Auto Insurance in Manitoba: Your Ultimate Guide
If you’re a resident of Manitoba, who values the convenience of an independent broker with online insurance services, you’ve come to the right place. Guild Insurance Group has your auto insurance needs covered. Whether you’re looking for standard auto insurance or specialized coverage for classic cars, we’re here to help. As trusted brokers for Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI), we provide you with peace of mind that your vehicle is insured properly.
Our Commitment to You
At Guild Insurance Group, we’re more than just the autopac brokerage; we’re a family. And that’s exactly how we treat our clients. We believe in building lasting relationships and providing you with the expertise and support you deserve.
Serving All of Manitoba
While our head office is located in Brandon, we are equipped to serve the entire province of Manitoba. With additional offices in Carberry, Virden, Shilo, Holland, Glenboro, Baldur, and Wawanesa, we’re accessible no matter where you reside in this beautiful province.
We are here to help you navigate through your Manitoba auto insurance needs. We are a full-service brokerage when you need to license your vehicle, renew your driver’s licence, Off-Road Vehicle or Commercial Trailer, we have you covered.
More Than Just Car Insurance
Whether you live in Brandon or any other part of Manitoba, when most people think about car insurance, it’s natural to focus on protecting your vehicle. However, auto insurance covers much more than just your car. Given the number of vehicles on the road and the daily distractions faced by drivers, accidents are a common occurrence. Every time you get behind the wheel, you’re at risk.
Auto insurance isn’t just about your car; it’s about protecting yourself and those who might be affected by your actions on the road.
The Importance of Adequate Coverage
Having adequate car insurance limits is crucial. In the unfortunate event of an accident where you’re at fault, improper coverage could mean losing everything you’ve worked hard for. Many people assume that great coverage means higher premiums, but that’s not necessarily the case.
As a 100% independent brokerage, Guild Insurance Group can compare your current coverages with a wide range of insurance providers to find you the best deal possible. And the best part? It won’t cost you a penny more to use our services. We’re compensated directly by Manitoba Public Insurance, working on your behalf to ensure you have the coverage you need without any hidden gaps in your policy.
Understanding the Differences
No two MPI insurance contracts are the same. Even policies that appear similar can have drastically different limits and coverage types.
It’s essential to have someone who understands policy contracts, like us, to navigate the exclusions and conditions for you. We take the legal jargon out of the equation so you can rest easy knowing you have the best possible coverage at the best price.
Autopac Forms
Key Factors Affecting Your Rate
1. Type Of Car
The type of car, its engine size, safety features, and more all impact your rate. Repair costs, protection features, and vehicle characteristics are taken into account.
2. Driving History
Your driving record and loss history plays a substantial role in the price. If you have a spotty driving history, or multiple moving violations or accidents, chances are, you won’t get a preferred rate until those things are at least 3 years old.
3. Vehicle Use
Do you drive your vehicle to work daily? Do you rely on public transportation? Does your vehicle remain unused during certain seasons? The type of vehicle use can have a significant impact on your annual insurance premium.
Understanding Vehicle Use Categories
What Is All-Purpose Use?
This category is exactly what it sounds like – there are no restrictions on how you can use your vehicle. This type of vehicle use is typically selected by individuals who regularly use their vehicle for commuting to work, school, or business purposes.
What is Pleasure Use?
This type of vehicle use restricts the amount of driving you can do for work purposes to no more than four times a month or 1,609 kilometers during a policy term.
The vehicle cannot be used for business purposes, but you are allowed to drive dependents to school. This type of use is not applicable to individuals who drive themselves to school.
This category of vehicle use is typically selected by individuals who are retired, stay-at-home parents, on maternity leave, or who use other forms of transportation for work or school.
Common Carrier Use?
This type of vehicle use is intended for vehicles used by couriers or common carriers, who are conducting deliveries as part of a business.
The majority of individuals who choose this category are engaged in delivery-related activities for their business.
Where You Live Matters
Your location and place of residency also play a role in determining your insurance premium. Manitoba is divided into four territories, with all territories except for Winnipeg having a lower rate due to a lower population density, fewer accidents, and a higher incidence of vandalism and theft.
If you commute from outside the city limits of Winnipeg, as designated by the Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI), you will be subject to the commuter rate. However, if your vehicle is located within Winnipeg’s territorial risk area, you will pay the same rate as other residents in the Winnipeg territory.
Merits vs Demerits
A positive driving record can significantly impact your insurance costs. Merits earned on your driving record can lead to discounts on both your driver’s license and insurance premiums. The more merits you accumulate, the greater your discount, with the potential for up to 40% off if you achieve the maximum of 17 merits.
Essential Car Insurance Coverages
As you review your policy, you might come across various coverages. Here’s what some of them mean:
Optional Auto Insurance Extension Coverages
- Third-Party Liability: Increase your liability limit to ensure adequate coverage in case of damages or injuries to third parties. Options range from $1 million to $10 million.
- Deductible Options: Understand how deductibles work, as they impact your claim costs. As of April 1, 2021, all drivers in Manitoba with Basic Autopac receive a $750 deductible. You can adjust your deductible to suit your needs.
- Increased Maximum Insured Value (MIV): If your vehicle is valued over $70,000, consider increasing your MIV with Excess Value Coverage.
- Auto Loss Of Use Coverage: This coverage provides a daily allowance for alternate transportation if your vehicle is damaged and unusable during repairs.
- New/Leased Car Protection: Protect your new vehicle against damage or theft.
- Storage: If you’re storing your vehicle for an extended period, ensure it’s protected.
- Rental Car Insurance: Don’t forget to consider coverage when renting a car in Canada or the U.S.A.
- Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) Insurance: Protect your snowmobile or off-road vehicle from accidents, theft, or damage
Get Answers to Frequently Asked Autopac Questions
What is autopac auto insurance?
Autopac is a Manitoba Public Insurance product that covers you & damages to your vehicle in a claim situation. As a non-profit Crown Corporation, MPI Insurance has provided basic auto insurance coverage in Manitoba since 1971. Auto insurance in Manitoba is mandatory, which means any Manitoba-owned vehicle needs to be insured by MPI Insurance.
MPI requires you to purchase basic car insurance coverage for your vehicle. Basic Autopac is the minimum amount of coverage required to have your vehicle on the road.
How can I find autopac near me? We provide Autopac coverage for all Manitobans with conveniently located offices throughout southwestern Manitoba.
What Does Basic Autopac Insurance Include?
- $70,000 Maximum Insured Value – Effective Apr 1/2021
- $750 Deductible – All-Perils Coverage – Effective Apri 1/2021
- $500,000 Third Party Liability – Effective Apr 1/2021
- Personal Injury Protection Plan
What is Autopac Maximum Insured Value?
Including taxes, $70,000 is the most any truck, motorcycle, car, moped, motorhome, trailer, snow vehicle or bus is insured for under Basic Autopac. If you have a vehicle that is worth more than $70,000, including taxes you’ll need Excess Value Coverage to cover the amount over the $70,000 limit.
What is Autopac Basic All-Perils Coverage?
Included in your auto insurance policy is basic all-perils coverage. Any accidental damage or loss to your MPI-registered vehicle in Canada or U.S. is covered. You will need to pay for any depreciation and the deductible. Autopac coverage pays for the rest.
Coverage Included:
- “Upset” (your vehicle rolls over or tips)
- Collision – This is the part of your policy that covers your car in the event you damage the car itself somehow, as a result of an accident with a fixed or moving object like another car, a curb, a house, a guard rail, etc.
- Other causes such as vandalism, theft, hail, and fire (comprehensive is the insurance term)
What is Autopac Property Damage?
Suppose you damage someone’s car in an accident, or a guardrail, house, or some other property that belongs to someone else. This is the part of your policy that compensates the other person for that damage
What is Autopac Third-Party Liability?
If your MPI-registered vehicle injures someone or damages property anywhere in Canada or the U.S.A third-party liability coverage is provided for claims made against you. Basic third-party liability insures you to up to $500,000 for claims others make against you.
What is Autopac Personal Injury Protection Plan?
Autopac also provides a personal injury protection plan for injury or death caused by an automobile accident. The Personal Injury Protection Plan (PIPP) is based on four principles.
- Coverage is provided to all Manitoba residents injured in automobile accidents anywhere in Canada or the U.S
- With a few limits or restrictions, compensation focuses on specific economic losses from auto injuries or death.
- Regardless of who was at fault in the accident, compensation is guaranteed for all injured people.
- To reflect changing economic conditions, most benefits are indexed to the Consumer Price Index.
What is No-Fault Auto Insurance?
As of March 1, 1994, Manitobans have had what is called “no-fault” auto insurance called Autopac provided by Manitoba Public Insurance. The common myth about no-fault insurance is that no one is at fault, but this is not so.
Instead what it means is that regardless of fault, every Manitoban injured (including death) by an automobile accident in Canada or the United States shall receive compensation from their insurance company.
This type of auto insurance is designed to provide benefits and treatment to injured victims quickly by reducing the delays experienced within the legal system.
How Do I Get Started With an Autopac Quote?
If you live in Manitoba and are looking for an autopac car insurance comparison, Guild Insurance Group makes the process of finding the best company and price easy.
We do all the heavy lifting for you! We are not just here to find you cheap car insurance we are here to ensure you get the proper vehicle insurance coverage that’s right for you and your family.
To get started, complete the fields below to send us some basic information about your needs so we can get started on your policy review and comparison!
Should I Change My Vehicle From All-Purpose to Pleasure?
Our day-to-day lives can quickly change and for some of you, your work life has changed dramatically over the past couple of years.
Depending on if you are now taking your own vehicle to work instead of public transit or you’re working from home now, you should consider updating your auto insurance policy to reflect these new realities.
To help you determine whether your auto insurance policy should be changed or not we have outlined the main differences between Pleasure and All-Purpose Vehicle use.
What is Pleasure Use?
- You are allowed to drive dependents to and from school
- Anyone driving themselves to and from school does not classify as Pleasure Use
- You are allowed to drive to and from work up to four times per month or 1,609 km maximum throughout your rating term
- You are not allowed to use your vehicle for any business purposes
- Pleasure Use is designed for people who take other forms of transportation to work or school, are able to work from home, who are retired, stay-at-home parents or are on maternity leave.
What is All-Purpose Use?
- You are not limited to any specific type of vehicle use
- All-Purpose Use is designed for people who are going to or from work (or part-way) more than four times per month or over 1,609 km throughout their rating term, for business purposes on a regular basis or to or from school
Storage
- You will not be using your vehicle for an extended period of time
- You are working from home and will no longer need your vehicle, some common examples of this type of coverage are motorhomes, sports cars and farm/fishing trucks
- Your vehicle would not be covered for damage caused by collision or upset while in storage
- We can provide you with a Sandbox Insurance extension policy that will provide additional coverage if needed
There are many different factors to consider before making a change from All Purpose to Pleasure Vehicle Use and working from home is only one of them. You will need to determine the cost of making a change like this as well as the length of time your work-from-home situation may last.
To help you determine whether your auto insurance policy should be changed or not we have outlined the main differences between Pleasure and All-Purpose Vehicle use.
We can provide you with a Sandbox Insurance extension policy that will provide additional coverage if needed.
This is where contacting an auto insurance broker at Guild Insurance is an important step to make sure the decision you make is in your best interest now and in the future.
With everything going on in our own lives and in the world right now, we are here to help you in whatever way works best for you. We set ourselves up digitally to give you as many different channels as possible to reach one of our brokers to get the help you need when you need it.
If you want, you can call us at 1-866-277-4949 or text us at 204-729-4949 or email info@guild.ca we are able to service your auto insurance transactions remotely in the way you choose.
Guild Insurance Group are agents for Sandbox Insurance. We are located in Brandon and a few different communities in Manitoba – Baldur, Glenboro, Holland, Carberry, Virden, Shilo and Wawanesa.
Sandbox Insurance offers private auto extensions as an option to increase your current MPI Coverage, which is available to all Manitoba residents. We are here to offer you competitive rates for reduced deductible, increased third-party liability, and extensive auto loss-of-use coverage that fits your lifestyle.
What is Sandbox Insurance Auto Extension?
In Manitoba basic auto insurance coverage is mandatory through MPI, there are no options available to you. That’s where we come in and offer you choice when it comes to optional auto coverages available.
We offer Sandbox Insurance auto extension which provides optional auto coverages to you at a reduced price and an increase in coverage. Sandbox Insurance auto extension coverages include a lower deductible, auto loss of use, increased third party liability and rental car coverage.
Sandbox Insurance Auto Extension Options
We highly recommend that you consider purchasing Sandbox Insurance auto extension coverages listed below:
- Increase your third party liability limit to $1million, $2million, $5million
- Decrease your deductible to $300, $200 or $100
- Increased Maximum Insured Value (MIV) on vehicles valued over $50,000, purchase the Excess Value Coverage
- Purchase Auto Loss of Use coverage to guarantee replacement transportation in the event of a loss
- Protect your investment in your new vehicle by purchasing New/Leased Car Protection
- Insure your vehicle while in storage
- Purchase insurance for rental cars in Canada or the U.S.A
- Purchase collision, comprehensive, third party liability and accident benefits coverage for your snowmobile or off-road vehicle
Sandbox Insurance Coverage Highlights
Lower Deductible
The lowest deductible available through MPI is $100, if you’re looking for a $50 comprehensive deductible Sandbox Insurance has this option available for you.
Rental Car Insurance Includes
With a Sandbox Insurance policy rental car insurance is automatically included. This coverage provides up to 90 days on any rental vehicle and is included year-round.
Although MPI provides short-term rental vehicle policies, you need to remember to buy it every time you rent a vehicle. With Sandbox Insurance even if you rent a vehicle once a year you are still ahead of the game.
Not only are you saving time and money purchasing a one-off policy, but you also don’t even need to notify Sandbox Insurance that you are renting a vehicle. No longer will you be standing at the rental car company check-in counter worrying about the rental car insurance you forget to buy. Your Sandbox Insurance third-party and deductible policy limits will be transferred to your rental.
Automatic Layup Coverage
This is extremely important coverage if you plate your vehicle seasonally. With a Sandbox Insurance policy, you are provided with full coverage while your vehicle is on layup, including liability and collision.
The most convenient part of having automatic layup coverage is that there is no responsibility on you to advise Sandbox Insurance or your broker when the vehicle is laid up.
Classic Car Insurance
Protect your pride and joy! From antiques to modified vehicles, we can provide customized Classic Car Insurance coverage for your classic.
We provide liability, accident benefits, and loss or damage coverage for collector vehicles that are owned for limited pleasure driving, car shows, and club events. We will help you get the coverage you need, so you can put the top down and enjoy the view!
