New drivers: everything you need to know before you hit the road

Whether it's to explore the world or to arrive at work earlier, your driving license will give you great freedom. But before hitting the road, it is important to know your responsibilities and choose the right car insurance. Don't stress: we're here to show you the way!

Getting behind the wheel

So, you’ve got your learner's permit! Now what? As you already know, a learner driver can only drive in the presence of an experienced driver. You must also follow strict rules regarding alcohol consumption, and you can only drive at certain times of the day, in specific areas.

What you may not know is that it's also time to tell the insurer of the vehicle the good news that you’ll be driving. In fact, the owner must inform their agent that you will drive his vehicle, even if you only hold a learner's permit. The broker will inform you of the things to consider when you start driving solo.

Gain experience

Cue the confetti: you have passed your driving test and you have obtained your learner’s license! You can finally get behind the wheel of a class 5 automobile solo. This occasion deserves to be celebrated! Since you are a new driver, remember that responsibilities and restrictions await you.

The Canadian Highway Code is essential to follow to ensure safety on the roads. Don't forget about demerit points – the accumulation of these could lead to serious consequences such as sanctions, fines or even the suspension of your probationary license.

Depending on your province, new drivers must drive on a probationary license for 1 or 2 years before getting their full drivers' license. During this period and depending on their age, they can only carry a limited number of passengers and cannot accompany learner drivers. The zero-alcohol tolerance law applies to new drivers, and for younger drivers, there is a curfew to respect. In Quebec, the driving curfew for new drivers is in effect between midnight and five a.m. Read up on the rules in your province or territory before getting behind the wheel.

On the insurance side, we're changing gears too! Are you planning to drive a car that belongs to someone else? The car owner must contact their broker and have your name added to their insurance policy. Do you plan to be the primary driver of the vehicle? Be aware that this will influence your insurance premium.

Insuring your own car

Are you thinking about buying your own car? You will need to take out auto insurance coverage. One does not go without the other! Depending on your needs, you can choose protection adapted to your budget and the condition of your car. All car insurance has two types of coverage:

1. Third-party liability insurance is mandatory and covers the cost of damage you might cause to others on the road. In Canada, if you don’t have liability insurance, you could be fined and even lose your driver’s licence. In the province of Quebec, all residents are automatically insured by the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) for physical injuries sustained on the road.
2. The other type of insurance is optional physical damage insurance, which includes collision insurance and comprehensive insurance.

• Collision insurance covers the cost of repairing damage to your car incurred in an accident.
• Comprehensive insurance covers the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle for any other reason, such as theft, fire, flood or vandalism.

How much will your insurance cost, exactly? It’s a myth that the colour of your car will impact your premium, but many other factors will. The broker will want to know about you, how your vehicle is used, what kind of vehicle you have and how much protection you want to purchase.

Reduce your car insurance costs

Here are some tips for reducing the amount of your car insurance premium:

• Bundle your car insurance with your home or tenant insurance, or bundle your car insurance with your parents’ policy if you still live at home.
• Choose a higher deductible. You may have to pay a higher amount out of pocket if you ever need to make a claim, but you’ll pay a lower premium.
• Enroll in my Drive, a program that rewards good driving. You can save up to 25% on your car insurance by driving safely—that means avoiding distracted driving, rapid acceleration, hard braking, speeding and driving at risky hours.
• Bottom line: safe driving could save you money down the road. Keep your insurance payments low by practising these six good habits for safer driving.

Questions about your car insurance? Contact your agent to review the details of your policy—it’s a good idea to understand what your insurance covers before you need to file a claim. That’s all you need to know about car insurance. Now you can drive off into the sunset.