Frequently Asked Questions
| Q. | What is Manitoba Public Insurance's position regarding premium discounts for vehicles installed with after-market anti-theft devices? | ||||||||
| A. |
Manitoba Public Insurance customers benefit from premium reductions for vehicles that are protected by theft deterrent systems that meet national standards. Standard Equipment Aftermarket Systems To date there are four after-market immobilizers that meet the national standard:
Your discount is for installation of any of these devices by one of more than 40 national standards-approved installers: • $40 off your annual Autopac premium if you select the basic $500 deductible, or • $45 if you select either the $300, $200 or $100 deductible option. Click here for a current listing of registered installers in Manitoba. Or, you can call us at 985-7000 and we will send you the list. After you've had one of these devices properly installed, take your national standards Installation Registration form to your Autopac agent, who will process your discount. For more information, talk to your insurance broker. If you need help buying one of these immobilizers, we offer financing. Check with us before you buy one, to see if you qualify. Factory Installed as Optional Equipment Please note that the discount is related only to the purchase and installation of a national standards-approved device, either aftermarket or factory-installed option, and applies only to the Basic Autopac premium and any applicable deductible buy-down premium. The discounted rate will not be applied to any other extension products or registration fees. |
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| Q. | Why do my friend and I pay different insurance rates, when we own exactly the same type of car? | ||||||||
| A. | Your rates are determined based on a combination
of the following four objective, risk-based factors: 1. The Type of Vehicle You Drive: Your insurance costs are determined in part, by the claims costs associated with the Year, Make and Model of the vehicle you drive. Claim costs may be lower for a car that has more safety and loss prevention features, such as air bags and anti-lock brakes. 2. Where You Drive It: Manitoba is divided into four territories for vehicle rating purposes. Each geographic region is identified with varying degrees of risk. The lower the risk, the lower your insurance rates. 3. What You Use It For: Insurance rates differ depending on what you use your vehicle for. That's because what you use your vehicle for affects how likely you are to have a claim. For instance, if you only drive to the grocery store and back (pleasure use) you're less likely to have a claim than if you drive your car regularly back and forth to work (all purpose). 4. Your Driving Record: If you drive safely – with no at-fault accidents or traffic convictions – you save money on your insurance. On the other hand, if you drive unsafely, you pay more. Remember, it's not accurate to compare your vehicle's value to the cost of your insurance premiums, since premiums cover more than just the cost of your vehicle repairs. They also provide third party liability protection against damages to other people's property, and protection in case of injuries. |
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| Q. | I want to sell my vehicle. Do I have to provide the buyer with a safety certificate? | ||||||||
| A. | In a private sale, if you have a valid Certificate of Inspection (COI) in force, the purchaser won't require a new one when they register the vehicle. While the onus is on the purchaser to produce a valid COI to register the vehicle, getting the vehicle inspected might be a good selling feature. Refer to Buying and Selling for more information. |
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| Q. | What is a Certificate of Inspection (COI)? | ||||||||
| A. | A COI is a document
that certifies vehicle safety. An inspector at one of Manitoba's vehicle
inspection stations signs a COI after checking that a vehicle meets Manitoba
safety standards. Inspectors check brakes, exhaust system, windows, seat
belts, tire wear, lights and other safety features.
A safety inspection doesn't include a detailed inspection of the engine or transmission and is not a guarantee of the overall quality of the vehicle. A COI is valid for one year for most types of vehicles. A COI is not needed in the case of a brand new vehicle. |
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| Q. | I don't have the Transfer of Ownership document needed to register my vehicle. What can I do? | ||||||||
| A. | You should contact
the person who sold you the vehicle and fill the document out together.
Prior to registering the vehicle, you should also obtain:
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| Q. | Why is basic Autopac compulsory? | ||||||||
| A. | In the late 1960s
the Manitoba government decided the private sector had failed to provide
Manitobans with adequate, affordable automobile insurance, and passed
legislation to create a Crown Corporation to provide basic compulsory
automobile insurance. This decision was spurred by the recommendations
of a government led task force (the Manitoba Automobile Insurance Committee),
established to investigate the auto insurance business in the province. The fact that the plan is compulsory provides Manitoba motorists with the following benefits:
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| Q. | What is the shortest length of insurance policy that I can get? | ||||||||
| A. |
You can get short-term Autopac coverage and vehicle registration for as short as 30 days or as long as 244 days. The same rules for registration apply--for example, you must be a Manitoba resident. And, like Autopac, short-term policies offer you a full choice of basic and extension coverages. See Short-Term Autopac for more information. |
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| Q. | What is the difference between the legal owner and the registered owner? | ||||||||
| A. |
For your insurance to be valid, the registered owner must be correctly identified on your insurance certificate. The legal owner actually owns the vehicle. Because the legal owner owns the vehicle, only the legal owner can sell it. The registered owner is someone who has "exclusive use". They keep the vehicle, look after it, control who drives it, but don't necessarily own it. If more than one person has exclusive use, only one person may act as the registered owner (spouses sharing a vehicle, for example.) The registered owner can't sell the vehicle unless they are the legal owner, too. |
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| Q. | How do I qualify for a discount on my insurance? | ||||||||
| A. |
Premium discounts depend on your Driver Safety Rating. |
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| Q. | How much can I save on my insurance? | ||||||||
| A. | Depending on your record of safe driving, you could save between 5% and 33% on your vehicle premium. On your driver’s licence premium, you could save up to $30 off the full cost of $45. |
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| Q. | I am new to the province. How long do I have to register and insure my vehicle in Manitoba? | ||||||||
| A. |
You have 3 months to register and
insure your vehicle when it's a privately owned, non-commercially used
passenger vehicle or a truck with a gross vehicle weight of 3,700 kg
or less. All other vehicles must be registered immediately. You'll also
have to register your vehicle before the 3 months is up if your registration
and insurance from the place you left expires during that time. |
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| Q. | What happens if I am late on a time payment? | ||||||||
| A. | Under the 4-payment plan, a penalty of $20 applies for each late payment, on each insured vehicle. Under the 12-payment plan, a $20 penalty applies on each defaulted withdrawal. We charge interest on late payments. We take action right away when we don't receive a payment from you on time, when one of your monthly payments defaults, or when we can't cash your cheque. We'll send you a notice warning you that we'll suspend your insurance coverage and/or your driver's licence if we don't receive your payment by a specific day. Even if you haven't received a notice from us, Section 92 of The Drivers and Vehicle Act gives us the right to suspend your insurance and/or driver's licence when you haven't paid on time. If we suspend your insurance and/or driver's licence because you’ve missed a payment, you can’t pay by installments until your next anniversary day. If you’re suspended for a second missed payment within three years, you can’t pay by installments until one year after your next anniversary day. |
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| Q. | How do I know when my payments are due? | ||||||||
| A. | Each year, we’ll notify you by mail, telling you when your payments are due. If you’re on the Four-Payment plan, your payments are due in a 2-5-8 pattern, as follows:
Your anniversary day is the day four months after your birthday. If you're on the 12-payment plan, you pick the automatic withdrawal date when you set up the agreement. We'll then take the payment by direct withdrawal on the same day each month - in equal installments. |
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| Q. | What’s the easiest way for me to pay my driver’s licence and insurance in installments? | ||||||||
| A. | The easiest way is to choose automatic monthly payments, processed through your bank. Interest and a small fee apply. Once these payments are set up, all you need to do is make sure your account has enough money to cover them. The money is withdrawn automatically. You can pay electronically by setting up your payments through your bank or credit union. Once you’ve set up your payments, you can pay by computer or by telephone. |
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| Q. | If I’m on Four-Payments, and I don’t need my insurance any more, can I just stop paying them? | ||||||||
| A. |
No. If you don’t need your insurance anymore, you must go to any Autopac agent and cancel it. Otherwise, your coverage continues until it’s suspended for non-payment. Then, you’ll be responsible for late fees, and other costs before you can renew your driver’s licence and vehicle insurance. You also will lose the privilege of choosing Four Payments for a year or more. |
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