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5-point checklist you must know to insure a car.

It’s that time again. It could be because your renewal is right around the corner, or maybe you just want a cheaper car to insure. Whatever your reason, hopefully we can help take some of the hassle out of the car insurance quote process with this quick checklist of what you’ll need to get a car insurance quote.

So, what do you need to insure a car? So glad you asked!

 

What documents do you need for car insurance?

Our state-of-the-art insurance technology speeds up the quote process to 3 minutes. In fact, the only document you’ll need with aha insurance is your driver’s license number.

But if you’re shopping around the old-fashioned way, then you’ll need these documents for car insurance:

  1. Driver’s license.
  2. Current insurance company and policy number.
  3. Traffic violations within the last 3 years (but not parking tickets).
  4. Previous claims filed in the last 8 years.
  5. Vehicle make, model, and year.

We’ll cover these in a bit more detail below.

 

 

1) Driver’s license

Make sure your driver’s license is valid. Drivers sometimes forget to renew a license which obviously would make their license invalid. In addition to your driver’s license, you may also want to have access to any other drivers that may have access to your vehicle or that live with you.

 

2) Current insurance company

If you already have an insurance policy, then you’ll need the number to make a switch.  You should know the name of your company and have the policy number handy. Also, understanding when your policy renews will help in determining your effective date for the new quote.

 

3) Previous tickets

Know your driving record. Many times when obtaining quotes for car insurance, the insurance may not obtain your record from the Ministry and they will ask you to provide them with any driving infractions you may have on your record such as speeding.

But if they find out about unreported infractions during the claims process, then things could become complicated.

 

4) Previous claims

Know your claims history. This does not only include knowing the details of previous accidents, but also other claims that may not be accident related. For example, comprehensive claims such as windshield damage or vandalism would be included.

 

5) Your vehicle information

In addition to knowing the year, make and model of your vehicle. It helps to have your VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) available in order to get the most accurate quote possible. You may not realize that a difference in model could have an impact on your insurance.

 

 

You should also take note of the physical condition of your car and mention any existing damage. Insurance companies may also want to know if it’s 4-wheel drive or two-wheel drive if they don’t have that vehicle information in front of them during the quote. We do, but not everyone is as awesome as us.

 

Do I need proof of insurance to rent a car?

This depends entirely on the car rental company and your own insurance provider. First you need to check if your policy includes coverage for rental cars. If it does, then you’re good to go.

If your policy doesn’t cover rental vehicles, then you’ll want to get short-term insurance on the car from the rental company directly. It’s lucrative for rental companies, so you can expect just about all of them to provide it.

They also provide “damage waivers,” which act separately and alongside auto insurance. It’s more of a way to get out of small dings, dents, or busted tail lights without going through your insurance provider.

Check out the car insurance policies for the most popular rental companies in Ontario to see what you need:

Enterprise

Hertz

Budget

Avis

 


That’s everything you need to insure a car, whether you’re renting or buying it. Keep this checklist on hand just in case.
Get a 3-minute quote here if you’re going to buy a car to get an idea of how much insurance costs for your vehicle of choice, too. Happy hunting!

Seriously, what else can you do in 3 minutes?

Boil half an egg?

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