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In Canada, driving records and insurance histories are managed at the provincial and territorial level. If you want to access these documents, you generally need to contact the relevant authority or organization in your specific province or territory. Here’s a guide on how to do it for each province and territory:
- Alberta
- Driving Record: Request your driver abstract from Alberta Motor Vehicle Services.
- Insurance History: Contact your auto insurance company or the Alberta Automobile Insurance Rate Board.
- British Columbia
- Driving Record: Request your driving record through ICBC (Insurance Corporation of British Columbia).
- Insurance History: ICBC can also provide your insurance claims history.
- Manitoba
- Driving Record & Insurance History: Access both through Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI).
- New Brunswick
- Driving Record: Contact Service New Brunswick to request your driver abstract.
- Insurance History: Contact your auto insurance provider.
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Driving Record: Apply for a driver’s abstract through Service NL.
- Insurance History: Reach out to your auto insurance company.
- Nova Scotia
- Driving Record: You can get your driver abstract from the Registry of Motor Vehicles via Access Nova Scotia.
- Insurance History: Your auto insurance provider can assist.
- Ontario
- Driving Record: Request your driver abstract from the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO).
- Insurance History: Contact your insurance company or check with the Insurance Bureau of Canada.
- Prince Edward Island
- Driving Record: Contact the PEI Department of Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy.
- Insurance History: Contact your auto insurance company.
- Quebec
- Driving Record: You can get your driving record from the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ).
- Insurance History: Contact your insurance provider or check with the Groupement des assureurs automobiles.
- Saskatchewan
- Driving Record & Insurance History: Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) provides both the driving record and insurance history.
- Northwest Territories
- Driving Record: Request your driver abstract from the Department of Infrastructure.
- Insurance History: Contact your auto insurance provider.
- Nunavut
- Driving Record: Contact the Department of Economic Development and Transportation.
- Insurance History: Get in touch with your auto insurance provider.
- Yukon
- Driving Record: Obtain your driver’s abstract from Yukon Motor Vehicles.
- Insurance History: Your auto insurance provider can provide this information.
How far back do insurance companies look at your driving record?
In Canada, insurance companies assess your driving record to determine your insurance rates. The length of time they look back can vary by province, but generally, insurers are most interested in recent events. However, convictions and at-fault accidents might stay on your record for a longer duration. Here’s a general overview by province:
- Alberta:
- Typically look back 3 years for minor violations and at-fault accidents.
- Serious convictions can remain on the record for longer.
- British Columbia (BC):
- ICBC uses a system that considers the last 10 years of your driving history to determine your insurance rates. However, the most recent 3 years have the most significant impact.
- Manitoba:
- Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) generally looks back 3 years for traffic convictions and 6 years for at-fault accidents.
- New Brunswick:
- Typically look back 3 years for traffic violations and at-fault accidents.
- Newfoundland and Labrador:
- Insurers usually look back 3 years for driving convictions.
- Nova Scotia:
- Generally, insurers look back 3 years for traffic convictions and at-fault accidents.
- Ontario:
- Insurance companies tend to look back 3 years for most traffic violations and at-fault accidents. However, major convictions can impact your record for up to 6 years.
- Prince Edward Island:
- Insurers typically look back 3 years for driving convictions.
- Quebec:
- Look back is generally 3 years for traffic violations and at-fault accidents.
- Saskatchewan:
- Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) usually looks back 5 years for driving offenses.
- Northwest Territories:
- Typically, a look-back period of 3 years is used for driving convictions.
- Nunavut:
- Generally, insurance companies look back 3 years.
- Yukon:
- The standard look-back period is 3 years for traffic convictions and at-fault accidents.
How much does a driver’s abstract cost?
Please note that these are approximate amounts, and they may change over time due to various reasons such as inflation, policy changes, or administrative adjustments:
- Alberta:
- About $28 for a standard abstract.
- British Columbia:
- Approximately $20 for an ICBC driver’s abstract.
- Manitoba:
- Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) typically charges around $10.
- New Brunswick:
- Roughly $20 for a driver’s abstract.
- Newfoundland and Labrador:
- About $25 for a driver’s abstract.
- Nova Scotia:
- Generally around $20 for a driver’s abstract from Access Nova Scotia.
- Ontario:
- Approximately $12 for a 3-year driver’s record and around $18 for a complete driver’s record from the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO).
- Prince Edward Island:
- Roughly $25 for a driver’s abstract.
- Quebec:
- About $15 for a driving record from the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ).
- Saskatchewan:
- A driver’s abstract from Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) costs around $10.
- Northwest Territories:
- Around $26 for a driver’s abstract.
- Nunavut:
- Pricing information is limited; it’s best to contact the Department of Economic Development and Transportation for specifics.
- Yukon:
- Approximately $15 for a driver’s abstract from Yukon Motor Vehicles.
What does an Ontario driver abstract look like?
An Ontario driver abstract is an official document from the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) that provides details about a person’s driving history in the province. The format of this document is quite official and contains key details about the driver.
Here’s an overview of the type of information you might find on a typical Ontario driver abstract:
- Driver’s Details: This section contains the driver’s name, date of birth, class of license, the date first licensed, license status, height, and conditions/restrictions if any.
- Driver History: This part provides a chronological record of:
- Current demerit points.
- Convictions, including any violations under the Highway Traffic Act or Criminal Code of Canada (related to driving).
- Suspensions and reinstatements.
- Details of accidents, if recorded.
- Any other actions or restrictions related to the driver’s license.
- Legend: The document typically has a legend or key which provides a quick reference to codes and abbreviations used within the abstract. For instance, codes could represent different types of offenses, suspensions, or types of driver’s license classes.
- Document Details: The abstract will usually have an issue date and may also have other official elements, such as a barcode or a unique identifier, for verification purposes.
There are three main types of driver abstracts available in Ontario:
- 3-Year Driver Record: Provides your driving record details for the past three years.
- Complete Driver Record: Provides your entire driving history.
- Commercial Driver Record: Used for drivers who drive vehicles that require a Commercial Vehicle Operator’s Registration (CVOR) and provides violations, inspections, collisions, and CVOR certificate information.
If you’re considering obtaining an abstract for employment, insurance, or other purposes, make sure you know which version of the driver abstract you need.
To ensure security and privacy, sensitive personal information like addresses are not displayed in publicly available abstracts. If you’re looking to see an example or a sample, you might find one on the MTO’s official website or by contacting them directly.
Can I check my driver’s license status online?
Yes, in many Canadian provinces and territories, you can check the status of your driver’s license online. Here’s a breakdown by province and territory:
- Alberta:
- The Alberta government provides online services through MyAlberta eServices, where you can request driver and vehicle services. However, for detailed or specific driver’s license status, you might need to visit an Alberta Registry Agent.
- British Columbia:
- You can check your driving record and points through ICBC (Insurance Corporation of British Columbia). They offer online services where you can view your driver’s license details.
- Manitoba:
- Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) offers online services where you can access various driver and vehicle details.
- New Brunswick:
- As of my last update, New Brunswick does not provide an online tool specifically for checking the status of a driver’s license. You might need to contact Service New Brunswick or visit in person.
- Newfoundland and Labrador:
- There isn’t a direct online tool for checking the status. You may need to contact Service NL for information about your driver’s license status.
- Nova Scotia:
- Access Nova Scotia provides online services related to driving, though the exact status of a driver’s license might require direct contact or a visit.
- Ontario:
- The Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) offers online services where you can check the status of your driver’s license.
- Prince Edward Island:
- It’s best to contact the PEI Department of Transportation, Infrastructure, and Energy directly, as there might not be a direct online tool to check your status.
- Quebec:
- The Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) has online services where you can access some details about your driving record and license status.
- Saskatchewan:
- Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) provides online services through MySGI where you can check various driver and vehicle details.
- Northwest Territories:
- Checking your license status might require a direct inquiry with the Department of Infrastructure.
- Nunavut:
- Information is limited, and you might need to contact the Department of Economic Development and Transportation directly.
- Yukon:
- Yukon Motor Vehicles might not have a direct online tool for checking driver’s license status; contacting them directly would be the best approach.
How long does it take for your driving record to clear?
In Canada, the length of time it takes for incidents to remain on your driving record can vary by province. Here’s a general overview:
- Alberta:
- Traffic convictions remain on your driving record for 3 years from the conviction date.
- Demerit points are removed 2 years after they were received.
- British Columbia:
- Traffic violations and points remain on your record for 5 years.
- Criminal Code convictions (e.g., DUI) remain on your record for 10 years.
- Manitoba:
- Traffic convictions remain on your driving record for 3 years from the conviction date.
- Demerit points are cleared 2 years after they were received.
- New Brunswick:
- Convictions remain on your record for 3 years from the date of conviction.
- Newfoundland and Labrador:
- Driving convictions generally remain on your record for 3 years.
- Nova Scotia:
- Demerit points and related convictions are cleared 2 years from the conviction date.
- Ontario:
- Most convictions (including demerit points) stay on your driving record for 3 years from the conviction date.
- Suspensions remain on your driving record for 3 years from the reinstatement date.
- Criminal driving convictions (like DUI) stay on your record for at least 10 years.
- Prince Edward Island:
- Demerit points and related convictions are removed 2 years after the offense.
- Quebec:
- Demerit points remain on your record for 2 years after the offense.
- Most convictions will remain on your record for at least 3 years.
- Saskatchewan:
- Traffic convictions typically stay on your record for 3 years.
- Demerit points remain on your record for 2 years from the date they were received.
- Northwest Territories:
- Information regarding how long convictions and demerit points stay on your record is limited. It’s recommended to contact the Department of Infrastructure for specific details.
- Nunavut:
- Specific details regarding the length of time violations stay on the driving record might be limited. It’s best to contact the Department of Economic Development and Transportation.
- Yukon:
- Demerit points and traffic violations generally remain on your record for 2 years.
It’s important to differentiate between how long convictions stay on your driving record and how long they can affect things like your insurance rates. Even if a conviction has been removed from your driving record, it can still impact your insurance premiums for a longer period. Always check with your insurance provider and the respective province’s motor vehicle department for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
About the Author: Valerie D. Hahn
Valerie is an insurance editor, journalist, and business professional at RateLab. She has more than 15 years of experience in personal financial products. She strives to educate readers and ensure that they are properly protected.
