Unfortunately, there’s a lot of misunderstanding and misinformation floating around about demerit points and insurance. One of the first things that many Ontario drivers find hard to understand is the demerit points system itself.
While getting “points” is usually a good thing, like in sports and games, getting demerit points is not good. And the higher the number of demerit points you have, the worse it gets.
How Demerit Points Work In Ontario
Demerit points are added to your driving record for driving convictions, including traffic violations, like a speeding ticket or failing to stop when a police officer asks you to pull over.
The number of demerit points you get depends on whether the infraction is minor or major. Minor convictions, including for offences like improper turns or slow driving, will result in as few as 2 demerit points. Major convictions, including for offences like careless driving or racing, can result in six demerit points.
Accumulating demerit points in Ontario can affect you in two ways. First, if you accumulate 15 or more demerit points, you may have your driver’s licence suspended for 30 days by the Ministry of Transportation. Second, your automobile insurance company may increase your insurance premiums if you have convictions on your driving record.
How Demerit Points Affect Your Insurance Premiums
Car insurance companies determine the amount of your premium based on a number of factors including where you live, the distances you drive and the level of risk you pose for needing an insurance payout.
Insurance companies don’t directly determine your premium based on your demerit points. But, depending on the number of driving convictions on your record, and/or the severity of the offences, the insurance company may deem you to be a high-risk driver, and increase your insurance premiums.
They will also consider you to be a high risk if your license is suspended due to too many demerit points on your record.
Depending on the number of convictions and their severity, your car insurance rates could increase by 100% or more. Your insurance company may even determine that you are too risky to insure.
The serious consequences of accumulating too many demerit points in Ontario means that you need to defend yourself as best you can against being convicted of driving convictions. That’s why you need X-Copper’s experienced team of former police officers and top criminal defence lawyers and paralegals to fight for the best possible outcome for you.
If you enjoyed this post and want to learn more about traffic tickets, check out our article “5 Ways You Can Get a Ticket for a Seatbelt Violation”.
