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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.
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.
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.
What does Roadside Assistance provide me?
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.
What does Collision coverage provide me?
This covers the cost of damage to your vehicle in a collision or overturning which you're responsible for. It covers single or multiple vehicle collisions. It also covers you if the responsible party is unknown/unidentified. It doesn't cover mechanical breakdown, wear and tear, etc.
This coverage is optional in most provinces, but if you finance or lease a vehicle, the financial institution may require you have it.
Do I need travel trailer coverage?
Third-party liability automatically extends from the towing vehicle* - while the trailer is being towed.
Once the trailer is no longer being towed, a personal liability extension is required to cover any damage the trailer may inadvertently cause to others or their property.
Auto Insurance