In Canada, as in many other countries, tickets can have an impact on your car insurance premium, but not all tickets are created equal. The effect on your premium depends on the type and severity of the ticket, among other factors. Here’s a breakdown:

Tickets That Typically Affect Your Premium:

Major convictions:

Major convictions in Canada can have a significant impact on car insurance premiums. The degree to which a major conviction affects your premium varies depending on a multitude of factors, including the specific nature of the offense, the driver’s previous record, and the insurance provider’s policies.

Additionally, each province has its own rules, regulations, and insurance systems. The effect of major convictions on premiums can differ between provinces due to their respective insurance models and regulatory frameworks.

Here is a general overview of major convictions and their potential effects across some provinces:

1. British Columbia (BC):
   • Insurance model: Government-run insurance through ICBC (Insurance Corporation of British Columbia).
   • Major Convictions: DUI (Driving Under the Influence), excessive speeding, driving without insurance, and refusing a breathalyzer test, among others.
   • Effect on Premiums: Major convictions can lead to significant increases, sometimes doubling or even tripling premiums. ICBC also has a Driver Penalty Point premium system where accumulating points can result in additional fees.
2. Alberta:
   • Insurance model: Private insurance companies.
   • Major Convictions: DUI, driving without insurance, and careless driving.
   • Effect on Premiums: Premiums can double or more. Alberta uses a demerit point system, and accumulating points can also influence premiums.
3. Ontario:
   • Insurance model: Private insurance companies.
   • Major Convictions: DUI, failing to remain at the scene, and stunt driving.
   • Effect on Premiums: Major convictions can result in premium increases of 100% or more. Drivers with major convictions may be labeled as high-risk, leading to further challenges in finding affordable coverage.
4. Quebec:
   • Insurance model: Hybrid. The government covers injury claims, while property damage claims are covered by private insurers.
   • Major Convictions: DUI, refusing a breathalyzer test, and dangerous driving.
   • Effect on Premiums: Major convictions lead to significant increases in premiums, often doubling rates. The Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) also charges drivers based on accumulated demerit points.
5. Manitoba:
   • Insurance model: Government-run insurance through MPI (Manitoba Public Insurance).
   • Major Convictions: DUI, dangerous driving, and driving without insurance.
   • Effect on Premiums: Premiums can substantially increase with major convictions. Manitoba also uses a Driver Safety Rating system where both positive and negative driving behaviors affect your rating and, in turn, your premium.
6. Saskatchewan:
   • Insurance model: Government-run insurance through SGI (Saskatchewan Government Insurance).
   • Major Convictions: DUI, driving without due care and attention, and racing.
   • Effect on Premiums: Major convictions result in significant premium hikes. The province’s Safe Driver Recognition program can also influence rates, with safe driving leading to discounts and infractions leading to surcharges.

Other provinces and territories (like Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Nunavut) also see significant impacts on insurance premiums due to major convictions, though the specifics may vary.

Minor convictions:

Minor convictions in Canada are less severe violations of traffic laws, but they can still have an impact on car insurance premiums. The effect of minor convictions on premiums will differ from one province to another due to their respective insurance models and regulatory frameworks.

Here’s a general overview of how minor convictions can affect premiums across some provinces:

1. British Columbia (BC):
   • Insurance model: Government-run insurance through ICBC.
   • Minor Convictions: Speeding (within a certain range over the limit), not wearing a seatbelt, using a handheld device while driving, etc.
   • Effect on Premiums: Convictions can lead to a premium increase, especially if there are multiple convictions in a short period. BC’s Driver Penalty Point premium system also results in additional fees for accumulating points from minor convictions.
2. Alberta:
   • Insurance model: Private insurance companies.
   • Minor Convictions: Speeding (minor over the limit), failing to signal, not stopping at a stop sign, etc.
   • Effect on Premiums: Minor convictions can increase premiums by a small percentage. Multiple convictions can compound the effect. The demerit point system can also influence premiums.
3. Ontario:
   • Insurance model: Private insurance companies.
   • Minor Convictions: Speeding (minor amounts over the limit), failing to yield, and not following signals.
   • Effect on Premiums: Single minor convictions might lead to a slight increase in premiums. However, accumulating multiple minor convictions can result in more substantial hikes.
4. Quebec:
   • Insurance model: Hybrid. The government covers injury claims, while property damage claims are covered by private insurers.
   • Minor Convictions: Speeding (slightly over the limit), failing to wear a seatbelt, etc.
   • Effect on Premiums: The effect on premiums can vary, but typically minor convictions lead to modest increases. The demerit point system can also influence the rate.
5. Manitoba:
   • Insurance model: Government-run insurance through MPI.
   • Minor Convictions: Speeding (minor amounts), not using signals, etc.
   • Effect on Premiums: Premiums may increase, especially with multiple minor convictions. The Driver Safety Rating system takes into account minor convictions, with safer driving resulting in better ratings and lower premiums.
6. Saskatchewan:
   • Insurance model: Government-run insurance through SGI.
   • Minor Convictions: Minor speeding, disobeying traffic signs, etc.
   • Effect on Premiums: The Safe Driver Recognition program factors in minor convictions. Safe driving leads to discounts, while convictions can lead to surcharges on premiums.

For the other provinces and territories (like Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Nunavut), minor convictions can lead to slight to moderate increases in premiums, depending on the specific offense and frequency.

Multiple convictions:

Multiple convictions, regardless of whether they are major or minor, can compound the effect on car insurance premiums. Accumulating multiple convictions often sends a signal to insurers that a driver may be higher risk, which can lead to significant rate hikes. Here’s a generalized overview of how multiple convictions might influence premiums across some Canadian provinces:

1. British Columbia (BC):
   • Insurance model: Government-run insurance through ICBC.
   • Effect on Premiums: Multiple convictions can lead to sharp increases in premiums. The Driver Penalty Point premium system means accumulating points (from any convictions) results in escalating fees, and having multiple infractions accelerates this.
2. Alberta:
   • Insurance model: Private insurance companies.
   • Effect on Premiums: Multiple minor convictions can lead to premiums comparable to having a single major conviction. Alberta’s demerit point system compounds the impact; accumulating too many points can result in license suspension.
3. Ontario:
   • Insurance model: Private insurance companies.
   • Effect on Premiums: Multiple convictions, even if they are minor, can lead to substantial increases in premiums. Accumulating convictions may also shift a driver into the “high-risk” category, making insurance significantly more expensive.
4. Quebec:
   • Insurance model: Hybrid.
   • Effect on Premiums: Accumulating minor convictions can lead to steady increases in premiums. The demerit point system can further penalize drivers with multiple infractions, and excessive points can lead to license suspension.
5. Manitoba:
   • Insurance model: Government-run insurance through MPI.
   • Effect on Premiums: Multiple convictions will negatively affect the Driver Safety Rating, leading to higher premiums. The impact is more pronounced with multiple major convictions.
6. Saskatchewan:
   • Insurance model: Government-run insurance through SGI.
   • Effect on Premiums: Multiple convictions will move drivers down the Safe Driver Recognition scale, resulting in surcharges. The more convictions one accumulates, the higher the surcharges.

For the other provinces and territories, the general principle holds: multiple convictions typically amplify the increase in premiums. This reflects the perceived higher risk associated with drivers who repeatedly violate traffic laws.

Tickets That Typically Don’t Affect Your Premium:

There are certain types of tickets and infractions that typically don’t directly affect car insurance premiums in most jurisdictions, including Canada. Here are some examples:

1. Parking Tickets: While you should pay parking tickets promptly to avoid additional fees or potential towing, these tickets generally don’t impact your car insurance rates. However, if unpaid parking tickets lead to a license suspension, the suspension itself can then indirectly affect your insurance premium.
2. Administrative Penalties: Tickets related to documentation, such as not having your registration or proof of insurance with you, might not impact your premiums, especially if you can show proof later that you were insured at the time.
3. Non-Moving Violations: These are offenses unrelated to the operation of the vehicle. In addition to parking tickets, things like expired tags or broken equipment (like a malfunctioning tail light) are typically classified as non-moving violations. While they might not directly impact your premium, it’s important to address them promptly to avoid further complications.
4. Toll Violations: Not paying tolls or having unpaid toll violations might not directly affect your insurance rates, but like parking tickets, there can be consequences (like fines or legal action) if they’re left unpaid.
5. Red Light Camera and Speed Camera Tickets: In some jurisdictions, these tickets are treated more like parking violations because they don’t identify the driver, only the vehicle. Therefore, they might not have a direct effect on insurance rates. However, this isn’t universal, and in some places, these tickets can indeed impact premiums.
6. Noise or Environmental Violations: Tickets received for excessively loud exhausts or for violating environmental regulations, like idling in a no-idling zone, generally don’t affect insurance premiums.

7. Cell Phone Tickets: Some jurisdictions may treat a first-time cell phone or distracted driving violation differently from repeat offenses. However, given the increasing focus on the dangers of distracted driving, many insurers are starting to view these more seriously, especially if there’s a pattern of repeated offenses. It’s essential to be aware of how your jurisdiction treats these offenses.
8. Tinted Window Violations: Getting a ticket for windows tinted beyond the legal limit is typically seen as a non-moving violation. But like all non-moving violations, it’s crucial to address them to avoid potential complications.
9. Seatbelt Violations: Depending on the jurisdiction, a single seatbelt violation might not significantly affect your insurance rates, especially if it’s an isolated incident. However, repeated offenses might paint a picture of a driver who neglects safety protocols.
10. Pedestrian-Related Violations: Infractions like not yielding to pedestrians or not stopping for a school bus might not have an immediate impact, but patterns of these violations can indicate risky driving behavior and potentially affect rates.
11. Vehicle Modification Violations: If you modify your vehicle in a way that’s not street-legal (e.g., certain modifications to the exhaust system, suspension, etc.) and get ticketed for it, the ticket itself might not affect your premium. However, insurers might increase rates or deny coverage based on the modifications themselves, especially if they deem them to increase the risk of an accident or claim.
12. Helmet Violations (for Motorcycles): Just like seatbelt violations for cars, helmet violations for motorcyclists might not have a direct immediate impact on insurance rates for a single offense. But repeated offenses could be a red flag for insurers.

It’s important to remember a few key points:

• Accumulation Matters: While a single isolated ticket might not impact premiums, accumulating multiple tickets of any kind can be a red flag for insurers, leading to rate hikes or even non-renewal of a policy.
• Location Matters: Different jurisdictions treat tickets differently. What doesn’t affect your premium in one region might in another.
• Communication is Key: If you receive a ticket of any kind, it’s a good practice to inform your insurer, especially if there’s a chance it could impact your coverage or rates. Keeping an open line of communication can help avoid unexpected surprises later on.

As always, it’s best to consult directly with insurance providers or brokers in your region to understand the specifics related to any tickets or violations you receive.

Other Factors to Consider:

1. Insurance provider policies: Different insurance companies might handle tickets and their impact on premiums differently. It’s essential to understand your provider’s policies or shop around to find a provider that offers favorable terms.
2. Duration: The impact of a ticket on your insurance usually isn’t permanent. Convictions typically stay on your driving record for a specific duration, after which they no longer impact your premium. However, the duration can vary based on the severity of the conviction and provincial regulations.
3. Forgiveness: Some insurance providers offer first-time accident forgiveness or minor conviction protection as part of their policies. This means that the first at-fault accident or minor ticket might not affect your premium. It’s essential to read the terms and conditions of such offerings.