Car Insurance in Québec: The Most Frequently Asked Questions

The questions that come up most often about car insurance in Québec, with short, attributed answers. Technical terms are defined in our glossary.

Mandatory insurance and the public plan

What car insurance is mandatory in Québec?

Civil liability, and only civil liability. According to the SAAQ, the law requires every vehicle owner to hold a civil liability insurance policy of at least $50,000, which covers the property damage you may cause to others; higher minimums apply, among other cases, to transporting goods or passengers. In the standard contract, that is Section A. Insurance for damage to your own vehicle, Section B, is optional. Québec’s Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) points out, however, that if you borrowed money to buy the vehicle or lease it long term, your financing or lease agreement will likely require that coverage. Injuries, for their part, fall under the SAAQ’s public plan.

What does the SAAQ’s public plan cover, and what does it leave to private insurers?

The public plan covers people, not property. According to the SAAQ, it protects all Quebecers who are victims of a traffic accident, in Québec or anywhere else in the world, by paying compensation in the event of injury or death, whether or not they were responsible for the accident. This is what is often called “no-fault.” The SAAQ adds that, as a result, no one can take legal action against the person responsible for a traffic accident. The AMF sums up the division this way: compensation for bodily injury is assumed by the State, and compensation for other damage, including property damage, is left to private insurers, under its oversight.

Am I covered if I have an accident outside Québec?

Partly by the SAAQ, partly by your insurer. The SAAQ states that the public plan covers you anywhere in the world for your injuries, whether or not you are responsible, but that outside Québec you could be sued before the local courts for damage you caused to others. That is the job of Section A: according to the AMF, it covers your civil liability for bodily injury and property damage caused outside Québec. Q.P.F. No. 1 applies in Canada and the United States; elsewhere, the insurer may agree to cover you by endorsement. The SAAQ recommends notifying your insurer before driving outside Québec, and the AMF recommends carrying paper proof of insurance.

The standard owners’ policy

What is Q.P.F. No. 1?

It is the standard car insurance contract for vehicle owners, the “Quebec Automobile Insurance Policy Form (Q.P.F.) No. 1 – Owners’ Form.” According to the AMF, the form and conditions of automobile insurance policies must be approved by the Authority under the Insurers Act. GAA sums it up this way: the contract is standard and every insurer sells the same product, but the coverage offered can vary from one insurer to another. Your protections, amounts and deductibles appear in the “Declarations,” and endorsements modify the contract. On July 30, 2026, the AMF published a new version of the form in French; its English version and effective date are still to come.

What does Section A cover?

Section A, which is mandatory, covers your civil liability. Under Q.P.F. No. 1, it protects insured persons against the financial consequences of damage caused to another person by an insured vehicle, and the insurer takes charge of their defence. The AMF notes two features specific to Québec. First, damage to your own vehicle in a collision for which you are not responsible, and which falls under the Direct Compensation Agreement, is compensated under this section. Second, it covers civil liability for bodily injury and property damage caused outside Québec. In Québec, injuries fall under the public plan: the contract excludes bodily injury compensated under the Automobile Insurance Act.

What does Section B cover, and what are its four protections?

Section B, which is optional, covers accidental damage to your vehicle and its disappearance. Q.P.F. No. 1 provides four protections. Protection 1, “All perils,” covers any type of peril, subject to the exclusions. Protection 2 covers collision and upset. Protection 3 covers perils other than collision or upset, including malicious mischief, falling or flying objects and projectiles; according to the AMF, it also covers glass breakage. Protection 4 covers only a list of named perils, such as theft, fire or hail. All of them exclude, among other things, mechanical failure, rust, breakdown and normal wear and tear.

Deductibles and endorsements

What is a deductible, and when don’t you pay it?

It is the amount left for you to pay on a loss covered by Section B: under Q.P.F. No. 1, the insurer pays the value of the damage less the deductible for the applicable protection. You choose it when you buy the policy, and the AMF points out that the higher it is, the lower the premium. Three situations eliminate or reduce it. The contract does not apply it to damage caused by lightning or fire. According to GAA, you pay no deductible when you are not at fault in a collision covered by the Direct Compensation Agreement. And if you are partly at fault, the AMF explains that you bear the deductible only in proportion to your share of responsibility.

What is an endorsement, and which ones are most common?

It is a document that modifies your contract. Its official name is “Quebec Endorsement Form,” or Q.E.F. Among the most common, the AMF lists Q.E.F. No. 20, which lets you rent a vehicle of a similar category at the insurer’s expense after a covered loss; Q.E.F. No. 27, which covers you if you are liable for damage to a vehicle you rent or borrow in Canada or the United States; and Q.E.F. No. 34, which provides benefits in the event of death, dismemberment or loss of sight caused by an automobile accident. Each endorsement has its own conditions and may change the premium; it must be listed in your Declarations.

Will my insurer pay me what I paid for my vehicle?

Not without special coverage. According to the AMF, car insurance generally covers the actual value of the vehicle at the time of the loss, not its purchase price; Q.P.F. No. 1 calls it the “actual cash value.” Two products offset that depreciation. The replacement cost endorsement (Q.E.F. No. 43) is added to your contract, always with the same insurer. Replacement insurance (Q.P.F. No. 5) is a separate contract, sold for a fixed term. The AMF states that you cannot claim both for the same loss, and that as of January 1, 2027, dealers will no longer be able to offer replacement insurance; certified representatives and firms will continue to offer it.

After an accident

What should I do after a fender bender with no injuries?

Fill out a joint report with the other driver, online or on paper. According to GAA, which designed the form, there is no need to call the police for a fender bender unless someone is injured, and the joint report is not an admission of liability: it serves to identify the parties and speed up the claim. Then send it to your insurer or broker without delay. Q.P.F. No. 1 also asks you not to comment on your liability, not to settle the claim yourself, and not to have the vehicle repaired before the insurer has examined it, except to protect it. GAA recommends keeping a copy of the joint report for six years.

Who decides who was at fault in an accident?

Your insurer, not the police. GAA explains that even when police officers fill out an accident report at the scene, they never establish the liability of the parties: the insurer does that when the claim is settled. It applies the Driver’s Fault Chart of the Direct Compensation Agreement, which illustrates just about every possible accident scenario and which, according to GAA, takes into account the Highway Safety Code and case law. Infoinsurance also points out that poor road conditions do not relieve you of responsibility, since it is up to you to adapt your driving. If you disagree with the share of responsibility assigned to you, the AMF says you can contest it with your insurer.

How does the Direct Compensation Agreement work?

It is an agreement binding auto insurers, which the Automobile Insurance Act requires GAA to establish. According to the AMF, it ensures that each insured is compensated by their own insurer, rather than by the insurer of the driver at fault, according to their degree of non-responsibility. According to GAA, it applies to a collision in Québec between at least two vehicles whose owners are identified, but not to a hit and run, a collision in the United States or a collision with a post. If you are not at fault, you are compensated even without collision coverage, and with no deductible. If you are at fault, only Section B coverage for collision compensates you, less the deductible.

How quickly must the insurer pay, and what if I disagree?

The Q.P.F. No. 1 in force sets that time limit at 60 days after you report the loss, or after the insurer receives the information and supporting documents it asked for. The insurer may also choose to repair or replace the property rather than pay in cash, provided it informs you in writing within 7 days of your claim. If you disagree on the value of the damage, the current contract provides for arbitration, a clause the AMF is removing from the new version of the form. You can also file a complaint: the AMF states that it can examine complaint files sent to it and, with the parties’ consent, act as conciliator or mediator. Any action arising from the contract must be brought within three years.

What happens if my vehicle is declared a total loss?

According to Infoinsurance, an appraiser estimates the cost of a safe repair, and the insurer generally declares a total loss when that cost exceeds the vehicle’s value; the decision is the insurer’s. Q.P.F. No. 1 then sets the value of the damage at the actual cash value, from which the insurer deducts the applicable deductible, unless a replacement cost endorsement or replacement insurance provides better. To set that value, the insurer relies on comparable models available on the market; if your own research points to a different amount, Infoinsurance invites you to discuss it with the insurer and, if needed, to contact the Insurance Information Centre. Once the indemnity is paid, the insurer generally sells the vehicle to a recycler.

Your claims file and driving record

What is the Fichier central des sinistres automobiles?

It is the database where insurers look up your history. The FCSA belongs to the Autorité des marchés financiers and is managed by GAA, which specifies that it tracks the losses in which each policyholder was involved over the past six years, whether or not a claim was made. Each loss is attributed to a single person, the custodian of the vehicle, meaning the person at the wheel at the time of the accident. When you buy insurance, your insurer consults your file and validates your statements with you. GAA advises reporting every accident to your insurer, even without a claim, so that your version is entered: if only the other driver reports it, only their version will appear in your file, according to Infoinsurance.

How do I get my claims history statement and my driving record?

They are two separate records. The claims history statement is obtained from GAA, which offers four ways to request it: the Interac verification service, your Government Authentication Service account, mail, or an in-person appointment. If you find an error, GAA can check the information with the insurer, but only the insurer can change it. The driving record, for its part, is kept by the SAAQ: it mainly contains your licence classes, your demerit point bracket and points, your offences and your driving experience. The SAAQ provides your own record free of charge, and an insurer can obtain it with your consent.

Will an accident raise my premium?

Not necessarily, and the answer depends on the insurer. Infoinsurance says that some insurers forgive a first accident and that the effect of a claim on the premium varies with each insurer’s policies and with your level of responsibility. The AMF nonetheless lists accidents among the factors in the premium, whether or not you were at fault, and GAA states that a policyholder involved in several losses over the past three years may represent a higher risk. An accident where you were not at fault can therefore count too. Keeping quiet is not an option: Q.P.F. No. 1 requires you to report any past automobile accident or loss to the insurer.

Switching insurers, renewing, reporting changes

Can I switch insurers in the middle of my policy?

Yes, at any time. According to the AMF, you send your insurer a written notice of cancellation, which takes effect when the insurer receives it, not when you send it; ask for an acknowledgement of receipt. The insurer will generally charge a penalty if you cancel before the renewal date, then refund the premium you overpaid. Q.P.F. No. 1 calculates that refund using the “Cancellation table,” which is part of the contract. The simplest moment is still renewal: the AMF advises shopping around and then informing your insurer before your policy ends, or you will pay a fee. Make sure the new policy is in force before the old one ends.

Can my insurer cancel or refuse to renew my policy?

Yes, within set limits. According to the AMF, during the first 60 days, the insurer can cancel for any reason by notifying you in writing; the cancellation takes effect 15 days after you receive its letter. After that, it can do so only for two reasons, a significant increase in the risk or failure to pay the amounts owing, and the cancellation takes effect 30 days after you receive its letter, with no penalty for you. At renewal, Q.P.F. No. 1 requires that a notice of non-renewal or of a premium change be sent to you no later than 30 days before the expiry date. If you have trouble getting insured, GAA runs a mechanism that guarantees the liability insurance required by law.

What must I report to my insurer during the policy?

Any change that may influence the risk, without waiting for renewal. Q.P.F. No. 1 lists, among other things, a change in the use of the vehicle, other people driving it, a modification to the vehicle, a conviction under the Highway Safety Code or a criminal conviction, and any change in your personal situation. The AMF adds practical examples: a job that requires you to drive for business or to travel farther, a move, a vehicle you often lend, paid passenger transportation. A misrepresentation or an omission can be costly: the contract allows the insurer to seek annulment or, in some cases, to reduce the indemnity in proportion to the premium it would have charged.

Young drivers and winter driving

How do I insure a young driver?

By declaring them from the start. Infoinsurance recommends notifying the agent or broker as soon as driving lessons begin, whether the young person holds a learner’s licence, a probationary licence or a Class 5 licence; if they use the family vehicle, they can be added to the parents’ policy as an occasional driver. According to the SAAQ, the probationary licence follows the learner’s licence and lasts 24 months, with a 4-point demerit bracket and the zero-alcohol rule. The AMF points out that age and driving experience affect the premium. Declaring a parent as the principal driver when that role belongs to a novice teenager, to pay less, is an example of fraud cited by Infoinsurance.

Are winter tires mandatory, and does not having them change anything for my insurance?

Yes, they are mandatory. According to the SAAQ, from December 1 to March 15 inclusive, all motorized road vehicles registered in Québec, other than heavy vehicles, tool vehicles and farm machinery, must be equipped with winter tires. Since December 15, 2014, only tires bearing the official pictogram and studded tires are considered winter tires. On the insurance side, Infoinsurance states that you will be compensated after a fender bender even without winter tires, as long as you hold the required coverage, but the loss will be entered in your file and you risk a fine. Q.P.F. No. 1 also excludes damage to the tires themselves, unless it accompanies other covered damage or results from fire, theft or malicious mischief.

Quotes, prices and SoumissionAuto.ca

Why do quotes vary so much from one insurer to another?

Because each insurer sets its own rates. According to the AMF, insurers are free to choose their classification criteria and to set the premium levels they consider adequate; they file the rate manual they use with the AMF, which can assess the soundness of their system and suggest improvements. Hence its warning: the cost of insurance can vary from insurer to insurer for exactly the same coverage and conditions. The criteria it lists include age and gender, driving record, use of the vehicle and distance driven, where you live, the vehicle, the coverage, the deductible and, with some insurers, your credit record. Infoinsurance therefore advises comparing quotes that cover the same protections.

How does a quote request through a comparison platform work?

On SoumissionAuto.ca, our buttons take you to a partner’s platform, including ClicAssure, where you fill out its form under its terms. When you submit your request, ClicAssure asks you to authorize the sharing of your information with certain of its business partners that may send you a quote, and to agree to be contacted by email, text, phone or mail: read those authorizations. ClicAssure states that its service is free and carries no obligation. The quotes then come from its insurance partners. According to the AMF, a broker must be able to obtain quotes from at least three insurers, whereas an agent offers the products of a single insurer; check that an intermediary is authorized in the AMF’s Register.

Are you an insurer or a broker, and what does your site cost?

No, and nothing. SoumissionAuto.ca is an information site published by Clench Media LLC. We are not an insurer, not a damage insurance firm, and not an agent or a broker, and we hold no AMF registration or certificate: we do not sell insurance and we do not give personalized advice. We publish no prices and no rankings of insurers, and this site contains no forms: we do not collect your information. The site is funded by affiliate arrangements: a partner may pay us when you go through one of our links, and this never increases the price you pay. See About and Disclosure.

Sources

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