Vacation Season is coming - remember that car insurance rules differ from country to country

April 26, 2016, Kitchener, Ontario

Posted by: Robert Deutschmann, Personal Injury Lawyer

Your bags are packed, you've checked your tires, oil and washer fluid levels. You are ready to hit the road on the summer holiday. There are a few considerations before you go though. Your car and property insurance are travelling with you on your holiday, as is your OHIP and other supplemental insurance you have.

1. Health Care - Remember that if you are a resident of Ontario and have OHIP you should be alright in Canada. If you travel within Canada and require emergency health care those costs should be covered by the province with the reciprocal agreements that are in place. If you need health care outside the country though you will find a rapidly climbing bill for any health care required. You should carry supplemental insurance whenever you travel to the USA, or any other country. OHIP will not cover your healthcare costs, or repatriation costs. You should also be aware of all restrictions and limitations of the insurance you have in order to avoid nasty surprises. There are many companies that sell this insurance. If in doubt of the amount to buy remember that generally it is better to have too much than too little and the cost difference is usually nominal.
    
2. Car Accident – If you are driving across Canada and get into an accident in another province your auto insurance, not travel insurance should cover your expenses. You claim them from your insurance company who then in turn recoups them from the other driver.
    
3. Car Accident Scenario 2 – You are driving and cause injury to someone else like a pedestrian. You will be covered to the amount that you carry through your car liability insurance. In Canada most of us carry $1 Million Canadian. In the USA that will likely not be enough. Before you go on your trip review your coverage and consider increasing it for the trip period.
    
4. Property – You get back to your hotel and find that all your valuables have been stolen.  Ugh. You’ll have to make a claim under your home insurance which will cover you even when you aren’t home. Call the police to report the theft, and insurance company and they will guide you through the process. You’ll have to pay your deductible first, but depending on the value of items missing it may be worth the claim.

It is extremely important to remember that not all countries have laws similar to ours. In some countries they may prohibit your exiting the country until an accident case is resolved. Be sure to understand the rules of driving in any foreign country and consider all factors before renting a car for a day, or getting a moped to scoot around on. What may seem like a fun couple of hours could turn in to months or even years of litigation and hassle.

About Deutschmann Law

Deutschmann Law serves South-Western Ontario with offices in Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Woodstock, Brantford, Stratford and Ayr. The law practice of Robert Deutschmann focuses almost exclusively in personal injury and disability insurance matters. For more information, please visit www.deutschmannlaw.com or call us at 1-519-742-7774.

The opinions expressed here, while intended to provide useful information, should not be interpreted as legal recommendations or advice.