Protecting Your Home & Belongings with House Insurance in Halifax, Nova Scotia

In Nova Scotia, your auto insurance policy must include the following elements: Liability covers you if you’re involved in a crash where you’re to blame, and the other driver files a claim against you. Accident benefits cover you and any passengers in the event of an accident. Direct compensation covers vehicle damage in a crash where you’re not at fault or only partially at fault. Uninsured automobile covers you if you’re involved in an accident with a driver who has no insurance. The minimum liability coverage in Nova Scotia is $200,000. However, we don’t recommend a policy with such low protection because you may have to pay a balance if you’re in a severe crash. We recommend a liability policy of at least $1 million. Those in the insurance industry typically opt for a $2 million liability policy.

If you drive without auto insurance in Nova Scotia, you could be fined up to $1,200. Additionally, your licence could be suspended for a year. The conviction will remain on your driving record for 10 years. During that time, you’ll receive a 25 per cent surcharge on your car insurance. You may also struggle to find an insurance company that will give you high-risk insurance.

In Nova Scotia, it’s the driver’s responsibility to ensure the car they’re driving is insured, whether they own it or not. You risk being fined and having a criminal record if you drive an uninsured automobile. The same goes for lending. For example, if you let someone else drive your car and that person gets into an accident, you’re responsible for making a claim on your insurance policy.

Insurance providers base their rates on the following factors: Vehicle type. Certain types of cars are prone to theft, have low safety ratings or are expensive to repair. These vehicles generally have higher premiums than other vehicles. Vehicle use. How often you use your car and how you use it determines your insurance rates. For example, the more you drive, the more likely you’ll be involved in a collision. Driver age and profile. Younger drivers typically pay higher premiums than older drivers because they’re less experienced and more risk-averse. Postal code. Rural drivers tend to make fewer claims than drivers in high-traffic urban neighbourhoods and pay lower premiums. Deductible. The deductible is the amount you agree to pay when making a claim. A higher deductible will lower your premiums.

Drivers with spotless records, who’ve taken a drivers’ education course or have installed security measures in their cars are eligible for insurance premium discounts. Another way to reduce your premiums is to bundle your car insurance with your home insurance or choose a higher deductible.

The vehicle registration fee in Nova Scotia is $13.20 (as of September 2021). Vehicle permit fees range from $143.30 to $276.50, depending on the vehicle’s weight.

According to recent data from the Insurance Bureau of Canada (ICB), here’s how Nova Scotia ranks when it comes to average car insurance premiums. British Columbia: $1,832 Ontario: $1,528 Alberta: $1,316 Saskatchewan: $1,235 Newfoundland and Labrador: $1,168 Manitoba: $1,140 Nova Scotia: $891 New Brunswick: $867 Prince Edward Island: $816 Quebec: $717

The term “no-fault” means that if you’re in a crash and you’re injured or your car is damaged, you deal with your insurance company, regardless of who's responsible. You can receive reimbursement more quickly because you don’t have to wait for a court to decide legal liability. Your insurance company determines and assigns a percentage of fault for each driver based on predetermined rules and calculations.

The Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (NSUARB) monitors rates and approves or declines requests for rate changes from insurance companies. The Office of the Superintendent of Insurance regulates provincial insurance matters and enforces the Insurance Act.