Auto Insurance

Bill C-6 was recently passed, mandating the Canadian Union of Postal Workers back to work as of 8:30 pm today June 27 2011.
Insurance companies will return to normal mailing on June 28th 2011. In the meantime should you require documents on your insurance policies place through Expo Insurance Brokers Inc please feel free to contact our office and we will do our best to provide you with copies of your documents untill original’s arrive to your home by post.

For immediate customer service contact Debbie Long at Ext 227 Joh Kotarski at Ext 223 or Thomas Monizusko at Ext 225

Regards
Expo Insurance Brokers Inc

Axa Clients Claims Service Network.
Clients of Expo Insurance Brokers Inc, insured with Axa INS Company, after a claim have access to the Axa Advantage Claims Network.
The Axa Advantage network is comprised of certified collision repair shops which have been specially selected to provide consistent, high quality service. They are committed to provide, excellent customer service. Licensed technicians with up-to-date collision specific training and state of the art repair and diagnostic equipment.

Axa Insurance guarantees the repairs for as long as you own your vehicle.

In Ontario the Axa Advantage Network:

Assured Automotive
Carstar Quality Collisions Service
Fix Auto

For more information please contact our office and speak with your customer service representative at Expo Insurance, Debbie Long Ext 227 or John Kotarski at Ext 223.
Expo Insurance Brokers Inc.

Your credit score is a snapshot or summary of your financial health at a specific point in time. Equifax and Trans Union are two large credit reporting agencies here in Canada. They use a scale that starts at 300 and goes all the way to 900 in determining your score. The higher the score on the scale the better you look to lenders. Remember that high numbers indicate lower risk for the lender.

A higher rating increases your ability to borrow money through a financial institution and qualifying for financing at a preferred rate. Healthy credit is important when applying for a line of credit, mortgage or car loan.

Variables such as outstanding debt, spending patterns and payment history are used to determine your individual credit score.

Ways to increase your credit score and look good to a lender, pay your bills by the due date.Pay your debt off in full or at very least meet the minimum payment on your credit card. Keep in mind each time you open or apply for credit it effects your credit score.

Recent changes in Ontario prohibit Auto Insurance Companies from using individual credit scores to rate  auto insurance which would effect your final premium.

Expo Insurance Brokers Inc.

Effective September 01,2010, changes are coming to auto insurance here in Ontario. Additional accident benefit choices will allow you to customize your policy to suit your needs. These choices will give you more control over the price you pay for your insurance policy.

Price will vary based on the benefits you purchase. Rates will not be going down. These changes will stabilize the premiums in Ontario Only, not reduce.

These reforms to your policy take place September 01 2010. Your policy will remain unchanged until your next renewal. At that time , you will be provided with more information from your Insurance Company on the changes and your options. Feel free to contact our office for any information that is unclear or you wish to have clarified. It is important you understand your options and how your choices will effect your coverage.

For General information you can call our office or search the web sites of the Insurance Bureau of Canada www.ibc.ca or The Financial Services Commission of Ontario www.fsco.gov.on.ca

Changes to your Auto Insurance will give you more choice and will stabilize the price you pay on auto insurance not reduce prices you pay.

Expo Insurance Brokers Inc

Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) is coming into effect on July 1st 2010 here in Ontario. Several clients have called into our office with questions about how the HST will affect their insurance premiums.

The HST will not affect property or automobile premiums. The 8% Provincial Sales Tax (PST) will remain on property while automobile premiums will continue to be exempt.

Details as to all items that will be effected by the new tax can be found at http://www.rev.gov.on.ca/en/taxchange/index.html

Have a fantastic day

Expo Insurance Brokers

Here’s Whats New For Ontario Drivers

On October 26th, 2009, the rules of the road changed in Ontario. Drivers can expect to face fines for talking, texting, typing, dialling or emailing on a hand-held cell phone. The law extends to any hand-held communications or entertainment devices. Laptops and DVD players cannot be in your field of vision.

Read the following ActNow article from Gore Mutual to learn more.

Expo Insurance Brokers Inc.

This New Years Eve Don’t Forget !

Gore Mutual offers over 70,000 free taxi rides this New Year’s Eve

 Gore Mutual Insurance Company is once again offering their Ontario automobile clients a free taxi ride on New Year’s Eve.  

“We are very proud of our New Year’s Eve taxi offer,” says Kevin McNeil, President and CEO, Gore Mutual. “As a safety conscious company, we have been offering this program for many years because keeping families safe is important to us.”

“Road safety is the number one concern for many citizens. Gore Mutual has taken a leadership role in the prevention of impaired driving with its New Year’s taxi program. We are very proud to work in a continued partnership with the staff at Gore Mutual to make sure this New Year’s Eve is safe for everyone using our roads,” said Waterloo Regional Police Chief Matthew Torigian.

Gore Mutual automobile clients will receive a letter and voucher for their taxi ride – up to a maximum of $15.00 – just before Christmas.

The taxi offer is just one of the many ways Gore Mutual and their broker partners show gratitude to their clients and the communities in which they live.

We found this article on the Toronto Star web site. If you’re a GTA-based driver you may want to read it as it talks about rate hikes.

The type of coverage you require is based on a number of factors, including vehicle type, age, use and ownership. Some coverages are mandatory by law while others are optional. Physical damage coverage on the vehicle is optional if you own the vehicle but usually mandatory if you lease or have a car loan. Most coverages are subject to limits and deductibles just like your home insurance – you should be aware of what you have and what you might need.

Liability (mandatory) protects you if someone is killed or injured or their property is damaged. It will pay for claims against you up to the limit of your coverage including legal expenses and other costs of settling the claim on your behalf.

Accident Benefits (mandatory) provides benefits if you or anyone else covered under your policy are injured in an automobile accident, regardless of who caused the accident. These benefits include medical bills, rehabilitation expenses, lost wages, funeral and death benefits.

Uninsured Automobile (mandatory) covers injury or death caused by a driver without insurance or by a hit-and-run driver.

Direct Compensation – Property Damage (mandatory) covers you in Ontario for damage to your car or its contents when another driver is responsible.

Collision or Upset insures for loss or damage caused by collision with another vehicle or object (like a traffic pole or curb). An example of “upset” is if your car rolls over.

Specified Perils covers very specific types of claims, as the name suggests. These include fire, theft, lightning, windstorm, earthquake and explosion.

Comprehensive includes all the perils insured under Specified Perils plus falling or flying objects and vandalism.

All Perils is the broadest of the physical damages coverage you can buy. It covers Comprehensive, Specified Perils, and Collision or Upset.

Loss of Use pays a specified daily amount allowing you to rent a car while your car is being repaired. If your vehicle is stolen and you have All Perils, Comprehensive, or Specified Perils coverage, your policy automatically offers up to $900 for alternative transportation (rental, taxi or public transit).

Family Protection Endorsement provides additional benefits if the other driver is at fault does not have enough insurance (or is unidentified). The limit of coverage is the difference between the liability insurance limit of your insurance policy and that by the driver at fault.

Did you know good drivers may qualify for accident protection so after the first at fault accident there is no penalty to their good driving record?

The bottom line is: review your policy carefully and discuss any questions or concerns with your insurance provider.

This article is intended as a guide only, and has been adapted from articles available on the Insurance Bureau of Canada website and Financial Services Commission of Ontario webiste. Visit ww.ibc.ca and/or www.fsco.gov.on.ca for more information.