Insurance Made Simple – Whitby’s Trusted Broker

Although you can not ensure your vehicle will not be stolen you can take a few easy steps to prevent the likelihood of it happening, by making it more difficult for a thief to steal your vehicle and its contents.

• Always lock your vehicle.
• Never leave your keys in the vehicle.
• Turn off your ignition whenever you leave your car.
• Avoid parking on the street.
• Conceal items left in your car, keep things in the trunk and never leave money or compact discs in the open.
• Whenever possible, park your vehicle in a well-lit, well-guarded, highly visible area.
• Ask your neighbors to watch out for your vehicle and do the same for them.
• Install an anti-theft deterrent such as car alarms or an ignition disabler.

Cell phones can be valuable equipment in a car when you need to call for assistance. However, they can also be a distraction if they are used while driving, and many jurisdictions are considering restrictions on cell phone use while driving. In Ontario, new penalties will be coming in to effect on January 1st 2019 so make sure you are aware of the new rules.

For safety’s sake, don’t use your cell phone while driving. If you need to make a call, stop your car safely away from traffic before picking up the phone.

Transport Canada Canada Safety Council

Being involved in an accident can be a very stressful event. To help you protect both yourself and your interests, we have provided some basic hints:

• Call the police immediately, and an ambulance if necessary.
• Do not admit liability.
• Record details of the accident including date, time, location, a description of the accident, any injuries, and any charges laid.
• Record details concerning the other party and vehicle such as owner’s name and address, phone number, and vehicle year, make and model.
• It is very important to obtain the insurance information of the other driver. This includes the name of the insurance company and the policy number and the name of the broker or agent.
• Obtain a copy of the police report from the attending officer as this will have the accident report number for future reference.

These tips are general rules of thumb only, and may not fit all situations. For the definitive word, contact your insurance broker for more information.