Ontario Insurance: What you can do
Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 1:49 pm
I'm sparking this up to (hopefully) get some action on the insurance situation in Ontario. Let's use this thread to share information on what you have done and what has worked as far as getting insurance for your Delica/RHD in Ontario. I will try and cross post on as many RHD-centric websites as possible, but let me know if I miss any.
To start, regardless of current insurance status, you should write a letter to your MPP outlining your situation, and the difficulty/expense you face insuring your vehicle. It may help to play to your MPP's party talking points. Hit on environmental responsibility for the Liberal/NDP members, hit on "unfair treatment of hardworking Ontario families" for your PC members. Be creative, be polite, and be direct. Offer to take your MPP for a ride, or let them go for a drive.
If your current insurance company refuses your RHD, or cancels a policy on your RHD, appeal to the insurance company's Ombudsman. If they still refuse, make sure you get a "Final Position Letter". Ask for it by name.
Once you have the Final Position Letter, get in touch with the FSCO (http://www.fsco.gov.on.ca/en/insurance/ ... fault.aspx).
Per section 238 of the Insurance Act, the FSCO will not entertain a rule if it is
(a) is subjective;
(b) is arbitrary;
(c) bears little or no relationship to the risk to be borne by the insurer in respect of an insured; or
(d) is contrary to public policy.
Based on the IVOAC-sponsored paper on the ICBC study, a compelling case can be made that RHD refusal is subjective. Even using the ICBC study can show that outright refusal is arbitrary, as the spread in LHD vehicle crash risk is much greater than the 40% that the ICBC attributed to a vehicle being RHD (i.e. the worst left hand drive vehicles are 2-300% more likely to crash than the average LHD vehicle).
I am currently waiting for my Final Position Letter (my insurer has been slow on delivering it). Once I have it, I'll post up copies of what I submit to FSCO.
To start, regardless of current insurance status, you should write a letter to your MPP outlining your situation, and the difficulty/expense you face insuring your vehicle. It may help to play to your MPP's party talking points. Hit on environmental responsibility for the Liberal/NDP members, hit on "unfair treatment of hardworking Ontario families" for your PC members. Be creative, be polite, and be direct. Offer to take your MPP for a ride, or let them go for a drive.
If your current insurance company refuses your RHD, or cancels a policy on your RHD, appeal to the insurance company's Ombudsman. If they still refuse, make sure you get a "Final Position Letter". Ask for it by name.
Once you have the Final Position Letter, get in touch with the FSCO (http://www.fsco.gov.on.ca/en/insurance/ ... fault.aspx).
Per section 238 of the Insurance Act, the FSCO will not entertain a rule if it is
(a) is subjective;
(b) is arbitrary;
(c) bears little or no relationship to the risk to be borne by the insurer in respect of an insured; or
(d) is contrary to public policy.
Based on the IVOAC-sponsored paper on the ICBC study, a compelling case can be made that RHD refusal is subjective. Even using the ICBC study can show that outright refusal is arbitrary, as the spread in LHD vehicle crash risk is much greater than the 40% that the ICBC attributed to a vehicle being RHD (i.e. the worst left hand drive vehicles are 2-300% more likely to crash than the average LHD vehicle).
I am currently waiting for my Final Position Letter (my insurer has been slow on delivering it). Once I have it, I'll post up copies of what I submit to FSCO.