No Insurance Ticket Ontario

Operating a motor vehicle without insurance falls under section 2(1)(a) of the CAIA (Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act):

“2 (1) Subject to the regulations, no owner or lessee of a motor vehicle shall,

• operate the motor vehicle; or
• cause or permit the motor vehicle to be operated,

on a highway unless the motor vehicle is insured under a contract of automobile insurance.”

Section 2(1)(a) alleges that the owner or lessee of the vehicle has driven without proper insurance coverage, whereas section 2(1)(b) alleges that the owner or lessee of the uninsured vehicle permitted the vehicle to be driven by another person.

The owner of a non-insured vehicle can also be charged with producing false evidence of insurance to the police under CAIA S.2(3)(b) if the owner: surrenders an insurance card for inspection to a police officer, when requested to do so, purporting to show that the motor vehicle is insured under a contract of automobile insurance when the motor vehicle is not so insured.

Much like the earlier section of the CAIA dealing with driving an uninsured vehicle, you would face the following fines if convicted at court due to the victim fine surcharge;

• First offence:  $6,250.00 to $31,250.00
• Second offence:  $12,500.00 to $62,500.00 and possibility of license suspension for up to one year.

If the driver of a motor vehicle simply does not provide their proof of insurance or shows an invalid insurance card to the police when requested to do so, they may be charged under CAIA s.3(1): “3 (1) An operator of a motor vehicle on a highway shall have in the motor vehicle at all times,

1. an insurance card for the motor vehicle; or
2. an insurance card evidencing that the operator is insured under a contract of automobile insurance,

and the operator shall surrender the insurance card for reasonable inspection upon the demand of a police officer. R.S.O. 1990, c. C.25, s. 3 (1).” 

The penalties for contravening Section 3(1) of the Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act are a fine of $65.00 and a record of conviction being entered into your driving history that would be visible for a period of 3 years to third parties such as an employer or insurer.

1. Stop Driving: Until you can secure valid insurance, do not continue to drive. Further legal troubles and financial liabilities can happen from additional driving without coverage.
2. Get Car Insurance: While it won’t cover the current accident, getting insured is most important before operating a motor vehicle on the road again.
3. Seek Legal Advice: An experienced legal professional can guide you through your options and help navigate the aftermath of the accident.
4. Negotiate with Affected Parties: If unable to cover the costs upfront, there may be room to negotiate a payment plan or alternative compensation with those impacted by the accident.
5. Government Assistance: Ontario offers programs like the Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Fund to aid those uninsured or underinsured in covering accident related costs.