Minivan Insurance

[Not mandatory in Newfoundland] Accident benefits coverage covers minivan drivers when they get into accidents that result in bodily harm. Given how expensive medical bills can be, accident benefits are crucial for all drivers. If you or someone else involved in the accident suffers an injury, accident benefits can pay for the cost of medical care not covered by your health insurance policy. It can also pay for lost income if you are unable to do your job due to your injury.

[Not mandatory in Alberta] Uninsured motorist coverage will cover you if you get into an accident while in your minivan with another driver. For uninsured motorist coverage to be claimed, the driver you get into an accident with must fit into one of the following categories:

• An uninsured motorist: a driver who does not have a valid auto insurance policy and is therefore driving illegally
• An underinsured motorist: a driver who does not have enough insurance coverage to cover the cost of the damages that resulted from the accident
• An unidentified motorist: a driver whose identity is not known because they illegally fled the scene of the accident, e.g. a hit and run

So long as you were not responsible for the collision, you can claim direct compensation - property damage coverage if you get into an accident that damages your minivan. Under this portion of your minivan insurance policy, your insurance company may issue you a payout directly that covers the cost of repairs to your minivan.

Under the collision car coverage portion of your policy, your insurance company may issue you a payout to cover the cost of repairs to your minivan if you get into an accident that damages it. The accident could have involved another car, an animal, or even a foreign object on the road. This coverage is subject to a deductible that must be paid prior to a payout or repairs are completed, however this coverage can help to protect the financial asset you have in your vehicle.

Comprehensive car coverage is designed to protect vehicles from damage and theft while parked. For instance, if your minivan was parked in your driveway and a tree branch fell on it or a burglar broke into it in the middle of the night, you would be covered for the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle in accordance with the comprehensive coverage portion of your policy. With comprehensive coverage, you are only protected against damage caused by insured perils. Insured perils vary between insurance companies and policyholders but some of the most common in Canada include fire, wind, falling objects, theft, vandalism, and water damage.

One final type of optional minivan insurance coverage popular among minivan drivers is accident forgiveness coverage. Accident forgiveness is additional coverage that can be added to your car insurance policy as an endorsement, to protect your driving record and to help prevent your insurance premium from increasing if you have an at-fault accident claim. Note: coverage varies by province.

If your minivan is damaged in an accident and you are unable to use it temporarily, loss of use coverage can cover any transportation costs incurred until it is repaired. For example, this type of coverage can pay for you to take public transit, rent a car, or hire taxis or ride shares until your minivan is in working order again.

Commercial auto insurance is one final type of coverage that will be worthwhile if you use your minivan for business purposes. For example, if you run a business and you use your minivan to deliver orders to customers, transport materials to and from job sites, or visit clients’ homes, then adding a commercial auto insurance add-on to your minivan insurance policy is a must. Standard minivan insurance does not cover business use, which means that you would not be covered for any losses that occurred while driving your minivan for commercial purposes. You can learn more about how commercial auto insurance works for minivans by getting in touch with BrokerLink.