the other driver’s fault.

The owner is responsible for paying the cost of his or her deductible before any benefits will be paid out under a Manitoba car insurance policy. This amount must be paid, even if the loss was due to an act of vandalism or a hit and run accident.

In a situation where the vehicle owner can identify the person responsible for the accident, the Manitoba car insurance provider will attempt to recover the amount of the deductible from that person. Optional coverage is available to customers who wish to reduce their deductible. A person who has maintained a clean driving record for a number of years may want to consider this step, since they are less likely to be making a claim against their policy going forward.

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in USA |

« Older Entries