What Happens If You Drive Without Insurance in Ontario?
You are required to carry automobile insurance in British Columbia. However, many people continue to drive even though they do not have insurance coverage. This article explains what will happen if you drive without insurance in BC.
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Potential Offences
If you are pulled over, and you cannot show your insurance card, the police officer can charge you with any of the three following offences:
- Driving without insurance
- Failing to produce an insurance document
- Failing to display a decal on your license plate
The specific citation that the police officer provides to you will show which offence for which you are being charged. Driving without insurance is the most serious offence.
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Types of Traffic Tickets
An officer can give you various kinds of traffic tickets if you are driving without insurance. These include:
- Violation Ticket
- Appearance Notice
- Summons
Generally, the officer will provide you with a violation ticket that sets out one of the three charges, above. However, if you have a poor driving record or previous offences regarding lack of insurance, you may get either an Appearance Notice or a Summons. You generally will not get either one of these until after the interaction with the police officer. In fact, it could be months later. It is usually delivered by mail.
If you receive a Violation Ticket, you generally will not have to appear in court. You can avoid going to court if you simply pay the fine associated with the ticket. Otherwise, the notice will indicate the date and time that you must appear.
Be sure to read the ticket thoroughly. It will describe your charges, the penalties associated with the charge, and whether you must appear in court.
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Fines and Penalties for Driving Without car Insurance
The penalties associated with not having insurance vary depending on the actual charge. If you are charged with the harshest conviction of driving without insurance, the fine is $598, which includes a $520 fine and a victim surcharge of $78.
If you are convicted of failing to produce an insurance document, then the fine is $81. Finally, if you are convicted of failing to display a decal on your license plate, then a fine of $109 will be imposed.
Each fine can be reduced by $25 if you pay within the first 30 days of the conviction. If you pay the penalty on time, then it will not harm your credit rating. However, if you do not pay the fine at all, you may not be able to renew your license.
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Pleading Guilty or Fighting the Fine
If you would like to plead guilty, you simply pay your fine and move on. You can often mail the payment in, or you can pay it in person. You should be sure that your payment reaches the Court within the first 30 days of conviction—that does not mean just ensuring that it is mailed within the 30 days. If you pay the fine, thereby pleading guilty, the offence will remain on your driving record.
You can also choose to fight the charge by pleading not guilty or disputing the amount of the fine. You should deliver a Notice of Dispute within the 30 days of receiving the charge. Again, you can provide the notice personally or place it in the mail. Once the Court receives the notice, it will set a hearing date for you. The date may be within a few weeks or a few months of providing your notice.
At your hearing, the police officer will appear to testify, and you have the opportunity to question the officer as well. You can also present any evidence that you want the Court to consider. The judge will then decide whether you are guilty. If guilty, the judge can impose a fine and can restrict your ability to drive.
Getting Help with an Uninsured Accident Claim
If you have suffered injuries in an accident with someone who was uninsured, the personal injury lawyers at Diamond & Diamond are ready to assist you. Their unsurpassed knowledge of the laws and experience obtaining compensation for victims whose injuries were caused by someone without insurance make them the lawyers to go to when you need advice and representation. Don’t delay, contact our 24/7 injury hotline at 1-800-567-HURT or visit our website to speak to someone now about your claim. Consultations are free, and we have offices located throughout British Columbia.
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FAQ
Various penalties are given for driving without insurance in Ontario. If you are caught driving without an insurance in the state of Ontario or any subsequent province in Canada, you will be fined and you will face heavy penalties. In Canada, driving and insurance go hand in hand. Believe it or not, there are still drivers who still choose to drive without insurance. The penalty for such offenders is around $10,000 to $25,000. Or in other cases, a jail term of up to five years.
Various penalties are given for driving without insurance in Ontario. If you are caught driving without an insurance in the state of Ontario or any subsequent province in Canada, you will be fined and you will face heavy penalties. In Canada, driving and insurance go hand in hand. Believe it or not, there are still drivers who still choose to drive without insurance. The penalty for such offenders is around $10,000 to $25,000. Or in other cases, a jail term of up to five years.
If you get in an accident without insurance in Ontario there are several things that will happen. Perhaps, this one of the worst situations you can get yourself in especially if you are driving without a car insurance in Ontario. If you get an accident and you are not insured, you will be held personally responsible for every repair on your car as well as the medical bills. This could be quite a large amount of money considering the damage might affect your car severely. The Ontario authorities will also fine you heavily for driving without insurance. You could also face charges related to accident if you’re found to be at fault.
If you get in accident in an accident with an uninsured driver, you will be protected if you have an insurance cover. This is because insured drivers are protected against drivers who are not insured. As part of the insurance cover in Ontario, you are protect with the uninsured motor coverage. This will cover you with your family in case you hit by an uninsured driver or car. You will be compensated in case of injuries, repair costs or death. It is therefore, very important to have a stable insurance cover in Ontario that can cover you from such unforseen circumstances.
Driving without insurance can stay on your records for up to five years. This can be very disturbing given the fact that it can be used you in so many ways. When looking for job in Canada, for instance, you might easily get eliminated because of such record. You should find a way of clearing your records from such authorities because it can affect you big time. The best way to do is getting a license from relevant authorities and within the right timeframe.
Yes, driving without insurance goes to your driving record. Driving without insurance can stay on your records for up to five years. This can be very disturbing given the fact that it can be used you in so many ways. When looking for job in Canada, for instance, you might easily get eliminated because of such record. You should find a way of clearing your records from such authorities because it can affect you big time. The best way to do is getting a license from relevant authorities and within the right timeframe.