Roadside Assistance is a comprehensive roadside and travel assistance service that brings peace of mind to you and every driver of your private passenger vehicle. It includes:
Towing within 50 kms of initial mechanical breakdown
Battery boosting
Gas delivery up to 10 litres
Tire change
Lockout assistance
Extraction of stuck automobile
You can view complete details on Roadside Assistance in the service contract included with your policy documents.
If you are interested in adding Roadside Assistance, please contact us to discuss and reference your policy number for quicker service*.
If you already have Roadside Assistance and are in need of assistance now, please call 1.855.572.6842
*Roadside assistance is an optional paid endorsement to your auto insurance with Scotia Home & Auto Insurance. Services are provided by an independent third-party provider.
How can I be sure I have the right insurance coverage?
Everybody is different, so everybody needs different coverage. It's best to work with an expert like a Service Specialist to be sure you have the right coverage. And, make sure you let your Specialist know if your circumstances change, so they can work with you to adjust your coverage.
Third Party Liability Coverage protects you if someone else is seriously injured or dies, or if their property is damaged, caused during the use of your vehicle. It will pay for claims as a result of lawsuits against you up to the limit of your coverage, and will pay the costs associated with settling the claims.
Many claim settlements are in the millions of dollars. Should there be a court settlement against you higher than the liability limit on your policy, the court judgement would then be applied against you and your assets.
Please contact us if you would like to discuss increasing your Third Party Liability Coverage.
Does my auto insurance provide any coverage when I rent a car?
Only if you have added this optional coverage to your policy. When traveling in Canada and the United States, this will extend Third Party Liability Coverage and physical damage protection to private passenger rental vehicles only. Some limitations apply.
What is Direct-Compensation-Property Damage?
This is a coverage available in Alberta, Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick.
Direct Compensation Property Damage means that you deal with your own insurance company for a claim, regardless of who is at fault for the accident and your claim will be processed without waiting for a third party decision. In some provinces, this covers damage to your vehicle and/or its contents if another person was fully or partly at fault for the accident.
It is called direct compensation because even though someone else causes the damage, you collect directly from your insurance company. It is a standard inclusion in your policy when you purchase third party liability insurance.
How do I choose the right coverage?
There are two groups of coverage for your vehicle - mandatory coverage and optional coverage.
Mandatory types of coverage that are required by law:*
Optional Increased Accident Benefits Coverage (in most provinces)
Waiver of Depreciation
Rental Car Coverage (Liability to Damage to Non-Owned Automobiles)
Accident Forgiveness
Loss of Use Coverage
You are not required by law to purchase insurance to cover damages to your vehicle. But, if you have a newer vehicle, you may want to protect your investment with Comprehensive Coverage and/or Collision Coverage. If you're leasing or financing your vehicle, it will be required by your leasing company or bank that you insure your vehicle for both Collision and Comprehensive coverage.
At Scotia Home & Auto Insurance, we work with you to offer choices and flexibility. Optional coverages and added services allow you to customize your policy to best protect you and your family.
*Not applicable in Quebec.
Am I covered if I use my car for Uber?
Provincial regulations have specific guidelines as to what is and is not personal use for your vehicle. Carrying paying passengers is not a coverage under your personal auto policy. Whether or not your automobile will be used to "carry passengers for compensation" would have been addressed as one of the questions you answered on the original application for insurance.
If you have an accident while using your vehicle as an Uber driver, you could face serious financial challenges in both the costs to repair your vehicle and liability expenses. Property damage costs will likely be your responsibility. Another consideration is, if your passenger is injured in an accident while you are using your vehicle as an Uber driver and your claim is denied, your personal automobile insurance policy may not respond to cover injuries.
Finally, if you're using your vehicle to carry paying passengers and do not have the required municipal license, you could be facing a fine by local bylaw officials. Cities such as Toronto, Ottawa and others are ticketing and fining Uber drivers. Driving for a ride sharing company such as Uber may lead to significant coverage issues and may result in your policy cancellation.
Where does my auto insurance apply?
Your insurance applies where the vehicle is being operated, used, stored or parked within Canada or the U.S., and on a vessel travelling between ports of those countries.
You must buy your insurance in the province where your vehicle is registered. That's usually your province of residence.
Auto Insurance