Catalytic converter thefts have increased significantly in Winnipeg – and they are happening everywhere! From driveways to company compounds and public parking lots, no outdoor space is safe.

About catalytic converters

The converters are part of your vehicle emission system. Once the converter is removed, your vehicle is disabled until it is replaced.

Why they’re being stolen

Simply put, catalytic converters are:

  • Easy to steal.
  • High in value, making them very appealing to car thieves.

The converters contain rare metals and can easily be cut from your vehicle with a portable saw or grinder.

Top five vehicles targeted

  1. Hyundai Tucson
  2. Honda CR-V
  3. Hyundai Santa Fe
  4. Kia Sportage
  5. Mitsubishi RVR

The cost to you

If your catalytic converter is stolen, you will need to pay your deductible, plus any depreciation. (See the ‘Depreciation’ section here for more information.) That’s why it’s important to take steps to protect your catalytic converter.

Five tips to protect your vehicle

Since converter thieves tend to target cars at ideal locations, most prevention methods involve your parking practices.

  1. Park in well-lit areas.
  2. Park close to building entrances or the nearest road in public parking lots. This leaves your car in a location where many people can see it.
  3. If you have a personal garage, keep your car parked inside with the door shut.
  4. Add video surveillance to the area where you regularly park your car.
  5. Adjust the security system on your car, if already installed, to activate from vibrations, such as those produced by a saw.

Learn more about catalytic converter theft prevention.

To offer a more transparent and accessible auction process from start to finish, MPI is working with IAA to allow customers to view, bid, purchase and pay for MPI Salvage Items online starting later this month.

Live online auctions hosted by IAA with MPI Salvage Items will begin on Wednesday, September 30, 2020 and continue to be held weekly every Wednesday.

With the move to a more accessible online format, MPI will no longer hold in-person salvage auctions.

As we move to align with the majority of other salvage sellers in Canada, this shift to online-only auctions will make MPI’s processes more cost-effective, and in turn, contribute to overall lower insurance rates for all Manitobans.

Through this new easy-to-navigate system, buyers can expect a more comprehensive package for each salvage item before they even place a bid – more photos, including a 360° view of the exterior and interior of most vehicles, current odometer readings and more!

This new open bidding model will also allow customers to make more informed buying decisions by following along in real-time during auctions as well as using the pre-bid and maximum bid features.

Registration process and fees

As of September, in order to bid on and purchase MPI Salvage Items, you must register as a buyer with IAA. This is a simple, two-step process:

Step 1

The first step is to create a free account with IAA. This will allow you to browse and search their inventory, add vehicles to your Watch List and attend auctions online. However, you will not be able to bid until you complete your registration.

Step 2

Registering with IAA includes completing a registration form. Usually, registration also includes a registration fee. However, to allow as many interested Manitobans as possible to see the benefits of our new auctions with IAA, the annual registration fee for your first year will be waived for buyers who sign up before December 31, 2020.

Please note: If you choose to register after December 31, 2020, IAA will charge their normally applicable registration fees.

(Public buyer: $200, Licensed Business Buyer: $100 or $200, depending on your licensing.)

To register, please choose the option applicable to you and follow the outlined steps:

Public Buyer Registration: If you are not a vehicle dealer or auto recycler in Manitoba but still want to purchase Salvage Items, you can register by completing the online form and submitting any additionally required documents via email. This registration type allows you to bid at facilities open to the public, including MPI, and on inventory available to the public in Alberta and B.C.

To register for this category, you will need to provide the following information/documents:

  • A completed and signed registration form
  • A government-issued ID

Licensed Business Buyer Registration (Dealer, Non Dealer): If you hold the appropriate licenses for purchasing Salvage Items or auto recycling in Manitoba, you can register by completing the online form and submitting any additionally required documents via email. This registration allows you to bid at all locations where you meet licensing requirements.

To register for this category, you will need to provide the following information/documents:

  • A completed and signed registration form
  • A government-issued ID
  • All licenses on which you wish to base your bidding privileges

Please note: Going forward, IAA will apply a renewal fee to your account annually. Depending on your registration type, your fee will be $100 (Public Buyer) or $50 (Licensed Business Buyer) per year.

Weekly process

Item listing

Every Thursday, inventory for the following week’s sale will begin to be posted at ca.iaai.com. Items may continue to be added up until the start of the auction.

A pre-bidding option will be available as soon as an item is added to the auction.

You will be able to access the auction by clicking on the Auctions drop-down menu at the top of the screen and selecting the Upcoming Auctions. MPI items will be listed under Manitoba.

In-person viewing

For items located at rural storage facilities, you will be able to view these vehicles in person, according to the location’s hours of operation.

Online auction

Each Wednesday at 9 a.m. (10 a.m. for Sept. 30’s auction), a live online auction hosted by IAA with MPI items will take place at ca.iaai.com. The end time will depend on how many units are in each auction. Each vehicle will average a minute of auction time.

Once you are registered and logged in, you will be able to access the auction by clicking on Auctions and then Upcoming Auctions. Under Status, click Join AuctionNow to be able to begin bidding.

If you have placed the winning bid, you’ll receive a confirmation email from IAA. When logged into your account on impactauto.ca, you can also see your winning bids by clicking on your dashboard.

Payment options

Payment options

Public buyers must provide payment for any winning bids by 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Dealers must provide payment for any winning bids by 4:30 p.m. on Friday.

There are multiple ways to pay for Manitoba Salvage Items, including:

Online

There are two online options for payment.

  • You can pay in full online using INTERAC Online. Please note: Credit cards are not accepted. Partial payments are also not accepted through INTERAC Online.
  • Alternatively, you can also pay via electronic fund transfer (EFT).

To send an EFT for payment for your purchased MPI Salvage Items, please use the following information:

Company Name: The Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation

Institution: Bank of Montreal

Transit: 00037

Bank Number: 001

Account: 1943626

Branch Address: 335 Main Street, Winnipeg, MB, R3C 1C2

Once completed, please also send an email to [email protected] with any remittance advice.

Should you wish to make an international wire payment for your purchases, please contact Salvage Operations at 204-985-7844 during business hours (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) for further information.

By mail

Certified cheques can be couriered to:

Manitoba Public Insurance

Salvage Operations – Bldg. B

1981 Plessis Rd.

Winnipeg, Manitoba R2C 5C7

Payment FAQs

I want to pay online but online credit card payments aren’t accepted. Can I still pay online? How?

Yes, we offer two online payment options:

  • You can pay in full online using INTERAC Online. Please note: Credit cards are not accepted. Partial payments are also not accepted through INTERAC Online.

Before you pay through INTERAC Online, we encourage you to check the following to ensure you’re eligible for this payment method:

1. Your financial institution. Check here to make sure that your bank or credit union supports INTERAC Online.

2. Your transaction limit. Please contact your participating bank or credit union to inquire about your limits.

  • Alternatively, you can also pay via electronic fund transfer (EFT).

To send an EFT for payment for your purchased MPI Salvage Items, please use the following information:

Company Name: The Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation

Institution: Bank of Montreal

Transit: 00037

Bank Number: 001

Account: 1943626

Branch Address: 335 Main Street, Winnipeg, MB, R3C 1C2

Once completed, please also send an email to [email protected] with any remittance advice.

Should you wish to make an international wire payment for your purchases, please contact Salvage Operations at 204-985-7844 during business hours (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) for further information.

I would like to pay for my purchase with a certified cheque. What do I need to know?

If you are purchasing a Manitoba Salvage Item:

For Manitoba Salvage Item purchases, please make your cheque payable to Manitoba Public Insurance.

Cheques should be couriered to:

Manitoba Public Insurance

Salvage Operations – Bldg. B

1981 Plessis Rd.

Winnipeg, Manitoba R2C 5C7

If you are purchasing a non-Manitoba Salvage Item from IAA:

Please find the details for payment here.

Fees

Buy Fee

If you are a winning bidder, you will be required to pay a buy fee, in addition to your bid amount.

The buy fee is calculated on the sale price of the vehicle you have purchased. This fee has been added in order to align with industry practices and offset the new costs of providing a more robust and streamlined auction experience for buyers.

Please note: As the buy fee will only appear on your purchase at the payment stage, it is recommended that buyers consider this as they determine their overall budget for each item.

The buy fee range is as follows:

To view the detailed buy fee listing, click here.

Online Fee

An additional “online fee” will appear on your invoice when you have purchased a vehicle. This is a fee that is charged by IAA for any online sale. For Manitoba buyers, this fee will be waived until September 2021. You will see a credit called, “Online Fee Promo” on your invoice indicating this discount.

Item pick-up

All vehicles must be towed from their location following the Highway Traffic Act and the Drivers Vehicles Act.

Items located in Winnipeg – Please note: Effective Jan. 4, due to COVID-19 considerations, customers will be responsible to print their own Gate Pass or Bill of Sale to pick up their salvage items. These documents are located in the Purchase History of your account.

  • Purchased vehicles located at the PDC in Winnipeg will remain within the Salvage Yard until removed by the owner or towing company. Once a vehicle has been paid for, customers or their tower may access the Salvage Yard to retrieve their purchase.
  • Salvage Yard business hours are 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Wednesday, Thursday and Friday).
  • All items must be removed from MPI premises by 5 p.m. Friday following their purchase. Access will only be permitted within the specified timeframe.

Items located at rural locations

  • Purchased vehicles located at a rural storage location will remain at their locations until removed by the owner or towing company.
  • Once a vehicle has been paid for, customers must contact the storage location to arrange a pick-up time.
  • Storage will be provided for seven days after the completion of the auction. After this period, customers will need to make additional arrangements with the storage locations and customers are responsible for any storage fees incurred.

Last updated: August 25, 2022

The following terms and conditions apply to the purchase of salvage vehicles or other property (each, a “Salvage Item”) from The Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation (“MPI”) via IAA’s Auction Center Application (“Auction Center”). By bidding on Salvage Items sold via auctions on Auction Center, (each referred to as a “Salvage Auction”), you, the buyer, acknowledge and accept the terms and conditions set out below.

Please read the terms and conditions carefully prior to bidding on a Salvage Item. The latest version of these terms and conditions are available on MPI’s website, and it is your responsibility to ensure that you read, understand and agree to the latest version prior to bidding. MPI reserves the right to change any of these terms and conditions at any time, without prior notice. Please check the latest information posted herein to inform yourself of any changes.

IAA Policies

The following IAA Policies do not apply to MPI Salvage Items:

  • Seller’s Obligations
  • Arbitration Rules
  • MPI does not accept payment via Electronic Transfers
  • MPI does not provide assistance in arranging transportation

Limitation of Liability

Buyer agrees that in no event will MPI be liable to buyer for indirect, consequential, punitive, exemplary or special damages, loss of goodwill, work stoppage, data loss, computer failure or malfunction or lost profits (collectively “Damages”). Without limiting the foregoing, buyer further agrees that MPI will not be liable to buyer for losses or Damages due in whole or in part as a direct or indirect result of any theft, conversion, loss, damage, claim, expense (including legal fees), suit or demand (collectively “Loss”) arising out of, based upon or resulting from the possession, transportation, use, storage or operation of any Salvage Item, including but not limited to Loss or Damages due to or caused by or during transportation, delay, dispute decision, cancelled sale, clerical errors, fire, storm, flood, war, civil disturbance, riot, epidemic, pandemic, public health emergency, quarantine, governmental order, act of God, lightning, earthquake, or other similar casualty.

Indemnity

Buyer agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless MPI from and against any and all liabilities, damages, losses, expenses, demands, claims, suits or judgments, including reasonable legal fees and expenses, in any way related to or arising out of the breach of these Terms and Conditions by a buyer or by any employee, representative, driver, agent, subcontractor or contractor of a buyer.

Registration

To buy Salvage Items from MPI, you must register as a buyer on Auction Center.

Even if you successfully register on Auction Center and are the successful bidder in a Salvage Auction, MPI reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to refuse to complete the transaction for the purchase of a Salvage Item by any individual or entity for any reason.

Salvage Item Condition and History Disclaimer

All Salvage Items are sold “as-is” and without warranty or guarantee of any kind, either written, expressed or implied, as to merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose or otherwise. While MPI endeavors to ensure the accuracy of the information related to Salvage Items being sold, MPI does not warrant that item specifications are complete, accurate, or error-free. The information provided is not intended to, and does not constitute, a representation or guarantee of any kind.

Salvage Items located in Winnipeg may only be viewed online. Salvage Items located outside of Winnipeg may be viewed online and will also be available for in person viewing at the applicable storage facility and it is up to you to determine whether you should view those Salvage Items in person. Regardless of any viewing options, you accept Salvage Items with any faults or defects. MPI will not contact previous owners and/or shops for missing keys, parts or vehicle history.

Without limiting the generality of the above, MPI does not guarantee:

  • The accuracy of vehicle year, make or model;
  • The accuracy of the odometer or mileage reading.
  • The structural or mechanical condition of Salvage Items;
  • The Salvage Item to be exactly as shown in photographs;
  • That keys are available for all vehicles;
  • That Salvage Items are free from liens, security interests, or other charges.

You understand and acknowledge that:

Salvage status can be:

Salvageable: Vehicles with a salvageable status have collision damage, structural damage or both.

Salvageable with Exception: Vehicles with cosmetic damage only (i.e., damage that does not render the vehicle unsafe, structurally or mechanically).

Vehicles with a Salvageable with Exception designation may be further designated as:

  • Writeoff (Other);
  • Writeoff (Stolen);
  • Writeoff (Hail),
  • Normal; or
  • Rebuilt.
  • Irreparable: Vehicles with an irreparable status cannot be returned to the roads and are sold for parts only.
  • Where a vehicle is listed as “Irreparable”, “Salvageable” or “Writeoff”, such vehicle is mechanically and otherwise unfit to be driven on the highways of Manitoba in accordance with The Drivers and Vehicles Act;
  • Vehicles designated as “Salvageable” and “Writeoff” will require the appropriate certification, which may include a Certificate of Inspection or Body Integrity Certificate, prior to registration in Manitoba; and
  • Vehicles designated as “Irreparable” cannot be registered or insured in Manitoba.

BUYERS PURCHASING FROM OUTSIDE OF MANITOBA MUST VERIFY REQUIREMENTS AND CERTIFICATIONS FOR THE INTENDED USE OF THE SALVAGE ITEM WITH THE APPROPRIATE REGISTRATION AUTHORITY.

Viewing

Salvage Items located at 1981 Plessis Road in Winnipeg Manitoba (“MPI’s Salvage Yard”) may only be viewed online. Salvage Items located outside of Winnipeg may be viewed online or in person at the applicable storage facility. For in person viewing hours, please contact the applicable storage facility.

Payment

Payment can be completed through Auction Center using Interac Online. In-person payments can be accepted at MPI’s Salvage Yard by debit card and certified cheque.

Payment for Salvage Items by buyers designated as a “Public Buyer” is required no later than 11:59 p.m. Central Standard Time on sale day. Payment for Salvage Items by buyers not designated as a ‘Public Buyer” is required no later than 11:59 p.m. Central Standard Time on the first Monday following the sale date. NOTE: In person payments at MPI’s Salvage Yard will only be accepted during regular business hours which are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central Standard Time from Monday to Friday.

If payment is not received in full and on time, the Salvage Item may be re-sold at the next auction sale on an unreserved basis. You will be liable to MPI for all losses incurred including the difference in sale price (if any) plus applicable fees as determined in MPI’s sole discretion. Failure to pay promptly can result in the permanent loss of your auction privileges.

Transaction Rejection

MPI reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to refuse to complete the transaction for the purchase of any Salvage Item by any individual or entity for any reason.

Sale Cancellation

MPI may in its sole discretion, postpone or cancel a sale or withdraw any Salvage Item from any sale prior to receipt of full payment. MPI will have no liability or obligation to buyers as a result of any Salvage Item withdrawal or sale cancellation or postponement. Further, MPI reserves the right in its sole discretion to cancel, reverse or reject a sale transaction in the event of fraudulent or other misrepresentation in the Salvage Item description or bidding information. In the event a sale is cancelled after a buyer has remitted payment, MPI will credit the full amount by the same method used to remit the payment.

Buyer Dispute

For disputes related to a particular purchase of an MPI Salvage Item, buyers should contact MPI Salvage Operations via email [email protected] or by phone 204-985-7844.

For technical issues with the site or a particular auction, buyers should contact IAA.

Release of Salvage Items and Ownership Documents

MPI will not release possession of any Salvage Item(s) to a buyer until the total purchase price for all Salvage Item(s) listed on the invoice has been fully paid or financing has been approved for the full amount of the invoice. In the event that you, the buyer fail to pay the total purchase price within the prescribed time, or fail to comply with any of the terms of sale, MPI reserves the right to award the Salvage Item(s) listed on the invoice to another bidder or to re-auction the Salvage Item(s). MPI also reserves the right not to release any Salvage Item(s) or ownership document for any reason prior to receipt of full payment. Bills of sale will be provided to the buyer upon full payment being received.

Bids Entered

Subject to MPI’s cancellation and transaction refusal rights described herein, all sales are final. Once a bid has been submitted, there will be no refunds, exchanges, retraction of bids or returns. MPI encourages all buyers to carefully review their bids prior to submission.

Salvage Items may be subject to a reserve or opening bid, which is the confidential minimum price acceptable to MPI.

Salvage Item Pick-up

Salvage Items must be picked up within the specified timeframe. If any Salvage Item is not picked up within the specified timeframe, the buyer is responsible for any per-day charges incurred per Salvage Item. Salvage Items remaining at MPI’s Salvage Yard after the sale date will be at the sole risk of the buyer. The buyer assumes all risk of loss or further damage to the Salvage Item once the Salvage Item has been paid for in full.

The buyer must remove all of its awarded Salvage Items from the applicable salvage yard as follows:

Commercial Items

Purchased Salvage Items must be removed within 3 days after the payment has been received. MPI’s Salvage Yard pickup hours are 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., 7 days a week (or at a location as otherwise indicated by MPI).

Rural Items

Buyers have 7 days from a Salvage Auction date to pick up Salvage Items. For pickup hours, please contact the applicable storage facility for its hours of operation.

MPI is responsible for storage charges up to 7 days after the date that rural Salvage Items are sold. Any additional charges incurred after the 7-day period will be the sole responsibility of the buyer.

Winnipeg Salvage Items

Salvage Items located at MPI’s Salvage Yard will remain within MPI’s Salvage Yard until removed by the buyer or towing company. Once a Salvage Item has been paid for, the buyer may access MPI’s Salvage Yard to retrieve their purchase.

  • MPI’s Salvage Yard business hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Monday to Friday).
  • After-hours pick up: buyers must attend the main security entrance to gain access into MPI’s Salvage Yard.
  • Buyers must adhere to the signage posted within MPI’s Salvage Yard.
  • All Salvage Items requiring towing (i.e. salvage vehicles) must be towed from MPI’s Salvage Yard in accordance with the Highway Traffic Act (Manitoba) and the Drivers Vehicles Act (Manitoba).
  • Salvage Item removal from MPI’s Salvage Yard:

Buyers designated as a “Public Buyer” must remove their Salvage Items no later than 11:59 p.m. Central Standard Time on the first Friday following the sale.

Buyers not designated as a “Public Buyer” must remove their Salvage Items no later than 11:59 p.m. Central Standard Time on the first Monday following the sale. Failure to remove Salvage Items by this deadline will result in storage and/or additional fees.

  • Buyers are to ensure that MPI’s Salvage Yard security has seen the gate pass before a Salvage Item leaves MPI’s Salvage Yard. If using a contract tower, buyers must provide the contract tower with a copy of the gate pass in order to remove Salvage Items.
  • Loading of Salvage Items is available Wednesdays, from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Thursdays, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Salvage Items must be loaded within the designated loading area.

Rules While on MPI Property

  • No smoking inside any buildings on MPI property.
  • Buyers are expected to behave professionally and in a courteous manner when interacting with other buyers, MPI employees and customers at all times.
  • Drive slowly – watch for vehicle and pedestrians.
  • Use headlights and emergency flashers at all times to increase your vehicle’s visibility.
  • Persons under the age of 18 must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times.
  • Pedestrians – be aware of vehicle traffic at all times.
  • Use extra caution when slippery conditions are present and be aware of uneven road surfaces.
  • No climbing onto, under or on top of salvage vehicles.
  • No boosting or starting of salvage vehicles.
  • Comply with all posted speed limits and other signage.
  • Follow the instructions of security staff.
  • Alcohol, drugs or intoxication on the premises is prohibited.
  • Tow truck operators must wear Class 2 high visibility apparel and activate lights on tow trucks at all times.
  • Operating or driving salvage vehicles in MPI’s Salvage Yard is strictly prohibited.
  • Any illegal activity including theft, attempted theft, vandalism or tampering with vehicles, violence, threats or intimidation toward others will not be tolerated.
  • Illicit buying or selling of salvage, or misrepresentation or fraud regarding any claim to MPI is strictly prohibited and will result in MPI refusing to complete the transaction for the purchase of a Salvage Item by the applicable individual or entity as determined in MPI’s sole discretion.

Registration Disclaimer

In the event a vehicle has an active lien, buyers are to contact MPI’s Salvage Operations [email protected] and MPI will endeavor to discharge any registered lien on your purchase.

Suspension or Termination of Salvage Privileges

If any of the following occurs, MPI may, in its sole discretion, immediately terminate or suspend the buyer’s account upon providing notice to the buyer:

  • Poor purchase history: in past, the buyer has failed to pay in full for awarded Salvage Items;
  • Breach of these terms and conditions: the buyer is in breach of any of these terms and conditions ; or
  • Inappropriate or disrespectful behaviour: MPI is committed in providing a workplace that is free of disruptive conflict, such as, unlawful discrimination, harassment, disrespectful behaviour or violence

The buyer is responsible and liable for all actions and omissions of its own representatives (such representatives including but not being limited to: employees, contractors such as towers, agents, and other delegates). All representatives of a buyer must comply with the applicable terms and conditions. Where such representatives breach the terms and conditions, MPI reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend or terminate the buyer’s account and prohibit the buyer from participating in future auctions.

Buyer Information

MPI will receive certain information about buyers from IAA. The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (“FIPPA”) and The Personal Health Information Act (“PHIA”) each impose obligations on MPI to collect, use, or disclose “personal information” and “personal health information”, as those terms are defined in FIPPA and PHIA (collectively called “Personal Information”) , in the strictest of confidence, and in accordance with those Acts.

MPI takes the protection of Personal Information very seriously and maintains physical, electronic and procedural safeguards to protect Personal Information from unauthorized access.

What information will MPI receive?

Buyer contact information

  • Name and/or company name
  • Address – residential and/or mailing
  • Notification e-mail and e-mail address used to register on Auction Center

Buyer business information

  • Owner name, address, mailing address, telephone number
  • Owner driver licence information
  • GST/HST numbers
  • License information
  • Tax information
  • Registrant Identification Number (Ontario)

IAA system information about buyer

  • Bidder and buyer number assigned to buyer by IAA
  • Type of bidder
  • Buyer’s jurisdiction
  • Buyer’s preferred language
  • Date of Auction Center registration and registration renewals
  • Whether and when Auction Center received buyer’s registration package
  • Payment and fee information
  • Suspended status on IAA systems

Why will MPI receive this information?

  • To facilitate auction sales of Salvage Items

How MPI will use the information?

  • To facilitate auction sales of Salvage Items
  • For buyers that choose to finance their purchase of an MPI Salvage Item, information required to facilitate that financing will be shared with the applicable financing company.
  • To facilitate the enforcement of requirements under The Drivers and Vehicles Act (Manitoba).

If you have questions about the collection and handling of your personal information by Manitoba Public Insurance, please contact the Manitoba Public Insurance Access and Privacy Coordinator at 204-985-8770 ext. 7384, or by mail at 702–234 Donald Street, Box 6300, Winnipeg MB, R3C 4A4.

Photo-based estimating enables customers with eligible collision claims to take their own photos of vehicle damage and submit them to MPI for an estimate. This streamlines the damage estimating process and can save time by eliminating the need to visit an MPI location in person for a vehicle damage estimate.

Only certain claims are eligible for photo-based estimating. Your estimate options will be discussed with you when you report your claim.

If you qualify for and choose to participate in photo-based estimating, you will be provided with a link to the Photo Based Estimating submission tool. The tool guides you through the process of how to take your damage photos and how to submit them. Once the images have been submitted to MPI, an estimator will complete a review of the damage and contact you to explain the estimate.

Tips for taking photos for damage claims

  • The photo-based estimating tool works using a photo capture application, and must be used on a smart phone, tablet or other electronic device that can take and transmit photos. If you do not have regular access to one of these devices, you can set up an appointment to bring your vehicle in to have an estimate completed at a Service Centre.
  • You might be asked to submit more photos if the MPI estimator needs to do further analysis on the damages.
  • It is usually best for your vehicle to be clean when taking photos for submission, as this helps us create a more accurate estimate. The only exception to this would be if you have had a collision with wildlife. In these circumstances, we ask that you do not wash your vehicle.

To calculate your income replacement properly, we need accurate and complete information from you.

First, we classify your employment status, based on your employment situation at the time of the accident:

  • full-time earner
  • part-time earner
  • temporary earner
  • non-earner
  • minor
  • student
  • someone who couldn’t work at the time of the accident because of a physical or mental condition

This classification relates to the amount of income replacement you’ll receive and the need to reclassify your employment status in certain cases.

The law distinguishes between full-time earners, part-time, temporary and non-earners.

It would be unfair to lock in the amount of income replacement paid to people who were employable and could have held full-time work but did not happen to be working when the accident happened.

We reassess the employment status of non-earners, part-time earners and temporary earners if they are still unable to work because of the accident 180 days (six months) after it occurred.

Next, we establish your gross yearly employment income – also known as the total of gross yearly income from salaried employment and self-employment. We consider all employment income that you lose (because of injuries sustained in the accident) for the income replacement calculation, including Employment Insurance benefits or National Training Allowance benefits.

Many other factors are used to calculate gross yearly employment income. These include considerations such as shift premiums, periodic overtime, seasonal fluctuations in income, sick credits and vacation time. Your case manager can explain how these factors contribute to establishing gross yearly employment income.

Income replacement calculations

Income replacement is 90 per cent of your net income.

This amount will be paid to you every two weeks, until:

  • you return to work
  • your income replacement is adjusted
  • you’re eligible for a Retirement Income Benefit
  • you’re no longer eligible for income replacement

However, there are certain situations in which funding you receive through other programs will be subtracted from your income replacement. For example, if you receive a disability benefit from the Canada Pension Plan because of the accident, your income replacement will be reduced accordingly.

We’ll never use an amount higher than the maximum insurable Gross Yearly Employment Income amount when calculating your income replacement. PIPP Benefits provides more information on this year’s maximum and other basic PIPP benefits.

Salaried employment

We consider all these sources as income from salaried employment:

  • wages or salary, including vacation pay
  • overtime
  • declared tips
  • commissions
  • bonuses
  • cash value of your personal use of a company vehicle
  • value of the employer’s contribution to your pension plan
  • cash value of your share of a profit-sharing plan
  • other benefits that are part of your employment compensation package

Examples of other benefits include:

  • employer contributions to a health plan
  • a reduced interest rate on a loan
  • the payment of professional fees
  • housing provided by your employer
  • remote location bonuses

Remember, PIPP replaces income that you lost because of injuries you sustained in the accident. For example, if your company continues to pay into your pension plan while you’re off work, you won’t receive income replacement for that portion of your income.

To establish your salaried employment income, we need a completed Employer’s Verification of Earnings (EVE) form to pay you income replacement. Please ask your employer to complete the form and return it to us as quickly as possible. Your case manager can help if you’re having trouble obtaining the necessary employment income information.

We may also ask you for other documents to verify your employment income, especially if your employer fails to return a properly completed EVE form to us.

Self-employment

Self-employed people work for themselves, not for someone else. Independent contractors, sole proprietors, unincorporated farmers and members of unincorporated partnerships are all self-employed. People who work for their own incorporated company are not self-employed. They are employees of their privately-owned company.

Because self-employment income can vary greatly from year to year, the gross yearly employment income of a self-employed person is determined by whichever of these amounts is the highest:

  • your most recent business year
  • your most recent fiscal year
  • an average of your income from two or three business years
  • the pro-rated average gross income for your class of employment

For businesses that are only a few months old, a statement listing income sources may be sufficient to establish your self-employment income. For businesses that have been operating for more than a few months, we need to see income tax returns, financial statements or tax assessments.

Net income

Your net income is your gross yearly employment income minus certain deductions. Net income approximates your actual “take-home” pay before the accident.

Here are the deductions from gross yearly employment income that establish taxable income.

Some of these may not apply to you:

  • the basic personal credit
  • the age credit (for people over 65)
  • the married person’s credit (regardless of your spouse’s income)
  • the equivalent to married credit (when you have a dependant and no spouse)
  • the dependant’s credit (regardless of the dependant’s income)
  • employment insurance premiums
  • Canada Pension Plan contributions
  • child and spousal support payments

A case manager will complete a worksheet with information on your age, marital status, number of dependants and other tax information. We follow income tax rules that applied during the year prior to the year in which we are making the calculations.

"Writing off" your vehicle means MPI pays you its fair market value rather than fixing it. We “write-off” your vehicle if fixing it will cost more than writing it off. It’s a decision based on dollars and cents.

We choose whichever costs least because controlling costs helps us control your Autopac premiums. In short, it’s the responsible financial decision to make.

When deciding to write-off a vehicle, we always examine three things:

  1. The cost of fixing the damage.
  2. The actual cash value (ACV) of your vehicle – its fair market value before it was damaged. We determine the cash value of your vehicle by conducting a careful examination of its condition, obtaining a market appraisal through one or more independent sources, and factoring in any recent repairs that may have increased your vehicle’s market value.
  3. Vehicle salvage values – once your vehicle has been written off, MPI will determine your vehicle salvage value, and vehicle ownership will be transferred to MPI and sold within MPI’s Salvage Auction.

We’ll write-off your vehicle when either:

  • The cost of fixing it is more than its actual cash value
  • The cost of fixing it is more than its actual cash value minus the salvage value (more on salvage value below).

Salvage value

Here’s an example of why the salvage value is important to our decision.

Let’s say it will cost $3,500 to fix the damage to a car worth $4,000 before the collision. On the surface, it might seem less costly to fix than to write off. After all, fixing the vehicle costs $500 less than paying out its value.

But let’s say we’d get back about $1,200 salvage if we wrote it off and auctioned it.

Now, writing off this car becomes the least costly option. Writing it off costs the public insurance fund $4,000 minus the $1,200 we’ll get back for salvage, for a total of $2,800. On the other hand, fixing it will cost $3,500.

It’s not always true that write-offs are bad vehicles or they can’t be fixed. Write-offs sometimes have damage that only affects how they look not how safe or reliable they are.

Take a car damaged by hail, for instance. It may have dents all over it that will cost more to fix than the car is worth. If you were to try to sell it with the hail damage, you’d likely get less for it than if it didn’t have the damage.

But the hail only affects the car’s appearance. If the car was mechanically and structurally sound before the hail, it likely remains so afterwards. So, it could still be quite reliable and safe to drive.

Irreparable vs salvageable

An irreparable write-off can never be driven again and cannot be safely made road worthy, however it can be sold at auction for parts only. The irreparable write-off designation includes:

  • Severe structural damage from collision, fire or corrosion.
  • Severe flooding damage.
  • Any 1994 vehicle or older that we’ve taken ownership of and are auctioning.

A salvageable write-off can be driven once it is repaired and has passed inspections for:

A “salvage with exception” write-off is a total loss not caused by collision or upset. They have cosmetic damage that does not render the vehicle structurally or mechanically unsafe. One example is damage caused by hail. In this case a:

  • BIIC is not required.
  • COI is not required if original owner retains vehicle.
  • COI is required if new owner purchases vehicle.

The irreparable, salvageable and salvage with exception categories are part of the Stolen and Wrecked Vehicle Monitoring Program, which tracks unsafe write-offs and prevents their registration.

If you’ve been in a collision, your first course of action is to ensure your safety and the safety of any others who may have been involved. When it’s safe, move your vehicle over to the right side of the road, so that other traffic can pass.

We have designated MPI towing providers in Winnipeg (Champion Towing) and Brandon (Full Tilt Towing). Go to the ‘Towing your damaged vehicle’ section below for more information.

The next step is to exchange information with the other party (or parties). Use the accident report form as a guide for all the information you’ll need for your report. Then, report the collision to us as promptly as you can.

Even if you have no damage from the collision, you should still report to us. To understand fully how the collision happened and to assess it properly, we need reports from all the drivers involved.

Reporting

To report your collision, call us:

  • in Winnipeg: 204-985–7000
  • outside Winnipeg (and outside Manitoba): toll-free 1-800-665-2410

When reporting the collision, you’ll need this information:

  • your vehicle registration and the driver’s licence of whoever was driving your vehicle
  • the details about the accident (where, when and how it happened)
  • the details about any other vehicles and drivers involved
  • information about any witnesses

If you’re claiming damage, our representative will take a preliminary report from you. Your options for a damage estimate will be discussed with you.

If your vehicle has been damaged from something other than a collision, please see information about reporting a comprehensive claim.

You may be asked to complete a Driver’s Report to provide details of the collision and damages. Please refer to this sample document for assistance.

The role of your adjuster

After you have reported your vehicle claim, an adjuster will be assigned to your file. The adjuster investigates the claim, makes sure you had proper Autopac coverage, and determines who was at fault for the collision. Your adjuster can also help you understand how the claims process works and can explain the repair and appeal options available to you.

Out-of-province claims

If you are in a collision while travelling outside Manitoba, there are some special steps you need to take since the other vehicle involved in the collision is probably registered and insured in another jurisdiction. Here’s what to do:

1. Stay at the scene.

2. Don’t discuss responsibility.

3. Obtain the:

  • names and addresses of drivers and vehicle owners
  • make/model/year of all vehicles involved
  • license plate numbers, along with province or state
  • other parties’ insurance information, including the insurer and policy number
  • names of any witnesses, their addresses, phone numbers, etc.
  • collision details (date, time, weather, positions of vehicles before and after the collision)

4. Take photos of the place where the accident or damage occurred, along with pictures of any damage or skid marks.

5. Prior to any repairs (whether temporary or complete repairs) on your vehicle, you require pre-authorization from MPI. Call us toll free at 1-800-665-2410 to report your claim. Claims can be made Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. CST, and Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CST.

5. Keep all your bills and receipts for medical, repair or medical services needed because of the accident. You must provide them to your Autopac adjuster to support your damage claim.

6. If your vehicle is not drivable, and you need to arrange a tow, you have two options:

  • Contact ELC Solutions Inc. at 1-888-460-8697. They will make arrangements to tow your vehicle and communicate all towing details to MPI directly.
  • Contact a local towing company to make arrangements. Be sure to ask where they will be taking your car as MPI will request this information from you.

8. Review your policy to see if you are eligible to be reimbursed for the cost of a vehicle rental. See information on Loss of Use coverage, and note that coverage limits are in Canadian dollars.

9. Call local police and ask for a copy of their report.

Hit and Run Claims

When your vehicle has been involved in a hit-and-run collision, you must report the incident to Manitoba Public Insurance as well as the local police where the collision occurred. The procedure will vary depending on location.

Hit-and-run claims in Winnipeg

There are two ways to report a hit-and-run claim in Winnipeg.

If you are reporting a hit-and-run for the following situations, please submit your report to the Winnipeg Police Service using their online reporting form:

  • Unoccupied vehicle
  • You do not know who is responsible
  • You have a suspect licence plate number

If your vehicle was occupied at the time of the collision or you know who is responsible, please call the Winnipeg Police Service at 204-986-6222.

Next, call 204-985-7000 to book an appointment at one of the following MPI locations:

  • Bison Drive Service Centre: 15 Barnes Street
  • Gateway Road Service Centre: 40 Lexington Park
  • Main Street Service Centre
  • St. Mary’s Road Service Centre (French estimates only)

Hit-and-run claims outside Winnipeg

Prior to making an Autopac claim, hit-and-run collisions occurring outside Winnipeg must be reported to local police in the jurisdiction where the collision occurred. If you want us to handle your claim in Winnipeg, call us at 204-985-7000. If you would like your claim handled at one of our offices outside of Winnipeg, call our toll-free number at 1-800-665-2410.

Notifying the police after a collision

When you call us to file your claim, we will help you determine if you must also report your collision to the police.

There’s no need to report a straightforward fender-bender to the police. But if your collision involves any of these things, you must report it the police:

  • fatality
  • hospitalization because of injury
  • an unlicensed driver or unregistered vehicle
  • an unidentified vehicle (e.g., hit and run)
  • you failed to get the other driver’s particulars
  • you suspect the other driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs

You must report these types of collisions to the police within seven days. All reports can be made in-person, and reports about incidents occurring in Winnipeg can be made online. Hit-and-run reports must be made in person.

Vehicle damage resulting from suspected vandalism, attempted theft and theft must also be reported to the police. You must report vandalism, theft or attempted theft as soon as reasonably possible.

The police and Manitoba Public Insurance have entirely different responsibilities. The police are primarily interested in whether both drivers obeyed criminal and traffic laws. We need the information to assess who was at fault and to confirm both drivers met the conditions of their insurance policy.

Towing your damaged vehicle

If your vehicle can’t be driven from the scene of a collision because of damage, you’ll need to have it towed. If the collision occurred in Winnipeg, we will assist you by arranging a tow with Champion Towing directly to our compound. Simply call 204-985-7000 and provide us with the details of the collision.

If we happen to be closed, we have a contract towing service you can use in Winnipeg and Brandon.

You can call Champion Towing in Winnipeg at 204-985-7777.

For towing in Brandon, call Full Tilt Towing at 204-729-9510.

For towing outside Winnipeg and Brandon, but within Manitoba, call 1-800-665-2410. If we’re closed and your vehicle isn’t drivable, you can arrange your own towing. To locate a towing facility, please use the Towing and Storage Search Tool located here. Your vehicle should be towed to the closest storage facility.

It is important to choose a vendor that is listed on MPI’s Towing and Storage Tool to ensure that your services will be fully paid by your Autopac coverage. If you choose a towing or storage provider that is not listed on the tool, you will be responsible for paying the vendor directly for their services. Please talk to your adjuster about possible reimbursement of any towing and storage fees.  

Outside Manitoba, contact ELC Solutions Inc. at 1-888-460-8697. They will make arrangements to tow your vehicle and communicate all towing details to MPI directly.

Please note: Towing and storage providers that are not listed on MPI’s Towing and Storage Tool may charge more than what MPI will reimburse through your coverage. To avoid any additional charges not covered by your insurance, it is recommended that you discuss all fees prior to agreeing to any services.

Don’t repair damage before we’ve seen it! Except for temporary or emergency repairs to keep your vehicle mobile or to prevent further damage, you shouldn’t repair your vehicle before we’ve inspected the damage.

Replacement transportation

Basic Autopac covers replacement transportation in two situations:

1. When your vehicle is stolen. Your Basic Autopac insurance covers replacement transportation after a 72-hour waiting period.

2. When another Autopac-insured driver was at fault for damaging your vehicle in a collision.

For greater protection, you can purchase additional Loss of Use insurance.

Commercial Claims

Our Commercial Claims department handles losses involving heavy vehicles and specialized equipment.

Examples of the types of vehicles adjusted at Commercial Claims include:

  • highway tractor over 9,000 kgs/ semi-trailers
  • buses
  • vehicles with primary insurance coverage under Special Risk Extension
  • trucks with specialized equipment (cement mixers, garbage packers, cherry pickers, etc.)

All heavy and specialized vehicles are handled through the Commercial Claims, so the adjusters are familiar with the various types of equipment and the policies they require.

Call us to report a claim

  • In Winnipeg: 204-985-7000
  • Outside Winnipeg and out-of-province (toll-free): 1-800-665-2410

Telephone line is open

  • Monday to Friday: 7:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
  • Saturday: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  • Sunday: Closed

For a commercial emergency situation outside of regular hours, call the above number and select “2” to reach our after-hours commercial response team.

If you need to report damages to vehicle glass (including glass-only vandalism), click here for instructions on how to start your claim.

If your vehicle has been damaged as a result of a non-collision (including hail damage) and involves more than glass damage, use our online claim reporting form or call us to open your claim:

  • in Winnipeg: 204-985–7000
  • outside Winnipeg (and outside Manitoba): toll-free1-800-665-2410

When reporting your claim to MPI, you’ll need this information:

  • your vehicle registration
  • the details about anyone who may have been involved (not applicable for hail claims)
  • information about any witnesses (not applicable for hail claims)
  • information about any witnesses

If the damages sustained to your vehicle involved any of the following things, you must also report it to the police:

  • Theft or Attempted Theft
  • Partial Theft
  • Vandalism

It is ideal to call the police prior to opening your claim so that you can provide your police report number to our representative. If this is not possible, you may call back at a later time to add the report number to your claim.

Our representative will discuss your options for a damage estimate. If your vehicle is not drivable as a result of the damage, see our information on towing.

The first step to repairing your vehicle is to open a claim by reporting the incident to our Contact Centre.

Getting an estimate

The next step is to receive an estimate of damage to your vehicle. All claims can be estimated at one of our Service or Claim Centres, and certain qualifying claims can receive an estimate at a participating repair shop or through our Photo Based Estimating process. Your estimate options will be discussed with you when you report your claim.

The role of your estimator

An estimator will complete a visual inspection of your vehicle for damage in person at the Service or Claim Centre or based on the submitted photos, and will prepare a preliminary report to determine what repairs are needed. They will also review and approve any additional damages noted by repair facilities once the shop has thoroughly inspected your vehicle. In some cases, the estimator may also determine that your vehicle is a write-off.

Repairs

Once your estimate is complete, you can then make an appointment at the accredited repair shop of your choice to have the damage repaired. If you qualified for and participated in Direct Repair, you can enjoy the convenience of having your damage estimate and repair conducted at the same repair shop. If your vehicle requires specialized repairs or contains complex materials such as aluminum, boron steel or carbon fibre, repairs may need to be completed by an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) certified or qualified facility.

Use our repair shop locator tool to locate a qualified shop near you to repair your specific vehicle. If your claim qualifies for Direct Repair, you can input your claim number and search for a participating Direct Repair shop that is qualified to estimate your vehicle.

We recommend against repairing your vehicle yourself or having it repaired at a facility that is not MPI-accredited to do the work. This is because vehicle repairs are complex and may require specialized tooling, training and equipment to repair the damaged vehicle to manufacturer standards. If you choose to do the repairs yourself, we’ll need to inspect your vehicle to make sure the repairs were done properly. There are specific requirements that must be met for the vehicle to pass inspection – contact us about your repairs before you begin any work.

Once your vehicle has been repaired, you can perform post-repair checks to be confident your vehicle has been returned to pre-collision condition. If you have concerns about your repair, your first step is to discuss them with your repair shop. If you remain unsatisfied, contact your assigned estimator.

Post-repair checks

  • Examine the appearance of the repaired area.
  • Check freshly painted areas for colour match.
  • Check that mechanical parts (e.g., doors and trunk lid) open and close smoothly.
  • Check electronic accessories for proper operation.
  • On the drive home, check for unusual noises and test the handling of the vehicle.

Depreciation

Automobile insurers try to match up what they give you to the value of what you actually lost. For instance, equal value for a half worn-out tire is a tire with similar wear, not a brand new one.

But it may not be practical, or even safe, to give you a half worn-out tire. Instead, we’ll give you a new one but you pay an appropriate percentage of the cost based on the amount of wear. The amount you pay for wear and tear is called depreciation.

Depreciation is how insurance companies measure how much value something has lost through wear and tear. The amount that a part has depreciated depends on the age, condition, and type of the part.

If you have questions about depreciation and how it could apply to your vehicle, check with the estimator responsible for your claim.

Open a Claim