Toronto, Ontario — A new option in Ontario car insurance tempts drivers with car insurance premium discounts, in exchange for waiving insurer responsibility from repairing damaged vehicles–regardless of who is at-fault.
According to the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario, this agreement is officially titled OPCF 49: agreement not to recover for loss or damage from an automobile collision (for Ontario Automobile Policy OAP 1).
The form further emphasizes that this will prevent the driver from claiming any sort of compensation for loss or damage, including repair costs, vehicle devaluation, loss of use, replacement costs, and the loss or damage of the vehicle’s contents.
In an interview with Driving.ca, Morgan Roberts, director of RH insurance at ratehub says that agents and brokers may offer this product to reduce insurance premiums, but warns that the people who may take the offer will likely be the least able to afford repair costs.
Similarly, John Baizana warned the Canadian Underwriter that the introduction of this choice largely serves as a podium for politicians and lobbyists, while distracting from issues such as inefficiency, fraud and waste.
One Response
This serves absolutely “0” zero benefits to the client: an absolute garbage concept, shame on IBC for letting this one through. Insurers and brokers struggle with explaining loss of use coverage; I can’t imagine how this will pan out. The word stupid seems applicable here. What little savings they may gain from this will be chewed up in costs from even a minor event twice over, so by this rationale, who does this benefit?
Give you one guess…